Queers4Gears.com

NASCAR and MotorSports – From a Queer Perspective

Tag Archives: Indycar – IRL

Gaynalysis: IndyCar Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

This week the IZOD IndyCar Series landed on the West Coast for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  For the official race recap, click here.  Otherwise, hang on for the Ganalysis!

Street races typically fall into one of two catagories:  parades or drama festivals.  Before the race weekend, we were assured it would be a dramatic weekend when Chevrolet announced they would change all of their engines and all would be assessed a 10 spot grid penalty for unapproved engine changes.  This is like half the Miss America contestants receiving a last minute breast implant change before the pageant.  Miss Chevrolet had her fingers crossed that none of her stitches popped on her big day spewing underbody parts and pieces everywhere.

I would normally not discuss in detail the pre-race ceremonies, but Long Beach was a doozy.  What seemed to be an ancient, drunk priest prayed (was it a prayer?  I’m not sure…) and talked of visitors from above, rain, and a bunch of stuff I just got lost on.  He needs to start every race.  Then Taylor Dayne sang the National Anthem.  Does anyone still remember Taylor Dayne?  Has IndyCar fallen so far off the map that she is all the series can get to sing for us?  She’s so irrelevant she’s not even a Z-List celebrity.  She’s in the double letter lists like YY-List.  Next time get a cute kid to sing.  Hopefully the lack of love won’t lead her back.  That said, I do own Taylor Dayne’s Greatest Hits.  Don’t judge me.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

Because of the engine changes, no Chevy was to start higher than 11th.  This placed Dario Franchitti and rookie Josef Newgarden on the front row.  The likeable and talented Newgarden seemed like an excited kid with a big balloon full of joy.  At the green flag going into turn 1 on lap 1, Newgarden attempts a bold move on the outside of Franchitti for the lead.  BAM!  He ends up in the tires.  Cue the sad, sobbing child with the popped balloon.  Ok, so Newgarden wasn’t crying, but he should’ve been.  Some believe contact was made between Franchitti and Newgarden, but no penalty was assessed.  No matter how this canvas is painted, Newgarden was overly ambitious and ruined a great chance to continue to learn by a dumb move.  Regardless if he was punted or not by Franchitti, he should have never put himself in that position.  If it were the last lap, then his move would’ve been ok.  Rookie lesson of the day:  You can’t win a race in turn 1 of the first lap.

After starting 17th because of others engine changes, we are treated to watching Simona de Silvestro being inhaled by every other non-Lotus entry.  Not to compare Simona or the other Lotus drivers to Milka Duno, but they are all essentially moving chicanes that are as in the way as Duno at Mid-Ohio in front of Danica Patrick.  Is it too early to officially deem them SLOWtus engines?  Or is sLotus better?  Either way, we are shown throughout the race that the Lotus engines are definitely at a disadvantage with top end speed.  It’s that or someone is sneaking old GM “Iron Duke” engines in the Lotus cars the nights before races.

Bourdais brings out the caution on Lap 20 when his Lotus shakes its tail feather a little too much heading into a turn.  Good strippers know you have to control the shaking if your stilettos are low on traction.  Sidenote:  Lotus Bourdais would make an excellent drag queen name.  This caution sets up a restart on Lap 22 which stirs up the real drama.

First we see Alex Tagliani limping into a runoff area with a gimp wheel.  Then, Marco Andretti spins into the tire barriers.  Is his RC Cola spiked?  Graham Rahal’s wing has been clipped and is dragging the ground.  Katherine Legge has buried her nose in the tire barriers.  Gigantic brain farts happening everywhere.  Everyone do the Macarena!  A replay is shown of Andretti attempting an interesting dive-bomb move on Rahal.  It appears Rahal chops Andretti just a little and we have liftoff.  Andretti gets airborne a couple of feet, does a lovely pirouette, then lands shiny side up in the tire.  I give his Double Salchow a 8.5 mainly because he stuck the landing.  As the replay is happening, Mike Conway’s car dies as does Scott Dixon’s.  I’m beginning to think the folks that assembled Fiat’s in the 80’s were hired to screw together the mechanical pieces of this car.  Fix It Again Tony!  As Marco is being interviewed post-wreck my boyfriend, who doesn’t watch IndyCar, looks up from his iPad (he had not been paying attention) and says, “He seems like a jerk.”  Keep that in mind. We will continue on this story further down.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

The race will stay green the rest of the way with alternate fuel strategies playing out.  Simon Pagenaud is on a 3 stop strategy and Will Power is on a 2 stop strategy.   Pagenaud is hauling ass.  I’d like to take this moment to point out that despite what some people think, the Honda isn’t markedly slower than the Chevy.  The Chevy teams are just better.  The Honda camp is full of 1-car operations and teams that haven’t proven to be winners in a long time.  The speed is there, but the race strategy execution is not.  Nevertheless, Pagenaud catches Power on the last lap, but there isn’t enough time to make a pass and Will Power wins…again.  If winning is porn to Roger Penske, he’s living the life of Hugh Hefner right now.

But, we aren’t done.   Massive brain farts happening again on the last lap.  Ryan Hunter-Reay punts Takuma Sato.  Castroneves drives his nose into the rear-end of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the last turn completely blocking the track.  Both Hunter-Reay and Castroneves receive 30-second penalties dropping their finishing positions.  Somewhere in the world Paul Tracy was watching with glee.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

So, Will Power wins again, but that isn’t the good stuff.  After the race, a quote from Graham Rahal comes out about Marco saying “What’s Marco’s last name?  I’ve said enough.”  On Monday, Mario tweets to Rahal, “What’s your problem with me?”  Oh, this is classy.  Mario Andretti follows up saying, “Your quote to AP says Marco is an Andretti so enough said.  That insult includes me.  You insulted me to the world & I responded.”  Girl fight!  I was fully expecting the next Tweet to included “your momma” and “I know you are but what am I?”  The fact of the matter is these guys can call each other.  There is absolutely no point in airing a disagreement with one another on Twitter.  The wreck itself was both drivers fault.  A dumb dive-bomb move countered with a chop/block (sounds like the old Parappa the Rapper game on PS1) ended with two wrecked cars.  They both had a right to be frustrated…with themselves.  Point is, don’t bitch on Twitter!  I lost respect for Marco, Graham, and especially Mario.  Mario is older and should be wise enough to know better than to stick his nose in it whether his last name was mentioned or not.  The fans wanting the old glory days of IndyCar to return, a good Rahal/Andretti rivalry should make you smile.

