Thursday, May 26, 2011
Help Kansas Speedway Provide Disaster Relief to Kansas and Missouri
Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren announced today that Kansas Speedway will provide an opportunity for race fans to assist the disaster relief efforts in the tornado ravaged areas of Reading, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri.
For a $25 donation to the American Red Cross, fans will have the opportunity to drive their personal vehicle around Kansas Speedway on Friday, June 24 from 2 PM – 7 PM. For a donation of $50 to the American Red Cross, fans will have the opportunity to drive their vehicles around Kansas Speedway on Saturday, June 18 from 6:30 PM – 10 PM as part of the first event under the lights at Kansas Speedway.
UPDATE: Fans that are unable to attend Kansas Speedway’s June 4-5 weekend have several options to participate in relief efforts. Fans can visit, www.kck.redcross.org, or call 913-321-6314 with a credit card and provide the information code: Kansas Speedway Relief Efforts. Fans can also make their donation on the days of June 18 and June 24 at Kansas Speedway.
“In times of crisis, it’s important for everyone to come together and help those in need,” said Warren. “We have several ticket holders in each of these devastated areas and we wanted to make sure they know that they, along with the rest of their communities, are not forgotten during times like this. I challenge others in our community, both race fans and non-race fans, to join us in our efforts to provide support to these areas.”
Cash and check donations will be accepted by the American Red Cross at Kansas Speedway on June 4 - 5. Vouchers will be given to any fan that donates during Kansas Speedway’s upcoming race weekend that will be redeemable for the corresponding date.
All vehicles must be street legal and equipped with enough seatbelts for all passengers. RV’s, tractor trailers and motorcycles will not be permitted.
Fans can text “redcross” to 90999 to contribute a $10 donation. Fans are also encouraged to visit the American Red Cross website, www.redcross.org, for additional ways to assist the relief efforts.
To keep up to date on Kansas Speedway’s relief efforts, fans can visit www.kansasspeedway.com and www.facebook.com/kansasspeedway.
TRANSCRIPT: Kyle Busch Talks About His Speeding Ticket
(Photo by Bill Barrett)
The following is a transcript of Kyle Busch's press conference Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway:
What is your outlook for this weekend’s races?
“Given our past successes here from last week with the NOS Energy truck and having Zahra Baker (A 10-year-old disabled North Carolina girl who was found slain last year) on the side and winning that race in remembrance of her. Then being able to carry on a good, strong run into Saturday night with the All-Star race for my best finish in that event. Things were good. We’ve got nothing but excited guys coming in here for this weekend’s race, the Coca-Cola 600, and being the longest race of the year, we’ve definitely been ready for it and looking forward to being able to get out on the race track, have some good results and maybe win this thing and bring home my first Cup win at Charlotte.”
What is your reaction to the speeding ticket?
“I’m certainly sorry for my actions and for my lack of judgment. This is something that I can take and learn from and hopefully move forward and not let happen again.”
What did you think of Kimi Raikkonen moving forward in NASCAR?
“I thought Kimi (Raikkonen) did a nice job last week. Certainly, he gave the truck a good ride. It was really loose and he did a nice job with car control and everything else. What’s to be expected of him this weekend is certainly to just again try to run all the laps, try to make 300 miles in a Nationwide Series race, get a feel for what the car is like and we appreciate the guys from Kyle Busch Motorsports doing the building of the car and then for NEMCO Motorsports and them working on it here this week -- along with us just trying to help them out in case there’s any bugs. As far as the Sonoma race, we’ve had no discussions about Cup stuff at all. As far as I know, just this weekend is the last hoorah with Kimi unless he comes back and wants to do further races in NASCAR.”
How do you look back on the speeding incident?
“I’m certainly sorry that it happened and my actions led me to speed. It was a lack of judgment and all I can do is apologize to the public, my friends, my fans, my sponsors and everybody, look at this experience as a learning experience, and to move forward.”
Is it difficult to have a learning experience in the public eye?
“It’s certainly challenging sometimes with things you have to think about and of course actions that you may cause yourself. Thankfully, I’ve got some good people around me that can help me through these experiences and help me learn from them. Take the good from it and take the bad from it and just be able to apply that for later on down the road.”
Can you make a case for yourself?
