Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Popular Indianapolis Veteran Danny Ongais Dies at 79

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  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Feb. 28, 2022) – Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver admired by fans and competitors for his speed and bravery in an Indianapolis 500 career spanning three decades, died Feb. 26 of congestive heart complications in Anaheim Hills, California. He was 79.The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. 25 Parnelli and Penske chassis powered by Cosworth engines, with a best finish of fourth in 1979 and a top start of second next to pole sitter Tom Sneva in 1978.
Ongais is the only native of Hawaii to start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Fans included his heritage in his nickname “The Flyin’ Hawaiian,” and nicknames “On-Gas” and “On the Gas” were word plays on his last name.
Born May 21, 1942 in Kahului, Hawaii, Ongais began one of the most versatile careers of any driver in his era as a teenager, earning a Hawaii state title in motorcycle racing in 1960.
Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s.
He finished runner-up to Mike Snively in the Top Fuel class at the 1966 NHRA U.S. Nationals after beating the legendary Don “The Snake” Prudhomme in the semifinals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Ongais then won the Funny Car class in the 1969 NHRA U.S. Nationals at IRP, drag racing’s most prestigious event, in a distinctive blue Ford Mach 1 Mustang fielded by Mickey Thompson. That victory came one year after Thompson tried to enter Ongais into the 1968 Indianapolis 500, but Ongais was denied because he had almost no experience in open-wheel race cars.
Thompson and Ongais also teamed up to set nearly 300 national and international speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Mach 1 Mustang during the 1960s.
Ongais’ success in straight-line competition led him to be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 in the Drag Racing category.
Service in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s exposed Ongais to sports car racing in Europe, and he moved from dragstrips to ovals and road courses in the mid-1970s. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label.
Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the INDYCAR SERIES in the late 1970s. He also competed in four Formula One races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in 1977 at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The best season for Ongais and the Interscope team came in 1978, when he won five races and eight poles en route to an eighth-place finish in the USAC standings.
That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Sneva and rookie Rick Mears.
Ongais and Field’s success with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype.
While Ongais was known for his blazing speed at Indianapolis and elsewhere, he also attracted attention for surviving some of the most violent crashes of his era. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover.
In 1985, he also survived a spectacular barrel roll at Michigan International Speedway after hitting the back of the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch.
Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. Al Unser was named as Ongais’ replacement and drove to his fourth “500” victory in a backup car that was a show car earlier in May in a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania.
The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais’ final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. Pole sitter Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver. Ongais, racing at age 54 in his first “500” since 1986, finished a creditable seventh after starting from the rear of the field.
Ongais’ final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. Ongais’ Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. He also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. 

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Roger Rager Dies at 73

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From Indianapolis Motor Speedway Communications:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Feb. 21, 2022) – Roger Rager, who raced in the 1980 Indianapolis 500 with an engine block found in a junkyard, died Feb. 16. He was 73.
Nebraska native Rager started racing in 1968 and made his name in the 1970s with sprint car victories at many tracks before coming to Indianapolis in 1978 with his small, low-budget team. He finally qualified for what would be his only career start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1980.
Rager’s 3-year-old Wildcat chassis was powered by a stock-block Chevrolet engine, but it was no normal stock powerplant. Rager believed that a stock block needed to gain durability through the heat cycles created by use, so he sought a used block as the foundation of his car’s engine for Indy that year.
That used, low-mileage block was found in a junkyard from an engine that powered a school bus.
Rager qualified an impressive 10th in 1980, sharing Row Four with Jim McElreath and A.J. Foyt. He was running ninth early in the race and led Laps 16-17 during pit stop cycles. On Lap 55, McElreath spun in front of Rager, who spun and crashed out of the race trying to avoid McElreath’s car.
Rager was credited with 23rd place. He continued to race after his sole Indy 500 start and became the only driver to win a feature at famed Knoxville Raceway in each of five decades.
Rager also was a three-time winner of the Masters Classic event at Knoxville for drivers over 50.
Rager retired from driving in 2009 and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame the same year. He also was inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame, Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame and the Big Car Racing Association (BCRA) Hall of Fame. 

