Palou, Ericsson Lead GT Sports Car Racers Into Indianapolis 8 Hour at IMS

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From IMS. It’s the last major event of 2026 at IMS.

  INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026) – Some of the best GT sports car drivers in the world – along with two Indianapolis 500 winners – will compete on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course Oct. 8-11 during the Indianapolis 8 Hour event weekend.
The featured race is the Indianapolis 8 Hour on Saturday, Oct. 10, the longest event of the season at The Racing Capital of the World. Drivers will race through the afternoon, past sunset and into the evening with headlights on in the season finale for the headlining Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) and GT World Challenge America powered by AWS series on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course

.SEE: Indianapolis 8 Hour Entry List

Teams of three drivers sharing cars will race from 12:30-8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, with 28 cars expected to compete. Both headlining series race simultaneously, with overall winners in each series crowned.
A wide variety of evocative manufacturers will provide a thrilling array of sights and engine sounds during eight hours of action, including Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche
.Two drivers with winning lineage at IMS will race in the marquee event Saturday – five-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who won the Indy 500 in 2025, and 2022 “500” winner Marcus Ericsson.

Palou joins title hopeful Luca Stolz and AMG Junior Lin Hodenius in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG in the IGTC event. Palou drove in the event with Lone Star in 2024, finishing 13th after his co-drivers’ stints were plagued by electrical problems

.“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a special place for me, and I am excited to be returning for another shot at the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing,” Palou said.

“I have some unfinished business from my 2024 GT3 outing, so I am really happy to reunite with the team to have another opportunity to aim for the race win.

“I always love the atmosphere and the fans there, and I look forward to having an exciting race to finish the 2026 season with hopefully another memorable trophy.”

Ericsson will join his younger brother, Hampus Ericsson, and Derek DeBoer in the Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The team will compete in the Pro-Am class entry for the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.

Marcus Ericsson has previous GT3 experience, including driving in this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 fielded by Wayne Taylor Racing. The Ericsson brothers teamed up for the first time in a Leiper Motorsport Lamborghini in the Michelin 12 Hour Malaysia race last December at Sepang International Circuit

.“I’m incredibly excited to join Derek and my younger brother Hampus in the Random Vandals Racing No. 99 BMW,” Ericsson said.

“Racing alongside Hampus and sharing a car with him is something I cherish deeply, so I’m very grateful to Random Vandals for giving us the opportunity to do this together.”
Porsche is on the cusp of earning a record-tying fourth manufacturers’ title in the 11th season of the IGTC, and Kerong Li already has won the IGTC Independent Cup drivers’ championship in the No. 86 High Class Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO. So, the attention will be focused on a unique race for the IGTC overall drivers’ championship.

Maro Engel of Germany leads the standings by seven points over fellow Mercedes-AMG driver and fellow German Stolz, with Belgian Maxime Martin just eight points back of the leader, also in a Mercedes-AMG.
But there’s a catch: Engel is not competing this weekend at IMS due to prior commitments in the German DTM touring car series.

So, all eyes will be on Stolz in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO and Martin in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG Team JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO to see if they can overhaul the absent Engel.
Palou could play a role in a title charge for Stolz, as they are sharing the No. 80 with Hodenius.
Regardless of the winner of the title, it’s a certainty the IGTC will crown an 11th different drivers’ champion in as many seasons. Mercedes-AMG drivers have won three of those titles, including INDYCAR SERIES veteran Tristan Vautier in 2018.Intercontinental

GT Challenge practice sessions will take place at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 8 and 9:50 a.m. ET Friday, Oct. 9. Qualifying starts at 3:35 p.m. Friday

.Other sports car series racing from Thursday through Sunday at IMS include GT America powered by AWS, McLaren Trophy America, Pirelli GT4 America, TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School and Toyota GR Cup North America.

Among the notable drivers competing in the support series are automotive and racing television personality Rutledge Wood and Keelan Harvick, the 14-year-old son of three-time Brickyard 400 winner Kevin Harvick, in Toyota GR Cup North America and “Malcolm in the Middle” actor Frankie Muniz and INDY NXT by Firestone veteran Nolan Allaer in Pirelli GT4 America.

Gates are open to the public Friday, Oct. 9, Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11 for this event. Click these links to buy tickets and parking, to see the event schedule or to plan ahead for the Indianapolis 8 Hour. 
 

