Will The 97th INDY 500 Become An Andretti Autosport Shootout?

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A joyous Michael Andretti as he basks in the glow of being the team owner of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay while fielding questions from the press just after the last race of the season at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Will The 97th INDY 500 Become An Andretti Autosport Shootout?

The month of May, 2013, at the famed two and a half mile rectangle/oval located at Speedway, Indiana has been dominated by cars prepared and driven by Andretti Autosport. During the week leading up to Pole Day, which took place last weekend, saw all five cars comfortably posting speed times in the top 10 with the consistency usually reserved by Penske Racing or Target Chip Ganassi (who, under their direct banner, have fielded five cars combined).

On Pole Day, Andretti Autosport cars made it to the “Fast Nine” shootout for the pole … the only other multiple car team to place all of its cars in the final cut was Penske Racing (P5. (2) AJ Allmendinger, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.8264 (228.099) | P6. (12) Will Power, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.8342 (228.087) | P8. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Chevy 02:38.0596 (227.762)) leaving Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TGR) locked out – TGR’s Dixon and Franchitti are P16 and P17 respectively (row six).

The Andretti Autosport DW12′s qualified at P2. (26) Carlos Munoz, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.6581 (228.342) | P3. (25) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.7139 (228.261) | P4. (5) EJ Viso, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.7907 (228.150) | P7. (1) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Chevy 02:37.9614 (227.904) | P9. (27) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Chevy 02:38.5411 (227.070).

Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay just moments after he pits his #1 DHL sponsored Dallara-Chevy at the end of the race that rewarded him with enough points to secure the 2012 IICS driver championship. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

If qualifying position and overall team performance were the solid gold predictors in the outcome of a race run, then one would have to give the inside track to ANY Andretti Autosport team car and driver.

When one adds the calculation of team performance to the winning of races, Andretti Autosport is also given the edge starting the last half of 2012 – when Ryan Hunter-Reay won Race #8 of a 15 race season at the Milwaukee Mile, Race #9 Iowa, and Race #14 through the streets of Baltimore and eventually seizing the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) Driver Championship  – then continuing the performance during the first four races of the 2013 season with James Hinchcliffe winning Race #1 at St. Petersburg and #4 at Sao Paulo, not to forget the win by last year’s IICS champion Ryan Hunter-Reay in Race #2 at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama – the team is on a roll.

James Hinchcliffe prays in the cockpit of his Andretti Autosport Go Daddy sponsored Dallara-Chevy before taking to the track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Lastly, through four races of the 2013 season, the consistency of performance can not be ignored. The driver championship standings with over 20% of the season being run has Andretti Autosport season regular drivers Marco Andretti standing at  P2, James Hinchcliffe at P4, Ryan Hunter-Reay at P6, and EJ Viso at P11. And, again, the pinch-hitter for the INDY 500, Carlos Munoz sits as the top qualifying driver for the team at P2 – WOW!

A shootout in the INDY 500 by Andretti Autosport drivers is a very real possibility because the team, and the way the second season DW12 cars have been prepared, would allow this to happen.

Andretti Autosport drivers Marco Andretti and James Hinchcliffe take to the ‘Brickyard’ for set-ups. Marco sets a speed of 225 on the first day of practice laps leading all cars that ran on the first day of May practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

This excerpted and edited from SB Nation -

2013 Indianapolis 500: Power ranking the field of 33
By MattWeaver on May 21 2013, 10:00p

Instead of compiling a traditional power rankings list like we normally do on Tuesday afternoons at SB Nation IndyCar, this week’s post will rank the top-10 drivers most likely to win the Indianapolis 500-mile Race.

Drivers can typically be lumped into three groups entering the month of May:

1.) The top-10 drivers that have the easiest path towards winning the Borg-Warner Trophy.

2.) The group of 10 that will need some help or a little bit of luck.

3.) The final 13 that are best described as a long shot.