Snake Pit Lineup Set

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I don’t normally share news about the entertainment surrounding the Indianapolis 500, but this is a sign that May is returning to normal. Look for my season preview tomorrow and Saturday.

 IMS.com  LogoFor Immediate Release  02-17-2022-SnakePit-Email.png  Superstar Martin Garrix To Headline
2022 Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light  deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki, Yellow Claw Also Performing May 29 at IMS; Tickets On Sale
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022) – Superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix will headline a stellar lineup of global electronic music artists at the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the biggest and best party of Race Weekend.deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw also will perform at the Race Day concert during the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Performances begin early in the morning in the infield adjacent to Turn 3 of the IMS oval, with specific set times to be announced.
“The Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light is one of the most popular concerts of the year on the global EDM calendar,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Anticipation is even higher for this year’s show after a two-year pause due to the pandemic, so we can’t wait to welcome this incredible, star-studded lineup and their fans back home again to the Speedway for a day filled with fun and epic memories.”
General admission and VIP tickets for the Snake Pit are on sale for $45 and $150 at www.ims.com. VIP amenities will include access to a raised viewing platform located beside the stage, a private cash bar and private air-conditioned restrooms.
All Snake Pit ticketholders must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Indy 500 general admission or reserved seat ticket. Ticket holders should be prepared to show proper identification to enter the concert.
Packages that include Race Day general admission tickets are available. A package featuring general admission to the Indianapolis 500 and Snake Pit is $85, while a race general admission and Snake Pit VIP package is $190.
Snake Pit concertgoers are encouraged to buy tickets now, as prices will increase as May approaches and limited quantities of admission wristbands are available. In a new regulation for 2022 to maximize safety and overall guest experience, coolers will not be permitted in the Snake Pit. Complimentary water hydration stations will be available for concert attendees. Empty hydration packs with up to two pockets also will be allowed inside the Snake Pit gates.
Martin Garrix has risen to global stardom in pop as well as electronic circles –and yet he’s far from being done. Dance music’s freshest talent has headlined festivals around the globe, founded a label and mentored other artists and won the No. 1 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 twice. This will be Garrix’s second performance in the Snake Pit, as he also was in the lineup for the landmark 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016. Garrix, from The Netherlands, taught himself to produce and play his songs by his mid-teens. In 2013, he released music on Musical Freedom – his idol Tiesto’s label – and not long after, he released the track that would change everything for him.“Animals,” released in June 2013, was a breakout success and a game-changer for the music industry. Reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and many other countries, it proved that a hard-hitting, dancefloor-oriented track could reach pop status, ultimately reaching over a billion streams across several platforms. It also proved that Garrix, at only 17, had the talent to become a world-class musician.
The eight years since have been marked by a quick march through the ranks of dance music, conquering stages all around the world and releasing more breakout hits. In 2016, Garrix took pole position in the DJ Mag Top 100 for the first time and launched his label, STMPD RCRDS. Named after his father’s profession, who runs a stamp auction house, the label serves as an outlet for Garrix’s music and as a platform for up-and-coming, creative talents.
Garrix’ musical achievements have not gone unnoticed. He was awarded with two MTV EMAs in 2016, holding the No. 1 spot in the 2017 DJ Mag Top 100, a “Man of Today” accolade from GQ, a spot among Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and another at Billboard’s “EDM Power Players.” He also performed twice on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC, the first Dutch guest in the show’s history.2021 was a banner year for Garrix. His “In The Name of Love” with Bebe Rexha, a breakout hit released in 2016, and his collaboration with Tove Lo on “Pressure” combined to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. He was the official music artist at the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament, collaborating with Bono and The Edge of U2 on “We Are The People.” Garrix’s first album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1,” also was released last year.
His latest release is “Won’t Let You Go,” a collaboration with Matisse & Sadko and John Martin. A naturally outgoing person and a born entertainer, Garrix also has headlined at some of the world’s major music festivals, including Coachella, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza and Ultra Music Festival. He also locked down residencies at two of the world’s most prestigious clubs, Ushuaïa Ibiza and Omnia Las Vegas, and also performed at the Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Joel Zimmerman, more commonly known as deadmau5 (pronounced ‘dead mouse’), is one of the world’s most respected electronic music producers of modern times. Enjoying international chart success with his platinum-certified single “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff,” as well as “Professional Griefers,” “Sofi Needs A Ladder” and “I Remember,” he also has released seven critically acclaimed albums. The multiple JUNO Award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist’s ability to push the boundaries of his talent grows at an equal rate to his fan base, which counts 15 million and more over his combined social media channels.
His latest music offerings include “Pomegranate” with The Neptunes, “Bridged By A Lightwave” with Kiesza, “Channel 43” with Wolfgang Gartner, “Hypnocurrency” with REZZ, “When The Summer Dies” with Lights, “Hyperlandia” featuring Foster The People and “this is fine.” with Portugal. The Man.In the live realm, his 2019/20 U.S. cubev3 tour, featuring production of his own design and implementation, ranked in the Top 10 of Pollstar’s top tours globally. Beyond his music career, he is also a co-founder of gaming venture PIXELYNX and is an executive of HD streaming platform StreamVoodoo.
Setting a new standard for songwriting in dance music, Galantis is a collaborative project led by Christian Karlsson (aka Bloodshy, one-third of Miike Snow). Galantis’ debut album, “Pharmacy,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance album chart on the strength of RIAA gold certified single “Peanut Butter Jelly” and platinum certified smash “Runaway (U & I)” – the latter of which earned Grammy nominations for “Best Dance Recording” and “Best Remixed Recording.”
The 2017 sophomore album, “The Aviary” (featuring platinum certified single “No Money”) saw a top 10 debut in 23 countries. The third Galantis album, “Church,” features the chart-topping single “Faith” with country music icon Dolly Parton featuring Dutch singer-songwriter Mr. Probz, which saw a No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Chart before quickly reaching No. 1 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart where it remained for five weeks.Galantis has received over 4 billion cumulative worldwide streams, and over 1 billion video views to date. More recently, Galantis have teamed up with Little Mix and David Guetta on 2021 summer smash “Heartbreak Anthem” which debuted at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes charts and secured the No. 1 spot at UK airplay and Shazam charts.
The story of Galantis started back in 2009. Working as Bloodshy, Karlsson’s songwriting collaborations have included Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry and Britney Spears (whose “Toxic” earned a Grammy for “Best Dance Recording”). This collaborative nature led to the birth of the Galantis project, which had its live debut at 2014’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and has continued on years later as one of dance music’s most dynamic and in-demand live performers.
Steve Aoki is returning to the Snake Pit for the second time, as he also performed there in 2015.Counting nearly 4 billion music streams to his name, two-time Grammy-nominated artist/DJ/producer Aoki is one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world. As a solo artist, Aoki boasts a lauded cross-genre discography that includes seven studio albums and collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, Maluma, BTS, Linkin Park and Louis Tomlinson, among others. In 1996, he established Dim Mak out of his college dorm room, a trendsetting record label, events/lifestyle company and apparel brand. It has served as a launch pad for global acts like The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots and The Kills, in addition to being the home of early releases from acts such as ZEDD and Diplo.
As a nightlife impresario, Aoki’s legendary Hollywood club night Dim Mak Tuesdays hosted early performances from future superstars such as Kid Cudi, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, and Travis Scott.Aoki is also a fashion designer, author and entrepreneur. In 2012, he founded THE AOKI FOUNDATION, which primarily supports organizations in the field of brain science research with a specific focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. In addition, Aoki has pushed his clothing line Dim Mak Collection to new heights, both with original designs and collaborations with everyone from A Bathing Ape to the Bruce Lee estate.
Yellow Claw has climbed dance music charts since the Dutch DJ and production duo of Jim Aasgier and Nizzle released their first songs in 2012. The duo’s debut in November 2015, “Blood For Mercy,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Heat Seekers Chart and Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and earned an Edison Award in 2016, the Dutch equivalent of a Grammy Award. The duo has sold out shows in the United States, Asia and Europe and performed on major festival stages at the Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Coachella and more.In 2017, Yellow Claw released its sophomore album, “Los Amsterdam.” The album has amassed more than 200 million Spotify streams and peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes Dance Albums chart.
Yellow Claw’s third album, “New Blood,” was released in 2018.
Tickets for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 and the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14 are available at www.ims.com. 
 