“I’m sorry I’m not the jurisdiction to make a case. I leave that to the court systems and everything else like that. This matter will be handled through that as best as we can handle it and as best as the authorities decide to handle it. I have the utmost respect for the authorities across the United States of America that try to keep all of us safe every day. Of course, being Memorial Day weekend with all the men and women serving our country to keep us safe as well too. It’s not in my place to decide what does or does not happen.”
Has Joe Gibbs Racing given you any penalties?
“We have certainly discussed some things. We’re working through the process of that now and looking at what might be done later on down the road.”
“It’s certainly challenging sometimes with things you have to think about and of course actions that you may cause yourself. Thankfully, I’ve got some good people around me that can help me through these experiences and help me learn from them. Take the good from it and take the bad from it and just be able to apply that for later on down the road.”
Can you make a case for yourself?
“I’m sorry I’m not the jurisdiction to make a case. I leave that to the court systems and everything else like that. This matter will be handled through that as best as we can handle it and as best as the authorities decide to handle it. I have the utmost respect for the authorities across the United States of America that try to keep all of us safe every day. Of course, being Memorial Day weekend with all the men and women serving our country to keep us safe as well too. It’s not in my place to decide what does or does not happen.”
Has Joe Gibbs Racing given you any penalties?
“We have certainly discussed some things. We’re working through the process of that now and looking at what might be done later on down the road.”
What are your thoughts on the Truck Series?
“I love the Truck Series. I think it’s one of the best forms of racing we have in NASCAR. It’s definitely brought some excitement to the series over time with ESPN2 back in the 90s and of course with Speed Channel being the broadcast partner that we’ve had for the last few seasons. They’ve done a wonderful job for us. It’s definitely been a great series to run in, to be involved in, to win some races in and to now be owning a race team in the series is definitely great for myself and for all the people at Kyle Busch Motorsports that are employed there and that we can give jobs to and put food on the table for their families. Without the sponsorships and without the strong partnerships that we have there, we wouldn’t be here and be doing what we do. We have to thank all those people with Dollar General, NOS Energy Drink, Traxxas, Toyota and I’m sure there are some that I am forgetting -- forgive me. It takes all of those people to stand behind you that can makeyour program successful and that you can build it.”
Do you enjoy going the extra 100 miles at the 600?
“I definitely love the 600-mile race. It may be a little bit long and drawn out for some fans and you know maybe the short attention span sometimes will get you. For what the sport was built on and for how long this race has been in existence -- the 600 miles, it shows determination, it shows will, it shows how well you’re prepared, how well your cars are prepared -- it’s hard on engines, its hard on the drivers for that extra 100 miles as well. I said last week, sometimes they fly by and you feel like it was a two hour race and other times it goes so slow you feel like you’ve been in the car for six hours. Depends on how your car is driving really. I’m looking forward to it.”
Have you personally spoken with your team owner, your sponsors and your neighbors about the speeding incident?
“I have certainly had discussions with Mr. Coach Gibbs (team owner) as well as Joe Gibbs Racing and my sponsors as well too. It’s just a matter of showing your utmost respect for them and what they do for you. That they believe in you to do what you can in order to represent them well and obviously I had a lack in judgment and just made a mistake. I’m sorry for making that mistake, but as far as any of the people that have made comments or anything like that, I don’t have a relationship with any of those people. Unfortunately, I don’t go door-to-door knocking on the door and commenting to them. All I can do is say my piece here and let it be.”
Has something changed with your deal with Kimi Raikkonen?
“Yes.”
What has changed in your deal with Kimi Raikkonen?
“What’s changed is the payment schedule. The contract states that we’re supposed to receive so much and we have not. We’ve only received enough for these two races. It’s either up to Kimi (Raikkonen) or up to the financial people that run Kimi’s business side of things and decide that they need to find the sponsorship funds in order to carry the experience for him further.”
Is it difficult to have two teams working together on Kimi Raikkonen’s Nationwide car?
“I’m going to tell you -- Rick Ren (general manager, Kyle Busch Motorsports) -- we’ve given him a few grey hairs this year. He’s already had some, but he definitely has a lot more, that’s for sure. He’s bit the bullet an awful lot in these past few weeks in putting this deal together. We’ve done this before for some of our various technical alliances that we have such as VAR (Vision Aviation Racing) -- we build turn-key trucks. All they have to do is put a motor, transmission and driveshaft in it and go to the race track. Kyle Busch Motorsports chassis’ has the availability to do that -- we don’t like to, but we can. Certainly we feel like we build a top quality piece and we’ll see how it runs here this afternoon in the Nationwide Series for our first outing in building a car for NEMCO Motorsports.”
