McIntosh Finally Finds Victory Lane in BC39 at IMS

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From IMS:

Rookie Drake Earns Initial USAC Win in First Feature of Doubleheader

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024) – Relief and joy came in equal measures Sunday night for Cannon McIntosh at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.McIntosh passed pole sitter Chase McDermand on the final lap of the 39-lap feature to win the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors, a USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship race delayed by rain for one day.
McIntosh had finished second in the BC39 in 2022, in a preliminary feature race in 2023 and in the prelim feature Thursday night on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 at IMS.
“We’ve been so close to winning here, even on prelim nights, and haven’t got it done,” McIntosh said. “I knew I was good enough there. It was hard to get a rhythm and find your way. When someone got a good run on the outside, I had to move around a little bit. I just stayed patient. I knew I had the car to do it.”
Jade Avedisian finished second to Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate McIntosh, with McDermand hanging on for third. Daison Pursley finished fourth, with Kevin Thomas Jr. rounding out the top five.
McDermand dominated the 39-lap feature from the pole. He lost the lead in his family-owned No. 40 machine on Lap 1 to Pursley in the No. 86 CB Industries machine. But McDermand regained the lead on Lap 2 and kept the top spot on five ensuing restarts.
Meanwhile, McIntosh worked his way from the sixth starting position to second with eight laps to go but didn’t look like he would threaten McDermand, who won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night for his first USAC victory.
But heartbreak struck for McDermand on Lap 38. His car got hung up in a rut at the bottom of Turn 4, slowing his momentum. That let McIntosh power even with McDermand on the outside of the main straightaway with the white flag in the air, and McIntosh’s momentum carried him under McDermand in Turn 2 for a lead he would not surrender in the final two corners.
“I ran 38 decent laps and one really, really bad one,” a dejected-yet-classy McDermand said. “It stings, it really stings.”
McIntosh, from Bixby, Oklahoma, earned $20,039 for what he called the biggest victory of his career.
“I just stuck to the line I had,” McIntosh said. “I just waited patiently and drove under him (McDermand) and protected it into (Turn) 3. But I’m so thankful to do this in honor of Bryan (race namesake Bryan Clauson), who was a legend in our sport and a hero. It’s a really cool feeling. I’m just so grateful to be able to race here.”
Avedisian turned her No. 71 Keith Kunz Motorsports car into a thrill ride for most of the feature. She started fifth, next to McIntosh on the third row, and was one of the first drivers to try the treacherous high line.The gamble worked. Avedisian, 17, started to gain ground quickly, sliding inches from the concrete wall in the corners. She passed Pursley for third with seven laps to go and had momentum exiting Turn 4 on the final lap, falling short of catching McIntosh at the line.
“It’s super, super heartbreaking,” Avedisian said. “I wanted this one so bad. You do it for these kind of races, and when you’re in a spot to capitalize and it doesn’t fall your way, it’s heartbreaking. It’s still so cool to race inside IMS.”
Rookie Kale Drake earned his first USAC victory by capturing the 30-lap feature that preceded the BC39. The feature was rained out Friday and Saturday.Drake, who started fourth in the No. 97K car fielded by Keith Kunz Motorsports, passed Gavin Miller for the lead six laps into the feature and stayed out front for the rest of the way despite four caution periods.
“I don’t think there is anything better than it, honestly,” Drake said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Holy moly. This is unreal. We’re a winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s pretty surreal.”
Pole sitter Thomas finished second, while Avedisian finished third. Drake, Thomas and Avedisian earned automatic starting spots in the BC39 feature by placing in the top three.
Drake never was seriously challenged on any of the restarts after he took the lead, and he was able to smoothly navigate the rougher Turn 3 and 4 portion of the racetrack.
“I had the best race car out there,” Drake said. “The entire Keith Kunz Motorsports team gave me the easiest Cadillac to drive through those ruts.”
Like in the BC39, Avedisian was the star of the show in the 30-lap feature. She struggled in her heat race but produced a strong drive from 10th to third in the feature, earning an automatic transfer spot after passing reigning BC39 winner Justin Grant and Miller in the last 11 laps.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.

