Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Repost: Newby’s Legacy: Riley Hospital

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Today, October 7, is the 100th anniversary of the opening of Riley Hospital for Children.

Editor’s note: Thanks to Dr. Richard Schreiner and Karen Stroup for providing sources for this story.

Many people become known for their success in business, art or politics; many are renowned for the accumulation of wealth. Few are known for their good deeds or contributions which benefit their communities long after they are gone.. One of the IMS founders deserves more credit for what he did behind the scenes in Indianapolis.

Arthur Newby, the first Vice President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ran several successful businesses in Indianapolis. He founded Indianapolis Chain and Stamping Company, which later became Diamond Chain. National Motors was another one of Newby’s companies. Joe Dawson drove a National to victory in the 1912 Indianapolis 500.

He also owned a board track for bicycle racing with Carl Fisher. In 1909, the two men, along with James Allison and Frank Wheeler pooled $250,000 to form the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

While Wheeler, Fisher, and Allison had mansions on Cold Spring Road, Newby lived in a home at 40th and Meridian Streets. He donated part of his property to the fledgling Hoosier Motor Club, the forerunner of the American Automobile Association, which had its main office at that location for decades. The site is now home to the Martin Luther King center. Tarkington Towers occupies the site of his home.

In 1916 their friend, the poet James Whitcomb Riley died. Fisher was an honorary pallbearer at Riley’s funeral.

The following year a meeting took place in the home of L. C. Boyd to explore creating a children’s hospital as a memorial to Riley. The hospital would be open to children anywhere in Indiana and would be free to those who could not pay. A story in The Indianapolis News from August 21, 1917, lists the attendees. If you have ever driven in downtown Indianapolis and noticed the names on some of the older buildings, it is likely that the founder of that company was either there that day or expressed interest in helping with the project.

Allison was the only member of the speedway ownership group to attend, but the other three owners sent telegrams pledging support with time and donations. Allison became a part of the committee to create plans for the children’s hospital. The committee chairman was J. K. Lilly.

Newby’s $50,000 donation was the largest individual contribution to the building fund. When the hospital opened in 1924, the outpatient clinic was named the Newby Exoclinic in his honor. A tile on the floor of the clinic honors Newby, who made the donation in memory or of his parents and sister,

The tile recognizing Arthur Newby’s gift to Riley Hospital now rests in the atrium lobby of the hospital, 24 feet from its original location in the outpatient clinic.

Newby’s contribution to Riley was arguably the most public of his philanthropical gifts. he built and bought homes for homeless people. He gave kids money to go to school with the stipulation that they did not reveal where the money came from.

Butler University and Earlham College also received sizeable gifts from Newby. he also purchased land in Parke County which he donated to the state of Indiana. The property is now Turkey Run State Park.

The link between Riley and the Speedway continues today. Riley sponsors the turn 2 suites. Drivers visit the hospital to meet with patients during May.

BMW Team Wins This Indianapolis 8 Hour in Unique Fashion

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From IMS:

 
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024) – The Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS at Indianapolis Motor Speedway literally came down to a race against the clock.
Wright Motorsports’ Laurin Heinrich of Germany held the late-race lead – comfortably, in fact – but he knew a five-second penalty was coming from an infraction on the final pit stop for the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Heinrich ran some of his best laps in the final minutes, but he crossed the finish line 4.74 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Dries Vanthoor and the Team WRT’s No. 31 BMW M4 GT3.Thus, Vanthoor officially won the eight-hour endurance event by .260 of a second. Last year, BMW’s margin at the finish was 53.110 seconds – and it actually was the car that took checkered flag first.
“I don’t know what to say at the moment,” said Vanthoor, who spent the final hour of the race virtually matching Heinrich’s lap times on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at the Racing Capital of the World.
“I gave it everything I had. It was an amazing fight. Yeah, I gave it everything I had. I’m exhausted. Yeah, we did it!”
Heinrich said he was told of the impending time adjustment quite a while after it was announced, and he didn’t have enough laps left to keep the necessary advantage. He was disappointed to have lost the top spot on the podium in that manner
.“It’s a bit of a shame (to) somehow lose the overall win,” he said. “I was told (on the team’s radio) nine minutes before the end of a five-second penalty. I drove my heart out. I could extend the gap a bit but, I mean, I was clearly faster.”
The late-race drama as darkness settled over the historic motorsports facility was heightened by the fact both frontrunners were low on fuel. In fact, Vanthoor’s machine ran out on the cooldown lap, and it had to be towed to Victory Lane.
“It was a fuel race to the end, but we managed to do it,” Vanthoor said. “I’ll need a few days to recover, but I’m very happy to be a back-to-back Indy winner.”
Vanthoor also won last year’s race co-driving with Sheldon van der Linde of South Africa. The new driver in this year’s group was Charles Weerts of Belgium.This event brings together the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. In an interesting twist,
Vanthoor and Heinrich both led their cars to Indy victories as their programs race in different categories. Heinrich also helped deliver a season championship for Florida’s Adam Adelson and California’s Elliott Skeer, who fought back emotions on pit lane after overcoming a 33-point deficit to ST Racing’s BMW.
“Funny enough, how we came into the race it was the exact same scenario,” Skeer said. “Two cars against each other and whoever (finishes ahead) comes out the champion. Ultimately, last year didn’t go to plan, but this year we won this thing overall on track. Not only did we beat the car we need to, we beat every single car on track. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
The 23-car field included several drivers with IMS ties, including reigning and three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who won the pole for last year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Palou’s No. 4 Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing was already three laps off the pace with electrical issues when the Spaniard climbed behind the wheel, and he helped bring it home in 13th position. Still, that was good for third place in the Intercontinental GT Challenge Pro class.
Former INDYCAR SERIES drivers Zach Veach and Gabby Chaves co-drove the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 with Luca Mars that finished fourth overall and second in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America event. They finished 53.149 seconds behind the race winner, one of six cars on the lead lap.The No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW that included INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly finished 21st.
Bell, Rowe Shine in Saturday’s Support Races
Saturday morning’s single-make Toyota Gazoo GR Cup North America race featured many drivers with familiar motorsports names and celebrities
.Jaxon Bell, the son of 10-time Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starter and NTT INDYCAR SERIES television analyst Townsend Bell, battled back from a drive-through penalty to become the highest finisher of those drivers – in 18th place in the 33-car field — in the No. 98 Copeland Motorsports Toyota.
Driving for Eagles Canyon Racing powered by Fast Track Toyota were YouTube star Cody Jones finishing in the 23rd position and Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves 25th as the last driver on the lead lap.
USAC standout Jade Avedisian finished 27th in the No. 24 Nitro Motorsports Toyota GR86.The race was won by Gresham Wagner, the driver of the No. 5 Copeland Motorsports Toyota who beat pole sitter Lucas Weisenberg (No. 46 Lucas Racing Toyota) by .733 seconds.
The series’ second race of the weekend is Sunday at 11:55 a.m.
INDY NXT by Firestone veteran Myles Rowe earned a spot on the podium in his class in the first Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend, held Saturday. It was the first sports car race of Rowe’s career.Rowe and co-driver Isaac Sherman finished third – seventh overall – in the Pro-Am division in the No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4.
The 60-minute race was won by Corey Lewis and Tyler Gonzalez driving Smooge Racing’s Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO. Lewis crossed the finish line 5.172 seconds ahead of the field. The season-ending race is Sunday at IMS at 10:35 a.m. ET.

2025 Indy 500 Rookie Orientation,NTT INDYCAR SERIES Tests Oct. 10-11 at IMS 

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From IMS:

I have not heard officially about the test being open to the public yet, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.

 The 2025 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Rookie Orientation Program (ROP) will take place in the morning of Thursday, Oct. 10, followed by a four-car NTT INDYCAR SERIES test in the afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will host a group test consisting of one car from 11 race teams Friday, Oct. 11.
Nolan Siegel will attempt to complete ROP on Thursday. The test involves a series of laps at three controlled speed phases on the 2.5-mile oval. The Rookie Orientation Program is a prerequisite for participation in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
THURSDAY, OCT. 10 (Indy 500 Rookie Orientation Program, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Test)
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global
Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
:9 a.m.-noon: Siegel ROP
1-5 p.m.: Ericsson, Newgarden, O’Ward, Palou NTT INDYCAR SERIES Test
FRIDAY, OCT. 11 (NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Test)

Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Racing
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
TBD, Dale Coyne Racing
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing
Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing
Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
10 a.m.-noon: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Test
1-5 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Test

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.

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.