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May 31, 2009

PRESENTATION, PERFORMANCE, AND PASSING THE BATON

Filed under: Historics — Lynne Huntting @ 8:15 pm

Sunny and cool, breezy weather was the story of the day Sunday at Infineon Raceway for the 23rd Annual Wine Country Classic historic car races. The featured car was Morgan, which is celebrating it’s hundredth anniversary this year.

The stiff wind was not a problem for any of the drivers I chatted up.

ROB WALTON of Paradise Valley AZ raced two cars this weekend – the winning Group Four 1958 Scarab MKI and the runner-up Group Ten 1978 Porsche 935. He won the overall trophy for sportsmanship, presentation and performance. In one of his two races, while leading he came up on a slower car going for the same piece of real estate. Walton backed off and let the slower car have the corner, and then passed when it was safe.

JEFF ABRAMSON of Danville CA raced his 1959 Morgan +4 to victory in the Group Three race for 1956-1962 Production Cars. It’s one of the four Baby Doll Morgans at the event, and was featured on the program cover and souvenir poster.

The Historic Trans-Ams are a very popular group at vintage and historic events. They will be racing again in late September at the Coronado Classic Speed Festival in San Diego CA, and end the season with a big dinner honoring the Trans-Am Cars and Stars 1966-1972 at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Pomona CA. They think of themselves as racers – fast, fierce, and feisty.

BRUCE CANEPA of Scotts Valley CA won the Trans-Am race in his 1970 Javelin, after starting third. The first four to six cars fiercely fought and swapped the lead six times among themselves. Meanwhile, in the Trans-Am Under Two Liter Class, it was David vs Goliath as JON NORMAN of Berkeley Ca drove his 2000 cc Alfa Romeo GTV to eleventh, after starting tenth. He ran as high as eighth before being passed by cars with more than twice his horsepower.

LINDA and MARK MOUNTANOS received the Historic Trans-Am Series Roy Woods Trophy, presented by GEORGE FOLLMER, for their support of the Historic Trans-Am Group, not just in running one or more of their three Trans-Am cars a weekend, but starting and supporting the website for the series, HistoricTransAm.com. Mark races a 1966 Chevy Nova originally raced by DAN SIEGEL. Linda races a 1970 Pontiac Firebird originally raced by JERRY TITUS, DAVID HOBBS and LARRY DENT. They also own another 1970 Pontiac Firebird originally raced by Titus.

The Mountanos couple also drove two of their cars in the Grand National Exhibition at noon – 1974 Dodge Charger for Mark and a 1996 Chevelle for Linda. They race them with the Historic Stock Cars group.

The RWR Reunion was cooked up just a month or so ago, and there were about a dozen of the old RWR crew, as well as several RWR cars including Javelins, and a McLaren.

While the Historic Trans-Ams were racing in Sonoma CA with a 34-car field, the reborn Trans-Am Series, called Muscle Milk SCCA Trans-Am raced at Mid-Ohio. That race was won by JORGE DIAZ Jr. of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who bested a field of sixteen cars in his Jaguar XKR.

JOHN HILDEBRAND of Sausalito started thirtieth in the Historic IMSA race, driving his 1970/78 Camaro, and finished sixth, after running fourth. His son, J.R. HILDEBRAND started and finished second in Sunday’s Indy Racing League’s Firestone Indy Lights race at The Milwaukee Mile, and continues to lead the Indy Lights standings.

Another racing family are the Swigs of Sausalito and San Francisco, who owns several vintage cars, three of which were raced this weekend. Father MARTIN SWIG raced a small boxy 1953 Fiat 1100 in Group Two; wife ESTA ran a Group Three 1959 Alfa Romeo Guilietta SZ, and son DAVID drove a 1957 Monsterati Special in Group Four. Quite possibly David was the youngest driver this weekend, and STEVE EARLE, founder of the Wine Country Classic, said at the Awards ceremony that Martin had done a good job in passing on the baton to David.

Martin continues to run the California Mille rally, with David’s help. The oldest of two Swig sons also puts on Japanese car events, such an upcoming vintage Japanese car concours, and Japanese car shows. On spare weekends he’s a leading competitor in the fast-growing 24 Hours of LeMons Series. Martin was a consultant on the origination of that fun-loving race, which now draws more than a hundred cars.

