June 2, 2010
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Well, the wait is over, and IndyCar has announced its new engine specifications for 2012. Here is what they released today: "Fans and industry representatives have asked for increased manufacturer participation in the sport, and the IZOD IndyCar Series is providing such a platform with its new engine strategy. The series announced today that its new generation of engines will be more powerful and efficient than the current formula. The new engine strategy is based on a recommendation from the ICONIC (Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) Advisory Committee. The exciting new platform, which debuts in 2012, will allow manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders as well as maximum displacement of 2.4 cubic liters. The ethanol-fueled engines will produce between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes and will be turbocharged to allow for flexibility in power. " Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for IndyCar added, "We will continue to evaluate rules that will keep a level playing field across the board with the various engines that could enter our sport. For example, we could see a V-6 competing against an Inline 4 at all IZOD IndyCar Series events in the future. We will require reference engines as a benchmark in performance while looking at sonic air restrictors, fuel flow restrictions and more as key criteria for competition." The bottom line? Participating manufacturers will have a choice of either a 4-cylinder or V6, and the end result is that we might just see some engine diversity back in IndyCar racing after a long, dry spell dominated by "spec" engines. I applaud IndyCar for making a real attempt at enticing the world's auto manufacturers to participate. Watch for at least two engine manufacturers in 2012, and maybe one more. - PMD
(Daniel Incandela/IMS)
Morning dawns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Sunday.
(Forrest Mellot/IMS)
Back home again in Indiana with the Purdue marching band.
(Dana Garrett/IMS)
Actor Mark Wahlberg gets interviewed before his ride in the IndyCar two-seater (driven by Michael Andretti) at the start of the race.
(Jim Haines/IMS)
The crowd in Gasoline Alley mills about before the start of the race.
(Dana Garrett/IMS)
Jack Nicholson relished his role as honorary starter for the Indianapolis 500.
(Chris Jones/IMS)
What's the Indy 500 without a race Queen?
(David Edelstein/IMS)
David Letterman and Bobby Rahal chat before the race.
(Ron McQueeney/IMS)
History just oozes from every inch of The Speedway on race morning.
(Shawn Payne/IMS)
Best buds Dario and Tony Kanaan embrace after the race. Kanaan started dead last, clawed his way to the front, but eventually finished 11th in his No. 11 Andretti Motorsport Team 7-11 Honda-powered Dallara. “I hope I made it exciting out there," Kanaan said afterwards. "I promised them a good start, and I think I did that. I have been in many positions for this race, and I don’t think the fastest car wins all the time. I think we had a shot for a win. This whole team for the work they did today deserved a top-three today. I had to come in and get fuel and go out and go as fast as I could. The strategies could have worked both ways. We took a gamble. When it comes to a fuel strategy race, I’m not a big fan of it. It could have gone the other way. We could have gotten the lead and won the race, and we could brag about it for the rest of my life. I support my guys all the way. Let’s learn from it. I think this team is more together than ever.”
(Shawn Payne/IMS)
Dan Wheldon parlayed patient race strategy by his Panther Racing team into a superb second place in his No. 4 National Guard-sponsored car. here's what he had to say during his post-race interview: "There's always the hope of a yellow. But the way this race played out, the way the races have played out during this year, there's been a lot of green stops. That's when I took it upon myself to save the fuel early. If you try and save it right at the end, it's very, very difficult. I knew because of that I was in a pretty good position. I was hungry to win, but the team were getting on my butt about saving fuel those last three laps. Maybe if I was young like Rahal and Marco Andretti - myself back in the day - I would have totally ignored them, tried to run Dario down when I saw him slowing down. I knew it was close. Just one of those things."
(Shawn Gritzmacher/IMS)
Marco Andretti finished third after originally being scored in sixth position. A review of the tapes confirmed Marco's post-race complaint, that three drivers - Alex Lloyd, Scott Dixon and Danica Patrick - had passed him under yellow at the very end of the race. In five Indy 500 starts Marco has a 2nd and two 3rd-place finishes.