Conceivably any of the 33 drivers have a shot after 500-miles, as fuel strategy has generated some surprise winners over the last century. That’s one of the many reasons the Greatest Spectacle in Racing is still the greatest race in the world – it’s still the 500-mile sweepstakes.

And yet, there is still a clear hierarchy led by traditional powers Andretti Autosport, Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing. Our top-10 picks to win the 2013 Indianapolis 500 can be found below, with an explanation for each of the top contenders. For reference’s sake, we’ve also included a complete ranking to the last driver.

1. Marco Andretti
The entire month of May seemingly has been dedicated to Andretti Autosport, the Andretti Curse and Marco Andretti’s career resurgence. While just a little off the pole speed on Saturday, the number 25 team appears fastest in traffic, picking up a toe [TOW] and several other deciding factors in traffic.
—-
He’s also number 1 on the power rankings list because he’s shown the most consistent speed at Indianapolis since teams unloaded the DW12 oval model last May, leading the most laps of the 2012 race and dominating the practice sessions leading up to the 2013 race.

2. Ed Carpenter
One of the biggest misconceptions about the buildup to this year’s Indianapolis 500 is that Ed Carpenter is some sort of heartwarming underdog victory after capturing the pole on Saturday afternoon. Sure, Ed Carpenter Racing doesn’t have the same budget as Penske or Ganassi, but he is the most prolific oval racer of the post-split era.

3. Carlos Muñoz
With reservation, a 21-year-old rookie makes the podium in the most-likely to win the Indianapolis 500 power rankings post.
—-
Only Marco Andretti has shown quicker pace in practice, and Muñoz has looked confident running in a pack with his Andretti Autosport teammates. He’s looking to do what JR Hildebrand couldn’t do in 2011, and that is winning this race in just his very first attempt — so don’t be surprised if it actually happens.

4. Hélio Castroneves
If youthful disregard could win on Sunday for Muñoz, experience and patience will do it for Hélio Castroneves. There is more than one way to win this race, and it will be interesting to see how Castroneves approaches another attempt to win his fourth Borg-Warner.

5. Dario Franchitti
Repeat everything that was said about Hélio Castroneves in regards to Dario Franchitti. The only thing placing Castroneves over Franchitti is his Chevy turbocharger which appears much-stronger at Indianapolis. Dario is also looking for his fourth win at the Speedway.

6. Will Power
Based on his championship finishes over the past three seasons, Will Power has inherited the title of Team Penske’s number 1 driver. With that title comes a lot of responsibility at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but not a lot of success thus far.
—-
Will Power can absolutely win this race. And in a season where he has somehow gone winless through four-consecutive road and street course events, wouldn’t a victory in the Indianapolis 500 just make sense?

7. James Hinchcliffe
The Go Daddy Andretti driver has been sneaky competitive at Indianapolis, qualifying 13th for Newman/Haas in 2011 and finishing sixth in last year’s race. Brimming with the confidence off two wins to start the 2013 season and the powerful Andretti Autosport backing his entry in 2013, Hinchcliffe could finally and completely break out of her shadow with a win in the Indianapolis 500.

8. EJ Viso
Andretti Autosport has seemingly concentrated the raw potential of EJ Viso, and that could again show itself with a surprise victory in the Indianapolis 500.

9. AJ Allmendinger
Casual observers were quick to point out that AJ Allmendinger’s lack of results in his first two races back in Indy car was a sign of his inability to drive these cars after six seasons or the result of his mixed commitments to both IndyCar and NASCAR.
—-
Like any Penske car, the No. 2 has speed the driver has shown the ability to wield it for brief practice or qualifying spurts, but can he do it for 500 miles? That’s the only question separating AJ Allmendinger from the Borg-Warner trophy.

10. Scott Dixon
In a repeat of last season, Honda and Target Chip Ganassi Racing look to be just off the pace set by their Chevrolet rivals. But like last season, Honda and Ganassi will rise to the occasion and will be a constant threat for the lead in the late stages of the race.

The Borg Warner Trophy – this image never gets old. Image Credit: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

Lost in the shuffle between the legendary Dario Franchitti/Takuma Sato duel last year was that Scott Dixon was leading the Indianapolis 500 up until three laps to go. That isn’t likely to change on Sunday.

11. Ryan Hunter-Reay

12. Tony Kanaan

13. Takuma Sato

14. JR Hildebrand

15. Ryan Briscoe

 

16. Alex Tagliani

17. Charlie Kimball

18. Graham Rahal

19. Justin Wilson

20. Oriol Servia

 

21. Townsend Bell

22. Simon Pagenaud

23. Simona de Silvestro

24. Josef Newgarden

25. Sebastien Bourdais

 

26. James Jakes

27. Sebastian Saavedra

28. Conor Daly

29. Tristan Vautier

30. Pippa Mann
 

31. Buddy Lazier

32. Ana Beatriz

33. Katherine Legge
(Reference Here)

Predictions are a funny thing because when the race is run, the story always takes on an edge that can never be calculated for. This is why we race, and watch American open wheel races – F1 has nothing like this.

Broadcast Information:

The Memorial Day weekend tradition returns with the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26, beginning at 12pm ET from famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

ABC airs the race for the 49th straight year, beginning with a one-hour preview show Sunday at 11am ET. The production will use 84 cameras, including three on-board cameras each on 12 of the 33 cars. Viewers can also choose a live streaming video feed from the on-board cameras on ESPN3. Marty Reid calls the race with analysts Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever. Lindsay Czarniak hosts, with Rick DeBruhl, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch reporting from pit row.

… notes from The EDJE

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Sean Rayhall Sets His Own Winning Legacy At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment


Sean Rayhall Sets His Own Winning Legacy At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

If one is a race fan and the sound of this last name sounds familiar, it’s because this sound … Rayhall/Rahal/etc., no matter how it’s spelled, is the sound of winning.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

This sound has an additional historic significance at one of California’s racing treasures, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS). Bobby Rahal had won more races at MRLS as a ChampCar driver, then team owner, and ALMS sports car team owner (all combined) than anyone else in the history of the storied race track, and since September, 2003 his name is linked to the facility in perpetuity. The challenging section of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from the exit of Turn 6 up the hill and through the Turn 7 kink to the entrance of the Corkscrew was named the “Rahal Straight,” honoring one of the true greats of this historic venue.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

Last weekend had this familiar sound winning yet again, but this sound is not spelled like the name of the back uphill straight at MRLS. Sean Rayhall shares much of the same DNA from Lebanon as the other, more famous Rahal sounding/spelling family, but much more importantly, shares the ways of winning domination at MRLS. First, by posting a P1 in qualifications for the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda two race weekend. Then, by winning both Friday’s Round 3 and Saturday’s Round 4 of this 2013 Mazda ladder series season.

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

“Qualifications went really well – for the Comprent Motor Sports Machine,” Sean Rayhall said. “The Robert Talbott No. 14 got the pole for both races so we are really excited about that.  Me and Mike (Brandon – engineer) worked really hard these past few nights to get the perfect set up and we made a lot of changes. But it ended up being the right way to go!”

At the end of Round 4 on Saturday when asked about the weekend, the 18-year-old Sean Rayhall said, “We had a little competition on the start of the race I guess but I am really happy to come away with Robert Talbott winning both these races. This is an awesome event and it’s awesome to be here at Laguna with everyone and to come away with two poles and two wins for Robert Talbott, Comprent Motor Sports and Racing Radios. I really have to thank everyone behind me in my program for giving me a chance to do this.”
(ht: prototypelites.com)

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

When pressed about the competition at the start of Round 4, Sean shared, “Me and Ryan Booth had some hard side to side racing [at the start] in the second race. Even a bit of contact going into [turn] two between us, but after that it was clear sailing!”