Other race winners were TOM PRICE of Larkspur/1932 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 in Group One – Pre-war Racing Cars and Sports Cars to 1952; Group Two/1948-1955 Sports Racing & Production Cars – ROBERT MANSON of Redwood City CA/1952 The Schaghiticoke; Group Four-1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars – ROB WALTON of Paradise Valley AZ/1958 Scarab MKI; Group Five-1958-1963 Formula Jr, F-2 and F-1 cars – NICHOLAS COLYVAS of San Francisco Ca/1963 Lotus 27; Group Six-1963-1966 Production Sports Cars – JOHN DELANE of Redondo Beach CA/1964 Lotus 26R; Group Seven-1961-1965 Sports Racing Cars – TOM NUXOLL of Medina WA/1964 Elva Mk8; Group Nine-1966-1972 Historic Can-Am Cars & FIA to 1978; and Group Ten-Historic IMSA GT & 1981-88 IMSA GTO cars.

The Schaghiticoke Manning Special is pretty much a one of a kind car. It was put together by JOHN BUDDENBAUM and JOHN STREETS, who acquired the few remaining parts of the original Manning Special (which had been destroyed on a local dirt track in 1959) and the original CHUCK MANNING blueprints. The restored car has been racing historics since 1991.

Delane has been racing a lot in Europe these past few years, winning seven FIA Historic Driving Championships – five with his 1971 Tyrrell 001 Formula One car originally raced by JACKIE STEWART, FRANCOIS CEVERT, and PATRICK DEPAILLER;  and two with his 19 Lotus 18 Formula Junior.

The special Presentation and Performance Awards given to a special car in each class:
Group One – TERRY LARSON/1993 Winfield Ford
Group Two – JOHN SHIRLEY/1954 Austin Healey 100
Group Three – LEONARD TURNBEAUGH/1958 Porsche 3
Group Four – DAVID SWIG/1957 Monsterati Special
Group Six – KEITH AHLERS/1965 Morgan SLR
Group Seven – EDITH ARROWSMITH/1964 Brabham BT8
Group Eight – CHAD RAYNAL/1969 Camaro Z-28
Group Nine – BERT SKIDMORE/1976 Lola T-286
Group Ten A – PHIL GALLANT/JOHN MORTON/1985 Roush Mustang
Group Ten B – RANSON WEBSTER/1976 Porsche 935

Earle also puts on the Monterey Historic Automobile Races each August at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. This year it will be the 36th annual event, and the featured car is Porsche.  Earle promises that the entry list will be out at the end of this week.

May 30, 2009

EYE CANDY AND REAL RACING

Filed under: Historics — Lynne Huntting @ 6:40 pm

It was a beautiful day Saturday at Infineon Raceway for the 23rd Annual Wine Country Classic. The morning fog, which is summer-typical in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, burned off and the skies were blue with a few scattered clouds and a stiff breeze. More than 350 historic cars filled the paddock.  There also was a variety of car corrals for interesting marques such as the GT40 Le Mans cars, Mini-Coopers, Sunbeam Tigers, and many others.

The Sonoma event is celebrating 100 years of the British-bred Morgan, which started out as a three-wheel car. The grandson of the Morgan founding father, CHARLES MORGAN, is among the featured guests. The Brit, now President of the Morgan company, came from England, and among other things, he did the PA commentary for the special All-Morgan race. Among all the Morgans this weekend is a reunion of the famed Morgan Baby-Dolls I-V, rounded up by LEW SPENCER. And for those who like to gawk, there was a large corral of Morgans.

My favorite Morgan poseur was a 1967 four seater 4+4 British Racing Green, with a convertible top. Another good looking four-seater 4+4 Morgan was a 1955 two-tone car, best described as sweet colors – milk chocolate and butterscotch. It looked better than it sounds.

In the all-Morgan race, Pole sitter TOM MORGAN of Redwood City CA led the first lap in his 1963 Morgan +4, before being passed by GREG SOLOW of Santa Cruz  CA in his 1963 Morgan +4 SS, who led for two laps. JEFF ABRAMSON in his 1959 Morgan +4 then passed and led the last two laps.

Within the 18 Morgans there were five different classes, based on age of the car. J.DALE BARRY of Westchester CA won Class One in his 1934 Morgan SS. Class Two winner was DICK JEFFERY of Hillsborough CA/1955 Morgan +4. Abramson won Class Three. Class Six was won by Solow; and TOM HOLLFELDER of Covina/2003 Morgan Aero 8 GTR won Class 10B. All but one of the Morgans were from California. They ranged from a 1930 Morgan Super Aero with 1084 cc to the 2003 Morgan with 4600 cc.

The other exhibition group was Grand National Cars, which had a lively mid-day parade.

One of the largest race groups of the weekend was the Historic Trans-Am Cars. The group has a large special area in the center of the paddock, allowing for a nice display of these famous race cars. Every year former Trans-Am champion, GEORGE FOLLMER, presents the Roy Woods Trophy, to the driver who best personifies the spirit of the series. It will be presented Saturday evening.

The late ROY WOODS was one of the most successful private Trans-Am team owners in a series which had many manufacturer-backed teams. RWR won the 1972 Trans-Am championship. This weekend there are a baker’s dozen of the RWR cars running, and the two Woods sons, as well as his nephew, are on site as well as some of the RWR crew.

CAL NAUGHTON, Jr. of Santa Clara CA had the Trans-Am pole in his 1969 Penske-Hilton Sunoco Camaro He diced for eight laps with second-gridded JIM HAGUE of Saratoga CA. While officially, there were four lead changes between the two, the two swapped the lead at least once every lap. Naughton prevailed with Hague on his rear bumper at the checkered flag. Photo Finish. It was a good day for Penske cars. Team Penske IndyCar driver, RYAN BRISCOE of Australia has the pole for Sunday’s ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 race at The Milwaukee Mile. IndyCars race at Infineon in August.

The Trans-Am field was mostly ‘thumpers’, with only two Under Two-Liter class Trans-Am cars – JON NORMAN of Berkeley CA in his well-known lime green 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV with door-sized numbers, and ED MATSUISHI of San Rafael CA in his 1965 Porsche 911. Despite being desperately overpowered by much stronger cars, Norman gridded tenth of 36, ran as high as seventh and finished ninth. Matsuishi started twenty-eighth and finished twenty-ninth.

Two other special groups had their own class – the Historic CanAm Cars & FIA cars, and the Historic IMSA GT and GTO cars.

It’s much nicer being here in Northern California with all this moving racing history than slaving away on the laptop, sorting through the morass of racing politics and turmoil. I don’t have to be worried about the alphabet soup political chaos in Formula One, or that some say Junior’s NASCAR slump is contributing to the 13 per cent drop in Fox TV ratings, or whether or not TONY GEORGE was or was not fired by his family as President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I can spend two days watching really recognizable race cars go at it up and down the elevated road course at Infineon Raceway in the heart of the wine country. Eat your heart out.

May 24, 2009

SAFER SAFETY STAGES, AND THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES – PART TWO

Filed under: IRL,Safety — Lynne Huntting @ 11:24 pm

KEVIN FORBES, Director for Engineering and Construction at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, won’t take any individual credit for all the safety innovations installed or put into practice at the 100-year old race track. He said “It’s a team effort. Diverse resources and diverse thought processes look at problems with different thoughts, which are explored to the fullest. It’s a wonderful experience to be part of a collaborative effort. There are so many people involved in making the sport safer for everyone.”

Forbes is a little hesitant, and somewhat cautious in looking at the next improvement. He said “We need to ensure we’re not breaking the law of unintended consequences. An infinitesimal change can be catastrophic.”

According to Wikipedia, the law of unintended consequences (law of unforeseen consequences) states that any purposeful action will produce some unintended consequences. The maxim is not a scientific law, but rather more like Murphy’s law. Otherwise put, the actions of people always have effects which are unanticipated or unintended.

Forbes said “In making changes, we have to be deliberate and careful. Every time we repave the track, we try to make it smoother, with better friction, quicker drying than before. The racetrack is a stage. If  it’s not right, we can’t entertain…it’s important to keep cars on track. Handling a wet track can be done with drainage systems. We don’t have the ability at IMS to start all over with the track surface. But new race tracks are learning how to evacuate water better, more efficiently, so it absorbs less and dries quicker. The track still has to maintain grip and smoothness. It has to be a package. At IMS, we’ll always continue working.

“Fencing is a mysterious aspect of a track. We continue to research and improve them. It has to protect the spectators and help drivers be safe. It needs to be invisible but safe. Racing is a spectator sort. A good fence needs to be invisible, but also provide the best protection possible for the fan. It needs to minimize damage to the driver and car.”

Forbes has never been to Talladega Superspeedway, so wouldn’t comment on its fencing or the recent accident during a NASCAR race. “The fence at IMS was designed in a vacuum. We didn’t rely on anyone else. We looked at what we had to design for IRL cars going 225 mph, NASCAR and Formula One cars going 180 mph. We didn’t compare our fencing with others, but designed to what we have. The banking at IMS is 9 degrees 12+ minutes. That’s our design challenge. Talladega has 33 degree banking. The IMS fence built in 1992 – very modern fence.

“We want IMS to be a total experience, more fulfilling, more worthwhile. We want the roads to be good, the grass green, and trash picked up. We want it to be more like a park – welcoming. We are the world’s largest stadium, which is a total of all its parts. We’re rebuilding ourselves, not just the track. All staff are ambassadors. It is attitude. Our mission statement matches goals. Being on track is being on stage.”

Forbes is like a Back Stage Director. “I handle all else – backstage. It should be an invisible position, invisible like the fence. We have very finicky customers, who expect a lot. We can’t let them down. We have to deliver and meet expectations.”

Severe storms are difficult for the track. Mother Nature is unpredictable. “This is a city of 300,000. On race day it is the second largest city in Indiana. We can’t just run to the basement. We have the best prepared group here at IMS, but it is challenging. When it rains, the parking plans change.”

One of the most unusual incidents Forbes encountered at IMS was three years ago when 50,000 bees landed on a car in the media lot, covering the entire vehicle.  The car was spotted by one of the ‘Yellow Shirts’ (security person) who contacted Forbes. “We have to be prepared for anything.” IMS has a beekeeper on call, who was brought to the track via police escort. The situation was handled before the car’s owner even knew there was a problem.

Take a bow, Kevin Forbes.

SAFER SAFETY STAGES, AND LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES – Part 1

Filed under: IRL,Safety — Lynne Huntting @ 11:11 pm

Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500, the SAFER barriers had many chances to show how well they lived up to their name. Despite all the wall-banging in Turns One and Four, the SAFER walls did what they were installed to do – absorb energy and keep the drivers safer.

KEVIN FORBES has been the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Director of Engineering and Construction for the past 18 years. During the first weekend of Qualifying we had a nice long chat about track safety and the Speedway, especially the SAFER barriers.

Forbes said then “There have been no debilitating injuries in any accident involving the SAFER barrier.” And he would know. Forbes oversaw the design and installation of the SAFER barriers, which were installed first at the Speedway and proven before they were installed at other tracks.

Turn One’s SAFER barrier attracted more than its share of incidents during the first weekend of qualifying for this year’s Indianapolis 500, and then again during the race. Forbes had said “There’s just something about that corner (Turn One-Two) which elicits accidents. But the SAFER barrier works! It is better to talk about saving lives and careers. It helps maintain stock-in-trade.”

No one was injured in Qualifying and all drivers were cleared to drive after their incidents.

After all the wall-whacking in the Indy 500 race, only one driver was hurt, and it wasn’t debilitating. VITOR MEIRA/No.14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises took a ride on the wild side, after hitting the Turn One wall. He was hospitalized at Methodist Hospital with fractures to L1 and L2 vertebra. Meira was fitted for a back brace by orthopedic surgeon DR TERRY TRAMMEL, and the driver’s medical regime, set up by DR MICHAEL OLINGER, Indy Racing League’s medical director,  is “non-operative management.” Meira is expected to remain in hospital for two days.

IMS is currently using Version 2 SAFER barrier. One of the main improvements is that there now is a universal Styrofoam shape which is compatible with both open-wheel cars and stock cars. No more swapping out the Styrofoam between races. Five steel tubes are welded together instead of four in the barrier’s exterior. The attachment points anchoring the barrier to the existing concrete retaining walls have been improved. The barrier has been permanently lengthened an additional 200 feet from the entrance of Turn One northward.

At one point in the first weekend of Qualifying, track activity had to be stopped so the Turn One wall could be repaired. And again during Sunday’s race repairs were needed in the same general area. There’s a repair kit on the truck ready to use. The damaged SAFER barrier part is cut away, replaced and welded. It doesn’t take long.

