On the Red
Carpet, Jack Nicholson was quoted as saying “It's good to be here.”,
which is better than some of his other well known quotes like, "It's
Johnny." and "You can't handle the truth." It was a warm day, but
a nice day, no serious injuries and yet some exciting car
destructions.
Jim Nabors sang the traditional rendition of "Back Home in Indiana", but we missed the fly overs this year. Bruce Jenner, Olympic Gold medalist
in the Decathlon, and singer-songwriter, Jewel
were on hand for the raceway festivities.
Andretti and Wahlberg were ahead of the 2010
Chevrolet Camaro SS Pace Car driven by Robin Roberts on the first two
parade laps. With one parade lap to go, Andretti and Wahlberg
accelerated to approach the rear of the field and then entered the pits
as the starting field took the green flag.
1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti coached his son and
Wahlberg by radio from the IZOD Performance Pit.
At Sunday's
Indianapolis 500, Danica Patrick was running solidly just outside the
top 10 when everyone started gambling with fuel mileage. The late
caution thanks to a dramatic wreck robbed the race of any finish-line
drama it may have had, but it also caused a bit of confusion in
placement. After further video
review, IndyCar officials determined that three cars, including
Patrick, illegally passed Marco Andretti after the caution flag flew on
lap 199. So they brought Andretti up to third and bumped Alex Lloyd,
Scott Dixon and Danica down one spot apiece. The decision came
more than two hours after the race concluded. Alex Lloyd's team said
they had no plans to protest the reworked finishing order; no word yet
from the other teams.
It was a great race
with some good luck handed out to some of those involved in the crashes
and some bad luck to two of pit crews who got bone headed with lug
nuts. A great win for Franchitti and a great day for the fans.
FRANCHITTI CLAIMS SECOND INDIANAPOLIS 500
WIN
Dario
Franchitti won his second Indianapolis 500 Mile Race under caution. No
matter, the milk still tasted just as good.
Franchitti,
who led
155 of the 200 laps, became the 19th multi-time winner of "The Greatest
Spectacle In Racing" and his boss, Chip Ganassi, the first owner to win
Indy and NASCAR's Daytona 500 in the same year.
Dan Wheldon,
the 2005 winner who closed furiously as Franchitti slowed to save fuel
in the final laps, was second for the second straight year, with Marco
Andretti, third. Alex Lloyd was fourth, followed by Scott Dixon in
fifth.
Franchitti,
low on fuel, was heading to the Yard of Bricks when the Ryan
Hunter-Reay and Mike Conway made contact between Turns 3 and 4.
Conway's car went airborne and made contact with the catch fence.
Conway, who waved to the crowd as he was being taken off the track, was
airlifted to Methodist Hospital with leg injuries.
Polesitter
Helio Castroneves saw his quest for a record-tying fourth Indy victory
come to an end with an uncharacteristic mistake — stalling while
leaving the pits on the 146th lap. It left him in need of a yellow-flag
miracle at the end that never came, and he finished ninth after one
last pit stop on the 193rd lap. RACE DAY NOTEBOOK:
Longtime
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Media Center Manager Bill York received the
Bob Russo Founders Award for dedication to auto racing Saturday at the
annual American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association
breakfast at IMS.
York began
working in the Speedway press room in 1958, filling many roles through
2008. He also was instrumental in creating the Stark & Wetzel
Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award.
*** Tanner Swanson won
the NOS Energy Drink 65th "Night Before the 500" USAC Mopar National
Midget Championship race Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis. He led the last 19 laps of the 50-lap feature.
*** Patrick McKenna of
Ireland won the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship
race Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. The series is part of the Road to Indy
ladder program of the Indy Racing League. *** Conor Daly, from
Noblesville, Ind., won the Star Mazda Championship presented by
Goodyear race Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
Daly is the son of six-time Indianapolis 500 starter Derek Daly. The series is part of the Road to Indy
ladder program of the Indy Racing League. IZOD IndyCar
Series 2010 Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS
- Results Sunday of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 IZOD IndyCar Series event
on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish,
starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps
completed and reason out (if any):"
Winners
average speed: 161.623 Time of Race:
03:05:37.0131 Margin of victory:
Under caution Cautions: 9 for 44
laps Lead changes: 13
among 8 drivers
Lap Leaders:
Franchitti 1-30, Power 31-35, Franchitti 36, Briscoe 37-38, Franchitti
39-108, Scheckter 109-113, Franchitti 114-142, M. Andretti 143, Briscoe
144-146, Franchitti 147-162, Conway 163-177, Wilson 178-188,
Castroneves 189-191, Franchitti 192-200. Point Standings:
Power 227, Franchitti 216, Dixon 203, Castroneves 199, Hunter-Reay 175,
Wilson 167, Briscoe 155, Kanaan 151, Wheldon 142, M. Andretti 134.
IZOD INDYCAR
SERIES MAKES DRAMATIC CHANGE WITH FUTURE
ENGINE STRATEGY
New platform provides automotive challenge
with high-performance and relevant formula
INDIANAPOLIS (June 2, 2010) - Fans and industry representatives have
asked for increased manufacturer participation in the sport, and the
IZOD IndyCar Series is providing such a platform with its new engine
strategy.
The series announced today that its new generation of engines will be
more powerful and efficient than the current formula. The new
engine strategy is based on a recommendation from the ICONIC
(Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective)
Advisory Committee.
The exciting new platform, which debuts in 2012, will allow
manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders as
well as maximum displacement of 2.4 cubic liters. The ethanol-fueled
engines will produce between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse
set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes and will be
turbocharged to allow for flexibility in power.
"The ICONIC Advisory Committee has researched future engine platforms
with manufacturers, teams, drivers and fans, and they felt this
strategy best highlights key attributes of the sport - speed,
competition and diversity," said Randy Bernard, chief executive officer
of the Indy Racing League. "We feel this open and all-inclusive
platform will make our sport an attractive option to engine
manufacturers, while allowing development of a relevant and innovative
platform to the current and future automotive industry by highlighting
efficiency, performance, durability, quality, environmental
responsibility and safety."
The IZOD IndyCar Series will explore new and relevant technologies to
incorporate into the engine such as energy recovery, hybrids, fuel
conservation and other developing green initiatives.
"Everyone wants to see competition and high performance on the track,"
said Bernard. "We are the fastest and most versatile racing in the
world and this new engine strategy will continue to enhance that.
Now that we have a platform in place, it is our job to put this package
in front of the automotive industry to attract the type of
participation that will elevate the sport. We truly want to
challenge manufacturers to once again make our sport a proving ground
and a platform to showcase technology that will benefit the future of
their industry."
The new engine strategy will require that the IZOD IndyCar Series to
adopt rules that can accommodate various engine architectures.
"We will continue to evaluate rules that will keep a level playing
field across the board with the various engines that could enter our
sport," said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing
operations. "For example, we could see a V-6 competing against an
Inline 4 at all IZOD IndyCar Series events in the future. We will
require reference engines as a benchmark in performance while looking
at sonic air restrictors, fuel flow restrictions and more as key
criteria for competition."
The IZOD IndyCar Series formed the ICONIC Advisory Committee is tasked
with reviewing, researching and making a recommendation to the league
on the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series engine and chassis.
The league plans to have a decision on its chassis by June 30.
"Speaking on behalf of the ICONIC Advisory Committee members, it has
been an honor to contribute to the development of the new generation of
IndyCar," said Gil de Ferran, team owner representative to the ICONIC
Advisory Committee. "We feel this new engine strategy is open,
inclusive, powerful and high performance, in keeping with the
historical values associated with Indy car racing. Additionally it
poses relevant challenges to which the automotive industry faces today".
Committee members include de Ferran, Barnhart, Tony Cotman, Eddie
Gossage, Rick Long, Tony Purnell and Neil Ressler. It is mediated by
retired Air Force Gen. William R. Looney III. MIKE
CONWAY AND RYAN HUNTER-REAY MEDICAL UPDATE
Indy Racing League Director of Medical Services Dr. Michael Olinger
gave the following update regarding IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Mike
Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay:
Mike Conway had surgery Sunday night to repair fractures to his lower
left leg. He also has a soft tissue injury to his lower left leg and is
anticipated to have another surgical procedure later this week.
