L-R: Burt Levy, David Hobbs, myself, John Fitzpatrick and Bob Varsha. [Photo by Eddie LePine]
By Jack Webster
In addition to the many things going on at Amelia Island during Concours weekend – the car auctions, the vendor displays inside the Ritz Carlton and the fantastic cars on the field – authors were on hand to sign their new books, myself included.
I was there with my new motorsports photography book, “Racing Pilots”, and was certainly in some very good company. I was set up with my good friend and mentor Burt Levy who has helped me greatly in my quest to become a published author. Burt, of course, is well known to the motorsports community for his “Last Open Road” series of racing novels which he has been selling at motoring events around the country since 1994. He is the best.
On the first day, I was seated next to John Fitzpatrick who was on hand to sign his outstanding book about his racing career “Fitz”. It was great to sit next to John and swap racing stories and look through our books together.
One of the big introductions of new books for the Amelia Island event was David Hobbs’ highly anticipated biography “Hobbo” that he did with Andrew Marriott and both David and Andrew were on hand to sign copies. I have to take a tiny bit of credit for Hobbs doing a book since I have been bugging him for at least the past ten years to write one. David, I told him, you have such incredibly funny and interesting stories, people would love a book from you. He asked me if I thought people would really be interested in a book by him and I told him again and again – of course they would, just get it done. Gladly, he did and the reception at Amelia Island for him was terrific.
The biggest introduction of the weekend was Hurley Haywood’s new book, “Hurley – From the Beginning” and it was very well received to say the least. I think they actually sold all the stock that they brought to the event and whenever Hurley was at the signing table (which was quite often), there was always a lot of fans lined up to meet Hurley and buy his book.
And me? Well I was certainly pleased with the event as well and even though this was not a racing event I did quite well with “Racing Pilots” both inside the Ritz Carlton and on the show field. Sitting at the author’s table on the field Saturday next to legends like John Fitzpatrick, Hurley Haywood and David Hobbs was quite the experience for me.
When I started by racing journey back in 1971 I could never have imagined that I would find myself seated next to such racing royalty 47 years later signing my own book, while they were signing theirs.
It’s been quite a ride.
Jack Webster has been shooting motorsports since the early 1970’s, covering Formula One, CanAm, F5000, TransAm, GrandAm and American Le Mans races, among others. In addition to his photography, he has also worked on racing teams, both in IMSA and IndyCar, so has a complete knowledge of the inner workings of motorsport. Both his photography and writing can be seen here on racingnation.com
Several media outlets are reporting that the eleven-year war between CART (now the Champ Car World Series) and the Indy Racing League may be over. However before the armistice can be signed there is one hurdle to
overcome.
SPEEDtv.com had reported last month that IRL founder, Tony George offered the Champ Car ownership of free Dallara chassis and Honda engines to any CCWS organization that would commit to a full season. Those teams would be eligible to receive $1.2 million per car as part of the IRL’s new TEAM program. The Champ Car races at Long Beach, Edmonton and Surfer’s Paradise, Australia would be added to the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule. It looks like Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, the co-owners of Champ Car re-visited the issue and have reached an agreement with IRL founder Tony George unify this year and combine to
race together this season.
However, one hurdle is in the way and the two entities are currently working to resolve it. The IRL race at Motegi, Japan is set for the weekend of April 18-20. The race coincides with the remaining pearl of the CCWS which is the Long Beach Grand Prix. Robin Miller of SPEEDtv.com reported that Jim Michaelian, LBGP president and general manager said the race is locked into its date and cannot be moved due to prior contract commitment with the Long Beach Convention Center. Motegi, owned by Honda of Japan, also faces some challenges in re-scheduling so Honda’s Robert Clarke, Champ Car’s Dick Eidswick,
Kalkhoven and George are desperately trying to find a solution.
There have been several reports of unity in the past, however, the feedback CCWS must have heard when they thwarted the offer by Tony George may have forced a second look. This story looks like it may have teeth. The next few days should be interesting. Many open wheel fans
across the country have their fingers crossed.
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 – A Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the Official Pace Car for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, continuing Chevrolet’s tradition of leading the field to the green flag. The Pace Car will be driven by GM President Mark Reuss.
This year, the race will be held outside of May for the first time – Sunday, Aug. 23 – with live NBC coverage at 2:30 p.m. (ET). This marks the 17th time a Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 31st time a Chevrolet has led the field dating to 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six convertible held the honor.
No other brand or vehicle has served as the “500” Pace Car more often than Chevrolet and the Corvette, respectively.
“It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to be behind the wheel of the mid-engine Corvette Pace Car at such a historic race as the Indy 500,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “The 2020 Corvette Stingray is the result of a close collaboration between the Corvette Racing and production engineering teams, setting a new benchmark for supercars around the world.”
The Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray Pace Car features: All-new mid-engine LT2 6.2L V8 engine 8-Speed Dual Clutch transmission Z51 performance package Corvette accessory spoiler and ground effects package Carbon Flash exterior accents and badge package GT2 Bucket Seats Unique Indy 500 Livery
With 495 horsepower, the Torch Red Corvette Stingray can accelerate from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, capable of 194 mph. It has been named MotorTrend Car of the Year for 2020.
“This is a continuation of our outstanding partnership with Chevrolet,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We’re so grateful for all that Chevrolet has contributed to the success of our events. The Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray is a world-class machine rich with speed, performance and excitement, perfectly suited to pace the ‘500’ field.”
Chevrolet has a storied history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920.
Nine drivers with Chevrolet engines have combined to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” 11 times, with Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Arie Luyendyk, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan Pablo Montoya, Will Power and most recently Simon Pagenaud driving to Victory Lane with bowtie power.
Pagenaud won the 2019 Indianapolis 500 from the pole driving the No. 22 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet. In 2018, Ed Carpenter won the pole and Power the race in Chevrolet-powered machines.
Josef Newgarden won last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship driving the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet. Pagenaud finished second in the standings.
Visit IMS.com for more information about this year’s schedule.
The race will be televised live on NBC for the second consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 1 p.m. The Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA.
HAMMOND, IN: With the demise of the Champ Car/CART group, the 12 year war which tore American open-wheel racing apart is finally over. But, the question
remains: who won?
I’m sorry, but it’s hard to be optimistic about the
post-“war” situation.
As we all know, an entire generation of potential open-wheel fans and ticket buyers were lost during the
split. Our loss was obviously NASCAR’s gain.
In order for IndyCar to begin to regain the ground that it lost during the “conflict”, it will be necessary to offer the racing public something it can’t get anywhere else. In other words: something
NASCAR can’t provide.
Mainly, I’m worried about the Indy 500. Like many of you, I grew up secure in the knowledge that the Memorial Day classic was, indeed, the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. In the beginning, the magic 500 mile distance, coupled with the biggest purse in motorsports, made the Indy 500 truly unique. Later, after other 500 mile races appeared on the racing calender, lap speeds and new track records became one of the major draws for Indy Car fans and competitors
alike.
It’s hard to forget the excitement that was generated at the Speedway each May at the prospect of broken speed barriers and record laps. During the ’50’s and ’60’s, the big goal was the long-anticipated one minute lap at Indy: 150 MPH. After years of anticipation, the barrier was finally broken by Parnelli Jones in 1963. But, happily, there were always bigger speed numbers waiting to be challenged
on the horizon.
As the decades passed and technology moved forward, 175 MPH was achieved. Then, almost before anyone realized it, the 200 MPH wall came tumbling down! The Indianapolis 500, and Indy Car racing in general, was on a roll. Interest in open wheel racing was at an all time high, and it appeared that the end was nowhere in
sight.
The peak was reached in 1996 during the IRL’s first season, when Arie Luyendyk pushed the unofficial track record to over 239 MPH! It’s unlikely that we’ll see a 240 MPH lap at Indy during our lives and, in some ways, that’s unfortunate. Due to safety concerns and the resulting rules changes to slow the cars, the magic and appeal of broken speed barriers at Indy is
probably over.