Conway Retires; IndyCar Notes

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Mike Conway, who won four IndyCar races, Le Mans twice, and two WEC world titles, announced his retirement today. Conway, 43 has driven for Toyota in Hypercar since 2014.

In IndyCar, the British driver drove for multiple teams, beginning with Dreyer and Reinbold in 2009. He also had stints with Dale Coyne Racing, Andretti, Ed Carpenter racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and A. J. Foyt Racing.

Conway won four IndyCar races, two times at Long Beach, a race at Toronto, and once at Detroit. After an accident near the end of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 which left him hospitalized, and the death of Dan Wheldon, Conway decided to not run ovals any longer. He left IndyCar after the 2013 season.

Conway found great success in WEC with Toyota and Toyota Gazoo Racing. He won Le Mans in 2021 and this past June. Conway won the WEC driving championship in 2019 and 2021.

I remember Conway as always being competitive in any equipment. I hated to see him leave IndyCar. I hope he stays involved in racing. he will make a great team manager.

Notes

With Christian Lundgaard officially at Chip Ganassi Racing, four seats remain open – one seat at Juncos Hollinger, assuming Rinus VeeKay returns, two seats at Dale Coyne Racing, and one at A. J. Foyt Racing.

Foyt hopes to be able to sign IndyNXT driver Josh Pierson after his evaluation test at the end of October. I wonder if they have a backup plan just in case.

Personal news– With my 80th birthday approaching and my 60th 500 in seven and a half months, I decided it was time- to purchase a commemorative brick. I bought one to be placed in Pagoda Plaza, probably underneath one of the rolling vendor carts.

I am excited to see it and to become a permanent part of IMS. If I like it, I might get another one to mark my 100th race.

We are still waiting for schedule news. The holdup is likely the possibility of a race in Spain. I think that event has a 50/50 chance of happening.

 INDYCAR Announces Extension of Independent Officiating Board Members 

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 Managing Director of Officiating Elkins Also Confirmed for 2027

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026) – INDYCAR has announced extensions for Independent Officiating Board (IOB) members Ray Evernham, Raj Nair and Ronan Morgan for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone seasons.

This month, INDYCAR’s charter team owners unanimously agreed to retain Evernham and Nair, and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) reappointed Morgan as the series looks to the second year of INDYCAR Officiating.

Nair is a 30-year veteran of the automotive and auto racing industries with vast experience and technical compliance expertise as an executive at Singer Group, Inc., Multimatic, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. He served as the IOB’s chair during the 2026 INDYCAR season.Evernham is a longtime motorsports veteran who most notably served as the crew chief for three of Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Cup Series championships before he pioneered Dodge’s return to NASCAR. He served as the IOB’s secretary and treasurer last season.Morgan has over five decades of global motorsport experience as a senior official, promoter, organizer and competitor. Morgan also is a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and advisor to the FIA president.

Both Nair and Evernham will continue with their specific leadership roles within the IOB in 2027. Nair has served as the IOB chairman and Evernham as its secretary and treasurer.

With the framework finalized in December 2025, INDYCAR established INDYCAR Officiating as an independent, not-for-profit organization to govern North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. As designed, the IOB is comprised of two members chosen via a vote from INDYCAR charter team owners, and the other member is appointed by the FIA. The IOB is charged with enforcement of INDYCAR and INDY NXT rules and establishing officiating and governance separation and process transparency for INDYCAR Officiating.

The IOB also has confirmed that veteran motorsports officiating and competition executive Scot Elkins will continue as INDYCAR Officiating’s managing director of officiating (MDO). Elkins was selected in April 2026 and began in May to oversee race control, race stewards and technical inspection. He will continue to report directly to the IOB – with no oversight from INDYCAR or Penske Entertainment Corp. officials – to provide officiating governance and management

.In June, Elkins instituted a formal three-steward model that will continue in 2027 and launched official post-event reports for both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. The reports summarize race control activity, penalties, incident reviews and technical inspection findings, including matters reviewed and closed with no penalty. They are supported by published technical penalty guidelines carrying a three-level infraction framework, a central stewarding log and a precedent library, so that decisions can be measured against one another and provide a framework toward consistency across INDYCAR events.

Post-event reports are available at https://noticeboard.indycarofficiating.org.

The IOB also worked closely with the FIA through its first season to exchange ideas and explore best practices. The FIA Officials Department assisted in the evaluation of stewarding practice and helped develop a more robust model. All three IOB members attended the FIA Formula One Miami Grand Prix to benchmark race control, stewarding, technical inspection and communications against Formula One and Formula 2. Additionally, FIA safety officials attended the Indianapolis 500 and met INDYCAR medical and rescue teams to learn how INDYCAR implements its medical and rescue operations, which remain under the direction and authority of INDYCAR.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

“It was gratifying to see how well INDYCAR Officiating was integrated into the 2026 INDYCAR season, and I believe continuity of the IOB is important as it builds on the success from its first season. INDYCAR remains committed to clear independence in the application of our rulebook and the IOB is instrumental in that effort. Additionally, creating consistency in the rule enforcement and penalty guidelines is important to our teams, drivers and our fans, and I appreciate the IOB board’s leadership and Scot’s work in this area. ” – J. Douglas Boles, INDYCAR president

“We moved quickly but meticulously this year in instituting a more transparent process, enhanced by a formal three-steward model, technical penalty guidelines and post-event reports, which we believe has been beneficial for all of INDYCAR. With that foundation, several improvements land for the 2027 season: a rulebook review with INDYCAR, a clarified formal review and appeal process, and additional tools for race control. Alongside that, we are modernizing technical inspection, including scanning technology, with the aim of having it proven and in place before the IR-28 starts racing in 2028. Our entire INDYCAR Officiating team is buoyed by the support of the paddock and looks forward to getting started next season.” – Scot Elkins, INDYCAR Officiating managing director of officiating

“I maintain what I’ve said from the start – that INDYCAR already greatly benefited from the knowledgeable and professional officiating personnel in race control and technical inspection. Kyle Novak and Nick Allen lead tremendous teams, and I have been delighted to join and support them in my role. With Raj and Ronan, I look forward to continuing this journey of strengthening and adding another layer to an already skilled group.” – Ray Evernham, Independent Officiating Board secretary and treasurer

“I believed that this board would add another layer of experience and expertise to the process of INDYCAR Officiating, and with the quality of people who comprised that board, INDYCAR has, in fact, achieved that. I look forward to their continued participation relative to 2028 and the new IR-28 and corresponding rules and regulations.” – Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing owner

“The implementation of the INDYCAR Officiating Board this past season was a pivotal step forward for the series to ensure fair and transparent processes and decision making across race control and tech inspection. The team and I were pleased with its effectiveness in 2026 and look forward to their continued leadership in 2027.” – Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren team principal

“Raj, Ray and Ronan have each brought valuable experience and perspective to their first year of service to INDYCAR Officiating, and unanimous support by the team owners has been proof of concept for the direction of independent officiating in our sport. With Scot Elkins continuing as the MDO in concert with the race control and tech inspection team already in place, officiating will build on the strong foundation and continue the mission of separation and transparency.” – Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO

“I was pleased to see how seamlessly and successfully the established members of the team collaborated with the board to improve an already impressive product. INDYCAR Officiating is a sensible evolution and powerful way to support one of the best racing series in global motorsport. I expect 2027 will be another successful season of synergy and growth.” – Ronan Morgan, Independent Officiating Board member

“It has been a year of substantial growth for INDYCAR Officiating, and I would like to personally thank team owners, managers, drivers and partners for their unwavering support to our mission. Year two of INDYCAR Officiating will continue to build on our established baseline of process, independence, governance separation and transparency. We cannot wait to get started in the 2027 season.” – Raj Nair, Independent Officiating Board chairman

“The FIA is proud to continue our role on the INDYCAR Independent Officiating Board and to strengthen our partnership with INDYCAR and the wider motorsport community across the United States. This collaboration goes far beyond officiating – it is about sharing knowledge and expertise across safety, sporting integrity and governance, while learning from one another to deliver a stronger championship. I have been delighted to see this relationship grow over the past year and congratulate INDYCAR, its teams, drivers and officials on a historic 2026 season. We look forward to building on this momentum together in 2027.” – Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA presidentThe 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT championships begin Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Coverage of the upcoming season will be provided by FOX, FOX Sports and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. 
 

Ganassi Signs Christian Lundgaard To Drive No. 9 in Multiyear Deal

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Editor’s Note: This story broke yesterday, but I waited until today out of respect for Gordon Johncock. I felt he deserved an exclusive day in my posts.

From yesterday

Gordon Johncock-Champion of Life

Congratulations to Christian Lundagaard and CGR. This team will be exciting in 2027.- Ed.