How much have you thought about the potential of what could have happened on Tuesday?
Do you enjoy going the extra 100 miles at the 600?
“I definitely love the 600-mile race. It may be a little bit long and drawn out for some fans and you know maybe the short attention span sometimes will get you. For what the sport was built on and for how long this race has been in existence -- the 600 miles, it shows determination, it shows will, it shows how well you’re prepared, how well your cars are prepared -- it’s hard on engines, its hard on the drivers for that extra 100 miles as well. I said last week, sometimes they fly by and you feel like it was a two hour race and other times it goes so slow you feel like you’ve been in the car for six hours. Depends on how your car is driving really. I’m looking forward to it.”
Have you personally spoken with your team owner, your sponsors and your neighbors about the speeding incident?
“I have certainly had discussions with Mr. Coach Gibbs (team owner) as well as Joe Gibbs Racing and my sponsors as well too. It’s just a matter of showing your utmost respect for them and what they do for you. That they believe in you to do what you can in order to represent them well and obviously I had a lack in judgment and just made a mistake. I’m sorry for making that mistake, but as far as any of the people that have made comments or anything like that, I don’t have a relationship with any of those people. Unfortunately, I don’t go door-to-door knocking on the door and commenting to them. All I can do is say my piece here and let it be.”
Has something changed with your deal with Kimi Raikkonen?
“Yes.”
What has changed in your deal with Kimi Raikkonen?
“What’s changed is the payment schedule. The contract states that we’re supposed to receive so much and we have not. We’ve only received enough for these two races. It’s either up to Kimi (Raikkonen) or up to the financial people that run Kimi’s business side of things and decide that they need to find the sponsorship funds in order to carry the experience for him further.”
Is it difficult to have two teams working together on Kimi Raikkonen’s Nationwide car?
“I’m going to tell you -- Rick Ren (general manager, Kyle Busch Motorsports) -- we’ve given him a few grey hairs this year. He’s already had some, but he definitely has a lot more, that’s for sure. He’s bit the bullet an awful lot in these past few weeks in putting this deal together. We’ve done this before for some of our various technical alliances that we have such as VAR (Vision Aviation Racing) -- we build turn-key trucks. All they have to do is put a motor, transmission and driveshaft in it and go to the race track. Kyle Busch Motorsports chassis’ has the availability to do that -- we don’t like to, but we can. Certainly we feel like we build a top quality piece and we’ll see how it runs here this afternoon in the Nationwide Series for our first outing in building a car for NEMCO Motorsports.”
How much have you thought about the potential of what could have happened on Tuesday?
“There’s if, ands or buts to a lot of different things in life. Fortunately, there was no one hurt, but that doesn’t make any kind of excuse for what happened and for my lack in judgment and for what I did. Like I said, there’s a lot of processes to be thought about here. There’s some learning experiences to be taken from this and the best I can do is just try to move along past it for this weekend and take my course of action during the week in what might lie ahead.”
What did you mean when you said the Lexus was, ‘just a toy?’
What did you mean when you said the Lexus was, ‘just a toy?’
“Well it was a car that was on loan to me from Lexus and it wasn’t that it was a toy, it’s a high performance vehicle and that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Should be driven with caution. Obviously, I didn’t have caution and I had a lack in judgment and there’s probably a reason why on TV commercials and such they always show at the bottom, professional driver, closed course. Mine was not that. Again, I apologize sincerely to all those affected and that all I can do is try to make sure it doesn’t happen again and that I make sure that lack of judgment doesn’t overcome me.”
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Harley Factory Team Ready to Race at Springfield
(Kenny Coolbeth. Photo Courtesy of Harley-Davidson)
The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team will have three-time champion rider Kenny Coolbeth in the saddle to open the 2011 Grand National Twins portion of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson Insurance Flat Track Championship on May 22 at the historic Springfield Mile in Springfield, Ill. Coolbeth returns for a sixth season aboard the factory Harley-Davidson XR750.