Additionally, Conway has a compression fracture of one of his thoracic
vertebrae and is being fitted for a back brace, which he will wear for
three months and will prevent him from racing.
Ryan Hunter-Reay is scheduled to have surgery today on his left
thumb. After surgery, he will be fitted with a carbon fiber
splint, which should allow him to participate at Texas Motor Speedway
this weekend.
FRANCHITTI EARNS $2.75 MILLION FOR 2010 INDIANAPOLIS 500 VICTORY
De
Silvestro earns $25,000 for Chase
Rookie of the Year honors INDIANAPOLIS,
Monday, May 31, 2010 – Dario Franchitti earned $2,752,055
from an overall purse of $13,592,815 for his victory May 30 in the 2010
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Franchitti and the
No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing team put together
a near-perfect 500 miles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Franchitti
shared several emotional moments in Victory Lane with his team, family
and friends after he took his second career victory in “The Greatest
Spectacle in Racing” in his Target-sponsored Dallara/Honda/Firestone. Franchitti, a
Scottish-born resident of Nashville, Tenn., led six times
for 155 laps in a command performance, but victory was far from
guaranteed as the 200-lap event drew to a conclusion. With just 20 laps to
go, Justin Wilson led with three-time winner Helio
Castroneves in second and Graham Rahal, the son of 1986 “500” winner
Bobby Rahal, in third. Those three drivers then were forced to pit for
fuel, and Franchitti took the lead on Lap 192 with Tony Kanaan chasing
him down. It appeared the race
could come down to a duel between Franchitti and
Kanaan until Kanaan had to pit for fuel on Lap 196. Franchitti went on
to win under caution following a crash between Mike Conway and Ryan
Hunter-Reay on the final lap. 2005 Indianapolis
500 winner Dan Wheldon finished second for the second
consecutive year in the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing
Dallara/Honda/Firestone, earning $1,007,305. Marco Andretti finished
third in the No. 26 Team Venom Energy entry for Andretti Autosport,
earning $630,505. Alex Lloyd finished
an Indy career-best fourth in the No. 19 Boy Scouts
of America entry fielded by Dale Coyne Racing, earning $425,305, and
Franchitti’s Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, 2008 Indianapolis 500
winner Scott Dixon, finished fifth and earned $377,305. Simona de Silvestro
earned the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Chase
Rookie of the Year Award, which includes a $25,000 bonus plus the Chase
Rookie of the Year Trophy. De Silvestro finished 14th in the No. 78
Team Stargate Worlds HVM Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone. The Indianapolis 500
Mile Race purse consists of Indianapolis Motor
Speedway and IZOD IndyCar Series awards, plus other designated and
special awards. Purse awards were announced and presented at the
Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration on Monday, May 31 at IMS. The Indianapolis
Motor Speedway celebrates the 100th anniversary of the
Indianapolis 500 in 2011. First run on May 30, 1911, the “The Greatest
Spectacle in Racing” has grown to become the world’s largest single-day
sporting event and its most prestigious auto race. The 2011
Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 29.
***
2011
Indianapolis 500 ticket orders: The 2011 Indianapolis 500 Mile
Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, 2011. Ticket information can be
found at www.imstix.com. Ticket information also can be obtained by
calling the Speedway's ticket office, (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY. Indianapolis 500
Mile Race ticket customers can register to win a 2010
Chevrolet Camaro SS Pace Car Replica by reordering or applying for
tickets online at www.imstix.com between May 31 and Monday, June 14. The grand prize
Camaro SS Pace Car Replica of the Indianapolis 500 Pace
Car Sweepstakes is the personal ride of Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Chairman Mari Hulman George this May. Indianapolis 500 drivers such as
Graham Rahal, John Andretti, Sarah Fisher, Vitor Meira and Ed Carpenter
also have taken the muscle car for a spin this month. One of the stars of
the Indianapolis 500 also will deliver the car to
the winner.