In a post race question laden conversation with Sean Rayhall, it was discovered that this winning attitude at MRLS was developed quite recently, in that Sean first drove this track “a month ago in a SCCA event actually driving a spec racer. We broke the track record by a second and had a ton of fun learning the track with 3 wins.”

What age did you discover that you wished to become a race car driver and what was your first venture in driving competitively (Karts? Sports cars?)?

“I started karts at 7 and wanted to be a race car driver since then. Moved to cars at 12 where I broke the record for youngest driver to win an open wheel race in the states.”

Besides the infamous Corkscrew … what other section of the track do you find challenging? And, Why?

“At Mazda Raceway besides the Corkscrew … turn 6 [going into the "Rahal Straight" section] and turn 9 ["Rainey Curve"] are interesting turns because of the high speed and elevation changes involved which take a fine setup to handle correctly in those areas.”

Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda

After Rounds 3 and 4 of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, it now can be said of this young, new Rayhall on the motorsports racing scene, the Rahal that has a winning legacy connection with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca isn’t just named Bobby … or Graham (found a P3 finish in Star Mazda 2005 – ?) … but also Sean with the last name sounding the same but spelled Rayhall!

With continued dominate success, they may have to name the currently unnamed Turn 6, going into the “Rahal Straight”, “Rayhall Curve” … Y? what the L! (the two missing letters from the name of the next section), just a thought.

… notes from The EDJE

 

** Republished as “RACING: Rayhall sets own winning legacy” at the Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville, GA **

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2013 Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle – Tweet-By-Tweet

May 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Will Ryan Hunter-Reay break into the top five in season championship points lead or will team-mate EJ Viso have his own designs to try and vault into the top ten without knocking RHR out with a crash? Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

2013 Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle – Tweet-By-Tweet

Round four of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) sees its fourth in a succession of road/street courses to kick-off the season before going on with the month of May festivities at IndyCar’s home city and the grand-daddy of all left-turn only (do we need to say it – oval) races, the Indy 500.

The Mayor of Sao Paulo, Gilberto Kassab, fought hard to bring the IICS to South America and race here. He even went to the point of declaring Sao Paulo the South American Indianapolis in 2009, or maybe a better characterization might be that they were establishing itself as capital of motor racing in South America – no other city could rival the tradition and race that have defined a city ever since the 2.5 mile track was first laid out in 1909.

Welcome to an internet based exercise that this author/editor calls Tweet-By-Tweet. It is a form of New Media reporting on an event from the perspective of mostly well informed and rabid followers of a particular discipline that happen to be communicating LIVE at the same time, sharing their reactions to the happenings of an important event.

The following “Tweets” (entries from Twitter social media portal) come from those who have an account on Twitter and become followed by people of similar interests plus specific #hashtag searches. Contributors who “Tweet” (create an entry made on Twitter) come from many backgrounds such as racing team communications personnel, writers, drivers from other series, bloggers, and just plain fans.

This excerpted and edited from Twitter with entries added from IndyCar, Race Control, and the author -

To start the race, it is always a good thing to have the initial balance of perspective of how the field will line up to take the Green Flag to start the race.