In the ’70’s, a group of rich car owners…refugees from the defunct Can-Am sports car series, began to invade Indy Car racing. Very few of these folks had any real knowledge of, or interest in, traditional American oval track racing, but they needed a new playground, and the Indy 500 was still the “Greatest
Spectacle in Racing”.
Before long, the Can-Am boys banded together to form CART and, in the early ’80’s, when unable to gain control of Indy Car racing, they broke away and began a rival series which placed more emphasis on road and street racing. And, for the next decade, only the
Indianapolis 500 would bring the two groups together.
Finally, in 1996, Tony George attempted to rekindle interest in open wheel oval track racing, and lower the cost of competition at the same time, by forming the Indy Racing League. Unfortunately, the wealthy CART group decided to continue on their chosen path…and the “war” was on. And, slowly but surely, the very fabric on American open wheel racing began to
dissolve…
Now, 13 years later, the CART/Champ Car group has finally awakened to the fact that the Indy 500 was…and still is…the cornerstone of open wheel racing in this country. By ignoring this fact for years, they have finally run out of money. Attempting to control American open wheel racing with their
checkbooks rather than their hearts just didn’t work!
Is there a way to revive interest in Indy Car racing? With the recent defection of Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti, Sam Hornish Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve, has NASCAR captured too much of
the market to be rivaled?
Like every other year since 1911, we’ll have to wait
until May for the answers. Cross your fingers…
The leaders of American open-wheel racing unified the sport today.
Let us now all exhale a collective sigh of relief. Open-wheel fans across this country can smile now that news spread that there is once again one open-wheel series. For the first time since late-1994, one sanctioning body is in charge of open wheel, Indy Car, Champ Car,
whatever moniker you would like to use.
It is being reported that Indy Racing League officials have announced that a news conference to detail the agreement will come sometime next week. Consenus is it will be set at the league’s test at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where testing is set to begin on Wednesday. IndyStar.com quoted Indy Racing League founder Tony George, “We want to have as positive of a press conference as possible when we do have one,
we don’t want to have questions without answers.”
The IndyStar.com report continued, “Still to be resolved are issues regarding Champ Car races that will be on the IRL’s schedule this season. Three are expected (Long Beach, Calif.; Edmonton, Alberta; and Surfers Paradise, Australia) to go with the IRL’s 16 previously announced events. IRL spokesman Fred Nation said George and Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven signed their part of the contract during dinner Thursday night at the Eagle’s Nest restaurant at the Downtown Hyatt Regency hotel, but unification wasn’t complete until Gerald Forsythe, Champ Car’s other majority owner, signed today. After meeting with George for a couple of hours this morning, Kalkhoven left Indianapolis for his home in California. George decided to fly to Chicago to meet personally with Forsythe. George contacted his staff at Indianapolis Motor Speedway about 3 p.m. to say the deal was completed, ending 12 years of struggle between the two Indianapolis-based series. Forsythe could not be reached for comment, but Nation said he was pleased that George, who said he was “anxious” before boarding his company-owned jet, made the trip. “It had the effect of getting it done,” Nation said of
WALLER, TX December 21, 2007–It is with great sadness that we at A.J. Foyt Racing have learned of the death of Ken Hendricks, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply Co., Inc. He had sustained a massive head injury after falling at a construction site at his home Thursday evening and died during emergency surgery at Rockford Memorial Hospital early Friday morning. He was 66.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
?I am still in shock,? said A.J. Foyt upon hearing of the tragedy. ?Ken was a terrific businessman and a hard worker but much more than that he was a great guy who meant a lot to a lot of people. He was a man whose handshake was as good as a 50- page contract. They just don?t make them like that anymore. We had a lot of fun when
we were together.
?I am so sorry for his wife Diane and all their kids?I?ve met them all because they were all involved in the business in one way or another. For this to happen at Christmastime just makes it so much worse because his family was so, so close–and so big, because he thought of his company and the people who worked for him or
with him as part of his family. I still can?t believe he?s gone.?
Hendricks was a visionary entrepreneur who started out as a contract roofer and became the head of the country?s largest, privately-owned roofing supply business, approaching $3 billion annually in sales. The persona of ABC Supply, he was involved in a variety of businesses that sparked his entrepreneurial spirit as well as a backer
of many education-based and charitable programs in his local and global community.
Spectacular though he was in business, and more so because he didn?t complete high school, Hendricks will be remembered for the incredible relationships he forged throughout his life. As he followed his own dream of success, he created opportunities for others to follow theirs as well. Indeed, the theme of the Company?s
year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary this year was Live the Dream.
He is survived by his wife Diane and seven children (five of whom are employed in the
family business), and 14 grandchildren.
ABC Supply is the sponsor of A.J. Foyt?s No. 14 Indy car which will again be piloted by
Darren Manning in 2008. ABC Supply has sponsored Foyt?s race team since April, 2005.
21 year old NTT IndyCar Series driver Pato O’Ward made a statement for the young drivers and Chevrolet, setting the quickest lap in Friday’s Carb Day final practice for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The ‘500’ rookie didn’t make the field for last year’s running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but he should be heading into Sunday’s with high confidence after today’s run. O’Ward will start this year’s Indianapolis 500 race in the middle of the pack on the outside of the fifth row.
“I think we are ready for the challenge ahead,” said O’Ward. “It was a very positive day in terms of how we were feeling in traffic, passing cars, and playing around in five-, 10-, and 15-car trains. I think it is going to be very interesting to see how the cars will behave on Sunday in 10-15 degree hotter temps. I think we are ready, and we ended the day very happy with how everything fell and felt. So, we are looking forward to Race Day and going forward.”
Three former Indianapolis 500 winners were next on the top of the speed chart with Scott Dixon second, Alexander Rossi third and Takuma Sato fourth. Completing the rookie bookend of the top five was O’Ward’s Arrow Mclaren SP teammate, Oliver Askew.
“We had to go through our front wings today just to make sure they’re all close in case we need one in the race,” said Dixon. “We lost some front grip, and we’re trying to see if the teammates had the same situation. Apart from that, the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda felt really good and really fast. It pulls up wicked fast. Hopefully that’s true when it comes to the race. It definitely looks like there are some good cars out there and some not so good cars, so hopefully we’re on the right end of the grid. I think there has always been, especially these last few years, an underlying tone of ‘it’s hard to pass,’ which it was in that camp last year. This year’s been a lot easier for us. I think a lot of credit goes out to HPD and Honda. We’re proud to be powered by them. They have done a lot to help that, but also I think we’ve made a lot of changes on the team and the car and that’s helped that, as well. It’s good to see.”
“It was a pretty good day. We got through everything we wanted to, and I think we are in a decent place with the car,” said Rossi. “This place is tricky -the track conditions change from day to day. I think from where we ended Sunday afternoon to today, we kept a pretty similar car, so if we can do there here in 48 hours, I think we will be pretty happy.“
After Honda dominated qualifying, O’Ward put his race-trim Chevrolet on top with Askew and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden (7th quick) making it three Chevy drivers in the top ten.
In the two hour practice session, three drivers turned over 100 laps which is half the distance of Sunday’s race length. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson turned the most, running 105 laps and placing eighth on the speed chart. Andretti Autosport’s James Hinchcliffe ran 103 laps and placed 12th. Ben Hanley ran 104 laps.
“I think it was a really good last practice session,” said Ericsson. “We focused on trying to be in traffic all the time and for me to get the best feeling in the car going into the race. I felt like we made some good improvements throughout the session. We really pushed on and tried to do as many laps as possible. I think we did two full-tank stints, so that’s really good for Sunday to know how the car behaves. Overall, I’m really happy, and the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda is feeling good. We’re ready to go racing.”
