The Pit Window by Mike Silver

IROC Reborn- Will it Work?

January 9, 2024 thepitwindow

Yesterday’s news that Ray Evernham and Rob Kaufman purchased IROC, the International Race of Champions, excit4ed me. I loved the old IROC series. It was fun to watch.

For 2024, just one race with historic IROC cars is scheduled. Evernham owns several, and the race might be with the machines in his collection. No future plans were announced.

IROC ran from 1973-2006, and was owned by Les Richter, Roger Penske, and Mike Phelps. Until 1991 the schedule included at least one road race, but was exclusively an oval series from 1992 forward.

Mark Donohue won the first championship. Other champions included A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Mark martin, and Tony Stewart.

While drivers from Indycar, Nascar, and Formula 1 participated, in its later years the series became heavy with nascar drivers, who dominated the championships. Al Unser, Jr. was the last non nascar champion in 1988.

The revived series enters an extremely busy racing calendar, and will need to carve i out its own niche. Tony Stewart’s Superstar Racing Experience has been very successful. How will IROC be different?

The former iteration had active drivers in competition, while SRX employs mainly retired or semi-retired drivers with an occasional active guest star. Today’s drivers seem busier than they have ever been. Will they have time to participate in IROC? I can’t see how Kyle Larson can fit one more thing into jis calendar.

IROC ran mainly as a support race for many nascar events. Will they can continue to do this? Would IROC run at an Indycar event, perhaps on Carb Day at IMS? Or will they go the s=weeknight route as SRX does?

I think a weekday might work best for them if the series decides not to be a support race series again. , which would mean a night series, and a schedule that begins and ends either before or after the SRX season.

Whatever IROC decides, I am thrilled to see this series come back. It means more racing, and perhaps nmore exposure for Indycar.

Movie Review- Ferrari

January 4, 2024 thepitwindow

Photo image from Ferrari movie page

Ferrari focuses on one year, 1957, in the turbulent life of Enzo Ferrari. His only son, Dino, died the previous year. His marriage to Laura is on shaky ground due to his philandering. He has a son with his mistress, ad she is pressuring him to acknowledge him publicly. Also, according to the film, his car company is in financial peril.

Ferrari is portrayed as a cold hearted, prideful man who believes people are expendable. The town of Maranello treats him as a godlike figure. Even the priest praises him during mass, calling him a carpenter who works in metal.

There are two stories in the film-one involving the racing business, and the other about Ferrari’s personal life.

When Maserati brings driver Jean Behra to the local track to set a track record, Ferrari immediately brings his driver, Luigi Castellotti out to reclaim the honor. Castellotti dies in the attempt in a crash scene that is a bit exaggerated.

Ferrari immediately hires Alfonso de Portago on the spot because he now needs a driver.

Ferrari’s financial advisers tell him that he needs to win the Mille Miglia to avoid bankruptcy, and that the company needs to produce more passenger cars to stay solvent. They point to Jaguar as a successful car company that also races.

Ferrari’s response is “Jaguar races to sell cars. I sell cars to race.” I believe in reality that Ferrari was a better businessman than that.

We see the beginnings of what led to war with Ford six years later as Ferrari tells a reporter to write a false story saying that Ford has made an offer to buy his company so that he can extract a higher offer from Fiat.

The action in the Mille Miglia was great. It was fun to see the Maseratis and Ferraris of that era running again. Some of the cars were the real cars, and others were fabricated faithfully to resemble the actual vehicles.

The tragic crash during the race was handled about as gently as it could have been but it wis still horrific. Be prepared. I knew it was coming and it is still frightening.

On the domestic side, Laura Ferrari, played by Penelope Cruz in one of her best performances ever controls the company’s finance. She has a quiet anger, partly due to the death of her son, and partly because of Enzo’s wandering.

His mistress, Lina Lardi, continues to press Enzo to acknowledge their son publicly, making him the heir to the Ferrari company. He is reluctant to make the move for fear of angering Laura.

Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari and Penelope Cruz as Laura do outstanding work. I felt that Cruz really stole the show. Some of the racing scenes were very good, although the shots of a crowd of cars racing together through a small town were not realistic. The Mille Miglia began rally style, and the cars were never that close to each other.

I really liked the film, and I suggest that if you haven’t seen it yet, please read about the 1957 Mille Miglia before you go. Preparation for the scene near the end of the race will help.

Gil de Ferran- Racer, Gentleman

December 31, 2023 thepitwindow

A slow trickle of news Friday night soon became a tsunami of shock and grief, followed by a wave of tributes to Gil de Ferran, who died of a heart attack that afternoon. I was among those in disbelief.

I expected that I would need to write another obituary column at some point before I retire this column, but this was not one I thought I’d be writing. To be honest, I hope I don’t have to do another one while this space is active. I think that is what makes this such a shock.

de Ferran was 56, 20 years removed from racing in Indycar, and had built a great post driving career as a team owner, manager, and consultant. Everyone like de Ferran, known to be a class individual outside the car. He drove with a will to win, as evidenced by his two Indycar titles and the 2003 Indianapolis 500 victory.

I thought he was under appreciated as a driver, drowned out by the feats of fellow Brazilians Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan. In addition to his 12 Indycar wins, de Ferran had three top 10s in four Indianapolis 500s.

His closed course one lap record of 241.428 miles an hour, set in October 2000, at California Speedway, may never be broken. de Ferran’s ALMS Acura team won five races in 2009, including four in a row.

As I have said before, do not miss an opportunity to tell your heroes how much you appreciate them. many of them are at a track or two during the season. Also hug your loved ones.