“I’m off to a good start this season, but it will be good to get on the big bike again,” said Coolbeth, who is currently in third place in the Grand National standings after five short-track races on single-cylinder motorcycles, including a win at DuQuoin, Ill. “I enjoy both styles of flat-track, but I’ve always done better on the twins. I expect this to be another competitive season, with a lot of the same racers up front. This series really keeps you on your toes.”
Tuning for Coolbeth will be Craig Lager, now in his 12th season with the team and his seventh as Harley-Davidson Factory Team crew chief.
“We’ll open the season with the same rules package as last year,” said Lager, “so we won’t have a learning curve in that regard. We used the off season to develop the bike and keep our edge. In this series there are always some tracks that favor certain riders and bikes, so we’ve got to be as competitive as possible at every venue.”
Coolbeth has won three times on the Springfield Mile track, located at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where riders can reach 140 mph on the long straights and often race elbow-to-elbow in packs that average better than 100 mph for each lap.
“The Harley team is ready for the Twins season,” said Coolbeth. “We did some testing on the half-mile at Circleville, Ohio, a few weeks ago and learned some things. I’ve been riding motocross to stay in shape and have raced my XR750 in some local events.”
The 12-race Grand National Twins schedule includes a June 11 stop at a new venue, the Hartford Motor Speedway half-mile in Hartford, Mich. The series also makes a return after more than 10 years to the famous Sacramento Mile for a July 30 race that will be a feature of the California State Fair at the Cal Expo Center.
“I think both those tracks will be good for the Harley-Davidson team,” said Lager. “Kenny has raced at Sacramento in the past and done well there. The Hartford track will be new for all the teams, but it’s very similar to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich., and we’ve won there in the past.”
Coolbeth Brings Experience
Coolbeth has been racing – and winning – on motorcycles since he was five years old. The 33-year-old Connecticut native is a third-generation motorcycle racer and has been a member of the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson flat track team since 2006.
Coolbeth, a three-time Grand National Champion riding for the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team (2006-2008), finished the 2010 season in fifth place. Coolbeth won on the Canterbury Mile in Shakopee, Minn., on Sept. 11, and had six other podium appearances in 16 races. He has 24 wins in seven seasons of racing at the Grand National level. Coolbeth was named the AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year in 1994, and began a steady climb up the ranks in Grand National competition. He won his first Grand National race in 2002.
Coolbeth once worked construction jobs between races, but now races full-time for a living, training between events on both flat-track and motocross motorcycles. During the long New England winters, ice racing on local ponds keeps his skills sharp.
“Riding for the Harley-Davidson Factory Team is still the best opportunity in the sport,” said Coolbeth. “They give me excellent equipment and put me in position to win the championship every season. This team has produced so many Grand National champions over the years, I feel like all those great riders are with me every time I zip up the factory leathers.”
The Coca-Cola 600 By The Numbers
STATISTICS PROVIDED BY DARNELL COMMUNICATIONS FOR DODGE MOTORSPORTS
THE NUMBERS for the Coca-Cola 600 (600 only) Charlotte Motor Speedway
1 – fewest cars on the lead lap at finish of Coca-Cola 600 (eight times, most recent 1962)
2 – fewest cautions for the Coca-Cola 600 (twice, most recent 1963)
4 – fewest leaders (1972)
5 – fewest laps led by race winner (David Reutimann, 2009)
5 – most 600 wins (Darrell Waltrip)
6 – number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
6 – most 600 poles (Ryan Newman & David Pearson)
8 – wins from the pole
11 – fewest lead changes (twice, most recent 1967)
21 – most leaders (2005)
22 – most cautions (2005)
26 – most cars on lead lap at finish (2009)
27 – different pole winners
29 – different race winners
31 – most Coca-Cola 600 starts (Buddy Baker & Richard Petty)
54 – most lead changes (1979)
113 – most caution laps (1980)
120 minutes – approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 1.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
335 – most laps led by race winner (Jim Paschal, 1967)
2011 Caution Update
4 – fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
16 – most cautions this season (Daytona)
92 – number of cautions in the first 11 races of 2011; includes 45 for accidents, 16 for debris and 16 for spins
465 of 3,679 – number of laps under caution in 2011
581.429 of 4,368.500 – miles under caution in the first 11 races
Alex Tagliani Earns the PEAK Performance Pole Award
Check out the handsome gentleman behind Alex about midway through his interview taking pictures. That's a good-looking man...or so his mommy keeps telling him.
St. Louis Children's Hospital to benefit from NASCAR star-packed dirt race
Tony Stewart's Prelude to the Dream race at Eldora Speedway, the Ohio-based dirt track he owns, has for several years been a top draw in the racing world. Broadcast via pay-per-view on HBO, the event features a who's who of racing covering a spectrum of motorsports such as Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, seven-time AMA national supercross champion Ricky Carmichael, St. Louis native and winner of the inaugural event Kenny Wallace, two-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon, and many more. In the past, proceeds have gone to a number of charities and this year, St. Louis Children's Hospital is one of four medical facilities on the receiving end of Stewart's philanthropy.
THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2011 PRELUDE TO THE DREAM
The event, held in Rossburg, Ohio, on June 8, will see the biggest names in motorsports piloting 2,300-pound dirt Late Model stock cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower. St. Louis Children's Hospital, along with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C (www.LevineChildrensHospital.org), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (www.choa.org), and Children’s Medical Center Dallas (www.childrens.com), will each be respresented by driver teams with the St. Louis team featuring Wallace, Riverton, Ill., native Justin Allgaier, former Gateway International Raceway winners Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday, Carmichael, Kasey Kahne, and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte.
Founded in 1879, St. Louis Children's Hospital is one of the premier children’s hospitals in the United States. It serves not just the children of St. Louis, but children across the world. The hospital provides a full range of pediatric services to the St. Louis metropolitan area and a primary service region covering six states. As the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers nationally recognized programs for physician training and research.
“St. Louis Children’s Hospital is grateful to be selected as a beneficiary hospital by Tony Stewart’s Prelude to the Dream,” said Lee Fetter, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, in a statement Wednesday. “Many of our young patients and their parents are NASCAR fans, and I know they’ll find this race especially thrilling. I imagine we’ll create some new fans before the end of the race – especially those in our Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program.”
The drivers' points will be tallied at the end of the night based on their finishes and the team with the best average finish will earn 30 percent of the pay-per-view's net proceeds to their respective hospital. Second place will receive 25 percent and third and fourth place will each receive 20 percent of the net pay-per-view proceeds. The lowest team score wins, and only the top-five drivers from each team will be scored. For example, if Team St. Louis has finishes of first, fourth, seventh, 11th and 18th, respectively, from its top-five drivers, its score will be 41. In the event of a tie, the sixth driver will be scored.
Tickets are available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. The live, commercial-free broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. PDT) with an immediate replay. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at either www.PreludeToTheDream.org or www.HBO.com. Updates can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PreludeToDream and on Twitter at twitter.com/PreludetoDream.
Race fans can follow the St. Louis Motorsports Examiner on Facebook and on Twitter.
THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2011 PRELUDE TO THE DREAM
The event, held in Rossburg, Ohio, on June 8, will see the biggest names in motorsports piloting 2,300-pound dirt Late Model stock cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower. St. Louis Children's Hospital, along with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C (www.LevineChildrensHospital.org), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (www.choa.org), and Children’s Medical Center Dallas (www.childrens.com), will each be respresented by driver teams with the St. Louis team featuring Wallace, Riverton, Ill., native Justin Allgaier, former Gateway International Raceway winners Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday, Carmichael, Kasey Kahne, and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte.
“St. Louis Children’s Hospital is grateful to be selected as a beneficiary hospital by Tony Stewart’s Prelude to the Dream,” said Lee Fetter, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, in a statement Wednesday. “Many of our young patients and their parents are NASCAR fans, and I know they’ll find this race especially thrilling. I imagine we’ll create some new fans before the end of the race – especially those in our Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program.”
The drivers' points will be tallied at the end of the night based on their finishes and the team with the best average finish will earn 30 percent of the pay-per-view's net proceeds to their respective hospital. Second place will receive 25 percent and third and fourth place will each receive 20 percent of the net pay-per-view proceeds. The lowest team score wins, and only the top-five drivers from each team will be scored. For example, if Team St. Louis has finishes of first, fourth, seventh, 11th and 18th, respectively, from its top-five drivers, its score will be 41. In the event of a tie, the sixth driver will be scored.