(Shawn Gritzmacher/IMS)
Alex Lloyd had a memorable day in his Boy Scouts of America-sponsored machine for Dale Coyne Racing, the team's best-ever result in the Indianapolis 500. The 26-year-old Englishman started 26th and finished fourth. "I just got to thank Gail and Dale Coyne for giving me this opportunity," Lloyd said afterwards. "Haven't done many races the last couple years. Three IndyCar races in two years. There's a lot of other guys out there he could have picked over me, guys with more experience. But he didn't. He picked me. I'm thrilled to be able to deliver him a result of the biggest race in the world."
(Jim Haines/IMS)
Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing D/H/F) went from fourth to fifth after the post-race scoring adjustment. “For me, it was not much of an exciting race, " Dixon said. "I was kind of sitting in the back of the pack when we had the pit stop problem. We just never really regained. I slowly picked off cars as I went along. If it was a 600- or 700-mile race, we would have been looking decent. It was a huge day for the team. It was a fantastic job by Dario. He got lucky on the yellow, but you’ve got to give the guy a lot of credit: He led a lot of laps and definitely worked on it.” Ryan Briscoe (No. 6 Team Penske D/H/F) crashed out late in the race, part of a lackluster effort by Team Penske on a day filled with uncharacteristic mistakes in the pits. Will Power finished 8th and Helio Castroneves - a pre-race favorite to win his fourth Indy 500 - stalled his car during his last last pit stop costing him any chance for the win. Helio finished ninth.
(Chris Jones/IMS)
After a trying couple of weeks at The Speedway struggling with an ill-handling machine, Danica Patrick demonstrated patience and maturity by working with her team strategists, getting some outstanding work in the pits, and delivering an excellent sixth-place finish in her No. 7 Andretti Autosport Team GoDaddy.com machine. “I’m very happy with the result,and the reasons we got it were that our pit stops rocked and we had a perfect strategy," Patrick said. "We did struggle a little in the early goings. We almost went a lap down. But we were able to get the GoDaddy.com car into the position it should have been in. I focused on making sure I lifted and got a tow from other cars to save fuel as the laps were winding down. I’m really glad that yellow came out at the end because we were cutting it real close on fuel. That’s the roll of the dice, and the team did a perfect job.”
(Jim Haines/IMS)
Justin Wilson (No. 22 Team Z-Line Designs/DRR) delivered a strong race, coming home seventh. “The car was great, but we knew we were 10 laps short on fuel," he said afterwards." The key was to push as hard as we could and try and stretch the field out, so when we did our stop we would come out in a good position. Everybody else was saving fuel and trying to make it to the end, so I think without that yellow maybe we would have passed another three or four cars.” (On how it felt to lead at Indy): “It felt really good. It’s nice to have a taste of that. I want more. The guys on the Z-Line Designs car did a great job. I’m really happy for that. We’re just thinking about the next one now.”
(Jim Haines/IMS)
Graham Rahal showed he had the speed to run up front all day in his No. 30 Rahal Letterman Racing QuickTrim entry, but a blocking penalty destroyed his momentum during the race.
(Chris Jones/IMS)
The Target Chip Ganassi Team at the moment of victory. Congratulations to Chip, Dario and the entire team. And Dario will get the last word here. When asked this question after the race, "What does it mean for you being a role model for Scottish kids because you are not only a great racing driver but a great ambassador?" Dario's reply was, "Thank you. That's a tough one to answer. I think by the way maybe you live your life, that's all you can really do.Yeah, that's about it. It's very important, both at the track and out of the track, we look after the kids, the fans, the younger kids, because I remember going to racetracks and seeing my heroes. When they were nice to me, it was an unbelievable feeling. I think it's very important." And when asked that with his two Indy 500 victories, was Dario now on par with Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart or was he now above them, Dario said this: "I could win races, Indy 500s, for the rest of my life, 'til I'm 70 years old, and I still wouldn't be in the same vein as Jim Clark or Jackie Stewart. Those guys are absolute legends. I'm in awe of both of them."