Statements on Passing of Indy 500 Winner, INDYCAR SERIES Champion de Ferran

December 30, 2023 thepitwindow

2003 Indianapolis 500 Winner de Ferran Dies at 56

December 29, 2023 thepitwindow

From IMS. My thoughts will be up later this weekend.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 29, 2023) – Gil de Ferran, who won the 2003 Indianapolis 500 and two INDYCAR SERIES championships, died suddenly after a brief illness Dec. 29 near his home in Florida. He was 56.
De Ferran edged Team Penske teammate and fellow Brazilian Helio Castroneves in a scintillating finish in the 2003 edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” earning his victory by .2990 of a second after passing Castroneves for good on Lap 170. De Ferran earned his sole “500” victory in the last of his four career starts in the race, as he retired as a driver after the 2003 INDYCAR SERIES season.
While de Ferran denied close friend Castroneves a record-setting third consecutive “500” win in 2003, de Ferran’s drive to victory circle was the third straight Indy win for Team Penske. He also finished runner-up behind Castroneves in 2001.
The Indianapolis 500 victory was the zenith of a remarkable career that also included INDYCAR SERIES championships under CART sanction in 2000 and 2001 while driving for Team Penske. In both seasons, de Ferran used a combination of speed, consistency and racecraft to win the championship despite not being the driver with the most victories. That encapsulated the meticulous, analytical approach to his craft that de Ferran showed during his entire career.
De Ferran ended his INDYCAR SERIES driving career with 12 victories and 21 poles, with his final win coming in his last career start, on Oct. 12, 2003, at Texas Motor Speedway. His first victory came as a rookie in 1995 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca while driving for Hall/VDS Racing. He earned CART Rookie of the Year honors in 1995.
The Brazilian moved from Hall/VDS to Walker Racing in 1997 after Hall/VDS owner Jim Hall retired from the sport. De Ferran finished second in the CART standings in 1997 despite going winless that season. But he still gained notoriety that year by finishing second to Mark Blundell at Portland International Raceway by .027 of a second, the closest result ever in a CART-sanctioned event.
De Ferran’s career blossomed when he joined Team Penske for the 2000 season, pairing with Castroneves for the next four seasons. He won the first of his two-straight championships and made racing history during qualifying at California Speedway when he set the closed-course land speed record with a lap of 241.428 mph, a mark that stands today. De Ferran also earned Team Penske its 100th INDYCAR SERIES career victory in 2000 at Nazareth Speedway.
After his INDYCAR SERIES career, de Ferran mixed driving in sports cars and his budding career in team management with his usual blend of courtesy and class.
He joined the BAR-Honda Formula One team as sporting director in 2005, remaining in that role until 2007. Then de Ferran returned to the cockpit in 2008 in a factory-backed Acura LMP2 prototype in the American Le Mans Series as the owner-driver of his team, de Ferran Motorsports, sharing the wheel with future INDYCAR SERIES champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud.
The team climbed to the premier LMP1 prototype class as an Acura factory team in 2009, with five victories and seven poles en route to a runner-up finish in the standings.
De Ferran retired as a driver after the 2009 season and co-owned de Ferran Dragon Racing in the INDYCAR SERIES through 2011. During this time, de Ferran also served as a team owners’ representative on the ICONIC committee that evaluated designs for the next generation of INDYCAR SERIES chassis, with his immense technical and managerial acumen adding greatly to the process.
In July 2018, de Ferran was named sporting director for McLaren Racing in Formula One, a role he held until early 2021. In May 2023, he also was rehired by McLaren as a consultant and advisor.
De Ferran started racing in karting in Brazil, where he moved as a toddler with his family after being born in Paris. He advanced through junior open-wheel formulas in Brazil before moving to Great Britain to race.
He finished third in the 1991 British Formula 3 championship, behind only future F1 race winners Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard. In 1992, de Ferran won the British F3 title for Paul Stewart Racing with seven victories. He raced in Formula 3000 (now Formula 2, one step below F1) in 1993 and 1994 for Paul Stewart Racing, finishing tied for fourth in 1993 and third in 1994 before moving to America to race in 1995.
De Ferran is survived by his wife, Angela, whom he met when she worked for Paul Stewart Racing; daughter, Anna; and son, Luke.

Happy Holidays from The Pit Window

December 21, 2023 thepitwindow1 Comment

It’s been a year. At times it seemed as if I spent as much time in medical facilities as I did at racetracks. Everything is fine now. I still attended 10 Indycar races, a seven year low for me; the BC39, and three IMSA races- the Rolex 24, Sebring, and the inaugural Battle on the Bricks at IMS.

While I didn’t think the racing on track was as good as it was in 2022, there was lots of off-track drama to spice the up the summer. Silly Season has created even more drama which will take some time to resolve. It will be interesting see how it all will turn out.

My in-person schedule will somewhat make up for the races I missed last season. I plan to be there for 12 Indycar races, including the two double headers. I will go to Sebring and the Battle on the Bricks. I have not decided about the Rolex 24 because…

I am going to LeMans!

The granddaddy of 24-hour races has been on my bucket list since before there were bucket lists.

I want to thank all of you who took time to read this space this year. I also want to thank the media directors of the tracks, and the media staff at IMS and Indycar for allowing me space during race weekends.

Have a happy holiday season. Unless something crazy happens next week, I will see you after the first of the year.

The Pit Window will head to inter headquarters around January 7.

Iowa Sets Concert Lineup

December 18, 2023 thepitwindow

HyVee Indycar Weekend at Iowa Speedway this summer will feature just two concerts instead of the four that supported the double headers in 2022 and 2023.

The announcement from Iowa Speedway:

2024 CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT

Award-winning artists Luke Combs and Post Malone will lead the star-studded entertainment lineup for next summer’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend, July 12-14, 2024. Entering its third year in 2024, Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend brings capacity crowds to Iowa Speedway for a turbocharged blend of thrilling racing, world-class live music and three days of fun and excitement.