From IndyCar:

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has signed Danish driver Christian Lundgaard to a multiyear contract to drive the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES starting in the 2027 season.

Three-time INDYCAR SERIES race winner Lundgaard (photo, above) has 16 podium finishes and 21 top-five finishes in 87 career starts. In 2026, he won races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and at Road America, and he secured a career-best third-place finish in the INDYCAR SERIES championship standings.

Lundgaard will join teammates Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson as part of the CGR’s 2027 driver lineup. He is replacing Scott Dixon, who left CGR after 24 full-time seasons and six series championships to join Arrow McLaren in 2027.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join Chip Ganassi Racing beginning next season,” Lundgaard said. “The fact that it is in the iconic No. 9 PNC Bank Honda makes it even more special. CGR has set the standard in INDYCAR for decades, and the opportunity to be part of that legacy is something I’ve worked toward my entire career.

“I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead. I can’t wait to get to work with everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing and compete for wins, championships and the Indianapolis 500.”

Lundgaard, 25, has quickly become a well-rounded INDYCAR SERIES talent, scoring victories on both road and street circuits and scoring his first oval podium result in 2026. He was a winning driver in Formula 2 – one step below Formula One – and served briefly a simulator driver for the Alpine F1 Team before coming to the INDYCAR SERIES in 2021 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He earned his first victory in 2023 at Toronto with RLL before joining Arrow McLaren in 2025.

“We are excited to welcome Christian to Chip Ganassi Racing,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “We know he’s capable of accomplishing even more in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and we’re looking forward to helping him reach that next level with the No. 9 team.

“He’s already proven he can win races, and it isn’t often a driver of his caliber becomes available. Throughout our history, one of the things we’ve done best is identify young talent, help them maximize their potential and develop them into championship contenders. We believe Christian has all the talent to be the next driver to do that.”

PNC Bank will continue its longstanding partnership with CGR on the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda next season. PNC Bank has been a partner of the team since 2013 and a primary partner on the No. 9 since 2018. With approximately 2,300 branches and 58,000 employees, PNC is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S.

“We are excited to begin a new era with Chip Ganassi Racing and what’s ahead with Christian taking the wheel of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda,” said Lou Cestello, PNC Bank head of regional presidents. “He’s already achieved some remarkable milestones early in his career, and we’re looking forward to watching him build on that success in 2027 and beyond.”

The 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Gordon Johncock-Champion of Life

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To live life like Gordon Johncock is to be content. He raced and excelled at it. He retired and put all things racing aside, then focused on his lumber business, shunning the spotlight. Johncock, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 1976 national champion, died last night at the age of 90.

Johncock had a stellar racing career in an era of auto racing superstars, competing with A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Johnny Rutherford. He competed on an equal footing and won his fair share of races. While he may bot have grabbed the headlines that Foyt or Andretti commanded, drivers knew Johncock was someone they would have to fight for a victory.

The first word that came to my mind to describe him was gritty. Johncock was a hard charging, no nonsense racer. A look at his results from his 1976 championship show one of the most consistent seasons in IndyCar history. Johncock won just two races, but he 12 podiums, 13 top fives, and just one DNF.

His career stats – 25 wins, 20 poles, and 2 Indianapolis 500 wins- stand among the best all time Johncock was one of the most consistent drivers in history. In addition to his 1976 championship, he had nine season finishes in the top five. Johncock was third int he standings three times. fourth twice, and fifth four times.

Indianapolis 500

Johncock had great success at Indianapolis with 11top 10 results, including eight top five finishes. He could have won more than twice. In 1966 he completed the 500 miles in less time on track than winner Graham Hill, but extended time in the pits cost him track position. In 1977 Johncock was leading when the crankshaft on his car broke on lap 184, handing Foyt his fourth Indianapolis win.

His two victories ironically stand out for very different reasons. The rain-delayed, rain shortened, tragedy filled race in 1973 was one of the most forgettable days in Speedway history, but his thrilling win over Rick Mears by 0.16 seconds. At the time that finish was the closest in 500 history. It still stands as the seventh closest finish.

Johncock has two other distinctions in his Speedway career. His fifth-place finish in 1965 was the last top five finish for a front engine roadster. Johncock’s win in 1982 made him the last winner of the Indianapolis 500 to have driven both a front engine and a rear engine car in their career.

There are now only three winners who driven front and rear engine cars- Foyt, Andretti, and Johnny Rutherford. Only Foyt had riven each type to victory at Indianapolis.