Tickets are available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. The live, commercial-free broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. PDT) with an immediate replay. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at either www.PreludeToTheDream.org or www.HBO.com. Updates can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PreludeToDream and on Twitter at twitter.com/PreludetoDream.
Race fans can follow the St. Louis Motorsports Examiner on Facebook and on Twitter.
More Than 100 Indy 500 Vets On Hand for Autograph Session
The most impressive gathering of Indianapolis 500 veterans in history - more than 100 drivers - will sign autographs at "The World's Largest Autograph Session" during A.J. Foyt Day festivities Saturday, May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
An added attraction to the autograph session will be the participation of 95-year-old Dick Harroun, the son of inaugural Indianapolis 500 winner Ray Harroun. Dick Harroun's father drove the famed Marmon "Wasp" to victory in 1911.
All activities during A.J. Foyt Day are free, including the autograph sessions. Public gates open at 8 a.m.
Thirteen retired Indianapolis 500 winners will sign autographs with this year's starting field of 33 drivers, which includes five active past winners, from 9-10 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
More than 100 retired Indianapolis 500 veterans and Dick Harroun will sign from noon-4 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt will sign in an exclusive autograph session from 11:55 a.m.-12:25 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza. One-hundred wristbands will be distributed for the autograph session at 9 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza, with one per person.
No wristbands are required for the other two autograph sessions.
Other fan-friendly activities Saturday at IMS include:
•A public question-and-answer session with Chase Rookie of the Year candidates on the Coca-Cola Stage in the Pagoda Plaza from 8:45-9 a.m.
•A full-scale memorabilia show from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the IMS infield already so popular that vendor space sold out within 48 hours.
•The annual drivers' meeting from 10:30-11 a.m. on pit road adjacent to the Tower Terrace grandstand, which includes awards presentations and last-minute instructions to the starting field.
•Live music by Nadine Bernecker from 11-11:30 a.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage.
•A.J. Foyt will participate in a question-and-answer session from 11:30-11:45 a.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage.
•An all-day display of 19 vintage sprint and midget race cars in the IMS infield, with several driven by the greatest legends of the Brickyard: Foyt, Andretti, Rutherford and the Unsers.
•The Red Bull Battle at the Brickyard will showcase top bicycle motocross riders from around the world competing on a concrete playground from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Flag Lot. The Flatland BMX competition is similar to break-dancing on a bicycle.
•A display of cars from the Mazda Road To Indy that is grooming the future stars of the Indianapolis 500. Cars from The Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights will be on display starting at 11 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
•Book signings featuring authors of new books about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its history.
•A "Virtual Indy 500" that will feature fans across the world racing in a full-length Indianapolis 500 on the PC simulation iRacing.com at noon. Selected fans also will compete at 3:30 p.m. against Indianapolis 500 drivers in an iRacing.com sprint race appearing on the large video boards at IMS, with prizes including Race Day packages to the 2011 Indianapolis 500 and more.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum will be open with its incredible new exhibition of 67 Indianapolis 500-winning cars. Museum admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for ages 6-15, with children under 6 free.
WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOGRAPH SESSION PARTICIPANTS
(Participants subject to change)
Past Winners Signing from 9-10 a.m.*
* -- Also signing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, May 27 at IMS Hall of Fame Museum
Veterans Signing from Noon-4 p.m.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
An added attraction to the autograph session will be the participation of 95-year-old Dick Harroun, the son of inaugural Indianapolis 500 winner Ray Harroun. Dick Harroun's father drove the famed Marmon "Wasp" to victory in 1911.
All activities during A.J. Foyt Day are free, including the autograph sessions. Public gates open at 8 a.m.
Thirteen retired Indianapolis 500 winners will sign autographs with this year's starting field of 33 drivers, which includes five active past winners, from 9-10 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
More than 100 retired Indianapolis 500 veterans and Dick Harroun will sign from noon-4 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt will sign in an exclusive autograph session from 11:55 a.m.-12:25 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza. One-hundred wristbands will be distributed for the autograph session at 9 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza, with one per person.
No wristbands are required for the other two autograph sessions.
Other fan-friendly activities Saturday at IMS include:
•A public question-and-answer session with Chase Rookie of the Year candidates on the Coca-Cola Stage in the Pagoda Plaza from 8:45-9 a.m.
•A full-scale memorabilia show from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the IMS infield already so popular that vendor space sold out within 48 hours.