BC39 To Resume This Afternoon with Doubleheader at IMS 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024) – Track preparation is underway at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 29, as the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors is scheduled to be the highlight this evening of a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship.
Rain from Hurricane Helene forced the postponement of all action Friday and Saturday on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS paved oval.
Friday’s originally scheduled program will take place first, starting with hot laps at 3 p.m., weather permitting. Heat races, qualifying races and a B main will follow, capped by a 30-lap feature at 5 p.m.
The BC39 program will start at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps, followed by the C and B Mains and Last Chance Race. The 39-lap BC39 feature is scheduled to start at 9 p.m., with the winner earning $20,039.
Parking opens at 12:30 p.m., with public gates open at 1:30 p.m.
All Saturday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) are valid today. Customers with only Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) were contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options. Tickets for today are available for purchase on IMS.com.
Customers with questions may contact the IMS Ticket Office at tickets@brickyard.com.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception in 2018. 

BC39 Postponed to Sunday at IMS Due to Continued Weather

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From IMS:
  INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024) – Saturday’s Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors has been postponed until mid-afternoon Sunday, Sept. 29 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rain from Hurricane Helene continues to impact track preparations, causing postponement of today’s event.
“We are still committed to delivering this major event,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Right now, the track surface is sealed over. If we open the track up to begin to prepare it, and the rain that is forecasted today happens to fall during that process, water will get deep in the track and cause a significant challenge to get it prepped in the near future. Postponing to Sunday gives us the best chance for a successful event.”
Hot laps will start the program Sunday. There will be a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship featuring Friday’s originally scheduled program first, which will be followed by Saturday’s originally scheduled program on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS asphalt oval, weather permitting.
All Saturday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) will be valid Sunday. Customers with only Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) were contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options.
Tickets for Sunday are available for purchase on IMS.com.
Customers with questions may contact the IMS Ticket Office at tickets@brickyard.com.
The highlight of Sunday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.
Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information. 
 
 

BC39 Scheduled To Resume at 4 p.m. Saturday at IMS 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 27, 2024) – The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors is tentatively scheduled to resume at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 28 after persistent rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of all activity Friday, Sept. 27 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hot laps will start the program, with a doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship also scheduled for Saturday on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed IMS asphalt oval, weather permitting.
Another update will be issued at 10 a.m. ET Saturday.
The highlight of Saturday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.

Andretti Shake Up- Michael Steps Aside

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As the not so calm. not so quiet IndyCar offseason enters its second week, a major bombshell exploded this morning. Michael Andretti, former champion, successful car owner, and head of the Andretti Global racing enterprise, will step down as CEO to “focus on the strategic side” of the operation. Dan Towriss, owner of Gainbridge Financial Group, will be the new CEO. Towriss bought an ownership stake in then Andretti Autosport in 2022.

A statement from Andretti Global announced the change, but gave few details:

“Michael’s goal has been to transition to a more strategic role with Andretti Global and focus less on the operational side of the race team,” the team said in a statement. “Michael and Dan Towriss have been working closely on developing this new structure, one which Michael is excited to see take shape under Dan’s guidance.

“Michael remains engaged and will continue to serve as a strategic advisor and key ambassador.”

The statement also said that more details would be forthcoming after Andretti and Towriss have had a chance to “talk to the team.”

Thoughts

I find it mind boggling to think that Michael Andretti is not charge of his team if he were 75 or80 years old, I would get it.

I don’t get the “until we talk to the team” part. If an organization is making a seismic change like this, shouldn’t the team be talked to before anything is released to the public?

The Andretti shake up bookends a week that started with Ed Carpenter Racing announcing an ownership stake purchase by Ted Gelov of Heartland Foods. Will All IndyCar teams be owned by corporate entities with no racing backgrounds eventually like Formula 1? I hope that never happens.

Off season turbulence will be the norm this fall and winter, I believe. I understand this story is still developing. Who knows what else we will find out?

I will update as I learn things and they are confirmed.

