IndyCar Notes – Sonoma Review, Chicagoland Preview, 2010 Schedule Updated
- Updated: August 25, 2009
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, Dario Franchitti was under contract with Chip Ganassi but rideless as sponsorship never materialized on either his NASCAR Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series rides. It was at Chicagoland Speedway last year where it was announced he would be replacing Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 Target Ganassi car in the IndyCar Series.
On Sunday, Franchitti became only the second driver to lead an IndyCar Series race (1996-2009) from flag to flag and tightening the fight for the IndyCar Series championship. Franchitti’s win at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway, brought the Scotsman within four points of the leader, Ryan Briscoe was finished second. It’s the 13th time the championship points lead has changed in the 14 races this season.
Hats off to rookie Mike Conway of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing who posted a career-high third place finish. Additionally, Mario Moraes also had a career best with a fourth place finish. Both drivers overtook Hideki Mutoh’s No. 27 Formula Dream car on Lap 73, who was able to salvage a second consecutive fifth place. Mutoh over the last seven races kas been the top finishing Andretti-Green Racing (AGR) driver four times. Mutoh has four top-5 and seven top-10 finishes so far this year.
Speaking of AGR, it was announced earlier this week that plans are in place to have Michael Andretti completely own and operate the racing team while AGR principles Kevin Savoree and Kim Green will operate the promotions side of the business, which includes promoting the races at St. Petersburg and Toronto.
It is also looking like Danica Patrick will be re-signing with AGR for the 2010 season and beyond. This will be a very important piece of the IndyCar puzzle as they work on solidifying the Series for 2010 and beyond.
IndyCar has reported that Penske Racing driver Will Power, who suffered compression fractures to two lumbar vertebrae and a concussion in a crash during practice Aug. 22 for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, remained at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Memorial Hospital on Aug. 24. A discharge date had not been finalized. It was also mentioned in several reports that Power also broke his two front teeth in the crash. Nelson Philippe, who suffered an open fracture of the left foot, a hairline fracture of his right fibula and a concussion in the on-track incident, was to be released from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital either late in the day Aug. 24 or Aug. 25. The final decision is based on the travel plans of his immediate family.
Regarding what happened to Ryan Hunter-Reay’s ABC Supply /A.J. Foyt Racing car causing it to stall on track last Sunday at Sonoma, preliminary investigation pointed to a problem in the alternator and/or its wiring.
I’ve been hearing reports that a deal between DirecTV and the VERSES channel is done and will be announced shortly. Thus, we should be able to watch IndyCar racing after September 1st along with bullriding, World Extreme Cagefighting and elk hunting.
Looks like the point championship will come down to three drivers, Briscoe, Franchitti and defending champion, Scott Dixon. Three races remain, all on ovals. Next up is Chicagoland, then off to Twin-Ring Motegi in Japan and the Series finale at Homestead. Helio Castroneves has a mathmatical chance but is a longshot.
Indy Racing League officials confirmed the date for the 2010 IndyCar Series event at Kentucky Speedway and announced changes to the dates for the 2010 IndyCar Series races held at Texas Motor Speedway and Twin Ring Motegi.
“We worked with our promoter partners to ensure they had race dates that fit their needs and worked for the series as well,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series.”Both Texas Motor Speedway and Twin Ring Motegi came to us in recent weeks looking to make adjustments based on various factors and we were happy to work with them to make the appropriate changes.”
The Texas 550k IndyCar Series race will shift its 2010 date up a week to Saturday night, June 5, the weekend immediately follow the Indianapolis 500 to help Texas Motor Speedway keep the IndyCar Series and NASCAR Trucks doubleheader weekend intact.
“I have always been a proponent of that off week between Indy and us, but we hope the back-to-back races create even more momentum for the IndyCar Series and Texas Motor Speedway,” Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said. “It was important for us to keep this combination weekend together because it has been a tradition at Texas Motor Speedway since we opened in 1997. We looked at a variety of options, but felt this was the best for our fans and we are appreciative of the IRL’s flexibility.”
The Kentucky race, which was announced as a Labor Day weekend event, will be held on Saturday night, Sept. 4, while the Indy Japan 300 will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19. The Indy Japan 300 will shift one day later to help Twin Ring Motegi take advantage of a national holiday on Sept. 20. With this announcement it closes the books on whether the Milwaukee Mile will be on the 2010 schedule.
The 2009 IndyCar Series season continues Aug. 29 with the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 9 p.m. (EDT) by VERSUS. A one-hour qualifying show will be telecast by VERSUS at 6 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 28. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Chicagoland 100 on Aug. 29 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 31 by VERSUS.
At the Mecum Auto Auction held at Monterey last week, an authentic 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe CSX 2601 set a new record for an American built car sold at auction when it hammered off at $7.25 million dollars. Hammered price excluded buyers premium. The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra was one of six cars built by Carroll Shelby to compete against the dominating Ferrari in the F.I.A. (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Manufacturers Championship for GT race class. An experimental coupe body designed by Peter Brock was built on an existing Cobra chassis, immediately increasing the top speed by 25 mph. That car won its first race, the 1964 Daytona Continental (prompting Shelby to adopt the name), and five more coupes were built, including CSX2601.
After competing at Daytona, Monza, Spa and Nurburgring, CSX2601 made history when it clinched the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship for the United States and Shelby American on July 4 in Reims, France. Driving the car – and America – to victory was legendary race car driver Bob Bondurant.
Bondurant drove the Daytona Cobra Coupe across the Mecum auction block as it set the new high-bid record.
“Truly the best part about auctioning the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe has been sharing the stories of its amazing history with millions of people across the country,” Mecum said. “This race car’s greatest moments and its legacy as America’s world champion will be cherished for generations to come.”
Mecum’s Monterey Auction took place on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course. In addition to the Shelby Daytona, Mecum offered an eclectic mix of more than 200 cars ranging from a 1931 Rolls-Royce to a 2007 Saleen S7.
The complete 2010 IndyCar Series schedule:
Date Location Venue
Sunday, March 14 Brazil TBA
Sunday, March 28 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. 1.8-mile street course
Sunday, April 11 Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course
Sunday, April 18 Streets of Long Beach, Calif. 1.968-mile street course
Saturday, May 1 Kansas Speedway 1.5-mile oval
Sunday, May 30 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval
Saturday, June 5* Texas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval
Sunday, June 20 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval
Sunday, July 4Watkins Glen International 3.37-mile road course
Sunday, July 18 Streets of Toronto 1.721-mile street course
Sunday, July 25 Edmonton City Centre Airport 1.973-mile airport course
Sunday, Aug. 8 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course
Sunday, Aug. 22 Infineon Raceway 2.245-mile road course
Saturday, Aug. 28* Chicagoland Speedway 1.5-mile oval
Saturday, Sept. 4* Kentucky Speedway 1.5-mile oval
Sunday, Sept.19 Twin Ring Motegi 1.5-mile oval
Saturday, Oct. 2 Homestead-Miami Speedway 1.5-mile oval
* Denotes night race
Schedule Subject to Change
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.