Polesitter Marco Andretti was 28th on the chart while the team worked on race day strategies.
“Today we found a few things we didn’t like in the car, which is good and bad because we found it out before Sunday,” explained Andretti. “We ticked a lot of boxes on a semi-difficult day, but I think we are still in a good position for the race on Sunday.“
Last year’s Indy 500 champion Simon Pagenaud placed 14th on the speed chart and will start Sunday’s race on the inside of row 9 next to F1 star Fernando Alonso. Alonso was 23rd quickest in today’s practice.
“It was the last opportunity to test the last few items we had on our list,” said Alonso. “Some of them were OK, and some of them we will not be keeping for the race. Now we have a more or less clear idea of what we want. Sunday is a completely different thing, and it’s supposed to be a bit hotter, so we will try to adapt to the conditions. There’s nothing more to test on the table, so it’s race time.”
AJ Foyt Racing driver Tony Kanaan was 19th on the speed chart and will start what could be his final Indianapolis 500 from the inside of row 8.
Live coverage of the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge will start at 1 p.m. (ET) on NBC and the Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network.
John Wiedemann is the owner, editor and developer of the RacingNation.com website.
A motorsports fan from his earliest memories, John started going to local short tracks and the Milwaukee Mile with his parents, brother and sister. John enjoys drivers racing side by side and battling for the same piece of real estate on the racetrack as much as he appreciates the technical aspects of the sport.
Reaction and fallout from the open wheel reunification is coming fast. Walker Racing issued a press release in which Derrick Walker, owner of Walker Racing was quoted, “it’s back to the future, it’s been a long road, but it has finally come together. From a fan and sports business point of view, one open wheel racing series in the United States has long been recognized as what fans and sponsors want to have both series together and I’m happy to say that Walker Racing embraces the decision. I also want to give a special thanks to all the past and present CART/Champ Car officials for all their hard work in giving us some great seasons.”
A veteran to the sport, Walker has over 40 years of racing experience, and 17 of those years have been as a team owner. Walker Racing opened its doors in Indianapolis in 1992 and has been competing in open wheel racing ever since. The team has run the likes of Willy T. Ribbs, Robby Gordon, Gil de Ferran, Scott Goodyear, Christian Fittipaldi, Darren Manning, Sarah Fisher, Alex Tagliani and Will Power.
Walker Racing did compete in the IndyCar Series earlier this decade. The team ran Sarah Fisher in 2000 and 2001. Walker Racing made history when Fisher became the first woman in the record books in Indy-style racing when she finished second at Homestead. She also went on to earn two top ten finishes, including a pole position to her credit.
The path won’t be easy in the beginning, but Walker Racing is ready for the challenge. “It’s going to be a rough old ride, because we don’t have the familiarity with the Dallaras and it’s a more experienced formula, but the bottom line is that it’s great news to put this thing together,” commented Walker. Walker Racing will be in the line-up at the IndyCars Series opener March 11-14 in Homestead.
Upon hearing of the signing of the agreement, legendary driver and IndyCar Series car owner A.J. Foyt said: “I’m glad that they were able to get it done. It’ll eliminate the confusion for the race fans and the sponsors because there’ll be just one type of car and one type of motor and everyone will be running together. May the best team win.”
Steve Ballard of the Indianapolis Star interviewed Hall of Fame driver, Mario Andretti via the phone. “I think we can finally begin to move forward,” Andretti said by phone from his office in Nazareth, PA. “I’m no longer going to have to do interviews where the first question I get asked is, ‘Why is this thing broken?’ It’s not going to be easy, but we finally have something to look forward to.” Andretti was a part of previous reconciliation efforts but sat this one out. He said he never lost hope this day would come. “Whenever there was a reasoned effort on both sides, they’d agree it was the right thing to do,” he said. “So as long as that was the mind-set, I felt sooner or later it’d get done.”
Jimmy Vasser, former CART champion and a partner with Kevin Kalkhoven in PKV Racing, had admiration for both sides for getting it done. “I really have to hand it to Tony and Kevin for working tirelessly. Knowing how many issues there were and dodging the torpedoes from people who didn’t want this to happen, it’s been a strange couple of weeks,” Vasser said. “The guys on the IRL side went beyond fair. It would have been easy for either side to back out, but this time they wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
The future may be unclear for Paul Tracy, as the Indianapolis Star reported, Paul Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car champion and one of that series’ most recognizable drivers, welcomed the news, though he’s not sure what it means for him. “As of right now, I don’t know if I’m competing. The team has given us no indication we’re going to the IRL,” said Tracy, who drives for Gerald Forsythe, a co-owner of the Champ Car series. “It’s a great thing and I hope I can be a part of it.
The Champ Car World Series event in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada is expected to be absorbed into the united IndyCar series. The Edmonton Sun reported, “It’s very good news for fans of open-wheel racing in North America,” Jim Haskins, president of general manager of the Edmonton Grand Prix said. He’s admitted all along, ever since he was appointed as general manager of the Edmonton event, a racing fan is what he has always been. “We’ve all felt for many years that unification was the only way we we’re going to be able to grow open-wheel back to the glory days that we all remember.”
Craig Stoehr, President of Milwaukee Mile Marketing, LLC promoter at the Milwaukee Mile echoed a recurring theme to Dave Kallman of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “This adds a lot now with only one open-wheel series. It brings fans together and makes a more interesting event with a stronger group of teams and drivers.”
Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway is excited about going from a 19-car field in last year’s IndyCar Series race there to the prospect of having 25 cars or more is going to be an enticement to fans. “To win back its fans, Indy-car racing now has to be humble, stabilize its schedule, solidify its driver lineup and feverishly market its stars,”
Two of the tracks/events on the outside looking in are the Cleveland Grand Prix and the Road America track located in Elkhart Lake, WI. “I’m prepared for a little bit of pain this year to ultimately host the next generation of open-wheel racing that would be better than what we have today,” said George Bruggenthies, president of Road America commented to Kallman. The Cleveland Grand Prix, which was scheduled for the weekend of June 20-22, 2008, has been canceled because of the merger. WKYC.com reported, “We are excited about the prospect of bringing this new series to Cleveland in 2009 and we are already in discussions about that possibility,” Michael Lanigan said in a prepared statement.
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
Daytona Beach, FL ? The IndyCar Series announced this week it will implement four-lap qualifying runs at every oval track race in 2008, beginning with the season opener at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 29. According to the announcement, the driver who records the fastest cumulative time will be the pole winner. The revised qualification procedure replaces the traditional single-lap qualifying standard followed at all oval tracks other than the Indianapolis 500.
Numerous IndyCar drivers are competing in the Rolex24 at the Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and those surveyed welcomed the change and thought the biggest challenge would occur on the shorter tracks.
?I think it is good and will be very intriguing for the fans,? Dan Wheldon said. ?It will definitely spice up the action a little bit, and it will put more pressure on the teams.?
His teammate Scott Dixon added, ?From my point of view, qualification runs of four laps are an Indianapolis tradition and it should stay that way. Going forward, it will make for more fun for everyone and practice and qualification simulations will have to change.?
Team Penske teammates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe were complimentary of the revision. ?Although I enjoyed the way it was, I guess it will make things more competitive and I am ready for it,? Castroneves stated. Added Briscoe, ?It will make us work harder and we will have to make several set-up changes during practice. Also, it will give us more to think about in qualifying and keep us very busy on the shorter ovals.?
Buddy Rice, an Indianapolis 500 winner, believed it will be interesting to see how the new rule is addressed. ?I like the four-lap format at Indianapolis but doing the same thing on the other ovals will be different,? he said. ?For qualifying, you put on new tires and depending on the number of warm-up laps run, the tires can fall off quickly. At tracks like Nashville and Kentucky, tire performance will be very important.?
