| March 2015 News |
Indy Cars Appear in New Film
Mar 2 - Will Smith's new movie "Focus"
opened this past weekend.
Some IndyCar teams contributed in the
production of this heist film and they appear
for a few minutes.
Watch the video below to see the part they
played:
Mar 2 - Will Smith's new movie "Focus"
opened this past weekend.
Some IndyCar teams contributed in the
production of this heist film and they appear
for a few minutes.
Watch the video below to see the part they
played:
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| Most recent news is at bottom of page. |
Alonso Will Miss F1 Opener
Mar 4 - New McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso
will not drive in the season-opening Formula One
Australian Grand Prix on March 15 and will instead
focus on being ready for the race in Malaysia on March
29.
Alonso, who suffered a concussion in a crash at the
Barcelona test on Feb. 22, will be replaced in Melbourne
by Kevin Magnussen, who tested the MP4-30 in
Barcelona last week.
The team insists that there is nothing wrong with Alonso,
and that the delay in his return is just a precaution.
Mar 4 - New McLaren-Honda driver Fernando Alonso
will not drive in the season-opening Formula One
Australian Grand Prix on March 15 and will instead
focus on being ready for the race in Malaysia on March
29.
Alonso, who suffered a concussion in a crash at the
Barcelona test on Feb. 22, will be replaced in Melbourne
by Kevin Magnussen, who tested the MP4-30 in
Barcelona last week.
The team insists that there is nothing wrong with Alonso,
and that the delay in his return is just a precaution.
| Fernando Alonso |
Indianapolis Grand Prix Tickets
Mar 4 - The speedway mailed out tickets for the
IndyCar race that will be ran on the speedway's
road-course May 9th.
Mar 4 - The speedway mailed out tickets for the
IndyCar race that will be ran on the speedway's
road-course May 9th.
NASCAR's Semi-Pro Stock Car Series Has
New Sponsor
Mar 8 - Nationwide Insurance has been replaced by
Comcasts's cable brand Xfinity as title sponsor beginning
in 2015.
The series emerged from NASCAR's Sportsman
division which began in 1950. They ran older cars.
In 1982 with the inception of the touring format, new V6
powered cars were used and were sponsored by
Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch decided to switch the
sponsorship to Busch in 1984. In 1986 they called it the
Busch Grand National series. The "grand national"
name was dropped in 2003.
New Sponsor
Mar 8 - Nationwide Insurance has been replaced by
Comcasts's cable brand Xfinity as title sponsor beginning
in 2015.
The series emerged from NASCAR's Sportsman
division which began in 1950. They ran older cars.
In 1982 with the inception of the touring format, new V6
powered cars were used and were sponsored by
Budweiser. Anheuser-Busch decided to switch the
sponsorship to Busch in 1984. In 1986 they called it the
Busch Grand National series. The "grand national"
name was dropped in 2003.
Recent Logos
Carb Day Concert Announcement
Mar 10 - The speedway announced the band for the
annual Carb Day concert, and it's three bands.
Jane's Addiction, O.A.R. and 38 Special will perform
at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, on the Turn 4 Coors
Light stage in the IMS infield.
The concert is free with Carb Day admission of $30;
fans wanting the closest access to the stage in the
Concert Pit can purchase a $10 upgrade.
New and upgraded experiences abound for fans this
year, from the trio of musical acts to various viewing
perspectives. The Concert Pit is available for those
wanting to be closest to the bands, while the exclusive
Carb Day Party Deck (starting at $100) offers a VIP
experience including an elevator for easy access to an
upper-level, partially shaded view of the concert stage,
exclusive concessions and permanent private restrooms.
For more information on these various areas and to
purchase, visit IMS.com/carbday.
Mar 10 - The speedway announced the band for the
annual Carb Day concert, and it's three bands.
Jane's Addiction, O.A.R. and 38 Special will perform
at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, on the Turn 4 Coors
Light stage in the IMS infield.
The concert is free with Carb Day admission of $30;
fans wanting the closest access to the stage in the
Concert Pit can purchase a $10 upgrade.
New and upgraded experiences abound for fans this
year, from the trio of musical acts to various viewing
perspectives. The Concert Pit is available for those
wanting to be closest to the bands, while the exclusive
Carb Day Party Deck (starting at $100) offers a VIP
experience including an elevator for easy access to an
upper-level, partially shaded view of the concert stage,
exclusive concessions and permanent private restrooms.
For more information on these various areas and to
purchase, visit IMS.com/carbday.
About the Bands
38 Special is a southern-influenced rock band formed
in 1974 with Donnie Van Zant as lead singer. He
retired in 2013 and will not be at Carb Day. Instead,
Don Barnes, the last remaining original member, will
be singing.
38 Special hit songs were in the 80s and include "Hold
On Loosely", "Rockin' into the Night", "Caught up in
You", "Fantasy Girl" and "Back Where You Belong".
I think this band's music is too dated.
Jane's Addiction is an alternative music band formed
in 1985. I had their 1990 album Ritual de lo Habitual,
which featured their hit song "Been Caught Stealing."
They also did the theme song to HBO's Entourage
series.
O.A.R. formed in 1996. I bought tickets to O.A.R.
last year as these chick friends of mine liked them. I
spent the entire concert in the patio area drinking and
watching the coeds walk by. I guess their biggest hit is
"Love and Memories" which hit #2 in Adult Top 40 in
2008.
38 Special is a southern-influenced rock band formed
in 1974 with Donnie Van Zant as lead singer. He
retired in 2013 and will not be at Carb Day. Instead,
Don Barnes, the last remaining original member, will
be singing.
38 Special hit songs were in the 80s and include "Hold
On Loosely", "Rockin' into the Night", "Caught up in
You", "Fantasy Girl" and "Back Where You Belong".
I think this band's music is too dated.
Jane's Addiction is an alternative music band formed
in 1985. I had their 1990 album Ritual de lo Habitual,
which featured their hit song "Been Caught Stealing."
They also did the theme song to HBO's Entourage
series.
O.A.R. formed in 1996. I bought tickets to O.A.R.
last year as these chick friends of mine liked them. I
spent the entire concert in the patio area drinking and
watching the coeds walk by. I guess their biggest hit is
"Love and Memories" which hit #2 in Adult Top 40 in
2008.
Oriol Servia's New Job
Mar 11 - IndyCar driver Oriol Servia has been named
partner and managing director of Dragon Racing, the
motorsports team owned by Jay Penske.
Servia had been driving Penske's entry in the inaugural
FIA Formula E championship, but now will move into a
management role for Dragon. In his new position,
Servia will be responsible for the management of
Dragon Racing's technical operations and developing
its commercial relationships.
"It is with some regret that I won't be behind the
wheel," Servia said. "However, Jay and I had always
spoken about me playing a larger role in the
Mar 11 - IndyCar driver Oriol Servia has been named
partner and managing director of Dragon Racing, the
motorsports team owned by Jay Penske.
Servia had been driving Penske's entry in the inaugural
FIA Formula E championship, but now will move into a
management role for Dragon. In his new position,
Servia will be responsible for the management of
Dragon Racing's technical operations and developing
its commercial relationships.
"It is with some regret that I won't be behind the
wheel," Servia said. "However, Jay and I had always
spoken about me playing a larger role in the
organization, and I am ready for this latest challenge in
my career. We have a world-class team, and I look
forward to playing my part in putting Jerome
(d'Ambrosio) and Luic (Duval) on the podium."
Servia drove the first four races of the Formula E
season for Dragon. He has 14 year's experience in
Champ Car and IndyCar, and is actively speaking to
team owners about a ride in the Indianapolis 500.
Penske, the youngest son of Roger Penske, started
Dragon Racing in 2006 under Luczo Dragon Racing.
