| June 2015 News |
IndyCar Penalties For Detroit GPs
June 3 - Sage Karam has been placed on
probation for five races for "avoidable
contact" in the 2nd race at Detroit last
weekend.
Stefano Coletti fined $10k for not yielding
to safety crew.
Honda had 20 points deducted because an
engine didn't reach it's life cycle requirement.
Small fines were also handed out to a
Penske crew member, a SPM crew member
and a Ganassi crew member.
June 3 - Sage Karam has been placed on
probation for five races for "avoidable
contact" in the 2nd race at Detroit last
weekend.
Stefano Coletti fined $10k for not yielding
to safety crew.
Honda had 20 points deducted because an
engine didn't reach it's life cycle requirement.
Small fines were also handed out to a
Penske crew member, a SPM crew member
and a Ganassi crew member.
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| Most recent news is at bottom of page. |
Helio Castroneves was penalized 8 points for
running into the back of Scott Dixon at the
Indianapolis Grand Prix. After an appeal by
Penske Racing, the penalty has been reduced to
just 3 points. This moves Castroneves ahead of
Graham Rahal in the point standings. Dixon is
pissed.
running into the back of Scott Dixon at the
Indianapolis Grand Prix. After an appeal by
Penske Racing, the penalty has been reduced to
just 3 points. This moves Castroneves ahead of
Graham Rahal in the point standings. Dixon is
pissed.
IndyCar Aero Changes for Texas
June 6 - IndyCar series officials continue to take
measures to avoid the kind of accidents we saw
during Indianapolis 500 practice.
The series announced Tuesday that they are
implementing closure panels to the rear wheel
guards on the superspeedway aero kits for both
Chevrolet and Honda. Per a release from the series,
the manufacturers themselves developed the panels
for each of their machines.
There are three superspeedway races left on the
2015 schedule with Pocono, Auto Club, and this
weekend's event at Texas Motor Speedway. Due
to the higher speeds that are expected at Texas,
series officials have also mandated that the rear wing
angle for all cars at TMS must be between -6 and
-10.5 degrees, resulting in an increase in overall
downforce.
June 6 - IndyCar series officials continue to take
measures to avoid the kind of accidents we saw
during Indianapolis 500 practice.
The series announced Tuesday that they are
implementing closure panels to the rear wheel
guards on the superspeedway aero kits for both
Chevrolet and Honda. Per a release from the series,
the manufacturers themselves developed the panels
for each of their machines.
There are three superspeedway races left on the
2015 schedule with Pocono, Auto Club, and this
weekend's event at Texas Motor Speedway. Due
to the higher speeds that are expected at Texas,
series officials have also mandated that the rear wing
angle for all cars at TMS must be between -6 and
-10.5 degrees, resulting in an increase in overall
downforce.
Cars got
airborn during
practice for
the Indy 500
airborn during
practice for
the Indy 500
Helio
Castroneves
Castroneves
Josef
Newgarden
Newgarden
Ed Carpenter
Speedway's July 4th Concert
June 23 - The Rolling Stones' "Zip Code" 15-American
city tour will be playing in the infield at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday July 4th,
2015.
There will be two warm-up acts:
"Rascal Flatts" are a country pop music group from
Columbus Ohio.
"Saints of Valory" are an alternative rock band that
began in Brazil and moved to Austin Texas.
Cheapest tickets are $77 - Buy Tickets
June 23 - The Rolling Stones' "Zip Code" 15-American
city tour will be playing in the infield at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday July 4th,
2015.
There will be two warm-up acts:
"Rascal Flatts" are a country pop music group from
Columbus Ohio.
"Saints of Valory" are an alternative rock band that
began in Brazil and moved to Austin Texas.
Cheapest tickets are $77 - Buy Tickets
| Layout of Concert Venue |
Brickyard Vintage Invitational
June 14 - History abounded at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway over the four-day Sportscar Vintage Racing
Association's Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational,
with a century's worth of classic race cars turning laps
on the oval and road course.
But Sunday featured a moment never seen before at
IMS - five members of the Unser family on the track at
one time.
June 14 - History abounded at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway over the four-day Sportscar Vintage Racing
Association's Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational,
with a century's worth of classic race cars turning laps
on the oval and road course.
But Sunday featured a moment never seen before at
IMS - five members of the Unser family on the track at
one time.
Al Unser drove his 1970 Johnny Lightning Special
Bobby Unser drove his 1981 Norton Spirit Penske
Al Unser Jr drove his 1983 Coors Light Silver Bullet Eagle
Robby Unser drove Bobby's 1968 Rislone Eagle
Johnny Unser sat in Al's 1978 First Natl City Chaparral
All five cars won the Indy 500.
Bobby Unser drove his 1981 Norton Spirit Penske
Al Unser Jr drove his 1983 Coors Light Silver Bullet Eagle
Robby Unser drove Bobby's 1968 Rislone Eagle
Johnny Unser sat in Al's 1978 First Natl City Chaparral
All five cars won the Indy 500.
Indy Legends Pro-Am
Former Indianapolis 500 starter Bob Lazier and amateur
partner Jim Caudle were the class of the field on
Saturday at the Indy Legends Pro-Am, the spotlight
event of the four-day Sportscar Vintage Racing
Association's Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational.
Thirty-three former Indianapolis 500 drivers paired with
amateurs for a 40-minute race on the 2.439-mile IMS
road course, and the team of Lazier and Caudle won by
48.9 seconds in a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
"It was absolutely fabulous. There were no problems with
anybody, everybody was clean and having fun," said
Lazier, the father of 1996 Indianapolis 500 champion
Buddy Lazier.
Former Indianapolis 500 starter Bob Lazier and amateur
partner Jim Caudle were the class of the field on
Saturday at the Indy Legends Pro-Am, the spotlight
event of the four-day Sportscar Vintage Racing
Association's Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational.
Thirty-three former Indianapolis 500 drivers paired with
amateurs for a 40-minute race on the 2.439-mile IMS
road course, and the team of Lazier and Caudle won by
48.9 seconds in a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette.
"It was absolutely fabulous. There were no problems with
anybody, everybody was clean and having fun," said
Lazier, the father of 1996 Indianapolis 500 champion
Buddy Lazier.
Seven-time "500" starter Mark Dismore and partner
Scott Hackenson took second place in a 1967 Ford
Mustang, one second ahead of the 1970 Mustang of
third-place finishers Max Papis (a two-time "500"
starter) and Curt Vogt.
Among the others in the field were two-time "500"
winner Al Unser Jr., Davey Hamilton, Davy Jones
and Willy T. Ribbs. The range of "500" history
stretched from Dick Simon, who first raced in 1970, to
2011 starter Alex Lloyd. Put another way, more than
10 percent of the 288 living Indianapolis 500 drivers
filled the grid for the Indy Legends Pro-Am.
Scott Hackenson took second place in a 1967 Ford
Mustang, one second ahead of the 1970 Mustang of
third-place finishers Max Papis (a two-time "500"
starter) and Curt Vogt.
Among the others in the field were two-time "500"
winner Al Unser Jr., Davey Hamilton, Davy Jones
and Willy T. Ribbs. The range of "500" history
stretched from Dick Simon, who first raced in 1970, to
2011 starter Alex Lloyd. Put another way, more than
10 percent of the 288 living Indianapolis 500 drivers
filled the grid for the Indy Legends Pro-Am.
There are many car and motorcycle clubs that visit the speedway and take laps on the track.
Here are a few that cracked me up:
Here are a few that cracked me up:
Fontana IndyCar Race Sets Record for Passes
June 27 - Saturday's wild IndyCar race at Fontana had
drivers split on how to feel about it. Some were grinning
from ear-to-ear over the enthralling action in a race that
saw a record 80 lead changes and four and five-wide
racing almost every single lap.
The race ended when Ryan Briscoe flipped on the front
stretch (Crash Video), allowing Graham Rahal to snap a
seven-year winless streak. Reactions after and during the
500-mile thriller were all over the board.
Penske team slams pack racing
"I felt it was a little too stupid, we shouldn't be racing like
this and sooner or later somebody is going to get hurt,"
said Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished fourth. "Honestly,
I was not a fan of the racing we put on today. What I told
IndyCar yesterday was that we shouldn’t be racing like
this. This is full pack racing and sooner or later somebody
is going to get hurt. We don’t need to be doing this."
Will Power was very animated after the incident, making
comparisons to the 2011 Las Vegas race that claimed the
life of Dan Wheldon.
"It is just not safe racing," added Simon Pagenaud. “We
don’t need to risk our lives for the 5,000 people here in
the stands today," concluded Ganassi pilot Tony Kanaan.
Team Penske President Tim Cindric voiced his
displeasure with the pack racing during the event, talking
with NBC Sports.
"It’s really disappointing because we all sat down with
IndyCar after Las Vegas and discussed the fact we could
never have another race like we had then. Why we’re
here doing that today and I have no idea.
“It was very obvious to us from the first practice that this
was the way it was going to be. We voiced our concerns,
the drivers voiced their concerns. I’m sure it’s fun to
watch, but running open-wheel cars like this is very
difficult.”
June 27 - Saturday's wild IndyCar race at Fontana had
drivers split on how to feel about it. Some were grinning
from ear-to-ear over the enthralling action in a race that
saw a record 80 lead changes and four and five-wide
racing almost every single lap.
The race ended when Ryan Briscoe flipped on the front
stretch (Crash Video), allowing Graham Rahal to snap a
seven-year winless streak. Reactions after and during the
500-mile thriller were all over the board.
Penske team slams pack racing
"I felt it was a little too stupid, we shouldn't be racing like
this and sooner or later somebody is going to get hurt,"
said Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished fourth. "Honestly,
I was not a fan of the racing we put on today. What I told
IndyCar yesterday was that we shouldn’t be racing like
this. This is full pack racing and sooner or later somebody
is going to get hurt. We don’t need to be doing this."
Will Power was very animated after the incident, making
comparisons to the 2011 Las Vegas race that claimed the
life of Dan Wheldon.
"It is just not safe racing," added Simon Pagenaud. “We
don’t need to risk our lives for the 5,000 people here in
the stands today," concluded Ganassi pilot Tony Kanaan.
Team Penske President Tim Cindric voiced his
displeasure with the pack racing during the event, talking
with NBC Sports.
"It’s really disappointing because we all sat down with
IndyCar after Las Vegas and discussed the fact we could
never have another race like we had then. Why we’re
here doing that today and I have no idea.
“It was very obvious to us from the first practice that this
was the way it was going to be. We voiced our concerns,
the drivers voiced their concerns. I’m sure it’s fun to
watch, but running open-wheel cars like this is very
difficult.”
Some not bothered by Fontana racing
A.J. Foyt, on the other hand, had no issue with the race
and said so within minutes of watching his driver
Takuma Sato crash heavily.
“It’s not that much fun watching, but I think it’s great
racing. At least you can race. When you can race, you
can race. … That’s just racing. It just wasn’t our day.”
Ed Carpenter was also taken out in an accident, but
tweeted "I love close IndyCar racing. Hate to see drivers
bad mouthing a series. If you want to race, race. If not,
retire."
The comment that spoke the loudest though has to be
James Hinchcliffe's. He nearly lost his life at Indianapolis
last month, yet he went and posted on social media, "Man
I wish I was out there!!"
These are just a handful of the many opinions now
circulating in and around IndyCar after a race that
polarized fans, drivers and media alike, igniting a debate
that will rage on far beyond Saturday's 500 miler at Auto
Club Speedway.
A.J. Foyt, on the other hand, had no issue with the race
and said so within minutes of watching his driver
Takuma Sato crash heavily.
“It’s not that much fun watching, but I think it’s great
racing. At least you can race. When you can race, you
can race. … That’s just racing. It just wasn’t our day.”
Ed Carpenter was also taken out in an accident, but
tweeted "I love close IndyCar racing. Hate to see drivers
bad mouthing a series. If you want to race, race. If not,
retire."
The comment that spoke the loudest though has to be
James Hinchcliffe's. He nearly lost his life at Indianapolis
last month, yet he went and posted on social media, "Man
I wish I was out there!!"
These are just a handful of the many opinions now
circulating in and around IndyCar after a race that
polarized fans, drivers and media alike, igniting a debate
that will rage on far beyond Saturday's 500 miler at Auto
Club Speedway.
Ryan Briscoe gets upside down at the end of Fontana Race.
