The 2024 Indycar season takes another step forward this week. On Thursday the track build officially begins in St. Pete for the March 10 season opener. I continue to be amazed at how quickly the track is built and then torn down after the race. I will be on site to cover the event.
Another good sign last week was the Arrow McLaren livery presentations of their three 2024 cars.
The cars of Alexander Rossi, David Malukas, and Pato O’Ward
I like Rossi’s car the best. It has the throwback feel of the Marlboro McLaren F1 car. The white trim gives it a clean look.
Malukas’s car is too similar to Scott Dixon’s machine. It seems like all Indycar teams have to employ a certain combination each year, and we see a field full of nearly identical themes.
Pato’s car does not look different from the car he has run the last couple of years. i assume this a brand mandate, I don’t dislike it, I was just hoping for something a bit bolder.
Bumping At the 500
The entry list for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 could end up at 35 or 36.
In addition to the 27 full time teams, Andretti will field a car for Marco Andretti, and Arrow Mclaren is adding Kyle Larson. Ed Carpenter Racing brings in a third car for Christian Rasmussen. Abel Motorsports should return with R C Enerson. Dreyer and Reinbold with Don Cusick has announced Ryan Hunter-Reay and Conor Daly.
There is talk that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will have an entry for two-time 500 winner Takuma Sato.
A. J. Foyt Racing will decide by the end of February if they will run a third car for the 500, which would put the field at 35. There may be one other entry.
We won’t have to worry about guaranteed spots in 2024.
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024) – Paramount+ announced Feb. 7 that all six episodes of the first season of the docuseries “100 Days To Indy” will be made available on the service globally for the first time Friday, Feb. 16, with the exception of Japan, which will follow Tuesday, April 19. Produced by Penske Entertainment and VICE Media Group, “100 Days To Indy” charts the adrenaline-fueled journeys of NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ best drivers in their pursuit of victory at the iconic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the world’s largest single-day sporting event. Following bold, brash personalities in their on-and off-track lives, the 100-day buildup to the final showdown begins on the starting grid of the 2023 season’s first race at St. Petersburg, Florida. From there comes high-octane drama, fearless driving and fiery competition stretching from St. Petersburg across the country until the winner crosses the finish line at the Indy 500, securing their position in motorsport’s history books in front of more than 300,000 fans. The global field of 33 drivers racing toward the prestigious Borg-Warner Trophy hails from 15 nations and includes four-time winner Helio Castroneves, who is chasing a record-breaking fifth win, and 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson. But earning racing’s most coveted prize means they’ll first have to see off two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, plus a whole new generation of young drivers vying for their slice of the multimillion-dollar purse, including Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta and Christian Lundgaard. “100 Days To Indy” is directed by Emmy Award-winner Patrick Dimon, and the executive producer is Bryan Terry for VICE. Adam Marinelli and Dimon are co-executive producers. Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Japan and South Korea. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
It’s back. The guaranteed Indianapolis 500 starting spot monster has arisen from the depths of what I thought was a deep, deep grave. In a story by Nathan Brown of the IndyStar this morning, the idea is included with talk of a franchise system for Indycar.
In 2019, I wrote a piece called “The Soul of the Race,” in which I argued against the concept of guaranteed spots. Indulge me as I quote my own brilliant statement from that article-
“…guaranteed spots in my opinion does not fall in the category of tradition. It’s called qualifying. It means you have to meet a standard which in this case means being one of the fastest 33 drivers. That is one tradition that must stay. A chance to win the greatest race in the world should not just be handed to someone.”
I still stand by this statement.
Guaranteed spots would reduce qualifying days to a rather dull affair. If you don’t have speed for the pole, why go all out? Just post a time. How many one-offs will want to enter knowing there are only so many spots for them?
Brown’s article quotes team owners talking about how devastating missing the race has been for their teams sponsor wise. Brown points out that just six teams of the 16 that have been bumped in the last 15 years are still in Indycar.
Near the end of the article, Mark Miles said that there will still be bumping.
“I do believe that whatever happens in that regard, we’ll want to make sure there’s bumping. I think there’s a number of considerations on how that might end up, but at the end of the day, the tradition of bumping is important (at the 500), and we need to find a way to continue it,” Miles said.
I have a suggestion. If one of the teams that has a membership gets bumped, pay them what 33rd place finishing full time team would earn, and have a team in the race add the sponsor of the bumped car.
As far the franchise or membership concept, i have mixed feelings about it, which I will talk about later this week.
Dreyer and Reinbold will again team with Don Cusick for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Conor Daly will team with 2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay in the two car effort.
In 2023 Stefan Wilson qualified one of the cars which was entered by Cusick. In the Monday practice after qualifying, Wilson broke his back in a crash. Many were expecting Wilson to return for 2024.