During all on-track sessions, Forbes sits in Race Control, overseeing and directing the track and safety issues and responses . He’s done this for the past five years.

HELIO & PENSKE WIN THE MONTH OF MAY • MEIRA IN BACK BRACE

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 4:06 pm

Pole Sitter HELIO CASTRONEVES/No.3 Team Penske said he’s had the best month of May, ever! He won his third Indianapolis 500 race Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge Friday on Carb Day. His team owner, ROGER PENSKE, had said earlier this week that there were three races at Indy in the month of May and he wanted to win them all. Penske got his wish. He now can change his vanity license plate to I Won 15.

Castroneves did his signature fence climb, and was highly emotional in Victory Circle. He said  “This is incredible. I think my tears speak for everything.” He thanked his team, owner, sponsors, everybody including the fans. “You guys kept me strong. Thank you so much. Let’s celebrate now!”

Castroneves had radio issues and problems with his gearbox in the pits. His two spotters were RICK MEARS, former Penske driver and four-time winner of the Indy 500; and CLIVE HOWELL. TIM CINDRIC, President of Penske Racing, was the Race Strategist for Castroneves, who is the second straight pole sitter to win the race. Penske did the Race Strategy for teammate, RYAN BRISCOE/No.6.

The other obstacle facing Castroneves this month was the remaining conspiracy charge in his federal tax evasion case. That was dismissed Friday, just before the Pit Stop Challenge, which Castroneves and his team won, with a record-breaking time.

The Margin of Victory was 1.9819-seconds ahead of runner-up DAN WHELDON/No.4 Panther Racing, who won the 2005 Indy 500. All four former Indy 500 race winners in Sunday’s race finished in the top seven: Castroneves, Wheldon, and the two Chip Ganassi Racing drivers, SCOTT DIXON/No.9-sixth and DARIO FRANCHITTI/No.10-seventh.

Franchitti turned the fastest lap of 222.044 mph on Lap 187. He also now leads the standings with 122 points, five points ahead of Castroneves in second place. 

The third place finish of DANICA PATRICK/No.7 Andretti Green Racing is the best-ever finish for a female driver in the Indy 500.

Nineteen drivers finished on the lead lap, a record for the Indy 500. Twenty cars finished.

The weather was hazy and hot – upper eighties F. The lethargically-waving flags were barely making an effort.

Dixon led twice for 73 laps, the most of any of the four leaders. Winner Castroneves led first and last, for 66 laps. Franchitti led once for fifty laps and RYAN BRISCOE/No.6 Team Penske led once for 11 laps. Briscoe got a bad set of tires, which set him back, and he finished fifteenth.

There were eight cautions, all for contact. Sixty-one of the 200 race laps were under caution. There were no penalties assessed.

I misspoke regarding the top Rookie. It was ALEX TAGLIANI/No.36 Conquest Racing, who started last and finished eleventh. It was the cherry on the sundae for the Canadian, who had been bumped, missed a chance to retry when time ran out, and was so dejected. Then he was put in the car, at the expense of BRUNO JUNQUEIRA, who had qualified the car in thirty-third place. This is the third race this season for Tag, all with the Conquest team. He missed the oval race at Kansas. 

There were several crashes, into the walls at Turn Four and Turn One. The most severe involved VITOR MEIRA/No.14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises and Rookie RAPHAEL MATOS/No.2 Luczo Dragon Racing. They touched wheels on Lap 173, and both hit the wall in Turn One.  Matos had severe damage to his car and stopped on course. Meira spun and hit the wall again backwards, sliding up the wall and shooting backwards down the wall, until it flopped back onto the track. He was awake and alert when he was transported to Methodist hospital with back pain. Meira has been admitted for fractures of the L1 and L2 vertebraes. The plan of DR. MICHAEL OLINGER, medical director for Indy Racing League, is non-operative management. Noted racing orthopedic surgeon, DR. TERRY TRAMMEL fitted Meira with a back brace. Meira will remain in the hospital at least two days.

Meira and Matos were running nineteenth and twentieth at the time of the accident. Earlier Meira’s car caught fire in the pits, but it was extinguished and he was able to get back to racing.

The Turn One SAFER barrier had to be repaired, with welding of the injured areas.

Matos said “I feel OK. I hope Vitor is OK. It was just an unfortunate incident.” He was checked and cleared to drive.