•The annual drivers' meeting from 10:30-11 a.m. on pit road adjacent to the Tower Terrace grandstand, which includes awards presentations and last-minute instructions to the starting field.
•Live music by Nadine Bernecker from 11-11:30 a.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage.
•A.J. Foyt will participate in a question-and-answer session from 11:30-11:45 a.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage.
•An all-day display of 19 vintage sprint and midget race cars in the IMS infield, with several driven by the greatest legends of the Brickyard: Foyt, Andretti, Rutherford and the Unsers.
•The Red Bull Battle at the Brickyard will showcase top bicycle motocross riders from around the world competing on a concrete playground from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Flag Lot. The Flatland BMX competition is similar to break-dancing on a bicycle.
•A display of cars from the Mazda Road To Indy that is grooming the future stars of the Indianapolis 500. Cars from The Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights will be on display starting at 11 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza.
•Book signings featuring authors of new books about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its history.
•A "Virtual Indy 500" that will feature fans across the world racing in a full-length Indianapolis 500 on the PC simulation iRacing.com at noon. Selected fans also will compete at 3:30 p.m. against Indianapolis 500 drivers in an iRacing.com sprint race appearing on the large video boards at IMS, with prizes including Race Day packages to the 2011 Indianapolis 500 and more.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum will be open with its incredible new exhibition of 67 Indianapolis 500-winning cars. Museum admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for ages 6-15, with children under 6 free.
WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOGRAPH SESSION PARTICIPANTS
(Participants subject to change)
Past Winners Signing from 9-10 a.m.*
Mario Andretti |
| Kenny Brack |
| Eddie Cheever Jr. |
| Gil de Ferran |
| Emerson Fittipaldi |
| Parnelli Jones |
| Arie Luyendyk |
| Rick Mears |
| Johnny Rutherford |
| Tom Sneva |
| Al Unser |
| Al Unser Jr. |
| Bobby Unser |
Veterans Signing from Noon-4 p.m.
Donnie Allison |
| Bill Alsup |
| Jeff Andretti |
| Eric Bachelart |
| Tom Bagley |
| Patrick Bedard |
| Donnie Beechler |
| Gary Bettenhausen |
| Tom Bigelow |
| Billy Boat |
| Raul Boesel |
| Claude Bourbonnais |
| Buzz Calkins |
| Tyce Carlson |
| Pancho Carter |
| Michael Chandler |
| Steve Chassey |
| P.J. Chesson |
| Wally Dallenbach |
| Derek Daly |
| Dominic Dobson |
| Paul Durant |
| Don Edmunds |
| Billy Englehart |
| Wim Eyckmans |
| Teo Fabi |
| Dennis Firestone |
| Spike Gehlhausen |
| Phil Giebler |
| Paul Goldsmith |
| Scott Goodyear |
| Stephan Gregoire |
| Mike Groff |
| Roberto Guerrero |
| Dan Gurney |
| Janet Guthrie |
| Jim Guthrie |
| Dean Hall |
| Pete Halsmer |
| Bob Harkey |
| Scott Harrington |
| Shigeaki Hattori |
| Jon Herb |
| Jack Hewitt |
| Andy Hillenburg |
| Mike Hiss |
| Howdy Holmes |
| Chuck Hulse |
| Stefan Johansson |
| Bobby Johns |
| Herm Johnson |
| John Jones |
| PJ Jones |
| Bernard Jourdain |
| Mel Kenyon |
| Jimmy Kite |
| Steve Knapp |
| Phil Krueger |
| Lee Kunzman |
| Bob Lazier |
| Jaques Lazier |
| Greg Leffler |
| Joe Leonard |
| Randy Lewis |
| Jeff MacPherson |
| George Mack |
| Art Malone |
| John Martin |
| Hideshi Matsuda |
| Hiro Matsushita |
| Jim McElreath |
| Robby McGehee |
| Roger Mears |
| Jack Miller |
| Rocky Moran |
| Roberto Moreno |
| Tero Palmroth |
| Max Papis |
| Johnny Parsons |
| Ted Prappas |
| Scott Pruett |
| Bill Puterbaugh |
| Eldon Rasmussen |
| Hector Rebaque |
| Willy T. Ribbs |
| Billy Roe |
| Lyn St. James |
| Eliseo Salazar |
| Joe Saldana |
| Vern Schuppan |
| Bill Simpson |
| Jerry Sneva |
| George Snider |
| Didier Theys |
| Brian Till |
| Johnny Unser |
| Bill Vukovich II |
| Bruce Walkup |
| Chuck Weyant |
| Bill Whittington |
| Don Whittington |
| Cory Witherill |
| Denny Zimmerman |
***
2011 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, "The Most Important Race in History," on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
Stenhouse Jr. to Fill in for Bayne; Make Sprint Cup Debut in Coca-Coca 600
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., will fill in for Trevor Bayne in the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford in this Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will mark the Sprint Cup debut for the 2010 Nationwide Series rookie of the year, who won his first Nationwide Series race last weekend at Iowa Speedway.