Cusick decided to distribute his money to both DRR cars, which I believe led to Wilson not having enough funding. \About Wilson, Cusick said in a video call yesterday:
“As far as Stefan goes, unfortunately he had the injury, I think it set him back a little bit. I’m not sure that he’s done trying to be a part of the Indy 500. Look, we’ll always support him. He’s a good guy and a good friend. He is the reason that we ended up in the Indy 500. That said, he’s given us his full support and blessing. Depending on what happens this year, hopefully he’s around in May and able to say hi to everybody.”
Hunter=Reay and Daly are both eager to work together, and they appear to be on the same page about race strategy. Hunter_r reay talked about the craziness which occurred near the end of last year’s race, which ended in a red flag fiasco.
“There needs to be a higher level of respect amongst the drivers in superspeedway racing. We are out there doing 230, 240, whatever you want to call it,” Hunter-Reay said. “There was a lot of moves last year that were very road course like, street course like. Especially on restarts, things like that. I think as a group, it needs to be brought up and we need to be conscious of it. Yeah, then you have the unknowns, some new drivers coming in again. We’ve always had that. We’ve always had an influx of some new drivers to the Speedway, the 500. You kind of deal with that as it goes. Definitely there were some questionable points in the race that we need to address that as a group.”
Daly believes that there will be changes coming based on a drivers’ meeting in December.
“After attending the drivers meeting in December, there’s definitely going to be some, I think, adjustments to how things are called, right? Josef Newgarden snaking down the straight below the pit lane entry, I think that’s probably going to go away. I think the drivers are always pretty unified in what we want to see on how many moves you can make down the back straight if you’re trying to snake down the back straight, stuff like that.”
I have heard that the dreaded dragon move will be pretty much banned.
The DRR/Cusick situation reflects the best and the worst of the racing business. Three capable drivers, all good guys, and only two seats available. I feel for Stefan Wilson. On the other hand, DRR has its strongest driver lineup in several years, and the team always has competitive cars at the 500.
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.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN – BORG WARNERTROPHY
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.
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.
Familiarity with a documentary subject can be a dangerous thing. it colors the way you view the film. It is fun to remember the high points, and it fills the viewer with dread knowing what is about to occur. This was the case at the premiere of The Lionheart at the Heartland International Film Festival last night in Indianapolis.
Laura Brownson’s 108-minute film kicked off the film festival in a sold-out theater. All were looking forward to a story about two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Indirectly the film is about Wheldon, but the main focus is on his widow, Susie Wheldon and his sons, Sebastian and Oliver.
The film presents Wheldon’s life and racing career with television highlights and home movies of his early carting career interspersed with the daily lives of Susie helping their sons pursue their racing dreams. Both boys display talent in karting, and they have signed with Andretti Global. Sebastian just completed his first season in F4 juniors and will join him soon.
This is in reality Susie’s story. The scenes of her as she processes her grief tugged at my heart in an all too familiar way. I suffered the same type of loss 10 days after she did.
Yet, it is not a sad tale. The film opens with Dan joking around as he is recording radio promotions. I found joy in seeing the playful Wheldon race fans adored. The story moves forward with vignettes from Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, Dan’s father Clive, and Bryan Herta. You can feel the pain of Dan’s loss when Clive Wheldon’ talks about his son.
Then, as I’m sure most of the audience knew, as the film wound down, Las Vegas reared its ugly head. Sebastian and Oliver were scheduled to race at Las Vegas Speedway in a kart race in the track’s parking lot. Oliver is reluctant to go at first, and I think Susie has some concerns about the trip as well. Sebastian is fine with racing there. Eventually they all make the trip. Susie goes inside the track to the spot of the fatal accident.
There are scenes of the crash, and Susie talks about the horrors she went through that day.
While the title refers to Dan Wheldon, Susie is the star of the story. her resolve to do whatever she can to see that her sons are happy, the sacrifices she makes for them, and her efforts keeping Dan’s memory alive make her the real Lionheart.
The Lionheart will have another showing Saturday, October 14 at 7 pm at Newfields. As of this morning tickets are available. I understand that HBO has purchased the film and it will be released in 2024.
What caused Pete Kreis’s fatal crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1934? William Walker, a cousin of the driver, seeks the answer in this biography of Kreis. The accident is called the “strangest death in auto racing history.”
Walker builds the story through research and talks with Pete’s sister Hazel, the last of the Kreis line.
Albert Jacob “Pete” Kreis is the youngest son of John Kreis, who owns a railroad construction business and a dairy farm. The elder Kreis is a local legend who as a boy swam through a strong current in a river near Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is the sheriff of the community who brings law and order to the town in the late 1800s. John’s sons, Harman, John, and Pete, all strive for that one heroic act to emulate their father. Pete’s racing career comes the closest to achieving the hero status they all seek.
Pete Kreis
The Kreis sons convince John to purchase a Marmon. The boys commandeer the auto, and soon Harmon begins racing on a short dirt track. Pete soon begins his racing career at the age of fourteen. Pete’s racing skills continue to improve, and his father begins to explore how to advance his racing career.
