| December 2007 |
Contact About Site Map Privacy Copyright © 2007 IndySpeedway.com All Rights Reserved
Latest news is at the bottom
Darren Manning was officially confirmed this
month to return to A.J. Foyt Racing's IRL team in
2008.
month to return to A.J. Foyt Racing's IRL team in
2008.
Scott Sharp, 39, joined Rahal Letterman Racing in 2007 with sponsor Patrón Tequila, finishing eighth in the
IndyCar Series. He scored 10 top-10 finishes, three top-fives and won his first pole since 2001 when he led
qualifying in Texas. He also finished sixth in this year's Indianapolis 500, the best finish of his 13 career Indy 500
starts. Rahal's cars finished eighth and 14th in the Indy Racing League this season. Ryan Hunter-Reay replaced
driver Jeff Simmons during the season, and it is looking like he will be driving for them in IndyCar next season.
IndyCar Series. He scored 10 top-10 finishes, three top-fives and won his first pole since 2001 when he led
qualifying in Texas. He also finished sixth in this year's Indianapolis 500, the best finish of his 13 career Indy 500
starts. Rahal's cars finished eighth and 14th in the Indy Racing League this season. Ryan Hunter-Reay replaced
driver Jeff Simmons during the season, and it is looking like he will be driving for them in IndyCar next season.
Sharp intends to move to the American LeMans
series in 2008, taking his tequila with him!
Rahal-Letterman Racing filed suit against them
for breach of contract.
series in 2008, taking his tequila with him!
Rahal-Letterman Racing filed suit against them
for breach of contract.
Dec 11 - Indycar Star Helio Castroneves,32, won a
television game show called "Dancing With The Stars." This
program ran throughout the season and they teamed famous
people up with professional dancers. Castroneves was
teamed up with Julienne Hough. Together, they won the
show's year end championship.
The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner said the dance
competition toned up his lower body muscles. "In racing you
work on your upper body strength but dancing focuses on
you lower body. My agility should be improved and I should
be able to step harder on the gas pedal."
Note: Castroneves will soon be marrying Cuban fashion
designer Aliette Vazquez.
television game show called "Dancing With The Stars." This
program ran throughout the season and they teamed famous
people up with professional dancers. Castroneves was
teamed up with Julienne Hough. Together, they won the
show's year end championship.
The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner said the dance
competition toned up his lower body muscles. "In racing you
work on your upper body strength but dancing focuses on
you lower body. My agility should be improved and I should
be able to step harder on the gas pedal."
Note: Castroneves will soon be marrying Cuban fashion
designer Aliette Vazquez.
Dec 21 - It is with great sadness that we at A.J. Foyt Racing have learned of the death of Ken
Hendricks, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply Co., Inc. He had
sustained a massive head injury after falling at a construction site at his home Thursday evening
and died during emergency surgery at Rockford Memorial Hospital early Friday morning. He was
66. Funeral arrangements are pending.
"I am still in shock," said A.J. Foyt upon hearing of the tragedy. "Ken was a terrific businessman
and a hard worker but much more than that he was a great guy who meant a lot to a lot of
people. He was a man whose handshake was as good as a 50-page contract. They just don't
make them like that anymore. We had a lot of fun when we were together.
"I am so sorry for his wife Diane and all their kids--I've met them all because they were all
involved in the business in one way or another. For this to happen at Christmastime just makes it
so much worse because his family was so, so close--and so big, because he thought of his
company and the people who worked for him or with him as part of his family. I still can't believe
he's gone."
Hendricks was a visionary entrepreneur who started out as a contract roofer and became the
head of the country's largest, privately-owned roofing supply business, approaching $3 billion
annually in sales. The persona of ABC Supply, he was involved in a variety of businesses that
sparked his entrepreneurial spirit as well as a backer of many education-based and charitable
programs in his local and global community.
Spectacular though he was in business, and more so because he didn't complete high school,
Hendricks will be remembered for the incredible relationships he forged throughout his life. As he
followed his own dream of success, he created opportunities for others to follow theirs as well.
Indeed, the theme of the Company's year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary this year was
Live the Dream.
He is survived by his wife Diane and seven children (five of whom are employed in the family
business), and 14 grandchildren.
ABC Supply is the sponsor of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 Indy car which will again be piloted by Darren
Manning in 2008. ABC Supply has sponsored Foyt's race team since April, 2005.
Hendricks, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply Co., Inc. He had
sustained a massive head injury after falling at a construction site at his home Thursday evening
and died during emergency surgery at Rockford Memorial Hospital early Friday morning. He was
66. Funeral arrangements are pending.
"I am still in shock," said A.J. Foyt upon hearing of the tragedy. "Ken was a terrific businessman
and a hard worker but much more than that he was a great guy who meant a lot to a lot of
people. He was a man whose handshake was as good as a 50-page contract. They just don't
make them like that anymore. We had a lot of fun when we were together.
"I am so sorry for his wife Diane and all their kids--I've met them all because they were all
involved in the business in one way or another. For this to happen at Christmastime just makes it
so much worse because his family was so, so close--and so big, because he thought of his
company and the people who worked for him or with him as part of his family. I still can't believe
he's gone."
Hendricks was a visionary entrepreneur who started out as a contract roofer and became the
head of the country's largest, privately-owned roofing supply business, approaching $3 billion
annually in sales. The persona of ABC Supply, he was involved in a variety of businesses that
sparked his entrepreneurial spirit as well as a backer of many education-based and charitable
programs in his local and global community.
Spectacular though he was in business, and more so because he didn't complete high school,
Hendricks will be remembered for the incredible relationships he forged throughout his life. As he
followed his own dream of success, he created opportunities for others to follow theirs as well.
Indeed, the theme of the Company's year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary this year was
Live the Dream.
He is survived by his wife Diane and seven children (five of whom are employed in the family
business), and 14 grandchildren.
ABC Supply is the sponsor of A.J. Foyt's No. 14 Indy car which will again be piloted by Darren
Manning in 2008. ABC Supply has sponsored Foyt's race team since April, 2005.
Dec 27 - Unsurprisingly, the Corvette will once again pace the Indy 500, even though Chevy can't
make an engine good enough to compete with Honda in the race itself. Yes, I've griped about
this before. It is not that I like Honda. Honda is the LAST car that I would ever buy. The number
one car on my WANT list is the new Corvette. But hey! Why should a car company get the
priviledges when they can't compete, while the company that does compete gets NO pace
duties. It's not fair. I suppose if the Japanese company cared about it, they'd get the duties...
So I will shut up about it forever more. Or at least until next year.
I hope you have a good 2008!
make an engine good enough to compete with Honda in the race itself. Yes, I've griped about
this before. It is not that I like Honda. Honda is the LAST car that I would ever buy. The number
one car on my WANT list is the new Corvette. But hey! Why should a car company get the
priviledges when they can't compete, while the company that does compete gets NO pace
duties. It's not fair. I suppose if the Japanese company cared about it, they'd get the duties...
So I will shut up about it forever more. Or at least until next year.
I hope you have a good 2008!
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |