Category: Auto Racing

Zanardi Update: Injuries Less Severe than Schumacher’s

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A glimmer of good news tonight during what is already a tumultuous week in motorsports. In an article published today in Autoweek, the doctor who performed the surgery on two time CART champion Alex Zanardi, Giuseppe Oliveri, said that Zanardi’s injuries are less than the injuries suffered by Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher’s family and representatives have given no information on his condition since his skiing accident in 2013.  I was shocked that Schumacher’s injury was that long ago.

This does not mean Zanardi will fully recover. His prognosis won’t be known until he wakes up from his medically induced coma. Zanardi will remain in the coma until at least next week. The doctor believes his excellent physical shape is in his favor as far as recovery.

I find it ironic that Schumacher and Zanardi drove race cars for as long as they did and then suffer injuries in non auto racing activities. Of course Zanardi did survive losing both legs in a racing incident.

Karam to Enter GMR Grand Prix

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Per Dreyer and Reinhold this morning, Sage Karam will drive the Wix Filters car in the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4

The team had announced a four race program for 2020. Their plans, like those of almost every one else, have been altered by the Coronavirus..

The announcement from their Twitty account:

BREAKING: We are pleased to announce that @SageKaram will be driving the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the black and yellow WIX Filters car. We are estatic to make our first road course start since 2013.
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#WIXFilters #WIXIndy #DrivenByDRR
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@wixfilters @mecum https://t.co/7sbGym0Qun

Television Times and Channels for July NTT Indycar Series Races

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As the Indycar series ramps up for its first set of races- Five races in 15 days, NBC Sports now has set coverage times and channels. There will be no fans at the GMR Grand Prix. Road America and Iowa will have fans in attendance.

Iowa will put 6,00 tickets on sale this coming Friday at 10 am ET. I kindly request that you wait until I have purchased mine before you get online. Thanks in advance.

The schedule:

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Zanardi’s Condition ‘Extremely Serious’

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Photo from @CGRTteams Twitter account

Two time CART champion Alex Zanardi remains in “very serious” condition after an accident during a hand bike race yesterday in Italy. Zanardi collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction.

The two time CART champion underwent a nearly three hour surgery Friday night and was then moved to an ICU unit. The injuries were facial and neurological.

Zanardi lost both his legs in an accident in 2001 at Lausitzring in Germany during a CART race. His car spun on cold tires leaving the pits, and he was T-boned by a car at full speed. It was the first time a driver survived an accident involving the lower limbs being severed.

Zanardi become an Olympic champion in the paraOlympics, winning four gold medals in the hand bike events. He also did some car racing. In 2019 Zanardi drove a specially equipped BMW in the Rolex 24. He drove a brilliant stint during the early morning rainstorm.

Watch for updates this weekend.

Larson ‘s 8th Straight Win; Iowa Thoughts

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My first trip to Lincoln Park Speedway won’t be my last. Watching Kyle Larson come from 15th to win his eighth straight dirt race was as great a drive as I’ve seen. he used the heat race and the B Main races to learn the track. Larson used the high line in turn four and drove an elliptical pattern, going low into turn one. The move allowed him to make passes easily. It was definitely the quickest way around the track.

Larson was in third by the halfway point of the 30 lap feature. A red flag for Jason McDougal’s  flipped his car allowed him to get in position to take the lead soon after the restart. Larson and pole sitter Tanner Thorson had a great battle for the lead, swapping the point on lap 20. Larson took the lead for good on lap 22.

I was impressed by this track. It is a well maintained track with clean facilities. The program was very well organized. I liked the track exit and entry paths and the fact that the cars are push started off the track. It was nice not seeing trucks and cars on the racing surface as the midgets were warming up and getting pushed off.

I think turn 4 is one of the best corners I’ve seen on a dirt track.

The attendance was limited to 50% capacity, although it seemed to be a larger crowd than that. Very few people wore masks and distancing was a bit of an issue.  Track officials stopped ticket sales as they approached 3,000.

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Fans at Iowa

Last night Iowa Speedway announced that fans would be allowed to attend the Indycar races July 17 and 18 at the Newton track.

The full announcement:

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/90591962/posts/2764759036

Go to the track’s website and look at the FAQ for more information.

Limited ticket sales begin next Friday. I’m not sure what the limit is. Tickets already sold will be honored. There will be no paddock passes or fan walk passes.

This is a fair compromise and allows fans to see racing at one of the most fun tracks on the schedule. I’m not sure we can read anything into this regarding the Indianapolis 500 in August. The trend for the races allowing fans is no infield access. That may continue at Indianapolis.

 

 

INDYCAR To Welcome Fans for July 17-18 Iowa Speedway Race Weekend

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From Indycar:
Event To Follow State Guidelines for INDYCAR Doubleheader/ARCA Race Weekend;
Limited Remaining Tickets To Go on Sale June 26INDIANAPOLIS (June 18, 2020) – INDYCAR will welcome fans to Iowa Speedway for the upcoming July 17-18 race weekend featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Iowa 250 races and the ARCA Menards Series race.

Under the guidance of public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal authorities, INDYCAR and Iowa Speedway will observe safe social distancing and provide enhanced hygiene and safety precautions for all fans in attendance at the event. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for the upcoming race weekend with each group of fans in attendance separated by at least 6 feet of distancing at Iowa Speedway, in order to align with Iowa state COVID-19 guidelines.
All previously purchased tickets for the July 17 and 18 race weekend will be honored by Iowa Speedway, including season tickets. Seating will be reassigned for all existing ticketholders in order to follow safe social distancing guidelines. Ticketholders will be notified about their specific seat locations in the coming days, and tickets will either be emailed or printed and distributed beginning July 1. A limited number of remaining tickets for the race weekend will then go on sale Friday, June 26, and fans will be able to secure their seats online through www.iowaspeedway.com  or by phone at 866-787-8946.

Single-day tickets start as low as $15 for Friday, July 17 and $20 for Saturday, July 18, while all two-day ticket packages include a 10% discount. Tickets to the Iowa Speedway luxury hospitality suites will also be available for purchase, along with weekend camping and parking options. Safe social distancing protocols will also be in place for suite ticketholders and for all of the camping options at Iowa Speedway.

The July race weekend will feature two full points races for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on back-to-back nights – the Iowa INDYCAR 250s. Friday, July 17 will include the high-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars competing in the first of two 250-mile races under the lights at Iowa Speedway. On Saturday, July 18, ticketholders will enjoy the ARCA Menards Series Shore Lunch 150 in the afternoon, followed by the second Iowa INDYCAR 250 race that evening.

As part of the enhanced health and safety measures for the event weekend, all guests will be screened in their vehicles with contactless temperature checks before entering the parking areas and only essential racing personnel will have access to the infield. Hand sanitizer and face coverings will be distributed to each guest when they enter the track, and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures will be implemented throughout the facility over the course of the weekend.

Additional protocols and guidelines for guests planning to attend can be found at www.iowaspeedway.com, along with pricing and seating options. A limited number of available tickets will be placed on sale beginning at 9 a.m. CT Friday, June 26 through the website or by calling 866-787-8946.

About INDYCAR:
INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series known as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including five-time series champion Scott Dixon, reigning series champion Josef Newgarden and defending Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The season, which runs from June to October, currently consists of 14 races in the United States and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, which is annually run in May, but rescheduled for August at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com.

Road America Welcomes Fans; Urges Precautions

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Road America is set to be the first NTT Indycar Series race of the season to welcome fans. The track held their June Sprints last weekend and used it as a trial run for the Indycar race. I just purchased my ticket last night. Fans are cautioned on the website:

WARNING – ENTER VENUE AT YOUR OWN RISK. FACILITY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY:

FOLLOW ALL CDC RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES.

PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. PLEASE MAINTAIN SIX-FEET FROM ONE ANOTHER AT ALL TIMES.

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH.

WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING OVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH (where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain).

UTILIZE HAND WASHING AND SANITIZING STATIONS REGULARLY.

WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER IF YOU FEEL ILL, HAVE A FEVER OR COUGH, OR ARE SHORT OF BREATH.

WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITHIN THE LAST 14 DAYS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19.

IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL HISTORY THAT PLACES YOU IN A HIGH-RISK CATEGORY FOR COVID-19, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT ENTER.

Even with these precautions in place, Road America cannot eliminate all risk associated with COVID-19. By choosing to make use of this facility, guests are assuming the risk that they may contract COVID-19 at the facility despite Road America’s best efforts to provide a clean and safe environment. By entering the facility, you are acknowledging that you are releasing the owner and all sanctioning/participating parties of liability.

I hope everyone complies and stays safe. Success at Road America may determine how many more races fans will be allowed to,watch in person the rest of the year.

More information on the track’s plans can be found in Marshall Pruett’s article in Racer magazine from yesterday. the link:

June Sprints success key to IndyCar fan welcome at Road America

From the piece, it sounds as if no decision has yet been made about whether the paddock will open to fans. I really don’t think it should be. Minimum contact contact needs to be the first rule of the weekend. If you’re upset about not having paddock access, remember you still get to see two races at Road America on the same weekend. I would trade paddock access for another race at any track.

Iowa Status

Per Robin Miller from his “Mailbag” this morning, an announcement concerning the double header at Iowa will be coming Friday.

Fan Attendance Update

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As rstrictions for COVID-19 begin to lift, here is an update of where different tracks are on allowing fans. This information is current as of today. Things could change as each race approaches. If you have tickets to a certain track, keep an eye on your email from that venue.

Road America looks like it will be the first Indycar track to host fans for the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader July 11 and 12. Their website now carries a warning that you enter the track at your own risk. Road America will not be held responsible for you contracting the virus at the track.

Iowa lists the Indycar doubleheader on July 17 and 18 but is not selling tickets.

Mid Ohio, Gateway, Portland , and Laguna Seca all have tickets for sale for their Indycar events.

The IMS website has no ticket information for the Harvest Grand Prix. Could they be waiting to see if the Indianapolis 500 runs in August?

What we know for sure is that fans can attend Road America and the Indianapolis 500 if it runs this year. I thought I thought I had heard that the state of Oregon had a ban on large gatherings through September 30, which would eliminate Portland for fans.

if you live near any of the scheduled Indycar tracks and can provide any additional information, I would love to hear from you so I can provide further updates.