In 1924, Pete drives a neighbor to town on an icy road. In his quest to get his friend to his appointment on time, the car slides on the ce, the car rolls over, and the neighbor dies.
Later that year, Pete gets a test to race for the Duesenberg brothers, who have the best race cars at the time. He joins the team and meets Peter de Paolo, who becomes his teammate and mentor.
The 1925 Indianapolis 500 established Pete as an up-and-coming talent. He qualifies ninth and finishes eighth. De Paolo wins the race at a record speed of 101.127 mph. His record stands for seven years.
Pete learns board track racing that summer. He gets off to an auspicious with a fifth place finish in his first start. Board track racing is dangerous, and a fatality is virtually expected at each event. Pete’s reputation is assured, and he heads into 1926 with a lot of confidence.
Kreis seems to have the car to beat as practice begins for the 500. Just before qualifying begins Pete contracts influenza and while in the hospital realizes he will be unable to compete. He allows rookie Frank Lockhart to drive the car.
Lockhart needs all three qualifying attempts to get in the field. He wins the race after starting 20th.
Pete has another decent year, although he has the reputation as a driver who is fast but hard on equipment. Several mechanical failures and crashes thwart good finishes.
Kreis also manages the family business which is beginning to take more and more of his time.
In 1934 Kreis comes to Indianapolis on the first of the month looking for a ride. It is not until May 24 that Harry Hartz offers him a ride in one of his Miller powered roadsters. The next day Pete takes the car out for practice. After several warmup laps, the car hits the turn 1 wall, rides along the top of it for 200 feet, then plunges over the barrier hitting a tree. Kries dies instantly, and his riding mechanic succumbs minutes later.
The cause of the accident is puzzling. There were no mechanical issues with the car, no tire marks indicating the driver lost control, no abnormalities on the track surface. What happened?
Walker begins to explore psychological reasons. Was Pete depressed? Did he lose focus? Could it have been suicide? Except for one missing element, suicide appears to be the cause.
Walker finds the missing piece of the puzzle in his final talk with Hazel before her death. Walker believes the case is now closed/
The biography takes a few chapters to really grab my interest, but I found it a fascinating look into the racing world of the 1920s and 30s. Besides De Paolo, Harry Hartz and Tommy Milton are featured, as well as the Duesenberg brothers and Harry Miiller.
I learned about a driver that I had not heard of before.
If you’re looking for an off season racing read, this is a good choice. The book is available at Octane Press.
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023) – Mickey Rupp, who started the 1965 Indianapolis 500 but gained even more acclaim as a recreational vehicle and sport fishing equipment entrepreneur, died Aug. 20. He was 87. Rupp, a native of Mansfield, Ohio, qualified 15th and finished sixth in the No. 81 G.C. Murphy Gerhardt/Offy rear-engine car in 1965. He passed his rookie test in a front-engine Chapman Special Offy roadster that year before moving to the rear-engine car for practice, qualifying and the race. That sixth-place performance would have earned Rookie of the Year honors in many editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” but the 1965 rookie class was arguably the strongest in “500” history. Mario Andretti finished third and Gordon Johncock fifth ahead of Rupp. Future “500” legend Al Unser and future Indy pole winner and USAC national champion Joe Leonard were among the eight other rookies in the field that year who finished behind Rupp. Rupp’s INDYCAR SERIES driving career was quite short, with just five starts overall in 1964 and 1965. But he finished in the top 10 in three of those five races, with a best result of fifth at Milwaukee a week after he finished sixth at Indianapolis.His commitment and responsibilities to his growing recreational vehicle empire pulled Rupp from the driver’s seat. Rupp started building kart kits in his basement in the late 1950s and then began manufacturing his designs that included such innovations as step frames, improved braking systems and eventually four-wheel independent suspension. His Dart Karts immediately became very popular and were produced through the late 1960s, and his brother-in-law – legendary Indianapolis 500 chassis designer A.J. Watson – appeared in a magazine ad for the 1959 Dart Kart.His company, Rupp Manufacturing (which was renamed Rupp Industries), also produced popular mini-bikes, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles distinguishable by their performance and bright red color schemes.Dart Kart also gained marketplace recognition due to racing sponsorships in the early 1960s, including a USAC sprint car owned by Watson and driven by A.J. Foyt in 1960 and the car that Don Davis drove in the 1961 Indianapolis 500.Rupp Manufacturing reached new heights in 1963 and 1964 when its karts and minibikes were supplied to Sears, which successfully sold them through the company’s widely circulated Sears Catalog.Rupp sold Rupp Industries in the late 1970s and turned his design and entrepreneurial skills to the water. An avid sport fisherman, Rupp designed and manufactured an outrigger system that also gained rapid popularity.Rupp Marine Inc. was formed in 1980 as demand grew for Rupp’s outrigger designs, and the company still produces sport fishing hardware sold globally from its base in Stuart, Florida.
