By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. I consider the photographers who capture the action at races all over the world to be the unsung heroes of the sport. They're continuing the legacy of some of the legendary artists who came before them, people like Louis Klemantaski, Jesse Alexander, Rainer Schlegelmilch, Bernard Cahier, Pete Biro, Dave Friedman and many, many more. As our longtime readers recall, we lost our friend John Thawley last fall. John provided countless scintillating images to our site over the years and we miss him, and his work. So, as a tribute to John, I thought it might be good to feature some of the work from current photographers for our readers to enjoy, including a stunning MotoGP image from Whit Bazemore, who, we're happy to say, is a new contributor to Autoextremist.com.
(Photo by Chris Owens)Marcus Ericsson in the No. 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ARROW Honda Turbo V6 at Belle Isle on Sunday.
(Photo by James Black)
Zach Veach in the No. 26 Andretti Autosport GAINBRIDGE Honda Turbo V6 during Sunday's IndyCar Race 2 on the Belle Isle circuit.
(Photo by Joe Skibinski)
Max Chilton in the No. 59 Carlin Racing GALLAGHER Chevrolet Turbo V6 early in Saturday's IndyCar Race 1.
Tony Kanaan in the No. 14 A. J. Foyt Racing ABC SUPPLY Chevrolet Turbo V6 during Saturday's IndyCar Race 1 at Belle Isle.
(Photo by Joe Skibinski)
James Hinchcliffe gets into the No. 5 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ARROW Honda Turbo V6 during Friday's IndyCar practice on Belle Isle.
(Photo by Whit Bazemore/Special to Autoextremist.com)
Danilo Petrucci (No. 9 Mission Winnow Ducati) overcame a furious last lap battle with Marc Marquez (No. 93 Repsol Honda Team) and Andrea Dovizioso (No. 4 Mission Winnow Ducati) to win the Gran Premio D’Italia at the spectacular Mugello circuit. It was Petrucci's first win in MotoGP™ in his eighth season of GP racing. See more coverage in The Line.
(Photo by Dave Friedman)
Le Mans, France, June 19, 1966, Denny Hulme, Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby during a pit stop for the No. 1 Shelby American Ford Mk II. Hulme and Miles would have won the race except for a botched attempt by Ford operatives to orchestrate a 1-2-3 finish; instead, they finished second. For Miles, who was probably the most important contributor to Carroll Shelby's - and Ford's - success, it was cruel blow and he remained bitter about it right up to his death in a violent crash while testing the Ford J-car at Riverside in August of 1966. Miles' work on the J-car - which became the Ford Mk IV - was instrumental in the car's development as a racing machine.