Fans were puzzled when Johncock retired briefly in 1985, but he returned in 1987 and competed through the 1992 race. He then reti4red quietly and returned to Michigan to run his lumber business. He described racing as “A job I once had.” Johncock seemed content to be away from racing. He was always direct, knew what he wanted, and knew when he had had enough. That’s a lesson some pro athletes today should learn from.

I saw on social media this morning that there are only nine drivers from the 1960s still living. Time catches up with all of us, and as I have said before, if you see one of these heroes at a track, stop, say hello and thanks. The opportunities to do so are quickly dwinding.

Two-Time Indy 500 Winner Johncock Dies at 90

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Editor’s Note: A sad day for the 500 community. My thoughts will be posted tomorrow.

From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Sept. 28, 2026) – Gordon Johncock, whose stirring drive late in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 earned him a second victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” died of natural causes Sept. 28 at his home in South Branch, Michigan. He was 90.

Born Aug. 5, 1936, in Hastings, Michigan, the lifelong resident of the state was the INDYCAR SERIES national champion in 1976 and won 25 races in the series. Yet, Johncock was known for winning both memorable and forgettable “500s,” each time driving for Patrick Racing.

Johncock’s duel with Rick Mears in the closing laps of the 1982 race was the most thrilling to that point, prompting renowned television broadcaster Jim McKay to claim he’d “never seen anything like it.”
Johncock masterfully covered Mears’ last-lap passing attempt in Turn 1, then outran the 1979 race winner to the finish line. Their margin at the checkered flag was a then-record .16 of a second, still the seventh closest ever

.Johncock later said he was fortunate to win as he hit an unfamiliar bump low in Turn 3 on the last lap that pushed his car up the track and gave Mears an opportunity to gain ground.

“I pretty near lost it,” he told The Indianapolis Star in 2016. “Ask Rick; he saw it (because) he was right there
“I had never run that low before in Turn 3, but I knew I had to if I was going to be able to stay in the throttle. It was just a little rougher down there than I expected.”

The 1973 “500” was one of tragedy and poor weather, with rain postponing the race two days. Johncock started 11th and grabbed his first lead on Lap 40, but soon after teammate Swede Savage and crew member Armando Teran were involved in separate horrifying accidents.

Johncock, who led 64 laps, was in front of Bill Vukovich II when rain ended the race on Lap 133. With the annual Victory Banquet canceled, Johncock and his Patrick crew “celebrated” with hamburgers at a local Burger Chef restaurant after visiting Savage in the hospital.

Johncock was able to properly celebrate following his 1982 victory, and Mears said he never felt so good finishing second.

“I remember thinking during the race that if we can’t win it would be great to see him win,” Mears said.

Said Johncock of watching replays of the duel with Mears, “It gives you goosebumps … (that) well, I did it again!”

After a successful stint as a sprint car racer, Johncock’s INDYCAR SERIES career began in 1964 with a dirt race in Springfield, Illinois, and it didn’t take him long to show his talent. Johncock finished fifth as a rookie in the 1965 “500” in a roadster, in a race that saw five rookies finish in the top nine. He won for the first time nine races later at the Milwaukee Mile. Johncock also scored the first of his 20 career poles that year.

Johncock started his own team in 1967, joining A.J. Foyt as the sport’s only owner/driver. Johncock won six races during that three-year span.

Johncock nearly won a few more Indianapolis 500s. He finished third in 1976 and 1978, and he was fourth on two other occasions (1966 and 1974).

In 1977, Johncock was leading Foyt, the eventual winner, with 16 laps remaining when his car’s crankshaft broke. He had led 129 laps.

Johncock’s career in the INDYCAR SERIES spanned 262 starts over 25 seasons. He actually retired twice, the first during the first week of “500” practice in 1985. He served on the IMS Radio Network for that race. Two years later, he replaced the injured Jim Crawford and finished 22nd.

Johncock’s last “500” was in 1992 after he retired on Lap 60 with engine failure. He finished 29th. His 24 starts in the race rank fifth among all drivers, tied with Johnny Rutherford and Scott Dixon.

Johncock led 339 laps in the Indianapolis 500, which stands 15th all time.

Johncock was one of the last living drivers to have competed in front- and rear-engine Indy cars.