Several other drivers didn’t have good luck.  JUSTIN WILSON/No.18 Dale Coyne Racing spun and hit the Turn One wall on Lap 162 while running nineteenth. He finished twenty-third.

Rookie ROBERT DOORNBOS/No.06 Newman Haas Lanigan Racing hit the wall at Turn Two on Lap 126, but was not hurt. He finished twenty-eighth.

NELSON PHILIPPE/No.00 HVM Racing hit the Turn Four wall hard on Lap 132. He wasn’t hurt, and finished twenty-fifth.

E.J. VISO/No.13 HVM pitted after his rear tire came loose twice. He couldn’t get the car up to speed. “It was too shaky.” Viso finished twenty-fourth.

Some of the Indy-only drivers had their moments. Canadian PAUL TRACY/No.15 KV Racing Technology ran as high as fourth before finishing ninth after starting thirteenth. He will run the two Canadian IRL races with KVRT.

TOMAS SCHECKTER/No.19 Dale Coyne Racing finished twelfth after starting twenty-sixth.

SCOTT SHARP/No.16 Panther Racing started twentieth and finished fourteenth. 

JOHN ANDRETTI/No.43 Richard Petty Motorsports/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing finished nineteenth after starting twenty-eighth.

The celebrating and prize giving happens Monday night at the Indy 500 Awards Banquet.

HAPPY HELIO!

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 1:37 pm

Pole sitter HELIO CASTRONEVES/No.3 Team Penske won the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 race at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Runner-up was DAN WHELDON/No.4 Panther Racing, who started eighteenth. DANICA PATRICK/No.7 Andretti Green Racing was the top finishing female, placing a hard-fought third, while trying for the lead.

The highest placing Indy-only driver was TOWNSEND BELL/No.8 KV Racing Technology, in fourth place. WILL POWER/No.12 Penske Racing was fifth.

Top Rookie was ALEX TAGLIANI/No.36 Conquest Racing, finishing eleventh after starting last.

SARAH FISHER/No.67 Sarah Fisher Racing was seventeenth, on the lead lap.

MILKA DUNO/No.23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing finished twentieth, one lap town – the last car running.

MORE TO FOLLOW

LAP 120 UPDATE

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 1:00 pm

Twenty-seven cars were still running, with the top twenty-three on the lead lap. The three females in the race were all still running: DANICA PATRICK/No.7 Andretti Green Racing-tenth; SARAH FISHER/No.67 Sarah Fisher Racing-sixteenth; and MILKA DUNO/No.23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-twenty-fourth, one lap down.

RAPHAEL MATOS/No.2 Luczo Dragon Racing was still top Rookie at Lap 120, running fifth overall.

PAUL TRACY/No.15 KV Racing Technology moved up to ninth; and WILL POWER/No.12 Penske Racing continued to be the top Indy 500 only driver, running a steady third. ALEX TAGLIANI/No.36 Conquest Racing continued his charge to the front, running eleventh after starting last.

SCOTT DIXON/No.9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing led twice for the most laps – 52; CGR teammate, DARIO FRANCHITTI/No.10 also led twice, for 50 laps. Pole Sitter HELIO CASTRONEVES/No.3 Team Penske led once for the first seven laps; and his teammate, RYAN BRISCOE/No.6 led once for 11 laps.

Five cautions took 37 of the first 120 laps.

TONY KANAAN/No.11 Andretti Green Racing broke his record of leading a lap in every Indy 500 he ran since 2002. Sunday something suddenly broke on Lap 98 and Kanaan “went for a wild ride. I’m pretty much beat up.” He didn’t know what happened on the car. He hit the Turn Three wall at 190 mph, then bumped into the Turn Four wall, and the right rear tire caught fire. Kanaan was checked and released, after treatment for very very minor injuries. He was cleared to drive. Kanaan looks good with hair about as long as his chia pet.

ORIOL SERVIA/No.17 Rahal Letterman Racing retired on Lap 98 with fuel pressure problems, after running as high as eleventh.

RYAN HUNTER-REAY/No.21 Vision Racing said about his accident “A.J. FOYT/No.41 A.J. Foyt Enterprises was really loose and checked up in Turn Three and Four. I followed him in there too closely, and that’s my fault. I got a big aero wash and I was a passenger from there on. That put me in the grey and into the wall. It’s a shame to have to have that happen trying to get around a car that’s almost disabled, but I guess that’s Indy.”

SAMANTHA LLOYD, wife of Pink Lloyd, ALEX LLOYD/No.99 Chip Ganassi Racing/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, started having labor contractions, but cheerfully insisted she wasn’t going to leave until after the race.

YOU TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND I’LL TAKE THE LOW ROAD

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 12:11 pm

DARIO FRANCHITTI/No.10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing has led for 45 laps by Lap 80. Other leaders have been Pole Sitter HELIO CASTRONEVES/No.3 Team Penske-seven laps; 2008 Indy 500 winner and champion, SCOTT DIXON/No.9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing-17 LAPS; and RYAN BRISCOE/No.6 Team Penske-11 laps.

So far RAPHAEL MATOS/No.2 Luczo Dragon Racing has been the top Rookie. At Lap 80, he was running fourth, and has been up with the front runners since he started twelfth.

While no one was looking, ALEX TAGLIANI/No.36 Conquest Racing moved from last to sixteenth on lap 80. Tag had been bumped from the field on Bump Day, and was in line to try again when the gun went off. The car had been qualified by BRUNO JUNQUEIRA in P33.

A couple of hours after the gun, team owner ERIC BACHELART made the decision to put the Canadian in the car, displacing Junqueira. At the Indy 500, it’s the car which qualifies, not the driver.

WILL POWER/No.12 Penske Racing is the top running one-off driver, who isn’t running the full season. He started ninth and was seventh on Lap 80.

Turn Four’s high right wall must have an invisible target painted all over it.

GRAHAM RAHAL/No.02 Newman Haas Lanigan Racing hit the Turn Four wall on Lap 56. He retired, and has been checked and cleared to drive. The second-generation Indy 500 driver  was running fifth at the time. He said he was trying to avoid MILKA DUNO/No.23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. She started twenty-ninth and was running at the back when the accident occurred.

DAVEY HAMILTON/No.44 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, drove high and into the Turn Four wall on Lap 80. He is the oldest driver in the field at age 47. Hamilton was cleared and released to drive.

TRADITION • RIDING HIGH….NOT!

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 11:20 am

No one does tradition, pomp and circumstance like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 race. And this 93rd running of the race was no different. As the race is held during the Memorial Day weekend – an American holiday honoring those US military personnel who died in the service of our country – there were a variety of military ceremonies, and taps.

There were two starts. Pole sitter HELIO CASTRONEVES/No.3 Team Penske jumped the start and the top three/front row were strung out in order instead of three abreast before they reached the green flag. So around they went and tried again, and while it wasn’t nearly so ragged, Castroneves was clearly eager to get out and get going.

For two drivers, the National Anthem took longer than their race. Two young guns were vying for the same real estate between Turns Two and Three on the first lap. They went into each other and the wall, and their day was done, almost before it started. First Caution of the race.

MARCO ANDRETTI/No.26 Andretti Green Racing pitted (which technically credited him with a lap), with a sheared right front wing, and retired. His angry remarks included “That kid doesn’t get it. He never will. He’s clueless.” Some say that Andretti was the innocent in this accident, which was caused by Moraes who didn’t heed that Andretti was up above him and pinched him off.

MARIO MORAES/No.5 KV Racing Technology sustained the most damage from the incident – the right front  and side of his car, which hit the wall hard. His car was towed. When caught up with by pit reporter JAMIE LITTLE, who asked what happened, he said “What do you want me to say? What does he (Andretti) want to hear? I was in the front and I was holding my line.” In response to where he was going now (to talk with Andretti?) Moraes said “I’m going to the bathroom.” He was checked and released from the Clarian infield medical center – first one out of the race.

RYAN HUNTER-REAY/No.21 Vision Racing hit the wall exiting on Lap 22, bringing out the second caution. He was running up high in Turn Four, hit the wall and spun across track and hit again. RHR, last year’s Rookie of the Year, was checked and released by DR MICHAEL OLINGER, medical director of Indy Racing League.

Meanwhile, Castroneves was raced hard by third-starting DARIO FRANCHITTI/No.10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing and the Scot passed Castroneves for the lead on Lap Eight.

