-

Chaves Confirmed To '500' Ride With New Team

The worst kept secret in INDYCAR was finally announced...

Napa Returns With Rossi

A.J. Foyt Racing announced...

Carpenter Signs Pigot

Ed Carpenter Racing announced...

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Grand Prix of Alabama

You're going to hear this next line many, many, many times over the next 10 years.

Josef Newgarden wins.

In just his 3rd race with Team Penske, the Tennessee native took the checkered flag at the Grand Prix of Alabama.

Newgarden's teammate, Will Power, led 60 of the 90 race laps but had to pit with just a few laps remaining because of a punctured tire.

Race organizers released a 3-day attendance number of 82,745, slightly down from 83,765. The drop of just over 1,000 people is likely due to the sketchy weather that covered the region race morning. Despite the drop in attendance, the race saw a revenue increase of 10%.

After Barber, Sebastien Bourdais held onto his Championship lead, followed by Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden.

Race Results:
1- Josef Newgarden
2- Scott Dixon
3- Simon Pagenaud
4- Helio Castroneves
5- Alexander Rossi
6- James Hinchcliffe
7- Tony Kanaan
8- Sebastien Bourdais
9- Takuma Sato
10- Mikhail Aleshin
11- Ryan Hunter-Reay
12- Max Chilton
13- Graham Rahal
14- Will Power
15- Charlie Kimball
16- Ed Jones
17- Carlos Munoz
18- Conor Daly
19- Zach Veach
20- Spencer Pigot
21- Marco Andretti




















Thursday, April 20, 2017

Alonso Set For IMS Test

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced late Thursday afternoon details on the first test of Formula 1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso, on the 2.5 mile oval.

Alonso and his McLaren/Andretti team will have a full-day of testing available Wednesday, May 3rd. Just like most tests, the track is scheduled to be green 9am to 5pm.

Fans can watch from the Turn 2 viewing mounds with parking in the Museum lot.

The test comes the day after most Verizon IndyCar Series teams will be testing at Gateway Motorsorts Park.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Cornelison To Sing "Back Home Again"

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday morning that Jim Cornelison will perform "Back Home Again In Indiana" prior to next month's Indianapolis 500.

 "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to come back to Indianapolis for the '500,'" said Cornelison. "What a blast! And to be asked to sing 'Back Home Again In Indiana' is a special treat and honor. Thanks to the team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for thinking of me. I can't wait for Race Day!" 

Cornelison is an Indiana University graduate has been the exclusive national anthem singer for Chicago Blackhawk home games since 2008.

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Fernando Alonso To Run Indianapolis 500

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will compete in next month's Indianapolis 500.

McLaren, Alonso's F1 team, made the announcement early Wednesday morning that the Spanish driver will skip the Monaco Grand Prix in favor of his first Verizon IndyCar Series race in Indianapolis.

“I’m immensely excited that I’ll be racing in this year’s Indy 500, with McLaren, Honda and Andretti Autosport," said Alonso.

“The Indy 500 is one of the most famous races on the global motorsport calendar, rivalled only by the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix [which Fernando has won twice, one of those victories at the wheel of a McLaren (in 2007)], and it’s of course a regret of mine that I won’t be able to race at Monaco this year. But Monaco will be the only 2017 Grand Prix I’ll be missing, and I’ll be back in the cockpit of the McLaren-Honda MCL32 for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in early June.   

“I’ve never raced an IndyCar car before, and neither have I ever driven on a superspeedway, but I’m confident that I’ll get to grips with it fast. I’ve watched a lot of IndyCar action on TV and online, and it’s clear that great precision is required to race in close proximity with other cars on the far side of 220mph [354km/h]. I realize I’ll be on a steep learning curve, but I’ll be flying to Indianapolis from Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix, practising our McLaren-Honda-Andretti car at Indy from May 15 onwards, hopefully clocking up a large number of miles every day, and I know how good the Andretti Autosport guys are. I’ll be proud to race with them, and I intend to mine their knowledge and expertise for as much info as I possibly can.   

“I’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it’s one of my ambitions to win the Triple Crown [the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours], which has been achieved by only one driver in the history of motorsport: Graham Hill. It’s a tough challenge, but I’m up for it. I don’t know when I’m going to race at Le Mans, but one day I intend to. I’m only 35: I’ve got plenty of time for that.” 

The deal was put together by former Indianapolis resident and current Executive Director of Mclaren Technology Group Zak Brown, INDYCAR, Honda and according to this Racer.com report, Stefan Wilson.

The race to 33 cars has become much more clear in the recent days.

We currently stand at 30 confirmed car and driver combinations. The 31st car is confirmed to come from Juncos Racing.

Honda is now maxed out at 18 entries, so the remaining 2 cars will be Chevrolet powered. I see a second Juncos entry and the Lazier Racing car as the most likely path to 33.

The full car count can be viewed HERE.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Chaves Confirmed To Make '500' Ride With New Team

One of the worst kept secrets in IndyCar was formally announced Monday morning.

Harding Racing, a new race team consisting of driver Gabby Chaves, team manager Larry Curry, and owner Mike Harding will field the No. 88 Chevrolet for Chaves in next month's Indianapolis 500.

Harding is an owner and president of Harding Group, a concrete and asphalt paving company in Indianapolis. Harding Group is an official sponsor of both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Colts.

The team, which is in a technical alliance with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, will turn it's first laps at Wednesday's Texas Motor Speedway Open Test.

"I'm extremely delighted to have the opportunity to get to challenge for my third Indy 500," Chaves said. "I am very excited to be joining a new team with our new owner, Mike Harding, and everyone involved, including Larry Curry, who has been instrumental in getting the team together and guiding it."

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Harvey Lands 5th Andretti '500' Ride

Andretti Autosport announced prior to Sunday's Long Beach Grand Prix the driver of the team's 5th Indianapolis 500 entry. That car will be piloted by 2015 Freedom 100 winner Jack Harvey.

“The Indy 500 is easily the biggest race I have entered in my career so far,” said Harvey. “It is one of the most iconic races in the world and I feel extremely privileged to be taking part in it. To have the opportunity to do this with one of the best teams on the grid - a team that has won two of the last three races there – is more than I could have dreamed of."

Harvey will run the No. 50 AutoNation Honda alongside teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Alexander Rossi and Takuma Sato.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Foyt Signs Veach To '500' Run

A.J. Foyt Racing announced Friday afternoon the signing of Zach Veach to the team's 3rd entry in next month's Indianapolis 500.

Veach, a rookie, will run the the No. 40 Women in Tech Championship Chevrolet.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced last September that they would be hosting an LPGA event this September, featuring 144 golfers with a $2 million purse.

“Coming to Indy with A.J. Foyt’s team is very special to me,” said Veach. “I am counting the days to when I can take my first laps in the IWiT Championship Chevrolet around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at speed!”

The Ohioan becomes the 28th confirmed entry for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500.

Monday, April 3, 2017

3,200 Megapixel Image of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Sunday's Chevrolet test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provided teams and drivers the opportunity to shake off the rust and try out a few new things in preparation for next month's Indianapolis 500.

In the spirit of testing, I took the day to experiment as well. Below is a 3,200 megapixel image of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway front straightaway. For comparison, the iPhone 7 and Samsung S8 are both equipped with 12 megapixel cameras.

To explore the image, just click the '+' and '-' buttons in the upper right corner. The diagonal arrows will expand full screen, while the circle arrow will pull the image back to it's home position.

I suggest going full screen!

Can not wait to give it another try when the Speedway is packed with hundreds of thousands of people.

(Bonus points for finding Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves)