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The Milwaukee Mile’s ABC Racing / A.J. Foyt 225 & IndyCar Notes

Ten rookies are entered in the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225, however, several of those drivers have competed previously at The Milwaukee Mile. Ryan Hunter-Reay won at the track in 2004, and Bruno Junqueira, Oriol Servia and Justin Wilson all have recorded top-five finishes at Milwaukee. Jaime Camara, Jay Howard and Hideki Mutoh competed at Milwaukee in Firestone Indy Lights events. Camara won the event in 2006.

For several seasons earlier this decade, race fans in Milwaukee saw the top open-wheel drivers compete at The Mile in two series, on two different weekends. Unification has brought all of those drivers into the IndyCar Series, leading to a competitive 27-car field at The Mile.

“Rocket Rick” Mears celebrates anniversary

Rick Mears, a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and currently a driver coach for Firestone Indy Lights, recorded his first IndyCar victory at The Milwaukee Mile 30 years ago. Mears crossed the finish line two seconds ahead of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and current Safety Car driver, Johnny Rutherford on June 18, 1978.

IndyCar Series officials indicate there will allow as many as 27 starters for Sunday’s ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race on Sunday afternoon, June 1, making it one of the largest in the storied open wheel history at America’s Legendary Oval, dating back to 1903.

On August 22, 1965, there were 26 cars in the Rex Mays 150 field that A.J. Foyt led to the green flag from the pole position in his front-engine upright dirt champ car. On another occasion there were 28 open wheel championship cars that took the green flag in a 200-lap race in which Michael Andretti beat Al Unser, Jr. to the checkered flag on June 2, 1996.

There were several occasions when more than 27 Indy cars were entered at The Mile, however, as was the case in the aforementioned August, 1965 event, 29 cars made a qualifying attempt and three cars sent home, classified as “too slow.”

Two more instances dot the record books, showcasing the sizeable fields in IndyCar Series racing. Thirty-five Indy cars were trackside at the track on June 4, 1967. Twenty-four cars started the race, with 11 non-qualifiers listed. Joe Leonard jumped from 4th to first to lead the first 42 laps, and then Gordon Johncock took control to record the first of his two career Mile victories.

The most Indy cars to attempt a race at The Mile occurred on June 5, 1960 for the Rex Mays 100, in which Rodger Ward bested the 22 car field. An additional 25 entries were classified as “too slow” and were sent home, including Jim Rathmann – who won the previous week’s Indianapolis 500! Two other Indy 500 winners also didn’t make the cut; Jimmy Bryan and Troy Ruttman. Amazing.

The ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 will be the fifth IndyCar Series event conducted at The Milwaukee Mile. Tony Kanaan (2006-07) is a two-time winner of the event. Ryan Hunter-Reay won a Champ Car event at the track in 2004.

Two drivers entered have won the PEAK Motor Oil Pole Award at Milwaukee: Helio Castroneves (2006, 2007) and Vitor Meira (2004). Ryan Hunter-Reay won the pole for the Champ Car event in 2004.

Twelve drivers entered in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 have raced in previous IndyCar Series events at the track. Five of those drivers have led laps (Helio Castroneves 183, Tony Kanaan 168, Dan Wheldon 95, Marco Andretti 39 and Buddy Rice 37).

Four Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Scott Dixon (2008).

Three IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225: Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

Tony Kanaan has finished fourth or better in all four IndyCar Series races at Milwaukee.

Helio Castroneves has won the last two PEAK Motor Oil Poles at Milwaukee.

Andretti Green Racing has won three of the four IndyCar Series races at Milwaukee.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises won IndyCar races at Milwaukee in 1975 and 1979. Team owner A.J. Foyt was the driver.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing won seven CART/Champ Car races at Milwaukee between 1985 and 2006.

IndyCar Series adds Edmonton to schedule: The Indy Racing League has signed a three-year agreement with Northlands, operator of the Rexall Edmonton Indy, to bring the excitement of IndyCar Series racing to Edmonton beginning July 24-26, 2008. The Rexall Edmonton Indy becomes the 17th race on the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule.

“The city of Edmonton and Northlands have put together a first-class event, and we’re excited that we can bring the IndyCar Series to such a great venue,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League. “While drivers such as Justin Wilson and Will Power have raced in Edmonton before, some of our other stars – Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti and Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon – will compete there for the first time. We look forward to a long relationship with the Rexall Edmonton Indy.”

The 14-turn, 1.973-mile circuit is laid out on Edmonton City Centre Airport runways that reach 75-feet wide for most of the course. About 80 percent of the race course, which is five minutes from downtown, can be seen from anywhere in the grandstands.

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with the Indy Racing League during such an exciting time,” said Ken Knowles, Northlands President. “The Edmonton Indy has a proven track record and terrific support from our fans and partners. Under this new partnership, we expect that this year’s event will be the biggest and best to date.”

Over 850 ABC Supply employees and guests will be on hand this weekend to see the fourth annual ABC Supply/AJ Foyt 225.

AMZ Construction of Green Bay, WI is this weekend’s winners of the ABC Supply Your Name Here Promotion for its customers. The company name will be put on the top of the sidepods of the No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda. Patrick Zoeller and his guest will receive selected merchandise, race tickets, hospitality and garage passes, plus a Meet and Greet with A.J. Foyt and Darren Manning. The “Your Name Here” promotion selected winners by random drawing from a pool of entries sent in by ABC Supply customers earlier this year.

Once again Darren Manning commissioned a special design for his Indy 500 helmet. This year’s pale lime green helmet bore the names of his family members including his parents, sister, her children as well that of his girlfriend and her son’s names. Unlike his owner, Manning doesn’t believe in the superstition that green is an unlucky color. Last year’s helmet was dedicated to A.J. Foyt’s 50th Indy 500 and given to A.J. after the race.

The 2008 IndyCar Series season continues with the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 on June 1 at the Milwaukee Mile. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 4 p.m. (EDT) by ABC. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPNDeportes. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio and www.indycar.com. The 2008 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Milwaukee 100 at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on June 1 at The Milwaukee Mile. The Firestone Freedom 100 will be telecast at 1 p.m. EDT May 31.

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