Indy 500 Cash. Dario Franchitti earned $2,752,055 from an overall purse of $13,592,815 for his victory in the 2010 Indianapolis 500. 2005 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon finished second for the second consecutive year earning $1,007,305. Marco Andretti earned $630,505 for his third-place finish. Alex Lloyd's career-best fourth at Indy earned $425,305, and Franchitti’s Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon, finished fifth and earned $377,305.
Simona de Silvestro. Impressive rookie Simona de Silvestro earned the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Award, which includes a $25,000 bonus plus the Chase Rookie of the Year Trophy. De Silvestro finished 14th in the No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds HVM Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29, 2011.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Indy Racing League Director of Medical Services Dr. Michael Olinger made the following statement regarding IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Mike Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay: "Mike Conway had surgery Sunday night to repair fractures to his lower left leg. He also has a soft tissue injury to his lower left leg and is anticipated to have another surgical procedure later this week. Additionally, Conway has a compression fracture of one of his thoracic vertebrae and is being fitted for a back brace, which he will wear for three months and will prevent him from racing. Ryan Hunter-Reay is scheduled to have surgery today on his left thumb. After surgery, he will be fitted with a carbon fiber splint, which should allow him to participate at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend." We will have further medical updates when available. - PMD
(Jim Haines/IMS)
Wade Cunningham (No. 77 Lucas Oil/BSS/Sam Schmidt Motorsports) won the Firestone Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Friday afternoon. Charlie Kimball (No. 26 Levemir FlexPen) was second, and James Hinchcliffe (No. 2 TMR - Xtreme Coil Drilling) was third. It was Cunningham's third win at The Speedway in the event.
(McLaren Automotive)
McLaren recently celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the McLaren F1 sports car. In 1988, McLaren decided to expand from Formula One and design and build “the finest sports car the world had ever seen”. In March 1990 the team that was to create the F1 came together for the first time. Just two years later, the McLaren F1 road car was launched to the world on 28th May 1992 in Monaco, with the first production car delivered to its proud owner in December 1993. In its 20th anniversary year, the McLaren F1 is considered by most people to be one of the greatest cars of all time. "Its exclusivity, technical innovation, racing provenance, revolutionary packaging and extraordinary driving experience have made it an icon," according to McLaren. On April 27th, McLaren Automotive celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the start of the F1 program by inviting F1 owners past and present to a celebration dinner at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. The following day, after a preview of McLaren Automotive’s exciting plans for a future range of high performance sports cars, the owners were treated to a display of 21 McLaren F1 road and race cars, the largest number of F1 cars ever assembled in one place. With the launch of McLaren Automotive - as a new car company announced in March 2010 - the company begins production planning for an entire range of high performance sports, designed and built in-house by McLaren. The first in this range will be the MP4-12C, which will make its debut one year from now. McLaren’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the F1 will continue throughout the year. McLaren enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see both the F1 and 12C together at this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place at the famous English motorsport venue from July 2-4, 2010.
(MAZDASPEED)
On Sunday, May 24, Danny Sullivan drove in the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup race at Mazda Raceway in support of the SPCA for Monterey County. Danny agreed to participate with one condition - that it not be a mere PR stunt – so cash donations to the SPCA for Monterey County would be required. The response was strong from both racing fans and animal welfare advocates. Over $7,000 was secured before the green flag dropped on Sunday afternoon and donations are still being accepted for “Pet Crew” T-shirts (available at SPCAmc.org/petcrew.htm). Danny also donated his Mazda provided Sparco nomex suit with custom SPCA for Monterey County graphics to be used as an auction item. Details will be posted on www.SPCAmc.org and www.facebook.com/SPCAmc.
The City of Baltimore, IndyCar. Baltimore Racing Development announced today that the Baltimore Grand Prix will be part of the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule beginning in 2011. The inaugural event has been scheduled for August 5-7, and will be contested on a 2.4-mile temporary street circuit around the scenic Inner Harbor area of downtown Baltimore. BRD also announced that the event will be an annual fixture on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule for at least five years, thanks to multi-year contracts with the Indy Racing League and City of Baltimore.
WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!
The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)
AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.
AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.
See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv. By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links: Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319 http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml
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