2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti has moved on to NASCAR?s Sprint Cup circuit but he hasn?t lost track of his stomping grounds. ?I have mixed feelings about the new rule,? he commented. ?I am a traditionalist and would like to see the four-lap format set aside just for Indianapolis. If a change was desired, a two-lap format would have been a reasonable compromise.? The likable Scotsman complimented IndyCar officials for being willing to try different things.
Vision Racing teammates A. J. Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter lauded officials for pushing the envelope. ?It is great to do something like they do at Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis 500 is the best race in the world,? young Foyt said. Carpenter stated, ?I think it will be fun. On the big speedways, it won?t be a big deal, but it will be somewhat difficult on the shorter ovals. Sometimes we take the green flag on the second or third time by the starter?s stand, so it may change our approach.?
As a whole, the IndyCar Series drivers were eager for the season to begin and they expect to address the new procedures during a pre-season test at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 27 and 28.
The 2008 IndyCar season commences at HMS with the SpeedJam Indy 300 on Saturday night, March 29.
It’s not May. Memorial Day is past and NFL football is about to start. Leaves will be falling soon. But here we are, previewing the 104th Indianapolis 500; a race that will at best be viewed on television or for some through a small opening in the outer fence of the track while sitting on lawn chairs off of 16th street in Speedway, IN as some do when no fans are permitted to attend the race. Such is the situation in the year of the COVID 19. Some say that we are lucky to be having the race at all, and that is probably true. But practice and qualifying are over and Carb Day practice and the race itself are on the horizon. All we have left to do is cheer for Fernando Alonso in what could be his final 500, see what Marco Andretti can do as he leads the field to the green from an unfamiliar starting spot, and enjoy the ups and downs that are the Indianapolis 500. “Gentlemen…”
Race Facts: This is the 104th 500 and speeds in practice and qualifying were increased by a turbo boost which added 45hp to qualifying speeds that came within 5-6 mph of the four-lap record set by Arie Luyendyk (236.986mph) in 1996. However, that boost is not available on race day. The race continues to be 200 laps/500 miles and should take a bit less than three hours to complete depending on what happens on the 2.5-mile, four-corner oval. Team Penske has won the 500 18 times dating back to Mark Donahue’s 1972 victory for Roger. Andretti Autosport is next with five. Twenty-one drivers have won from the pole giving Marco Andretti about a 20% hope of a win. As has been the count since 1991, three veteran drivers have each won here four times. AJ Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears have accounted for 12 trips to Victory Lane among them. Helio Castroneves will likely take his last 500 ride for Team Penske as he strives to join the “Four Wins” club in what could be his final 500.
Recent Race History: 2019 winner Simon Pagenaud became the first French driver to win the 500 in more than 100 years. He drove his Penske Chevrolet around Alexander Rossi’s Andretti Autosport Honda with less than two laps remaining for his first 500 win. He also won the Indy Grand Prix earlier in the month and captured the 500 Pole for a sweep of May.
2020 Season So Far: Standings: 1. Scott Dixon (3 wins) 244 points… 2. Pagenaud (1) 195…3. Josef Newgarden (1) 191…4. Pato O’Ward (0) 162…5. Will Power (0)142… and 9. Felix Rosenqvist (1) 120.
Notes: TV: Final Practice, Friday,11:00 a.m. ET, NBCSN…Pre-Race, Sunday,1:00 p.m. ET, NBC…Race 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC…There are eight previous 500 winners in the field, the most since 1992: Castroneves (3), Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Rossi, Takuma Sato, Will Power and Pagenaud each with one…Five rookies are in the 500 field: Oliver Askew, Dalton Kellett, Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay…Two ovals remain on the IndyCar schedule, both at Gateway Motorsports Park on August 29/30…Johnny Mantz was the most recent of four drivers to finish the race without making a pit stop. He was seventh in 1949…The winner’s Borg-Warner trophy was first handed out in 1935 and was valued at $10,000. Today it is estimated to be worth $3.5 million…The Indianapolis Speedway grounds cover 963 acres and has 17 grandstands and six tunnels…The 500 record for race entries occurred in 1984 when 117 cars filed for garage spots. Many of those, however, were back-up or reserve cars in case of an accident or other trouble during the long “Month of May”.