The Team Penske series…I mean IZOD IndyCar series heads to race on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil on April 29th.  The race will be televised live on NBC Sports Network at Noon ET.  The temporary street track features an extremely long back straightaway which should provide lots of passing in the form of lapped Lotus cars.  I sure hope not, but it is probably going to happen.  And, hopefully we get to see Andretti and Rahal kiss and make –out…I mean make-up.

Ross (@therossbynum)

IndyCar Playlist: Pippa Mann

One feature that will start popping up on the site is the IndyCar playlist.  I will ask drivers for a playlist of songs that are their favorites, they are listening to right now, and ones that get them pumped up before a big race.  First up is Pippa Mann!  Enjoy!

Credit PippaMann.com

My playlist became the subject of much mirth during May last year. The first question my engineer would ask me when I got there every morning was what song I had been listening to on the way in…

“Real Wild Child” – Iggy Pop

Seems to fit IMS in May in big car when you start taking aero off and gearing yourself up for qual runs fairly well…!

“Livin’ On a Prayer” – Bon Jovi

No comment other than the title of the song says it all…!

“Here I Go Again” - White Snake

The lyrics are actually “here I go again on my own”….! Again when you’re getting yourself ready for a big qual run at the speedway, once you get out there it’s just you and the car alone.

“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey

It’s actually very easy to “stop believing” when things get tough on and off the track. Besides – who doesn’t love this song?! :)

“Just a Girl” – No Doubt

For the more angry days. I have always responded well to being told I can’t do something because I’m a girl, so this song is a little extra motivation to get out there and prove I can do anything, and being a girl has nothing to do with it!

“Fighter” – Christina Aguilera

“I’m a fighter, I’m a survivor…” Everyone knows the saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It is never more true than in this business – both with the tough days in the car, and the tough days trying to put sponsorship together outside of the car.

“18 Wheeler” – Pink

Very similar to the Christina song in attitude – the theme is you can do whatever you want to me, but you can’t keep me down. I am going to keep coming back at you no matter what.

“Insane In the Brain” – Cypress Hill

There are days when this seems the perfect way to start. We run 220mph for a living. In open wheel cars. Yup. We are all perfectly sane then.

“Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Because running at Barber without listening to this song on the way into the track should be illegal!! And no, you can’t just play the Kid Rock song with snippets of this in it, it has to be the original to count.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana

I actually have a whole Nirvana playlist. Smells Like Teen Spirit is just the classic track that every knows and can recognise from the opening guitar strums.

“Respect” – Aretha Franklin

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out what it means to me…” Some days I think if I have one more person tell me that my poles in lights and my win at Kentucky don’t count for anything I think I’m going blow a gasket. “Just a little respect…”

“Beat It” – Michael Jackson

One of my favourite MJ tunes. How can you go to work without an MJ tune every once in a while??

“Girl From Mars” – Ash

This was huge the first summer I really started karting. I remember listening to it along with all the big Blur and Oasis tracks of the time in the van on my way down to a kart track in the south of England where we were going to see if we could qualify for the national championships in my class. I was told by everyone that having just started out I didn’t stand a hope in Hell, but that it would be good experience for me. “Everyone” should eat their words, I made the A Finals and made it in…

“Forget You” – Cee Lo Green

Except I listen to the other, ummm, non PC, no Glee version… The juxtaposition between the happy tune and what he’s actually saying makes me laugh. Plus, not only is it a great tune, but I am a child, and this allows me to sing a rude word at the top of my voice…!

“Jump” – Van Halen

How can you not love Van Halen??? I challenge anyone to find a tune with more get up and go than this one. It’s a classic!

“Iris” – The Goo Goo Dolls

More of a wind down song that a get up and go song, but one of my favourites all the same. If the previous song is all about high energy, this song is about reinstating some calm.

“Lil’ Star” – Kelis

Continuing the calm theme, some days it’s not about getting pumped up, it’s about composure instead, and this song has it in spades.The lyrics are beautiful and some of my favourite of all time.

“Far Away” – Nickelback

I know it’s unfashionable in “real music” circles to admit to being a Nickelback fan, but I am. I listen to this song not to get pumped up, but to remind me of everything else I have in life and how lucky I am. It’s our first dance song for our wedding in December

Gaynalysis: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

Let’s be honest, St. Petersburg was a huge letdown for almost everyone involved in IndyCar.  The fact that the cars ran and there were no engine parts scattered along the track were the only real positives to come out of the weekend.  So, when I sat down to watch the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday I, honestly, wasn’t expecting much.  Barber is a track designed specifically for motorcycle racing, so passing in an IndyCar had been a rare commodity.  Combine past performances at Barber with the new cars performance at St. Pete and the stage was set for a parade and not the good kind that include Moon Pies and beads.  I poured myself a (strong) Fuzzy’s Vodka + SunDrop soda adult beverage thinking a good buzz might make a boring race tolerable.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

First, the drivers all deserve credit for finally learning how to line up double-file correctly and not wad up their cars in Turn 1.  The start of the race was beautiful.  However, before all the cars had made it through Turn 5 on the first lap, Alex Tagliani’s Lotus had died.  Most issues with the Lotus engines had stemmed from issues with the engine control unit and not from a major mechanical failure.  More of a “wilted Lotus” than a dead one if you will.  New NBC Sports pit reporter and driver Townsend Bell gave a great explanation of just exactly what has been at issue with the Lotus engines.  Because Lotus engine builder Judd has very few engines assembled and ready, they have the ECU tuned to “protect” the engine vs. let it run at 100%.  If the ECU detects an issue with the engine, it cuts the engine off.  This keeps a small issue with the engine from becoming a smoking, fire spewing explosion saving valuable parts and pieces.

On the restart, the drivers, once again, did a masterful restart.  But, those expecting the parade to begin would be in for a shock.  Cars began passing each other…a lot.  It should be stated that NBC Sports Network did an amazing job not only showing passes as they happened but also showing replays of passes for position all through the field.  The best part of the coverage focused on battles deep in the field.  Instead of showing leaders Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon parading around the track NBC Sports Network spent laps following battles with Marco Andretti and EJ Viso as well as Sebastien Bourdais and Rubens Barrichello later in the race.  I guarantee that ABC would have higher ratings over time if their coverage was on par with NBC Sports Network.  Sunday’s coverage made the poor showing at St. Pete by ABC look even worse.  Also, Bob Jenkins cracks me up.  He trips over his tongue more than a redneck trying to speak Spanish, but it is pure entertainment.  My only nitpick is Simona’s last name is pronounced “dee” Silvestro, not “day” Silvestro.  Oh, and is he drunk during telecasts?

Watching Marco Andretti battle EJ Viso in the early stages of the race was great.  Andretti was driving like a madman.  It wasn’t pretty, but he was hustling the car attempting passes and getting runs all over the track.  Viso, obviously the slower of the two cars, was driving defensively but not obviously blocking.  Major kudos goes to Beaux Barfield for allowing drivers to defend, but putting rules around blocking.  There is a difference and it was visible in the racing.  Most likely Viso’s driving on Sunday would’ve been called blocking in past years, but it was just great racing now.  The rules in place force the drivers to time their moves better and creates more of a “dance” where the former rules created passing, but it wasn’t real racing.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

Contrasting Andretti’s rough and tumble hustle with Viso is Bourdais and Barrichello.  Exchanges with Bourdais and Barrichello were, frankly, beautiful to watch.  Clean, well-timed, technical passing and racing by two excellent racers.  Though no more or less entertaining to watch, Andretti’s driving looked more GED to Bourdais’ and Barrichello’s Ph.D.  Despite the less than ideal situation and circumstances with Bourdias, his driving has been stellar.  He proves, once again, that real talent can still shine through in poor conditions.  Although Barrichello is in a better team situation that Bourdais, he is technically a rookie in many areas in regards to how IndyCar races work.  But, his ability to drive a car is obvious despite the learning curve.

Green flag conditions would reign from lap 4 until lap 67 when the yellow was brought out for a spin by Katherine Legge.  Legge, while trying to move over to allow faster cars to pass, got into the marbles in Turn 9, spun, and stalled in the gravel pit.  Yes, for the second week in a row Ms. Legge brought out a yellow, but in her defense, her learning curve is the steepest in the field.  It must be noted that watching timing and scoring on-line showed that her lap times improved through the race and were on par with the back 1/3 of the field by the time the checkered flag fell.  Slow, steady improvement is what is needed and is being accomplished.

Credit Marshall Pruett SpeedTV.com

Right now, I am shocked at the less than stellar performance of Justin Wilson with Dale Coyne Racing.  On Sunday, his car was looser than Jenna Jameson after a few cocktails.  I believe he spent the majority of the race in opposite lock.  Actually, loose doesn’t even begin to describe how evil his car looked.  His tires seemed to have been made out of ice cubes.  He managed to hold on most of the race, but ended up spinning in front of Marco Andretti.  Luckily, he didn’t bring out the caution or do any damage.  I am expecting more from Justin in the next few weeks than what has been shown thus far.

At the restart, none other than Will Power was up front.  After starting 9th, Power methodically worked his way up through the field with a fast car and great pit stops.  To the surprise of no one, Power would end up stepping out to a 3.37 second lead in the final 15 laps to win at Barber for the 2nd year in a row. Scott Dixon finished 2nd for the 3rd year in a row, and Helio Castroneves finished 3rd.  Big shockers, right?

One thing is for certain, the race was great.  The tires went away at just the right amounts through the runs.  There was enough differentiation between the setups, the engines, and driver talent to create real, exciting racing.  The key word being racing.  The DW12 proved to have what it takes to be a real racecar.

Like the rest of the motorsports world, IndyCar takes Easter weekend off before heading to Long Beach for one of the most famous races on the schedule, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  Tune in to NBC Sports Network (please!) at 3:30 ET to catch all the action.

Ross (@therossbynum)

As The Firestone Turns: Dragon Racing

Despite the title, this isn’t a driver interview or an owner interview.  Actually, it is nothing of the kind.  It is a fitting title to what would make an excellent episode of Days of Our Lives.  This is real drama.  Someone please cue the dramatic telenovela music and shocked facial expressions.

If one will remember, Dragon Racing is the team that attempted to field Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung in the Indianapolis 500 as well as NASCAR and ex-F1 driver Scott Speed.  Tung sent his car into the wall at Indy on his qualifying lap.  Speed, slow and frustrated, was replaced for a practice with Patrick Carpentier who promptly placed the Dragon Racing machine into the wall as well.  Dragon Racing also fielded Paul Tracy for a handful of events in 2011.  The results were, in a word, poor.

Credit IZOD IndyCar PR

Color everyone surprised when Jay Penske, son of Roger Penske and owner of Dragon Racing, announced that for 2012 the team would field 2 full-time IZOD IndyCar entries powered by Lotus for Sebastien Bourdais and Katherine Legge.  With the poor performances of 2011, the crashed cars, and a team the caliber of Newman-Haas Racing not returning, it was assumed that Dragon Racing would be the last team to ever make the grid.  Couple that with the fact it was reported numerous times prior to the announcement that Dragon Racing and Jay Penske hadn’t returned phone calls to reporters and media inquiring about their status for 2012, the announcement certainly fell from the sky.

However, after the announcement was made, Dragon Racing once again disappeared from the map.  As other teams began testing, Lotus teams included, and PR machines ramped up for the season, Dragon was nowhere to be found (Insert Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon jokes here).  Naturally, questions of whether or not they would make the grid circled on message boards and Twitter.  File that under the Lindsay Lohan-type file of  PR: “At least they are talking about me even if it’s bad.”  Oddly enough, in the midst of the disappearance, the #7 team of Bourdais was selected as one of the two TEAM money recipients vacated by Newman-Haas Racing by Randy Bernard beating out teams like Chip Ganassi’s #83 and 2011 Indy 500 winning team Bryan Herta Autosport #98 (now Team Barracuda – BHA).