Marco Andretti Enters 500; Seeks 250th Career Start

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Editor’s note: It is hard for me to imagine an Indianapolis 500 without an Andretti in it. This is good news.

From Indycar:

Marco Andretti will attempt to make his 250th career INDYCAR SERIES start Sunday, May 29 in the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, driving the No. 98 Honda fielded by Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco Andretti and Curb-Agajanian with primary sponsorship from KULR Technology Group.

Third-generation driver Andretti is looking to make his 17th career start and earn his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He has eight top-10 finishes, including four in the top three, and won the pole in 2020.

KULR Technology Group (NYSE American: KULR) first joined Andretti Technologies (“ATEC”), the advanced technology arm of Andretti Autosport, and sister team, Andretti United Extreme E, in 2021 as the official thermal management and battery safety technical partner.

The goal of the ATEC partnership focuses on transferring aerospace knowledge onto the racetrack. KULR’s expertise with lightweight, high-performance thermal management solutions through space exploration provides the opportunity to implement new cooling technology, battery cell architecture and testing methodologies within the high-performance and high-power applications across the motorsport landscapes.

“We’ve worked with KULR through Andretti Technologies for over a year now, including last year’s Indy 500 with Marco, and we are thrilled to now welcome them as a primary sponsor to our INDYCAR program,” said Andretti Autosport chairman and CEO Michael Andretti. “The development potential of KULR’s technology is exciting given their expertise in high-performance thermal management solutions and understanding of battery safety. We look forward to this special event in May as Marco celebrates 250 career INDYCAR starts.”

Said KULR President and CEO Keith Cochran: “We are humbled and honored to have the legendary Andretti Autosport racing team represent the KULR brand in the upcoming Indianapolis 500. As the primary sponsor for the No. 98 car driven by Marco Andretti, we are extending our partnership with Andretti Autosport and further demonstrating the breadth of applications for KULR’s technologies.”

Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will start at 11 a.m. (ET) May 29 on NBC, Telemundo and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Indy 500 Green Flag Begins Epic Journey Across Globe  

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News from IMS. Interesting idea.

 IMS.com  LogoFor Immediate Release  02-11-GreenFlagSweden.jpg  INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 11, 2022) – The green flag for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will take an epic global journey in 2022, visiting unique settings and events as part of the Green Flag Relay leading into “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29.
The flag made its first stop thousands of miles away from Indianapolis Motor Speeday when it travelled to Pite Havsbad, Sweden, with NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Jimmie Johnson for motorsports’ all-star Race of Champions on Feb. 6-7. Team USA, comprised of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Johnson and Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta, took second place Feb. 6 in the prestigious Race of Champions Nations Cup.
“The green flag is one of the most iconic symbols in all of motorsports, and nothing is more exciting or meaningful to our fans than seeing it wave at the beginning of the world’s greatest race,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said.
“This year, it will be even more special knowing how many renowned global events and landmarks the flag will have journeyed to leading up to such an important moment.”
Fans can follow the flag’s adventures via www.IMS.com/GreenFlagRelay, which will feature an interactive map with photographs, video and more. On social media, the campaign can be tracked using the hashtag #GreenFlagRelay.
The flag will visit an exciting location this weekend, so fans are encouraged to be on the lookout for additional content soon.
The 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge takes place Sunday, May 29 with live coverage beginning on NBC at 11 a.m. (ET). Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and for more information. 
 

Guardian of the Glass

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Editor’s note: The name of the reader in this story is not her real name. The donor requested to remain anonymous.

It’s a humbling thing, discovering what people think of you. A few days before I left for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona last weekend, I received a message from a regular reader of my blog.