Rain Washes Out BC39 Activity; Racing To Resume Saturday at IMS 

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From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Sept. 27, 2024) – Persistent rain and high winds from Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of all track activity Friday, Sept. 27 for the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A doubleheader for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship is planned for Saturday, Sept. 28 at the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the famed paved oval at the Racing Capital of the World, weather permitting.
An update on the event schedule will be provided at 6 p.m. ET Friday, with more information released at 10 a.m. ET Saturday.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of all participants and fans, and we are committed to delivering this major event over the next few days, if required,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We will be doing everything in our power to ensure a successful event.”
Customers with Friday products (tickets, pit passes and parking) will be contacted by the IMS Ticket Office with options.
The highlight of Saturday’s competition will be the 39-lap feature, which pays $20,039 to win and has become a must-win for any USAC Midget competitor since the inaugural event in 2018.Chase McDermand won the 30-lap preliminary feature
Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS. Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Moran Dies at 74

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From IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024) – Rocky Moran, a veteran of three Indianapolis 500 starts and one of the most respected sports car racers of his generation, died last weekend after a battle with cancer. He was 74.
After failing to qualify with Salt Walther’s small team in 1987, Southern California native Moran made three consecutive “500” starts from 1988-90, with a best finish of 14th in 1989 while driving the No. 33 Skoal Classic March/Cosworth owned by the legendary A.J. Foyt. He also made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1988 in a Foyt-owned car, finishing 16th in the No. 48 Skoal/Trench Shoring March/Cosworth as the second-highest placing rookie in the field. His final start came in 1990 with Gohr Racing. He earned the 33rd and final spot in the field in an older car and was credited with 25th place in the No. 56 Glidden Paints Lola/Buick when his engine expired after he completed 88 laps. It was his final INDYCAR SERIES start.
Moran made unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the “500” in 1992 and 1993 with Menard Racing and Team Losi, respectively.
The popular, versatile Moran never raced a full season in INDYCAR SERIES competition, but his talent still attracted rides from prominent team owners besides Foyt. Moran drove for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers in his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 1981 at Watkins Glen. He qualified a strong seventh in the No. 48 Pepsi Challenger Eagle/Chevrolet, drove to first and led 21 laps. A storybook victory in his first series start was denied when the team didn’t put enough fuel in the car to make the finish during his final pit stop. Moran still was credited with sixth place in a race won by Rick Mears.
He started his amateur racing career in the early 1970s on the West Coast in open-wheel and sports cars before climbing to national sports car series such as Trans Am, Can-Am and IMSA later in the decade. Gurney didn’t forget Moran’s impressive INDYCAR SERIES debut with AAR in 1981 and hired him as a driver for the team’s factory sports car program in the IMSA GTO class in 1986. Gurney also hired Moran to team with Willy T. Ribbs in an earlier version of a Toyota prototype in IMSA competition in 1991, and they earned a podium finish at Portland.
The pinnacle of Moran’s sports car racing career came in 1993 when he teamed with PJ Jones and Mark Dismore to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a year after they finished fourth. It was the first Rolex 24 victory for AAR and Toyota.
Moran is survived by his wife, Kayla; daughter, Kelly; sons Rocky Jr. and Cody; and seven grandchildren. Rocky Moran Jr. made starts in stock cars, sports cars and INDY NXT by Firestone. His INDYCAR SERIES debut in 2015 at Long Beach in a Dale Coyne Racing car was cut short before the race by a broken thumb suffered in a crash. 
 
 

ECR Confirms Rossi, Rasmussen for 2025

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From Ed Carpenter Racing:

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 25, 2024) – Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) announced today the team’s driver lineup for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi will join the team behind the wheel of the No. 20 Chevrolet for 2025 and Christian Rasmussen, who recently completed his rookie season with ECR, has been elevated to full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet, both on multi-year deals. Team co-owner Ed Carpenter will round out ECR’s three-car lineup for the Indianapolis 500. This news comes on the heels of welcoming Heartland Food Products Group and their iconic brands, Splenda and Java House, to the ECR family.
Carpenter is thrilled with both the addition of veteran Rossi and the future for Rasmussen. 
“It is an exciting day to not only welcome Alex to the team, but to extend our relationship with Christian,” said Carpenter. “We are very excited about our lineup, and other partnership announcements that will be forthcoming. As excited as I am about these additions, I also want to thank Rinus (VeeKay) for his five years with the team. It is always hard to say goodbye to a teammate and a friend, but I am confident that Rinus’ career will continue to blossom. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, I am fully focused on getting ECR back to new heights, winning races and contending for championships.”
Rossi joins ECR after nine previous seasons in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Rossi has 30 career podium finishes, including eight victories, most notably the 2016 Indianapolis 500. The Nevada City, California native was the first American rookie to win since 1928. Rossi’s talent has taken him worldwide, with wins in F2, World Series by Renault, and the 24 Hours of Daytona along with starts in a Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000 and the Bathurst 1000. 
Rossi is eager to join his new team and begin preparations for the 2025 season. 
“I’m honored that Ed (Carpenter) and the entire ECR ownership group recognize the value I can bring to the team,” said Rossi. “Their commitment to excellence, along with the power of Chevrolet and the ambitious plans they have for the future made this opportunity impossible to pass up. I’m eager to get started and contribute to the team’s continued success.”
Rasmussen’s performance in his rookie NTT INDYCAR SERIES season earned him the opportunity to continue with ECR in a full-time role. Rasmussen joined ECR in 2024 after winning three championships in four years, including the 2023 INDY NXT title. In his debut Indianapolis 500, he drove from 24th to 12th and was the highest finishing rookie in the field. While Carpenter was scheduled to drive the No. 20 in the final three oval races of 2024, he provided the seat to Rasmussen to continue his development. Though he had not driven a lap at the Milwaukee Mile prior, he finished just outside of the Top 10. At the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, Rasmussen drove from 25th to 14th and secured a Leader’s Circle position for the No. 20. 
After a partial rookie year, Rasmussen is excited to race the full season next year. 
“I’m incredibly excited to earn a full-time role with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Rasmussen. “My rookie year in INDYCAR was full of firsts, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned into my second season. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to team up with Alexander (Rossi) to push the team forward and fight towards the front of the grid more consistently.” 
Carpenter will return to the driver’s seat in the team’s third entry for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, rounding out the team’s lineup. Additional announcements regarding the upcoming season will be made in due course. The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will begin March 2, 2025 in the downtown Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
About Ed Carpenter Racing Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). The 2025 season will see Carpenter compete in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The 2025 season will see Alexander Rossi in the No. 20 Chevrolet as he joins the team alongside returning Christian Rasmussen in the No. 21 Chevrolet. More information on Ed Carpenter Racing may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.

Unchartered Waters- Questions About the IndyCar Charter System

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The newly launched IndyCar charter system looks to be a assortment of pros and cons. It is a better deal for the owners, but what’s in it for the fans? Idon’t see a lot, and that is my concern about it.

The team owners have a potential to gain value and sponsors while they own a team and when they sell it. I wasn’t sure how the business side will work, but I read an excellent article about the money aspect last night by Elizabeth Blackstock on Planet F1. She explains in depth how the charter works for the team owners and the potential for a team’s growth.

I get that part, and I am glad that teams which have annually struggled for cash have a new potential revenue source.

My concern is what the fans will see. No team may have more than three charters. The 25 chartered teams are each guaranteed a spot in every race except the Indianapolis 500. Races other than the 500 have a cap of 27 starters. The Leaders’ Circle money will still be awarded to the top 22 entries. Only chartered teams are eligible for the Leaders’ Circle. No entry may use more than three drivers in a season. Let’s see what that means

Only two non-charter teams will be able to start each race other than the 500. PREMA joins the series in 2025. They do not have a charter, as that privilege went to teams that participated in 2023. PREMA will be able to start each race since there will be only 27 total entries, but why would another team want to join under these rules? Why would a third OEM come into IndyCar when they would have a limited number of teams to choose from? The charter could stifle the series’ growth. I’m concerned that IndyCar may eventually become a member nly series, where you need a charter to compete.

Is the three drivers per season limit realistic? Dale Coyne used numerous drivers in 2024 for monetary reasons. What if the original driver is injured, the second driver runs out of money, and the third driver can’t run because of a previous commitment? Does that car withdraw from the next event? Maybe owning a charter will bring in enough cash to avoid the money issue.

There are many questions to be sorted out, and we won’t really know how it will work until we see it in action. Iam happy for the owners of the lower funded teams, but as a fan, I’m not sure how it benefits m enjoyment of the sport. We shall see in 2025.