Two weeks ago in Sebring the situation began to come to a head.  Originally, teams were scheduled to test together on 2 sets of 2 concurrent days.  Mysteriously, Katherine and Sebastien were scheduled to test in separate sessions, not as a team.  Why would they be the exception?  On Monday of the first group test, the #6 car of Katherine Legge did not have an engine and there wasn’t one to be found.  Contract issues were apparently the case.  Insert more rumors of why here.  The #7 car of Bourdais was never even discussed as it had no power as well.  It was beginning to look like Legge and Bourdais would have to “Fred Flintstone” their cars around the track.  But, late on Wednesday, the team received 1 engine to be installed in the #6 car.  The crew pulled an all-nighter and Legge was in the car for the afternoon session and on Friday she shared her car with Bourdais.  Were the issues worked out?

Credit Marshall Pruett

As has been a theme through it all, PR was non-existant for Dragon Racing.  The bad perception by fans of the team as a whole had continued to degrade as no one knew what was going on with the them.  It was akin to watching the Britney Spears meltdown.  Were fans supposed to gawk, laugh, be upset, or feel sorry for everyone involved?  Seriously, who was in charge of this situation?  Thank God Katherine didn’t shave her head.

As teams and drivers arrived to the track this week for the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg it was revealed that Bourdais’ car still didn’t have an engine.  Brant James finally reported that an engine that was meant to be a backup for another Lotus team was being rebuilt to be placed in the #7 car on Thursday evening.  Dragon Racing PR is still nowhere to be found.

To the relief of everyone involved, Bourdais took to the track on Friday morning turning the first laps in his car under Lotus power with no reported problems and quickly established himself as the quickest among the Lotus teams.  Yes, a car that had never turned a lap in anger with a last minute engine install with team that only had a day and a half of on-track testing was quickest of Lotus teams.  Stunning and impressive would be great terms to describe this feat as well as a rousing sing along of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds”.

Credit Marshall Pruett

But, after Legge stuck the nose of her car in the tire barriers during her qualifying session and Bourdais spun during his qualifying session, the Dragon Racing entries will start 25th and 26th.  That would be almost last and last.  The balloon of optimism was promptly popped.  But at least they made it to the track, right?

Oh, and still no PR from the team.

Lotus reported that Dragon Racing signed their engine leases at the last minute which caused the time crunch.  Regardless of whose fault it was, the entire situation proves that it pays to be prepared and PR is crucial to keeping the flames of rumors from burning the house down.  This is what is called a half-assed effort.

So Queers4Gears readers, keep your eyes on the Dragon Racing team this season.  Hopefully the drama has passed, but it could always turn into an episode of Dynasty at the last minute.

Ross (@therossbynum)

IndyCar 2012 Season Opening Notes and Storylines

Credit IZOD IndyCar Media Site/LAT Photo USA

In less than a week, the 2012 IndyCar season kicks off at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  The new season brings more changes to the formerly stoic IndyCar formula than costume changes at a Cher concert.  Let’s take a look at a few story-lines to follow over the course of the season.

  • Engine Wars – On the top of the list for many is the return of multiple engine manufacturers to the series.  Chevy and Lotus join Honda on the grid for 2012.  Through preseason testing Honda and Chevy have looked to be closely matched with Lotus a step or two behind.  Lotus was late to the game, had much less on-track testing, and does not have any top-tier teams signed.  However, preseason testing doesn’t always paint the clearest of pictures.  Do not count anyone out and watch closely to see how the manufacturer battle develops.  In addition to engine power, reliability and fuel-mileage will play big roles in race strategy for the first time in many years.
  • Engine Availability – The most unexpected issue popped up over the offseason as more teams than expected wanted engines for full-time entries.  Due to the short development periods, long lead times for engine parts, and various financial constraints, manufacturers were limited in the amount of engines they could provide at the start of the season.  However, manufacturers have repeatedly stated they would be in a better position by the Indianapolis 500 to provide additional engines.  Expect this to be a factor post-Indy as part-time entries pop-up on entry lists.  Also, there may be a couple of entries, including the already announced #30 Luca Filippi entry from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, that run full-time from Indy until the season finale.
  • Engine Reliability – Like it or not, the former Honda, naturally aspirated V-8 engine was bulletproof.  Years of development and tuning that had the engine running at less than 100% power created a situation where engine failure was last on the list of raceday worries.  That will change this year.  Do not be shocked if multiple engines, especially in first few races, fail.  This will play a huge part in strategy and in the final results of most races.
  • The Texas Motor Speedway dilemma – IndyCar, in a post-Las Vegas mindset, has a conundrum on its hands with Texas.  One of the most exciting and successful races on the schedule is one of concern for many drivers, fans, and officials.  In the past, Texas has had pack racing and also has a fence configuration like that of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Throw in brash track president Eddie Gossage into the equation and there is a recipe for drama.  If pack racing is limited or eliminated, the fence issue remains.  Drivers and series officials have repeatedly stated the event will proceed as scheduled this year, but tensions are high.  Can the series afford to have one of the most successful events and one of the few remaining ovals possibly removed from the schedule?
  • The 2013 Schedule – Expanding upon the Texas Motor Speedway issue, what to expect from the 2013 schedule remains wide open.  After a disappointing 2012 schedule that was released very late with much howling and disdain from many fans, IndyCar should have its act together getting the 2013 schedule ready.  Randy Bernard has stated he would like to see the schedule expand to around 19 events in 2013.  Rumors continue to swirl about the series being in discussions to hold events at Phoenix, Michigan, Watkins Glen, and Road America.  Street-courses also on the list include an event in Ft. Lauderdale, a 2nd date in Brazil, and the return of the Houston event.  Plus, will 1.5 mile ovals could be off the schedule for good?  What happens with Texas this year may be a barometer of what direction and stance the series could take with 2013 dates and ovals.
  • Beaux Barfield – The former ALMS director of race control was hired to replace Brian Barnhart as director of IndyCar race control after numerous questionable calls from Barnhart were made last year.  So far Barfield has said all the right things and made needed tweaks to the official rulebook.  But, talking the talk and walking the walk are two very different things.  Expect more consistent calls across the board although some may be unpopular.  Also expect some mistakes.  As long as there is grey area in the rulebook, which Barfield wanted to retain some of, there is room for error.  Firm, fair, and consistent calls are what is to be expected.
  • TV Ratings and Attendance – 2012 is a crucial and critical year for IndyCar in terms of TV ratings and attendance.  Overall on average, IndyCar had double digit growth in both areas last year, although attendance was down at ovals.  Nevertheless, with new engines, new cars, and despite the departure of Danica Patrick, the series hopes to continue and grow the upward trends of both.  Keep a close eye on attendance at ovals because a continued decline will negate most efforts to add additional ovals to the schedule.  Now that the Versus network is rebranded as NBC Sports Network, expect to see added growth, though not huge, in TV ratings.

Credit IZOD IndyCar Media Site/Chris Jones


So, ladies and gentlemen, lets put the 2011 behind us for good and look to the future.  If one thing is for certain, the 2012 IndyCar season looks to be one of the most exciting seasons on the books.

Ross (@therossbynum)

As the Firestone Turns: 5 to Watch in 2012

To say the offseason for IndyCar was an offseason of change would be a gross understatement.  The scramble to be on the grid with the new DW12 Dallara and the new 2.2 liter turbo-charged V-6 engines has been interesting to watch unfold as silly-season took many abrupt and surprising turns.  With all the seat shuffling and new teams entering the series, the questions arise as to which drivers may have breakout seasons.  At this point not a lot is known about which engine will be the strongest, which adds an increased factor of difficulty as to the drivers that may have very successful seasons.  But, the 5 drivers below are certainly ones to keep an eye on during the 2012 season.

Rubens Barrichello:  First and foremost, all eyes will be on Rubens Barrichello this year.  The former Formula 1 star will try his hand at IndyCar, and ovals, for the first time in his career.  The veteran of 322 F1 starts, 11 wins, and 14 poles will pilot the #8 BMC/Embrase entry for KV Racing Technology in 2012.  The long-time best friend and “brother” of IndyCar champion Tony Kannan brings a wealth of experience in setting up and developing new racecars.  Barrichello’s biggest challenges will be on the ovals where has no experience, but expect him to be a podium contender on the road and street courses.  A win is certainly not out of the question.  The relationship with Kanaan will also make the transition easier and should create a positive environment for the KV teams.  On top of the stellar resume’, Rubens is known as one of the most likeable drivers in the paddock.  Although he may not be a household name in the US, he should quickly become a fan favorite.  @rubensbarrichello @kvracing

Credit Mosport.com

Simon Pagenaud:  The 2011 “super-sub” finally gets his chance at a full-time IndyCar ride with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.  The sports-car veteran found himself as the last minute sub for injured drivers Ana Beatriz and Justin Wilson last year at Barber and Mid-Ohio respectively.   He also filled in for Simona de Silvestro at Infineon while she was in Switzerland with visa issues.  Pagenaud should be fast at the road and street courses, but his lack of experience on ovals will certainly play a role in the final championship standings.  However, Sam Schmidt Motorsport sat on the pole for the Indianapolis 500 in 2011, so the team should be able to help the transition to ovals much easier.  A win is not out of the question, but also expect him to contend for podiums on the road and street courses.  @simonpagenaud @ssmindy

Credit Speedcafe.com

Sebastien Bourdais:  Former ChampCar champion and F1 driver Sebastien Bourdais will finally return to full-time open-wheel competition in 2012 with Dragon Racing. However, he will miss the race at Milwaukee due to previous commitments to run the 24 hour race at LeMans.  There is certainly no doubt the Frenchman is an incredible wheelman.  After a strong run at the end of 2011 with Dale Coyne Racing, Bourdais showed that he not only still has the skill some thought may had been lost, he also showed he can make the best out of imperfect cars with a small team.  The biggest question mark will be the Lotus engine powering his #7 ride and the Dragon Racing team itself which has struggled to run well.  @dragonracing

Creid IZOD IndyCar Media Site (2011)

Justin Wilson:  The likeable Brit finds himself back with Dale Coyne Racing in 2012 and will reunite with former engineer Bill Pappas.  Wilson’s 2nd, and last, win came with Coyne and Pappas in 2009.  This win currently stands as the only win in the series for the Coyne team.  Powered by Honda for 2012, expectations are high for the reunification of the winning combination of Wilson/Pappas/Coyne.  The 2012 season-opener at St. Petersburg marks the return of Wilson to the series after missing the last portion of the 2011 season with a back injury he suffered in a freak off-track excursion at Mid-Ohio.  Another former F1 driver, Wilson is highly regarded for his technical skill and was rumored, before returning to Coyne, to be in the running for the Andretti Autosport #27 GoDaddy.com ride.   If past history and team chemistry are any indication, Wilson should challenge for a win or 2 during 2012, and  it could be a breakout year for the Dale Coyne Racing team.  @justinwilson22 @dalecoyneracing

Credit IZOD IndyCar Media Site (2011)

Mike Conway:  After a surprising victory at Long Beach in 2011 with Andretti Autosport, Conway struggled through the rest of the season and even missed the Indy 500.  Moving to AJ Foyt Racing in 2012, Conway looks to improve his fortunes and those of the Foyt team as well that spent recent years mid-pack with Vitor Meira at the helm.  AJ Foyt Racing GM Larry Foyt has expressed that the team has refocused its efforts and placed increased emphasis in engineering which he believes will lead to improved results on the track.  Also, it has been reported that Conway and the team have been very quick in pre-season testing.  2012 could be the breakout year for Conway that he seemed to be on the verge of in 2011.  @mikeconwayindy @ajfoytracing

Ross Bynum (@therossbynum)

NOTE:  Past season driver headshots were used as 2012 headshots are not yet available through the IndyCar media site.

As the Firestone Turns: Meet Monica Hilton

Meet Monica Hilton:  Formerly of HVM Racing, and the mastermind behind the loveable Pork Chop, Monica is now in charge of PR for Bryan Herta Autosport as they embark on their first full season of IndyCar competition with Alex Tagliani in the Barracuda Networks #98.  She is also the founder and owner of 242MPH (Marketing & PR by Hilton).

Credit Monica Hilton

Q:  First off, how is life a Bryan Herta Autosport?

MH:  Ohhhh man, life is GOOD. And busy, which I love. Honestly, I can’t believe how lucky I am to be working with this team, now officially called “Team Barracuda – BHA.” There’s a consistent air of excitement and you can genuinely see how proud everyone is to be part of a cohesive, fun and dedicated group. On top of that, you have Bryan Herta and Steve Newey, who are such great guys. I’m so impressed by the integrity and hearing a team owner take the time to say, “Thank you. You’re doing a great job” on a regular basis to the whole team. It’s… magical.

 

Q:  What led you to become involved in the IndyCar series?

I attended my first Indy 500 in 2005 and I honestly only went to check it off my proverbial bucket list. I got the invite from my dad, who grew up in Indiana and has attended every Indy 500 since he was 18 years old. At the time, I was living in Wisconsin and had held various marketing/PR/advertising positions, but then I heard those magical words: “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” From that moment, I knew that this was the direction I wanted for my life. I can’t really explain it. I’ve really enjoyed a variety of sports in my life, but there’s a certain passion for IndyCar that can’t be matched. So I packed up and moved to Indy. The journey, once I got here, is a whole different story. Better told over a cocktail, I’d say.

Q:  You were previously at HVM Racing and the woman behind the viral celebrity Dallara, Porkchop (and Janet prior to her untimely demise at Indy).  How did the idea develop to give the cars a personality and lives of their own?

MH:  That is a darn good question. And one which I am no longer legally able to discuss. Seriously. But let’s just say that I truly appreciate all the support last year and hope everyone had some fun. Honestly, I kind of miss that car.

Q:  You are actively involved in Racing for Cancer and the IndyCar Calendar.  Tell us a little about that and how everyone can get involved and stay up-to-date on both?

MH:  I’m so proud to be involved with both of these great causes. I’ve been working with David (producer of the IndyCar calendar) for several years now  – he’s a great business man with a passion for IndyCar who decided to do something good for racing-related charities. So he created this AMAZING calendar (designed by IZOD) and all of the proceeds benefit Racing For Cancer, Racing For Kids and Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Fans can purchase them online at www.UMPonline.com/calendar. There’s also a twitter account, @INDYCARcalendar, and facebook page: www.facebook.com/INDYCARcalendar.

Racing For Cancer is a fairly new organization (founded in 2010), but they’re here with a mighty plan: to fight cancer. CEO Tom Vossman is extremely dedicated and has a focus this year on fighting pediatric cancer. We’re working on a great event that will take place in Indy during the month of May. Stay tuned for details and check out www.RacingForCancer.org in the meantime. You can also follow @RacingForCancer and “like” www.facebook.com/RacingForCancer.

Q:  You also are quite the entrepreneur as founder and owner of 242MPH (Marketing & PR by Hilton).  Tell us about that endeavor.

MH:  I love it when a plan comes together. (*soap opera laugh*) I’m actually amazed with how well everything worked out with the business. I knew I loved doing race-team PR, but also wanted the chance to make a difference with a charitable organization. What started with a “think outside the box” moment lead to something incredible and I’m so thankful for all three of the clients who have given me an opportunity to show them what I can do.

Credit Monica Hilton

Q:  Obviously, most of your time is spent at or around the racetrack or shop.  What are some activities that you enjoy in your free time?

MH:  I’d say my free time, although scarce, is a good mix of relaxing and socializing. An ideal night would be a great dinner out with friends (and wine!) followed by a hockey game (go Canucks!) I’m also into fitness and just completed week three of P90X. Insanity is next. As Tony Horton would say, “I hate it. But I love it.” I’m also a HUGE animal lover – dogs especially – so I’m hoping to volunteer this year with the Humane Society.

Q:  What would you say to a race fan, or someone with just a slight curiosity in motorsports, that has never been to an IndyCar event?

MH:  Two pieces of advice:

  • Go. To. The. Race. The best way to experience an IndyCar race is in person. There’s absolutely nothing like hearing (and feeling) the roar of the engines and seeing how fast those cars really go. Once you go, you’ll be hooked. And once you’re hooked, please also watch on TV because we need the ratings.
  • Go with a die-hard fan. I’ve always said that racing isn’t fun if you’re just watching cars go around in circles. Same with any sport – you have to have someone to root for. If you go with someone who knows the storylines and can answer your questions, it’s a much more exciting experience. Or come find me in the paddock. I’ll help you out.

Ok, now for the lightening round:

Hamburger or Hotdog? I want to say hamburger, but it feels like the wrong demographic for that. ;)

Thoughts on glitter? LOVE.

High heels or flats? Heels. Because heels make me smile. And a smile is the best thing you can wear.

Ugliest car ever made… It’s a toss-up between my first car (brown Delta 88) and a Smart car. Or what’s that Scion thing that looks like a box?

Pajama pants should only be worn in public when… Your house burned down & you happened to be wearing them when it happened.

Britney Spears or Madonna? Gotta go with Britney. You’re welcome, Ross.

Biggest pet peeve? Negativity. It is REALLY hard to hang around “glass half empty” kind of people.

What’s one song you sing the loudest to when you are in your car alone? ONE?! I rock a great mix of everything from Lady Gaga to Air Supply. And I can’t even sing.

Q:  Finally, is there anything you’d like to tell our readers or discuss that you never get a chance to mention or are asked about?

MH:  Just want to say thanks for the opportunity! Feel free to contact me @the_race_gIRL or @242MPH! I hope to meet some of the Q4G readers this season at the track!

Ross (@therossbynum)

Indycar: As the Firestone Turns #1

Welcome to the very first edition of As the Firestone Turns.  This will be your weekly hot spot for off-track news, pictures, events, interviews, and happenings to keep you connected to the world of Indycar.  Often times, the best stories within the paddock aren’t what is broadcast on television or printed in the local newspaper.  The paddock is full of exciting events, interesting people, and great stories that are never told.  AtFT will connect you to the drivers, new talent, officials, history, and moments that make Indycar awesome.  Special editions will likely occur as I will be live at the track for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 and at the Firestone 550K at Texas Motor Speedway.  So, with that, lets get to it!