“Are you going to Daytona? I have something for you.”

I replied that I would be there, and we arranged a time and place to meet Friday morning. Readers have given or sent me things in the past- old tickets, programs, pins- small mementos which had some historic significance in racing. I value them all. I wondered what this reader had for me that could not be mailed.

On a windy, cool Friday morning I parked my car in the infield and headed toward the Fan Zone for our meeting. Two thoughts swirled in my head. I wonder what she has, and I hope I recognize her. I had met Sally Pickering here a few years ago. We have a mutual friend who used to come to this race from New Jersey, and she was part of the group he was with when I saw him.

Sally resolved the second question in a message.

“I’m wearing a tan coat and a grey Rolex 24 hat. I just parked.”

I found a table near the historic cars and sat own. One of my favorite things about this event is the historic cars that the track has on display. I love their style and their diversity of design. I find it sad that today’s race cars all look almost exactly alike. That I saw most of these cars race makes me even sadder.

Sally appeared. Once I saw her, I remembered who she was. Sally may be an even bigger race fan than I am. She has been to Le Mans and Monaco several times, a resume I envy. I remembered one other thing she told me the last time we met.

“Didn’t you say you were at Fontana the day Greg Moore was killed?’”

“Yes, I was.” she said.

I also have a story of witnessing death at a track. We quickly changed the subject and talked about the glories of the past. Then it was time.

Sally pulled a plastic bag from her tote bag. I could tell something bulky was in it, but I still had no idea. She reached into the bag and extracted a small item encased in bubble wrap. It was a small item, obviously fragile, but I still had no clue.

A rocks glass emerged from its protective cocoon. I saw the Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo on the front and a list of names on the back. I knew what it was- but I really didn’t. My dad sold sets of these glasses during May at his package liquor store. A brewing company produced them.

“Thank you!” I said. “My dad used to sell these!”

She placed her finger just below the logo.

“I don’t think so,” she said.

I had missed Tony Hulman’s signature below the wing and wheel. I now knew exactly what it was. Hulman bought the Speedway in 1945 and his family owned it until 2019. Every year at Christmas, Hulman gave gift sets of the glasses to patrons and the staff of the Speedway. The back of each glass had a list of the race winners through the current year.

Sally, explained, “My dad was a wholesale grocer in Detroit, and he supplied food to the Speedway every May. He got a set of these glasses every year.”

I looked at the last year on the glass. It was 1962, my first race. I knew Sally didn’t know that.

“I have heard about these glasses, but I had never seen one. Thank you so much. I’m overwhelmed.”

Sally reached back into the plastic sack and withdrew two more protective cocoons. Three glasses with Tony Hulman’s signature sat on the wrought iron table.

“I want you to have these. I’m trying to downsize and I wanted these glasses to go to a good home. From reading your blog I felt you would respect them and take good care of them. You understand the history so well.”

Several moments passed before I could speak. She was giving me a part of her family’s heritage and a memory of her father for safekeeping.

“I’m honored that you chose me. Of course, they will be taken care of. I can’t thank you enough, Sally.”

We both had other people to meet, and we said goodbye. Several minutes after she left my breathing returned to normal.

Sally charged me with a sacred trust, which I vow to keep. I need to begin a quest for the next guardian of this treasure and of all the other precious artifacts I possess.

INDYCAR, Indy 500 Champion Power To Serve as Honorary Chair for Rev 2022 May 7

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From IMS:

ww.IMS.com           
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Press Release For Immediate ReleaseINDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Feb. 7, 2022) – Popular NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Will Power will serve as the honorary chair of the Rev 2022 presented by Fifth Third Bank celebration, which will take place Saturday, May 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The annual Rev gala will return to high gear this year as the traditional opening event for the Month of May at IMS. The 2020 event was canceled, and the 2021 gala was moved to late July during Brickyard Weekend due to health-and-safety measures during the pandemic.
Rev 2022 will feature more than 70 chefs from some of Indianapolis’s best restaurants. Rev guests can taste food from their menu items while more than 20 artists and entertainment acts perform throughout the event.
The racetrack’s famed Yard of Bricks start-finish line serves as one of Rev’s dance floors as a DJ spins music from the flag stand.
“The Month of May in Indianapolis has something for everyone, and Rev has become one of the signature events surrounding the Indianapolis 500,” Power said. “It is an exciting way to start the month. I am honored to be the 2022 Rev chairman because it combines many things I love, namely food and music. After the last couple of years, this is an event that should not be missed, as it will be the best one yet.”
A limited number of tickets are available for Rev 2022 at https://revindy.org/attend.
Power is one of the greatest INDYCAR SERIES drivers in history. He has 40 career victories, fifth all time. He also has recorded 63 career poles, just four shy of Mario Andretti’s all-time mark. Since joining Team Penske in 2009, Power has won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2014 and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in 2018.
“Rev will be the perfect event to first welcome people back home again to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Month of May,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “After all of the uncertainty and change surrounding the last two Indianapolis 500s, this is sure to be a fun, memorable night for all. Will is a terrific, popular ambassador for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ and IMS, and he will do a great job as Rev chair.”
Rev is Indiana University Health Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. Since its beginning, Rev has raised more than $5 million for trauma, injury prevention and critical care programs. Proceeds have made it possible for expansions to the IU Health Lifeline fleet, enabling the Lifeline team to provide emergency care while transporting patients statewide. Event proceeds also benefit drivers and fans at the IU Health Emergency Medical Center at IMS, which is part of the IU Health Methodist Hospital Level I Trauma Program.
“We’re thrilled for the longstanding partnership with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and honored to have Will Power as our event honorary chair, says Crystal Hinson Miller, senior vice president of IU Health and president of the IU Health Foundation. “Will is such an asset to the racing community and a champion for this important event.”
About Indiana University Health Foundation
The mission of IU Health Foundation is to increase the role of philanthropy to help IU Health achieve its goal of making Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states. IU Health Foundation improves the health of individuals, communities and the state by focusing its philanthropy on people, progress and partnerships. To learn more, visit iuhealthfoundation.org.
About INDYCAR
INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including six-time series champion Scott Dixon, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, 2021 series champion Alex Palou and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses.
The 2022 season will consist of 17 races in the United States and Canada and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com.
About Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world’s largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. IMS will host the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – the world’s most prestigious auto race – on Sunday, May 29. That race is the climax of an exciting Month of May schedule for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that also includes the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14 on the IMS road course
. Three of the biggest racing series in North America each will race on the IMS road course during Brickyard Weekend on July 29-31, featuring the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard for the NASCAR Cup Series, Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Other events in 2022 at IMS will feature the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America. IMS, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit www.ims.com.

Kirkwood: One Weekend at a Time

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Kyle Kirkwood is excited to begin his first NTT Indycar Series season. The driver of car 14 for A. J. Foyt Racing shared his outlook on the 2022 campaign this morning at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg First Block event.

Kirkwood’s background and winning ways n the Road to Indy should serve him well in Indycar. He is the first driver to win the championship at each rung of the ladder system, with 31 victories in 50 races.

As far as what will make the 2022 season successful, Kirkwood isn’t setting specific goals. He is looking at each round and then will total everything up at the end. What will be a successful season?

” I’m not going to really pinpoint it. I can’t say right now. Oh, if we finish top 10 in the championship that will be successful. It’s gonna be very situational. It depends where we’re at on pace, how strategy goes how everything plays out, and we’ll just have to have to pick it off weekend by weekend and not be upset about a weekend because I feel like we should have done better than we did. Yeah, obviously I’ll be disappointed but if we do better than we think that we should have even though it might be a 15th place finish. From the outside it looks bad but from within the team, it’s a success. So yeah, so we just have to take it weekend by weekend and piece everything together throughout every single weekend and if after 17 races and we have a good season, then I’ll be satisfied.

Kirkwood talked about his experience at the Rolex 24. His GTD Pro Lexus was fighting for a podium finish, but faded near the end of the race. He talked about how driving sports cars gives him the experience that the Road to Indy doesn’t cover,.