TAPESTRIES • SPOT ON • FAST FATHERS

Filed under: IRL — Lynne Huntting @ 9:40 am

It’s hot, hazy and muggy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day for the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500. At 11:30 local time the ambient temperature is 86 F, the track temperature is 108 F and the breeze is nil. The crowds are large and started arriving early. People everywhere, gawking, gaping, and jostling for position. Lots of bare bodies and tattoos. A few brave men wearing neon Pink Lloyd HER shirts in support of ALEX LLOYD/No.99 Chip Ganassi Racing/Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Lloyd starts eleventh Lots of other team and driver affiliated apparel is sported.

It was a veritable Who’s Who in the garage and pit lane.

Among those part of the scene seen in one quick sweep of the garage: GIL de FERRAN, BRUNO JUNQUEIRA, TOMMY KENDALL, VICKI O’CONNOR, LYN ST JAMES, and to keep it lively – a Scottish bagpiper band.

Kendall, who hasn’t spectated at Indy since 1994, had been headed to Charlotte for the NASCAR weekend – to pay off a bet. He was persuaded by his old pal, PAUL TRACY/No.15 KV Racing Technology, to divert his flight to Indianapolis. PT wanted TK to be his spotter. Kendall declined, too long on his feet (which pain him after his horrific accident during an IMSA race years ago.) PT wheedled and tried to persuade TK to run the pit board. Tracy settled for TK rooting for him in the suites. Kendall last raced at IMS in the 1998 IROC race.

Kendall must be really pleased he’s at Indy instead of Charlotte, where it’s pouring.

Tracy, who starts thirteenth, will have C.R. CREWS as his spotter. At IMS, IRL requires two spotters per driver – one in Turn One to cover from Turn Four around to Turn Three. The other spotter is in Turn Three, covering from Turn One to Turn Four.

Tracy’s team owner, JIMMY VASSER, said he selects spotters based on experience. Some of his spotters are Indy-only specialists. Vasser himself has been a spotter, last year for WILL POWER at a Homestead rest. Vasser said it was a long, hot day.

TONY KANAAN/No.11 Andretti Green Racing – also known as TK – has DAVE REININGER as his spotter. Reininger is the only journalist I know who also spots on a regular basis. He’s been doing it for years for a variety of teams. Kanaan starts sixth in the race.

Twelve team owners are Race Strategists this weekend.

During a media conference, ABC TV broadcaster, MARTY REID, selected MARIO MORAES/No.5 KV Racing Technology as a dark horse to win the race. He said team owner Vasser “saw something in him.” Moraes starts seventh.

I asked Vasser what he saw in Moraes. Vasser said he watched Moraes last year, racing with DALE COYNE, and how comfortable he became in the car and on ovals. The 19-year old Brazilian came from three years in go-karts and a year in the British F3 International Series. Vasser was really impressed with the season’s finale race at Chicagoland, where Moraes worked his way up and was running with the big guys. They talked in Vasser’s motor home that weekend, and throughout the winter, putting together a commercial package.

Vasser said he was sorry to lose WILL POWER and ORIOL SERVIA at the end of last season, but when the Indy Racing League decided not to race any longer in Australia, the Team Australia sponsorship went away. Both of the drivers have one-off rides for the Indy 500. Power is running the third Penske car, No.12 Team Penske, starting ninth and Servia is running No. 17 Rahal Letterman, and will start twenty-fifth.

Vasser has been working with Moraes, and has him ‘running with the Penske guys.’ That means when the Penske guys leave the pits, so does Moraes, blending in and keeping up with them. Vasser has been pleased with how Moraes has done.

Two drivers have wives awaiting deliveries today: ED CARPENTER/No.20 Vision Racing – starting seventeenth, and Lloyd. SAMANTHA LLOYD is due any moment, and has been told by her doctor to stay off her feet. But nothing will keep her from being in the pits for the race. All the medical staff in the Clarian Medical Center have been advised and are at the ready, and her obstetrician is up in the grandstands, cell phone turned on.

Lloyd said his wife had a long 28-hour labor with their first child, AVA, so if Sam’s labor starts during the race, he doesn’t want to be told so he can focus on the race. And then he’ll dash off to wherever, saying “just open the gates. My car is faster than anything else.”

I have MARCO ANDRETTI/No.26 Andretti Green Racing in the Media Center pool. So if he’s first, second or first out, I win.

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