This first edition of As the Firestone Turns will bring you up to speed on some of the most recent off-season Indycar happenings via Twitter pictures.  One of the wonderful things about social media outlets such as Twitter is it allows fans instant access to drivers and teams and visa versa.  Luckily, Indycar drivers and teams are excellent at utilizing Twitter to engage and interact with fans.

Credit KV Racing Technology

As we all know, Indycar has a new chassis, the Dallara DW12, for the new season.  For you NASCAR fans, the process of prepping a brand new Dallara for the track is much different than a Roush Ford Fusion.  Just in time for Christmas, teams took delivery of the first 15 DW12′s on December 15th.  Dallara placed them in nice, big present boxes just for added holiday spirit!  Not really, but there is certainly some assembly required as shown by this picture Tweeted by KV Racing Technology.  This is Tony Kanaan’s new racecar.

 

 

 

Credit Will Power

Other than the infamous New Hampshire flying fingers incident, Will Power is known to be one of the most clean-cut and well-mannered drivers in the paddock.  The piercing blue eyes and Australian accent help cement the image he portrays.  However, after Las Vegas, Power apparently lost his razor on the way home and grew quite an impressive beard over the holidays.  Luckily, Will Tweeted this picture when he shaved the beard into an equally impressive 70′s era porn star goatee and side-burn combo.  Bow-chika-wow-wow!

 

Credit Andretti Autosport

After 9 years of the Dallara IR03 chassis, Indycar teams have fleets of the old cars sitting around.  Andretti Autosport Tweeted this picture from inside their shop showing off a couple of cars that have interesting histories.  In this photo is the #7 Motorola liveried chassis that Danica Patrick drove to victory at Twin-Ring Motegi as well as the #39 Michael Andretti drove in his last Indianapolis 500 in 2007.

Credit Alex Tagliani

Alex Tagliani is a busy man this offseason.  The 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter, landed a ride with 2011 Indianapolis 500 winning team Bryan Herta Autosport for 2012.  Earlier this week, Tagliani was at Miami-Homestead Speedway testing the Lotus test car on the road course at the venue.  However, from the looks of his Tweet, Tags was in the Land-O-Giants not South Florida.  The shower head in the bathroom was apparently mounted to accommodate those of Yao Ming stature.

 

 

 

 

Credit Alex Tagliani

Not long after the above shower Tweet, Alex got his first taste of the new Dallara DW12 chassis.  One big adjustment has been the switch to ceramic brakes.  One of the first things drivers have mentioned after driving the new car is the immense stopping power the new brakes have and how it takes to get used to them.  These are certainly not the brakes on your Mom’s Malibu.  According to Tagliani, this is the “Ceramic Brake Face”.  Let’s just hope none the drivers get stuck like this!

 

 

 

 

Credit Graham Rahal

Most of the new DW12′s that have seen on-track activity have sported blank carbon-fiber panels or have been painted in manufacturer colors.  As the season draws closer, cars are assembled, and testing ramps up, the new liveries for 2012 show begin to show their new shiny sides.  Graham Rahal Tweeted this picture of his 2012 NTB/Service Central scheme.  I think it will look very nice going 220+ at Indy.

There you have it, the first edition and trial-run of As the Firestone turns and a quick Twitter photo update on a few of the off-season activities.  Feedback is always welcome and is it up to you, the fan and loyal reader, to help AtFT grow and develop with the content you want to see!

Ross (@therossbynum)

Indycar: 2012 Schedule…Business Realities

After months of speculation, Indycar finally released the series schedule for 2012.  Currently, the schedule contains 15 events with the 16th event, the season finale, TBA and the possibility of a 17th event still present according to Indycar CEO Randy Bernard.   Despite the fact that Indycar hadn’t released an official schedule, all but one event had been confirmed beforehand as individual tracks had released their schedules.  The race at Texas Motor Speedway had been in question following the event in Las Vegas, but the series will return to Texas on June 9th for the typical 550K Saturday night race.

The main point of criticism of the current 15 race schedule is that only 4 races are on ovals.  In scanning the comments from Facebook users on the Indycar.com schedule release, the vast majority of fans are foaming at the mouth for more ovals.  If I had a dollar for every time the “oval(s)” is mentioned in the comments I would probably have enough money to give Paul Tracy the rest of the money he needs for a full-time ride next year.  However, where are all of these people on race day?

Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, Indycar is a business.   The series itself must function with a balanced budget just like any other company would.  Randy Bernard was tasked with making the series profitable because for years the series bled millions of dollars.  Sure, the schedule was full of ovals, but they were obviously not bringing in the money needed for the series to survive.  Indycar couldn’t, and can’t, continue to show up at places like Kentucky and Milwaukee for only 15,000 fans to show up.  The tracks lose money, the race promoters lose money, and the series loses money.  Continuing down that path would certainly lead to a quick death of the series.

Credit IZOD Indycar Media Site

Let’s take for instance the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.  Although the promoter is currently having financial issues, the event was a huge success with sold-out stands, crowds of people atop downtown buildings, and a great buzz around it.  Many drivers, team owners, and series critics were calling the Baltimore event the “Long Beach of the East Coast”.  More importantly, the fan feedback was overwhelmingly positive.  However, contrast that with the return of the Milwaukee Mile.  The famed track had dismal attendance of only around 15,000 people.  Sure, the weather wasn’t ideal and the Fathers Day weekend date was surely not the best, but for a track with so much history it was a sad return and embarrassing flop of an event.  Even the series promoted finale in Las Vegas had disappointing attendance despite a huge promotional effort that included Indycar parade laps down The Strip, a party at Wet Republic, a celebrity poker tournament, and Fan Village located at the MGM Grand all weekend.  Indycar, sponsors, and drivers gave out massive amounts of free tickets and people still didn’t show up.