The Grid: Just 33 cars were entered; the smallest number in several years. Every car entered qualified for the race and fortunately no team went home empty handed. As to the lineup, drivers from 13 countries will give the race a truly international feel. Four Andretti Autosport cars are in the first three rows for Honda while the lone Chevrolet in the “Fast Nine” is Rinus VeeKay (4th).
Our Take: It’s always difficult to predict the outcome of any 500-mile race, but the Indianapolis 500 is even more so. With four turns, high speeds, and a multitude of pit stops, truly anything can, and usually does happen. This season of the pandemic has made us all alert as to what odd/unexpected things can and do happen. They all seem to have become the norm. With no fans in the world’s largest capacity sports venue, some of the excitement and build-up to the start will have the edge taken off. Hopefully, that will be remedied by 2021 and that 500 will return to being the race that we’ve known for the past 109 years with all its traditions.
They Said It: Marco Andretti, No. 98 U.S. Concrete Andretti/Herta/Curb-Agajanian Honda: “I was emotional. I was screaming after the (pole) run. The place means so much to us as a family…I think coming off of how bad last year was for me in the race (finished 26th, five laps down), it made this so much better…I think (the car) is a collective effort, honestly. I think it’s the guys rubbing on the car in the shop all the way through the off season. We put an emphasis on this race and Honda bought it as far as outright pace …Horsepower makes life so much better here at the Speedway…I was joking with dad (team owner Michael) that this is probably my third legitimate shot as far as outright pace in 15 years…When I lost the 500 in 2006 you saw me mad because I knew that it is possible 15 years later I (still) haven’t won yet.”
Fernando Alonso, No.66 Ruoff Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet: “I approach this race (he qualified 26th) knowing the next two years is going to be impossible to come (to the 500). I will have to miss qualifying to do so. I will not be with McLaren next year in F1 (having signed a two-year contract with Renault). This is the way it is at the moment. I’m here ready to enjoy the event. Let’s see in the future what are the possibilities. If you eventually win one day the race, maybe that opens the possibility for different things.”
Next Race: August 29/30 Gateway Motorsports Park, Bommarito Automotive Group Doubleheader, Madison, Illinois
Paul Gohde heard the sound of race cars early in his life.
Growing up in suburban Milwaukee, just north of Wisconsin State Fair Park in the 1950’s, Paul had no idea what “that noise” was all about that he heard several times a year. Finally, through prodding by friends of his parents, he was taken to several Thursday night modified stock car races on the old quarter-mile dirt track that was in the infield of the one-mile oval -and he was hooked.
The first Milwaukee Mile event that he attended was the 1959 Rex Mays Classic won by Johnny Thomson in the pink Racing Associates lay-down Offy built by the legendary Lujie Lesovsky. After the 100-miler Gohde got the winner’s autograph in the pits, something he couldn’t do when he saw Hank Aaron hit a home run at County Stadium, and, again, he was hooked.
Paul began attending the Indianapolis 500 in 1961, and saw A. J. Foyt’s first Indy win. He began covering races in 1965 for Racing Wheels newspaper in Vancouver, WA as a reporter/photographer and his first credentialed race was Jim Clark’s historic Indy win.Paul has also done reporting, columns and photography for Midwest Racing News since the mid-sixties, with the 1967 Hoosier 100 being his first big race to report for them.
He is a retired middle-grade teacher, an avid collector of vintage racing memorabilia, and a tour guide at Miller Park. Paul loves to explore abandoned race tracks both here and in Europe, with the Brooklands track in Weybridge England being his favorite. Married to Paula, they have three adult children and two cats.
Paul loves the diversity of all types of racing, “a factor that got me hooked in the first place.”
IndyCar SeriesJoe Jennings