Sao Paulo Indy 300 – Sao Paulo, Brazil

Qualification Results
Pos. Driver Best Time Round
1 Ryan Hunter-Reay 1:20.4312 Firestone Fast Six
2 EJ Viso 1:20.7380 Firestone Fast Six
3 Dario Franchitti 1:20.8922 Firestone Fast Six
4 Tony Kanaan 1:20.9812 Firestone Fast Six
5 James Hinchcliffe 1:20.9893 Firestone Fast Six
6 Scott Dixon 1:21.1183 Firestone Fast Six
7 Sebastien Bourdais 1:20.8210 Round 2 / Top 12
8 Simona de Silvestro 1:20.9390 Round 2 / Top 12
9 Justin Wilson 1:21.0570 Round 2 / Top 12
10 Marco Andretti 1:21.1716 Round 2 / Top 12
11 JR Hildebrand 1:21.2961 Round 2 / Top 12
12 Takuma Sato 1:21.3618 Round 2 / Top 12
13 Oriol Servia 1:21.7963 Round 1 / Group 1
14 Ed Carpenter 1:24:0203 Round 1 / Group 2
15 Alex Tagliani 1:21.8636 Round 1 / Group 1
16 Ana Beatriz 1:24:8864 Round 1 / Group 2
17 Charlie Kimball 1:22.2482 Round 1 / Group 1
18 Helio Castroneves 1:25:1734 Round 1 / Group 2
19 Graham Rahal 1:22.2998 Round 1 / Group 1
20 Sebastian Saavedra 4:00.2612 Round 1 / Group 2
21 Tristan Vautier 3:20.5417 Round 1 / Group 1
22 Will Power 4:05.5886 Round 1 / Group 2
23 Josef Newgarden No Time Round 1 / Group 1
24 Simon Pagenaud 4:23.1097 Round 1 / Group 2
25 James Jakes No Time Round 1 / Group 2
(ht:indycar)

It’s interesting to note that no Penske Racing team car made it to the Firestone Fast Six. This was because the group Will Power and Helio Castroneves were qualifying in, suffered an interruption from an accident caused by Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s James Jakes and this cut the time short for a clear run. Power will start from P22 and Castroneves from P18.

Also, former Lotus Dragon Racing team-mates, Sebastien Bourdais and Simona de Silvestro, will be starting next to each other in the fourth row … just outside of the Firestone Fast Six.

IndyCar Teammates @RyanHunterReay & @EJVISO start on the front row in the #IndySaoPaulo at 11a ET on @NBCSN! #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/NkEJ9zre1m

– The Official Twitter page of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Keep up w/ the latest from drivers, fans &

– Both KV Racing Technology Drivers Qualify In The Top-Eight

– Only five cars are starting on the Alternate tires today:Franchitti, Kanaan, Dixon, Carpenter and Vautier.

– Talladega and Sao Paolo in the same day, quite a tongue twister for American motorsports fans

– Won’t be able to see live today per other commitments, so gonna have to stay off social media and avoid spoilers!

– Recuerden hoy el vzolano arranca en 1ra fila en lo que será la 4ta fecha de la temporada de la en las calles de Sao Paulo

– “: Two Drivers and are top 10 in every practice session! Go Guys! ” Thanks Teri!

– My prediction for is: 1.Kanaan 2.Hunter-Reay 3.Franchitti… The lovely Brazil: Boa sorte a todos e boa corrida!!!

– The race in Sao Paulo will start soon. Sato should win again.

– Gonna be a long day in front of screens. in 30mins then, hopefully, they’ll get Talladega off the ground i.e. green flag.

– Waiting for the text/call from the wife when she realizes I am recording BOTH races today over her shows. Love the DirecTV app.

– What time does that race start, trying to catch the British GT Quali, but I think it clashes with the :-\

Edmund Jenks @TheEDJE – @jamesf40 – Ahhhhhh! Choices, Choices, Choices …

– @TheEDJE – Lol! I’m not complaining, its been an epic weekend of motorsport so far, even without the :-)

– GAORAでINDY CAR第４戦を見るために風呂ってきまーす(^o^)《明日は早番ですが^^;》

- Weather seems to be clear for this race for the first time – Internet Radio Broadcast begins –

– Interesting tire choices for start of : all but 5 drivers on primaries (black sidewall) Firehawks.

– Hey Nice feature on in pre-race show!

– [News] Statement on the Future of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing after INDY500

Sad to hear that we may lose a team for the balance of the season – Oriol Servia (starting P13) has to be really unhappy between last season’s messed up run with Lotus and now this DRR suspension of race operations.