Despite the initial disappointment with the 2012 schedule, the lack of ovals may turn out for the best.  Currently the DW12 is quite the pig on ovals according to those that have tested it at Indianapolis, California, and Homestead, but the car is essentially good-to-go for road and street courses.   The series is also on the verge of breaking even and 2012 could be the year it happens.  Establishing a profitable and stable foundation to grow from will allow the series to “invest” in future races at ovals that may not be initially profitable.  Couple that with the rebranding of Versus as NBC Sports starting January 2nd, a year of development of the DW12, alternative aero kits in 2013, an as yet to-be-determined new Director in Race Control, and the now obvious emphasis on ovals and more thorough scheduling of events, 2012 could prove to the be the perfect bridge season leading into a closer to “perfect” season schedule in 2013.  Keep in mind tracks like Watkins Glen, Road America, and Phoenix have all expressed interest in working with the series to establish race dates for 2013.

Indycar fans have become jaded and fickle from years of disappointment, spec racing, poor decisions, “The Split”, low car counts, low attendance, and low TV ratings.  It is easy to get mired in the negatives and forget about the positives.  Indycar recently reported that attendance in 2011 was up 22% and TV ratings were up 28%.  There will be 2 new engine manufacturers, Chevy and Lotus, joining Honda in 2012.  As it stands, there could be 30 full-time teams on the grid next year and interest from sponsors, drivers, and teams is the highest it has been in many years despite the still sluggish economy.  Indycar has positive momentum and huge potential to grow in the coming years.  Don’t be a Debbie Downer!  Support the sport you love!  Show up to the nearest event if you can, or tune in on race day if you can’t.  Support your favorite driver and their sponsor by buying merchandise and the sponsors products whenever possible (it’s understandable if you don’t have diabetes and have no need for a Novo Nordisk Levemir Flexpen, or can’t speak Spanish and don’t watch Telemundo…just buy t-shirts instead).  I’m not going to let a schedule full of road and street courses next year get me down because it may turn out to be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Ross (@therossbynum)

The Official Indycar schedule can be found here.

Brand Loyalty: Texas Pete, Pontiac, and Racing

I’ve always had an eye for pretty things.  Go ahead and make a gay joke about sequins and sparkles, but it is true.  Certain things have always caught my eye and kept my attention.  I recall a set of Porsche 928 Hot Wheels cars that rolled enough miles around our dining room table to make it to the moon and back.  At 5 years old, I thought the shape of the car was stunningly beautiful, and I still think that to this very day.  Someday a red Porsche 928 4S will find its way into my garage, you can etch that in stone.

As a young race fan, there were certain cars I was drawn to as well.  Bobby Hamilton’s electric yellow Country Time Lemonade Oldsmobile Cutlass is one I will never forget.  Every time I see a bottle of Country Time I see that car in my head.  The same goes for Kyle Petty’s black Mellow Yellow Pontiac Grand Prix.  The thought of Mellow Yellow makes me instantly think of that car.  I also loved the Buick Regal’s in NASCAR.  There was something angry and evil about that small, upright grill.  Plus, my aunt drove one, so I felt like Bobby Allison every time we went for a ride.  A particular favorite story of mine is of Texas Pete buffalo sauce.  I had a Racing Champions diecast of Joe Nemecheck’s #87 Texas Pete car that the trunk broke off of when I stepped on it (80′s shag carpet had a knack for hiding Hot Wheels and Micro Machines causing much cursing when one was stepped on).  Being a kid that always took car of his toys, I was devastated.  But, I will never forget that car.  To this very day I always buy Texas Pete buffalo sauce.

As the Chase for the NASCAR championship winds down to the last race, I am reminded of why I am a Tony Stewart fan and of that brand loyalty.  From those first years watching Kyle Petty’s car, I became a Pontiac fan.  After the end of NASCAR competition for Oldsmobile and Buick, I always rooted for Pontiac.  I thought, and still think, the 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix is a great looking car.  I wanted a red GTP Coupe so bad I could taste it.  I loved how different and aggressive the cars looked from the plain Chevy Monte Carlo and the odd, egg-shaped Ford Taurus on the track.  The Grand Prix’s looked like winners.  With that, I became a huge Bobby Labonte fan and then Tony Stewart.  It had little to do with them as drivers, and a lot to do with what they drove.  I, of course, was quite sad when Pontiac left the sport.  Later, NASCAR introduced the COT which was the nail in the coffin for most of my interest.  I lost that connection with the cars I always had.  It should be noted that in 2009 when it was announced General Motors was killing the Pontiac brand, I bought a brand new 2009 Pontiac G8 GT in Liquid Red.  20 years later, General Motors investment in NASCAR paid off just a little.  You’re welcome.  That (I hope someone from NASCAR reads this) is why Australia’s V-8 Supercars are so cool.  When I watch them I think, “That’s MY CAR out there racing!”

It is from this brand loyalty that much of my excitement for the 2012 Indycar season stems.  I love Lotus cars.  True, Judd has developed the engine, and KV Racing ran the Lotus livery the past couple of years.  But, as a manufacturer, Lotus is back.  I’ve always felt that if I sat down and designed my perfect car, it would come out like a Lotus:  lightweight, sharp handling, efficient, taught, understated, sensible.  It excites me to know the Lotus engine is reportedly 45lbs lighter than the Chevy and Honda.  Maybe they didn’t set out to make the engine the Jenni Craig star pupal in design, but it seems the engine embodies some of the traits that the road cars do.  You can bet if I have it my way a Lotus Esprit will be sitting next to my 928 and Pontiac in some future garage of mine.

Credit Road & Track Magazine

 

Whether loyalty stems from a manufacturer, a sponsor, or a driver, fans have to have something to attach themselves to and cheer for long-term.  This has been lacking in the Indycar series.  A never ending rotation of drivers, little-known sponsors in one year and gone the next, and only having Honda as the engine supplier gave fans very little to cheer for.  I certainly don’t like paying $30 for a t-shirt only to show up next year and the sponsor be gone and the drivers number or team be different.  It gives me hope with the new manufacturers and more long-term agreements with drivers and sponsors that the musical chairs in Indycar will slow down.

It looks like 2012 is shaping up to be a very interesting  and exciting year for Indycar.  I think Indycar is righting many of the wrongs from the past few years.  I may not be able to drive a Lotus powered Indycar off of a dealership lot, but it puts a smile on my face knowing that one of my favorite brands is supporting my favorite series.  One day, when I can afford a new Lotus, I hope there’s a little bit of Indycar under the hood.