He was successful in stock car racing, too, competing in 21 of NASCAR’s top-division races. He made three starts in the Daytona 500, qualifying fifth in 1973. He had three top-five finishes in NASCAR, highlighted by a fourth in the 1973 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway He also won a pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway that season.

After Johncock’s second retirement, he turned his focus to his timber business in South Branch, Michigan, located 200 miles north of Detroit. Johncock enjoyed such a quiet life away from racing that some employees were surprised to learn he had been a race car driver, much less a two-time Indy 500 winner.

Johncock kept most of his racing memorabilia in his basement, although his two winner’s plaques have shared a wall with artwork of the 1982 win, the race’s checkered flag and a stuffed deer head in his living room.

He seldom attended the “500” after retiring.

“It was a job I used to have,” Johncock said of racing.

“Now I have a different job.”

Johncock was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.Johncock is survived by his wife, Sue; three daughters (Patsy, Pamilee, Peggy), two sons (Gordon Jr., Wally); stepdaughter (Valerie); and 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. 
 

 Indianapolis 500 Folk Hero ‘Jigger’ Sirois Dies at 91

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From IMS.

Editor’s note: I was at the track that day in 1969. It was as dramatic as a bumping run.

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026) – Leon Duray “Jigger” Sirois, who became part of Indianapolis 500 folklore by nearly earning an improbable pole for the 1969 race, died Sept. 23. He was 91.
Sirois, a native of Shelby, Indiana, made no starts in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” despite attempting to qualify every year from 1969-75. But his close call at earning the top starting spot in unique circumstances in May 1969 became a legendary story in the history of the world’s greatest race.

Midget car standout Sirois drew first in line to attempt to qualify on Pole Day, May 17, 1969, in the No. 14 Gerhardt-Offenhauser owned by California car dealer Myron Caves. After a long rain delay, Sirois entered the 2.5-mile oval late in the afternoon to make the first four-lap qualification attempt of the day.
His first three laps ranged between 160 and 162 mph, but Caves waved off the final lap of the run due to a perceived lack of speed, negating the run. Moments later, Arnie Knepper began his qualifying attempt, but rain began to fall during his warmup laps and continued, washing out all track activity for the rest of the weekend.
If Sirois’ final lap had not been waved off, he would have been the lone qualifier of the weekend and have sat on the coveted provisional pole for that week, perhaps even holding it through Bump Day the next weekend and starting the race from the top spot. Sirois’ second and third attempts the next weekend also were waved off due to lack of speed or mechanical problems, and he didn’t qualify for the race.
Qualification rules were changed in 1971 to guarantee all cars in line on the first day of qualifying at least one chance to make the field during the first round, ending any chance of another “Jigger” story.

Sirois continued to attempt to qualify for the “500” every year through 1975, including the sluggish Jack Adams Turbine in 1970. It was the last qualifying attempt ever for the Indianapolis 500 by a turbine-engine car. He was the second alternate for the 1974 race, falling just short of making the field.
The failure to qualify at Indianapolis belied Sirois’ skill at many levels of open-wheel racing.
Sirois failed to qualify for the five USAC Champ Car races he entered in 1967 driving for team owner Bob Cavanaugh. But he attracted strong attention from Indianapolis 500 car owners in 1968 after he was forced to withdraw from the inaugural USAC Champ Car race at Michigan International Speedway due to clutch failure while running as high as second in low-budget equipment.
He made 10 USAC Champ Car starts, with a best finish of fifth in 1969 at Phoenix. He also finished third – in a turbine-engine car – behind winner A.J. Foyt and Knepper in the rain-shortened Ted Horn Memorial USAC National Dirt Car Championship race in September 1972 at DuQuoin, Illinois.

.Sirois enjoyed the most success in midgets, primarily racing around the Chicago area. He won four championships in 1961, including the UARA midget title. He was inducted into the National Midget Racing Hall of Fame in 2013
.One of the most popular veteran drivers, Sirois returned to IMS in May frequently to meet fans and media members, always well-liked for his geniality and courtesy. His sportsmanship surrounding the fateful decision to wave off his 1969 qualifying attempt – he never once blamed Caves or his crew – led the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) to create the annual “Jigger Award” to honor the year’s “hard luck” driver during qualifying. Sirois was the first recipient in 1969.

Sirois was born into the sport. His father, Earl “Frenchy” Sirois, was a longtime Indianapolis 500 mechanic who worked on the winning cars of Lee Wallard, Sam Hanks and Jimmy Bryan during his 40-year career. Sirois was named after two-time “500” pole winner Leon Duray.
The legendary nickname “Jigger” referred to two-time Indy 500-winning riding mechanic Jigger Johnson, a family friend. Sirois’ older sister also called him by that name.
Sirois suffered from a stutter that began during a tornado scare near his hometown of Shelby when he was 3 years old. He began to manage his stutter in his mid-60s after receiving speech therapy and worked tirelessly to promote awareness and treatment of stuttering disorders in youth. 
 

Historic Season Unleashes New Era of Growth for NTT INDYCAR SERIES 

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026) – The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season was historic, record-breaking and game-changing for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. From massive audience gains to soaring attendance, booming digital engagement and world-class competition, the series leaped forward into a new position of prominence and impact across the sporting landscape

.“This is an incredible new era for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, defined by growth, energy and momentum,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “Our partnership with FOX Sports has raised the bar for our sport, and in turn we’ve invested in new events and opportunities to accelerate our already immense progress. Alongside our teams and partners, our commitment to maintain and expand one of the fastest growth curves in all of sports is unmatched.”

A look at the season, by the facts and numbers:

Surging Viewership

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES reached an average audience of 1.68 million viewers on FOX across an 18-race schedule. This represents the largest average viewership in almost two decades, dating back to the 2008 season. In total, nine races saw an average audience of more than 1 million viewers, also the most since the 2008 season.
The historic Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. provided particularly stellar viewership, reaching a peak audience of 3.5 million people. This was the highest tune-in for a non-Indy 500 race since 1995. With all coverage on FOX combined, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES made a record 23 appearances on broadcast television in 2026.

Rising Attendance

Race weekend attendance increased by approximately 20 percent, benchmarked by another grandstand sellout at the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and a massive crowd of 215,000 people across the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race weekend.

Additional highlights included a record-breaking weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and a record-tying weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. INDYCAR’s return to Phoenix Raceway resulted in doubled Saturday attendance for the promoter and additional buzz surrounding an action-packed motorsport weekend. The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington also declared a grandstand sellout on race morning, highlighting incredible interest in the new event powered by a joint venture between INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment.

Impressive Digital GainsINDYCAR’s social channels reached new heights in 2026, led by notable milestones in engagement and video consumption. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge delivered the most popular digital day in NTT INDYCAR SERIES history, with more than 1.5 million engagements. In addition, there were more than 250 million video views across social and digital channels, also a new record.
The INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA delivered a record-breaking performance in 2026 with the highest-ever average race day users across the season and a nearly 20 percent increase in screen views compared to 2025. The immersive relationship with NTT also celebrated a monumental moment in May, as NTT, Inc., together with NTT DATA Group Corporation, announced continued sponsorship of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES
.INDYCAR’s YouTube channel saw significant growth for the 2026 season with a 58 percent increase in watch time, a 41 percent increase in view duration and a nearly 70 percent growth in livestream views.
The new, digital-first docuseries “ALL IN: INDYCAR” also expanded the sport’s dedicated shoulder programming and reached a new and younger audience. Produced by INDYCAR in tandem with FOX Sports and Tom Brady’s Shadow Lion, “ALL IN: INDYCAR” racked up more than 6 million views on YouTube, averaging almost 500,000 views an episode.

Merchandise Sales Soar

NTT INDYCAR SERIES merchandise flew off the shelves across the season, with a nearly 40 percent increase in race weekend sales. The series set a new non-Indy 500 sales record in Arlington, only to break it months later on the streets of Washington. New and expanded lines were unveiled with brands such as Homefield, True Brand, Flag & Anthem, Under Armour, Travis Matthew, Lululemon and more.

World-Class Competition

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES once again featured intense, high-speed drama and competition, powered by a global field of elite drivers. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, at just 29 years old, became the youngest five-time champion in INDYCAR SERIES history. Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian’s Felix Rosenqvist earned his first Indy 500 victory in the closest finish in the race’s storied century-plus history.Competition remained fierce throughout the 18-race schedule, with eight different drivers winning races and a record 20 drivers making at least one Firestone Fast Six qualifying appearance. In total, nine different race teams were represented on the podium in 2026

.IR-28 Unveiled

With momentum on its side, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES also showcased its commitment to the future with the unveiling of the IR-28 car that will be introduced for the start of the 2028 season. Lighter, faster and built to break track records, the IR-28 will encourage more wheel-to-wheel action through improved raceability, while its innovative and modern design will also engage a new generation of fans.