” I learned actually a lot in sports car stuff. The consequences are massive in a sports car compared to an Indy car. If you slide the car, you lose a lot of time so you have to be very precise. Also, one thing that you don’t get in the lower categories that you do in IMSA, and IndyCar or that you have to do is pitstops and a wall and tire and fuel saving. Those are all things that you don’t get in the lower series. So by me running an IMSA. It’s a lot that I can carry over to the IndyCar season. “

Kirkwood plans to do “four or five more sports car races” this year.

Unfamiliar tracks may be a bit of a challenge, but Kirkwood is eager to learn them. His favorite tracks seem to be those run by Green-Savoree, the St. Pete promoters. He talks about his favorite tracks and which tracks he needs to learn.

“St. Pete because it’s it’s a home track for me. I get a lot of family friends to come out to it. The weather’s always great. There’s just something unique about it. Even though it’s a street course it promotes a lot of good racing, a lot of good passes. And then Mid Ohio, but that’s a bit of a bias because I’ve won probably 13 or 15 races that I’ve run there. So every time someone asked me that (my favorite tracks) it’s either here or Mid Ohio, which is ironically a Green-Savoree event as well. Yeah, but they do a handful of them. Those are two of my favorites.”

Challenging tracks?

” Most likely one of the new places. I don’t have a lot of oval experience. So learning the dynamics of Indianapolis or Iowa is going to be tough for me because I haven’t been to either one of those places or driven around it. But yeah, so those will be one of the toughest I think some of the road courses that I have been to or the street courses I’ve been to will be a bit more of a breeze but the ovals will will definitely be tough.”

Vince Granatelli Dies; Car Owner, Mechanic Worked on Novis and Turbines

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Vince Granatelli. likeley the last of the famous Granatelli family, died yesterday. The obituary from IMS:

Indy 500 Team Owner, Mechanic Vince Granatelli Dies at 78

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022) – Vince Granatelli (left, above photo), who was a leading mechanic for two notable machines in Indianapolis 500 history and later became a race-winning team owner, died Jan. 22. He was 78.
Granatelli was a member of the famous racing family that made its name through “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” including his father, Andy, the flamboyant owner of the car that Mario Andretti drove to victory in the 1969 Indianapolis 500.
Vince Granatelli first turned wrenches at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1961 as a mechanic on the Novi-powered machines his father brought to the “500” that year. The unique engine growl of the Novi captivated fans for more than two decades.
Granatelli then worked as a mechanic on another one of the most unique cars in Indianapolis 500 history, the turbine-powered machines nicknamed the “Whooshmobile” due to the unique hissing sound of the Pratt & Whitney gas turbine engine.
Parnelli Jones qualified sixth in 1967 in the turbine and dominated the race, leading 171 of the first 196 laps. But a transmission bearing failed on Lap 197, handing the lead and victory to A.J. Foyt.
In 1968, similar late-race calamity struck when Joe Leonard’s rear-engine, turbine-powered Lotus suffered a failed fuel pump driveshaft while leading with nine laps to go.
He also worked on the Eagle-Offy that Graham McRae drove to 16th place and Rookie of the Year honors in the 1973 Indianapolis 500.
Granatelli also worked as a mechanic at various times in STP-sponsored efforts in Formula One during the early 1970s. He left racing along with his family after the 1974 season.
During his time away from racing, Granatelli focused on various business ventures. He owned Pit Stop Service in Southern California, a high-performance garage where he also built high-speed cars. He built a Chevrolet Camaro stock-body passenger car that his father drove a record 242 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Granatelli returned to racing in 1987 as the owner of Vince Granatelli Racing, which fielded cars in CART painted in a similar day-glo red as his father’s turbine-powered cars at Indianapolis.
Roberto Guerrero won two races driving for the team in its first season of 1987, at Phoenix International Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Guerrero led the Indianapolis 500 that year with 19 laps to go, but two stalls on a pit stop due to a damaged clutch dropped him out of the top spot. He ended up second behind Al Unser.
Arie Luyendyk earned the team its third and fourth victories in 1991, at Phoenix and Nazareth Speedway.