Want to celebrate the Hy-Vee #INDYCAR Race Weekend? Buy your tickets NOW for 2024 and catch night racing, award-winning musical artists and so much more. Don’t miss out!

Act now for the best seats at the lowest remaining prices of the year! We are excited to return to Iowa Speedway in 2024 with three days full of amazing concerts, thrilling racing, and great food. Prices will increase closer to Race Weekend.

Newgarden Joins the Immortals

December 16, 2023 thepitwindow

It was an event fitting for the occasion. The unveiling of the most recent Indianapolis 500 winner’s face on the Borg Warner trophy each December has become akin to the coronation of a new ruler of England. The winner is known in May, then in December his likeness is officially placed on the trophy.

The reveal event has evolved over the years. The first one I attended was in 2016. It was a low key affair. Alexander Rossi spent some time with a group of fans before his face was shown on the Borg Warner trophy. Before Covid, these little affairs were held at the IMS Museum.

In 2022, Marcus Ericsson saw his image in sterling at a luncheon near downtown, followed by a nice buffet lunch. Last night, i think IMS may havefound a permanent home to honor its reigning champion.

The trophy stood in all its grandeur with a 1914 Stutz Bearcat in the background.

The Stutz Museum hosted the event. Attendees sat among classic Stutz automobiles, including a 1973 Stutz Black Hawk.

I think some of the cars were removed to accommodate last night’s event.

Newgarden’s image is one of the better ones in recent years. His features stand out, and you can tell who it is. Too many of the recent winners’ faces seem to have sameness about them.

Newgarden is still overwhelmed by his victory. You can hear it in his voice as he speaks about last May. He hopes to attend this end of year event again as the honoree.

“As soon as you win the Indy 500, you want to win it again,” he said.

The Stutz Museum is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm, Thursday Friday form 4pm – 8 pm. Admission is free and is open to the public. It is a good idea to check before going in case it is closed for a private event.

Indy 500 Winner Newgarden Unveils Image on Borg-Warner Trophy

December 16, 2023 thepitwindow

From Indycar. I will have a follow up story with more photos later this morning.

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Dec. 15, 2023) – 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Dec. 15 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he won his first Indy 500 on May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Newgarden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, earned his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. This was the 19th Indy 500 victory for Team Penske.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Stutz Museum. Located in downtown Indianapolis, the Stutz Museum is a boutique car museum showcasing rare classic cars alongside Indianapolis automotive history.
The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Newgarden is the 110th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936.
“It’s a tremendous honor to even compete in the Indy 500,” Newgarden said.
“Having my face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the coolest parts about winning the race. I already had a lot of respect for the trophy, but learning about the process and how detailed it is, it’s incredible what (sculptor) Will Behrends does each year.
“Finally seeing the finished product is very special. I thought I knew what it would be like to win the ‘500,’ but there’s a deeper appreciation than you can imagine.”
Renowned sculptor Behrends created Newgarden’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.Behrends begins his creative process by studying a series of 360-degree photos of the winner to get a baseline for sculpting.
Newgarden then visited Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session where Behrends constructs a full-scale clay model of the driver’s face.
This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before adhering it to the trophy.
“It is my absolute honor, on behalf of BorgWarner, to unveil Josef’s image on the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy today,” said Michelle Collins, global director of marketing and public relations, BorgWarner.
“This solidifies Josef’s place in history as one of the few who have conquered the tremendous feat of winning the Indianapolis 500. We extend our congratulations to Josef and Team Penske and also our thanks to our sculptor Will Behrends, who makes this all a reality.”
Originally designed in 1935, the sterling silver trophy measures over 5 feet, 4-3/4 inches tall and weighs more than 110 pounds as it carries the sculpted face of every victor since 1911.
Early next year, Newgarden will receive his BorgWarner Championships Driver’s Trophy, also known as the “Baby Borg,” a miniature replica of the large-scale Borg-Warner Trophy.
Tickets for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.