“The IR-28 unveil was a massive milestone for the sport, and it has been incredible to get so much positive feedback from both our drivers and our fans,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said.
“To capitalize on our momentum, we need to be constantly innovating and look toward the future, and the IR-28 reflects our commitment to this mindset.”

The IR-28 also showcases the continued commitment of Chevy and Honda as INDYCAR’s Official Engine Manufacturers (OEM). The 2026 calendar year started with news that both partners had committed to new OEM agreements running multiple years, reflecting the upward trajectory of the sport and continued investments in its growth

.Stay tuned for more NTT INDYCAR SERIES updates as the sport turns the page on the 2026 season and prepares for an action-packed and highly anticipated 2027. 

From yesterday on this site:

Battle on the Bricks- Some Thoughts

Battle on the Bricks- Some Thoughts

thepitwindow

IMSA put on quite a show yesterday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I watch IMSA and I know the drivers and cars, but I don’t follow the series intently or go to enough races to fully understand the series. If some of these observations seem naive, I apologize. I do know racing, and here are some of my observations from Sunday.

Close Margins

What a tough loss for the 31 team. It was their race to win until it wasn’t Earl Bamber took the lead about 40 minutes into the race, and the Cadillac still led after Jack Aitken took the reins. A great move by Sheldon van der Linde with three laps to go got the BMW in front and won by 2.926 seconds.

Laurin Heinrich drove a valiant race in the number 6 Penske Porsche, pushing to third place from fifth on the final restart, but the car seemed to struggle in traffic, giving him little chance to contend with BMW and Cadillac. The best part of the day for Heionrich was minimizing the points loss to Aitken and Bamber. Heinrich trails by 147 going into the final race of the season at the petit Le Mans. While it’s a tall order, the nighttime hours at Michelin Raceway tend to get pretty wild.

The most decisive class victory was in LMP2, where IndyCar driver Christian Rasmussen and Nick Boulle won by 24.953 seconds.

Lost in all the attention the series places on its top GTP class, were terrific battles in GTD Pro and GTD. The GTD Preo fight came down to the last lap in an All-American shootout between Ford and Chevy. The Ford Mustang driven by Dan Olsen edged the Corvette of Nick Catsburg by 0.993 seconds. The two made contact forcing Catsburg off track in the final moments.

In GTD the Turner Motorsport BMW driven by Patrick Ward and Robby Foley edged the Mercedes from Winward Racing driven by Russell Ward and Phillip Ellis by just half a second.

Notes

The six lap accident in turn 1 appeared to have been precipitated by the sloppy start of the prototype group. I don’t know what the start rules are in IMSA, but it sure looked like cars broke formation early.

The wreck ruined the days of several contenders including the number 7 Porsche in GTP, and the 99 in LMP2. The 99 got the worst of the wreck. I have never seen so many shards after contact. The car did return to action, finishing 8th in class and 40th overall.

2026 IndyNXT by Firestone champion Nikita Johnson had a tough break. Johnson was leading GTD Pro with just a few laps left when his McLaren needed to stop for a splash of fuel. He fell to eigthh in class.

While IMS reported a record attendance for this event, it seemed to me that the crowd was smaller than the 2025 attendance. From my vantage point on the turn 2 mounds, my area and the turn 1 mound seemed much more sparsely populated than they did a year ago. A friend who watched the race from home had the same observation. The suites must have been packed.

While the GTP battle for the l;e3ad was compelling, IMSA and its television partners need to give significantly more attention to the other classes. The battle for the GTD Pro victory was a classic door banging rumble which few saw live. Spread the coverage around more.

The Proper Length?

Since sports car racing returned to IMS in 2023, we have seen two six-hour races sandwiched between two two-hour, 40-minutes events. Which is the proper length for the race at IMS?

Each distance has its own merits, but i prefer the shorte3r race. I found it more intriguing and intense. The six-hour contests were fun in a different way, but the first two thirds had many lulls.

The 160-minute race has more of a sense of urgency to it, which I enjoy. My preference for the shorter length may stem from my open wheel background, where defined length events have a constant intensity where every second counts.

As I left the tr4ack yesterday afternoon, I bid a reluctant farewell to IMS for 2026, set for another icy Indiana winter to come and go, and to wait for May to once again bring the hallowed ground to life.