The team made its Indianapolis 500 debut in 2007 and
finished fifth with Ryan Briscoe.
The team completed its first full IndyCar season in
2009, but this year put its emphasis on Formula E.
my career. We have a world-class team, and I look
forward to playing my part in putting Jerome
(d'Ambrosio) and Luic (Duval) on the podium."
Servia drove the first four races of the Formula E
season for Dragon. He has 14 year's experience in
Champ Car and IndyCar, and is actively speaking to
team owners about a ride in the Indianapolis 500.
Penske, the youngest son of Roger Penske, started
Dragon Racing in 2006 under Luczo Dragon Racing.
The team made its Indianapolis 500 debut in 2007 and
finished fifth with Ryan Briscoe.
The team completed its first full IndyCar season in
2009, but this year put its emphasis on Formula E.
Simona de Silvestro Back in IndyCar!
Mar 11 - Andretti Autosport has named Simona de
Silvestro its fourth driver for the season-opening race
at St. Petersburg, Florida.
Team owner Michael Andretti says he'd like to grow
a program around de Silvestro that gets the Swiss
driver in a full-time ride. For now, she's scheduled only
for the March 29 IndyCar opener.
She'll join a lineup that includes Indianapolis 500
champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, reigning rookie of the
year Carlos Munoz, and Marco Andretti.
De Silvestro has 65 career IndyCar starts and finished
on the podium at Houston in 2013. She was the 2010
top rookie at the Indianapolis 500, and is one of only
three women to have recorded a podium finish in
IndyCar.
She spent last year as an affiliated driver with the
Sauber Formula 1 team.
Mar 11 - Andretti Autosport has named Simona de
Silvestro its fourth driver for the season-opening race
at St. Petersburg, Florida.
Team owner Michael Andretti says he'd like to grow
a program around de Silvestro that gets the Swiss
driver in a full-time ride. For now, she's scheduled only
for the March 29 IndyCar opener.
She'll join a lineup that includes Indianapolis 500
champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, reigning rookie of the
year Carlos Munoz, and Marco Andretti.
De Silvestro has 65 career IndyCar starts and finished
on the podium at Houston in 2013. She was the 2010
top rookie at the Indianapolis 500, and is one of only
three women to have recorded a podium finish in
IndyCar.
She spent last year as an affiliated driver with the
Sauber Formula 1 team.
Hunter-Reay Missed Ceremony
Mar 5 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy
500 winner, was scheduled to show up for the
unveiling of the 2015 Indy 500 ticket which
feature his face.
Hunter-Reay had a pretty good excuse for
missing the ceremony. He was in Florida
where his wife was delivering their new
bouncing baby boy!
Mar 5 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy
500 winner, was scheduled to show up for the
unveiling of the 2015 Indy 500 ticket which
feature his face.
Hunter-Reay had a pretty good excuse for
missing the ceremony. He was in Florida
where his wife was delivering their new
bouncing baby boy!
2015 Indy 500 Ticket
| Video Message from Ryan Hunter-Reay |
F1 Australian GP
Mar 15 - Valtteri Bottas joined Fernando Alonso in
missing the first F1 race of the season. Bottas suffered
an annular tear in his lower back which prevents him
from exiting the racer in the time required by the FIA.
Unlike McLaren who moved their reserve driver in to
fill -in for Alonso, Williams did not move their test
driver Susie Wolff in to replace Bottas. William's
other driver, Felipe Massa qualified 3rd and finished
4th in Australia today.
McLaren had a terrible day with Jenson Button
finishing 2 laps down in 11th and Max Verstappen not
even starting the race due to engine trouble. Honda
returned to F1 this year supplying engines to McLaren.
Lotus had an even worse day. Pastor Maldonado
got knocked out on the first lap and Romain Grojean
had engine trouble before the race even started.
Lotus uses Mercedes engines.
Mar 15 - Valtteri Bottas joined Fernando Alonso in
missing the first F1 race of the season. Bottas suffered
an annular tear in his lower back which prevents him
from exiting the racer in the time required by the FIA.
Unlike McLaren who moved their reserve driver in to
fill -in for Alonso, Williams did not move their test
driver Susie Wolff in to replace Bottas. William's
other driver, Felipe Massa qualified 3rd and finished
4th in Australia today.
McLaren had a terrible day with Jenson Button
finishing 2 laps down in 11th and Max Verstappen not
even starting the race due to engine trouble. Honda
returned to F1 this year supplying engines to McLaren.
Lotus had an even worse day. Pastor Maldonado
got knocked out on the first lap and Romain Grojean
had engine trouble before the race even started.
Lotus uses Mercedes engines.
Red Bull's Daniil Kvyatt had gearbox problems and
did not start the race. Daniel Ricciardo was able to
finish in 6th.
Similar to last year, Mercedes started on the front row
and finished 1-2, with Lewis Hamilton winning from
pole.
Sebastian Vettel finished third with his new team,
Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen made it to lap 49 of 58
before Ferrari stopped him. They said it was not safe
for him to continue.
Sauber surprised with both cars finishing in the points.
Last year's Marussia team was going to fold, but then
they got approval to race this year as Manor F1.
However they failed to qualify for the race. They did
not recieve a penalty as the FIA deemed they did
everything possible to race.
Honda finally released photos of
their new IndyCar aero kits for
road courses.
Look at last month's news to see
photos of Chevy's aero kit.
their new IndyCar aero kits for
road courses.
Look at last month's news to see
photos of Chevy's aero kit.
Indy 500 Snake Pit DJs
Mar 16 - World-renowned electronic DJs and producers
Kaskade, Steve Aoki, and A-Trak will perform in the
Snake Pit at the speedway on race day.
Games, food, booze, dancing girls. What's not to like?
Oh. There is an admission charge...
Mar 16 - World-renowned electronic DJs and producers
Kaskade, Steve Aoki, and A-Trak will perform in the
Snake Pit at the speedway on race day.
Games, food, booze, dancing girls. What's not to like?
Oh. There is an admission charge...
First Test of New IndyCar Aero Kits
Mar 21 - IndyCar held a two-day practice for all teams
at the Barber Motorsports Park in order to test the new
aero-kits. They provided more downforce which made
the cars harder to handle but quicker in high-speed
corners.
“Man, my neck is really sore from the (strain of)
braking. There’s going to be some drivers with really
thick necks after this season,” reigning IndyCar
champion Will Power quipped after the final session
on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course.
Power was fastest of the field, running the course a
second faster than his pole-winning speed in last year's
race at the Alabama track.
Twenty entries were within one second of Power’s
chart-topping lap time over the four sessions, so – at
least initially – there’s not a noticeable disparity
between the manufacturers’ aero kits and power
derived from their 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6
engines.
"I think some places you'll see where the Honda aero
kit maybe has an advantage in some areas and the
Chevy in others," 2012 series champion Ryan
Hunter-Reay said.
James Hinchcliffe said, “There is still some bit to
come and a lot of development to do. This car is going
to get better and better through the first half of the year
as we understand more and more. To see the times
we’ve been doing given the warm track conditions (at
Barber), it gives you a lot of confidence heading into
St. Pete to see records fall.”
Mar 21 - IndyCar held a two-day practice for all teams
at the Barber Motorsports Park in order to test the new
aero-kits. They provided more downforce which made
the cars harder to handle but quicker in high-speed
corners.
“Man, my neck is really sore from the (strain of)
braking. There’s going to be some drivers with really
thick necks after this season,” reigning IndyCar
champion Will Power quipped after the final session
on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course.
Power was fastest of the field, running the course a
second faster than his pole-winning speed in last year's
race at the Alabama track.
Twenty entries were within one second of Power’s
chart-topping lap time over the four sessions, so – at
least initially – there’s not a noticeable disparity
between the manufacturers’ aero kits and power
derived from their 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6
engines.
"I think some places you'll see where the Honda aero
kit maybe has an advantage in some areas and the
Chevy in others," 2012 series champion Ryan
Hunter-Reay said.
James Hinchcliffe said, “There is still some bit to
come and a lot of development to do. This car is going
to get better and better through the first half of the year
as we understand more and more. To see the times
we’ve been doing given the warm track conditions (at
Barber), it gives you a lot of confidence heading into
St. Pete to see records fall.”
Stefano Coletti, from Monaco, was testing a car for
KV Racing.
KV Racing.
Tony Kanaan on course during Tuesday's Open Test
Corvettes Win 12 Hours of Sebring
Mar 23 - On an unseasonably hot, humid day and night
- even for Florida - the No. 5 Action Express Racing
Corvette DP team remained cool and collected, taking
the overall victory Saturday in the 63rd Twelve Hours
of Sebring.
It was the first overall win for a Chevrolet in 50 years
– since a Chevy-powered Chaparral won in 1965.
Coincidentally, the Chaparral was the featured car at
this year’s race, and that winning car was on hand!
The race began at 10:40 a.m., ended at 10:40 p.m.,
long enough for the brutal 3.74-mile road course to
dash the dreams of many of the favorites in the 43-car
field.
Mar 23 - On an unseasonably hot, humid day and night
- even for Florida - the No. 5 Action Express Racing
Corvette DP team remained cool and collected, taking
the overall victory Saturday in the 63rd Twelve Hours
of Sebring.
It was the first overall win for a Chevrolet in 50 years
– since a Chevy-powered Chaparral won in 1965.
Coincidentally, the Chaparral was the featured car at
this year’s race, and that winning car was on hand!
The race began at 10:40 a.m., ended at 10:40 p.m.,
long enough for the brutal 3.74-mile road course to
dash the dreams of many of the favorites in the 43-car
field.
The Action Express Racing car, driven by Joao
Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien
Bourdais, is a Prototype, the fastest of the four classes
that race at Sebring. The team finished second in the
2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship season
opener, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and won the 2014
season championship.
It was an all-Corvette podium, as second overall, and
second in the Prototype class was the No. 10 Wayne
Taylor Racing Corvette DP, followed by the No. 90
Corvette DP.
At the checkered flag, a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R - a
completely different car from the Prototype Corvettes
- earned bragging rights in GTLM with a win by the
No. 3 car of Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and
Ryan Briscoe.
Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien
Bourdais, is a Prototype, the fastest of the four classes
that race at Sebring. The team finished second in the
2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship season
opener, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and won the 2014
season championship.
It was an all-Corvette podium, as second overall, and
second in the Prototype class was the No. 10 Wayne
Taylor Racing Corvette DP, followed by the No. 90
Corvette DP.
At the checkered flag, a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R - a
completely different car from the Prototype Corvettes
- earned bragging rights in GTLM with a win by the
No. 3 car of Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and
Ryan Briscoe.
The leaders head into the night at
Sebring on Saturday.
Sebring on Saturday.
New Event at the Indy Speedway!
March 31 - IMS president Doub Boles announced today
that the speedway will be host a new event this year and
it is not a race, it's a rock concert!
The band will be the Rolling Stones and the day will be
Saturday, July 4th! How awesome is that?!
Camping will be allowed Friday and Saturday night
across the street from the speedway in Lot 2.
Ticket prices start at $77.
Rolling Stones Preview Video
March 31 - IMS president Doub Boles announced today
that the speedway will be host a new event this year and
it is not a race, it's a rock concert!
The band will be the Rolling Stones and the day will be
Saturday, July 4th! How awesome is that?!
Camping will be allowed Friday and Saturday night
across the street from the speedway in Lot 2.
Ticket prices start at $77.
Rolling Stones Preview Video
| Steve Aoki |
| Kaskade |
| A-Trak |