“Obviously its not the circumstances that you want to make your first Sprint Cup start,” said Stenhouse. “But you grow up dreaming about this moment and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity; to not only make my first start, but to be able to drive the No. 21 Ford of the Wood Brothers in one of the biggest races of the season.
“Trevor is a very good friend of mine and he’s going to be around this weekend and I know that his help with the transition will be instrumental. Hopefully we can give him an effort that will make him proud before we turn the car back over to him for the rest of the season.”
“We can’t wait to have Trevor back with us, but we can’t think of a better driver to fill in than Ricky,” said Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood. “Ricky has been doing an outstanding job in the Nationwide Series. Like Trevor, he is definitely one of the up and coming drivers in our sport and we are happy that he accepted the offer to step in before Trevor comes back for our next race.”
Matt Kenseth will drive Roush Fenway’s No. 16 Fastenal Ford in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Charlotte. It will be the 20th NNS start for Kenseth at Charlotte, where he has won twice in the Nationwide Series.
“Charlotte has always been a good track for both me and Roush Fenway in the Nationwide Series,” said Kenseth. “I’m excited to be a part of the three-car Fastenal fleet that we’ll have out there on Saturday and hopefully one of us will end up back in victory lane.”
Bayne will make his return to NASCAR next weekend in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland. He will make his next Sprint Cup start in the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford two weeks later at Michigan.
“Obviously its not the circumstances that you want to make your first Sprint Cup start,” said Stenhouse. “But you grow up dreaming about this moment and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity; to not only make my first start, but to be able to drive the No. 21 Ford of the Wood Brothers in one of the biggest races of the season.
“Trevor is a very good friend of mine and he’s going to be around this weekend and I know that his help with the transition will be instrumental. Hopefully we can give him an effort that will make him proud before we turn the car back over to him for the rest of the season.”
“We can’t wait to have Trevor back with us, but we can’t think of a better driver to fill in than Ricky,” said Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood. “Ricky has been doing an outstanding job in the Nationwide Series. Like Trevor, he is definitely one of the up and coming drivers in our sport and we are happy that he accepted the offer to step in before Trevor comes back for our next race.”
Matt Kenseth will drive Roush Fenway’s No. 16 Fastenal Ford in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Charlotte. It will be the 20th NNS start for Kenseth at Charlotte, where he has won twice in the Nationwide Series.
“Charlotte has always been a good track for both me and Roush Fenway in the Nationwide Series,” said Kenseth. “I’m excited to be a part of the three-car Fastenal fleet that we’ll have out there on Saturday and hopefully one of us will end up back in victory lane.”
Bayne will make his return to NASCAR next weekend in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland. He will make his next Sprint Cup start in the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford two weeks later at Michigan.
2011 Indianapolis 500 Pole Day
Harkening back to the glory days of the event, Pole Day and Bump Day for the Indianapolis 500 saw high drama, including the possibility of one of racing's most visible stars, Danica Patrick, not making the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. While Danica did, in fact, make the show along with her Andretti Autosport teammates John Andretti and Marco Andretti, her other two AA partners, Ryan Hunter Reay and Mike Conway, did not qualify (both, ironically, are the last two winners of the Grand Prix of Long Beach). Thanks to a paycheck from Michael Andretti to AJ Foyt, RHR will make the field (for the straight skinny on that deal, check out new HSM fave Pressdog.com).
Be sure to follow HSM for all the action this weekend as well as the PEAK Performance Facebook and Twitter pages. For pics of Pole Day, click HERE. To see pics of the PEAK Performance Front Row, click HERE.
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