– Aww “weather isn’t a problem”. What kind of grand prix in São Paulo is this? No rain? No Interlagos?!

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN – the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle begins

– Green flag has been shown, 75 laps to be run

– Ready to go in we need a fifth country win this year, Brazil or Switzerland would be nice.

– GREEN! Viso gets passed for P2 by Franchitti. Clean start.

– Have we had a lap 1 at Brazil yet with zero contact? My gut says no. ‘s changes responsible? Thumbs up.

– Power up to three positions in two laps. Now in 19th.

– Tristan moves from P21 to P17 in first 2 laps of

– Clean start and everyone’s running. TK and Simona moved up one place each :-)

YELLOW Flag – 7 of 75 LAPS – Dale Coyne Racing’s Ana  Beatriz – transmission!

– Ana Beatriz has stopped on track, caution is out.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN -Lap 9 of 10

Great jumps by RHR and TK!! – Crowd goes crazy!

– Alright back to green we go. WHAT A LAUNCH BY KANAAN! Into P2! Now to track down RHR!

– TK goes to 2nd, blows by Franchitti on the Sambadromo!

10 of 75 LAPS – Top 10 – TK, RHR, Franchitti, Hinchtown, EJ Viso, Dixon, TAKU, Wilson, SDS, TAKU, and JR Hildebrand

– Pretty cool to hear the crowd going nuts when took the lead

– Kanaan is flying , despite damaged hand, amazing!

– I’ve never tried Itaipava is it good beer?

– Will Power is not going to finish this race. He’s driving way too aggressively and way over his head, in my opinion. Has no choice.

– Multiple chargers right now. Sato 12th to 7th, Rahal 19th to 11th, Power 22nd to 14th.

TK represents the 9th driver to lead a race – Scott Dixon is not one of them in 2013 at this point.

– Love the shot of gridlocked traffic right next to race track

YELLOW Flag – Will Power’s car is in flames – his day is finished – he will not gain points or become a driver to win four races in a row at a single track – those who were able to complete this feat? AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, and Al Unser, Jr..

20 of 75 LAPS – Top 10 – TK, RHR, Franchitti, Hinchtown, Dixon, TAKU, EJ Viso, SDS, Wilson, and JR Hildebrand

PITSTOPS under YELLOW – Lap 21 – TK loses two positions.

– Sato moves up to P4 after cars pit under caution

– Kanaan falls to third after a fuel delivery problem. He gets jumped by Dixon, & RHR takes the lead. Sato P4!

– Is it too early to say that Will Power is out of contention for the title?

– Maybe – 4 road/street races down and the ovals are coming on strong

1m – Pitstop sob bandeira amarela / Pitstop under yellow (by Benito)

– Seb is now leading the race! // Seb est maintenant en tête de la course!

RESTART – LAP 23 of 75 – Team-mates James Jakes and Graham Rahal get together and bring out the YELLOW Flag

– Wow, bummer for . Got screwed by banzai move by his teammate.

At 3rd YELLOW Flag of the day, the order is – Top ten on LAP 26 of 75 – SeaBass, Tags, Newgarden, Kimball, Pagenaud, RHR, Helio, Dixon, TK, and TAKU

– Tough day for , , #25, just squeezed past a major wreck on restart. Fast start now.

GREEN Flag RESTART – Drivers try three-wide – Helio spins and tucks it back in and pits for flatspots – Kimball picks up a couple of spots – not a good day for Penske racing.

- : With his DNF today, has failed to finish a road/street course race for the first time since Toronto 2011.

30 of 75 – Top Ten – SeaBass, Newgarden, RHR, Pagenaud, TAKU, Kimball, TK, Dixon, Franchitti, and Hildebrand

– That doesn’t hurt TK as Kimball is on different strategy

– Remember, Bourdais and Newgarden pitted early. RHR basically has lead, although he’s leaning back on fuel right now.

TK passes RHR for P3 – Pitstop flurry – the field is shuffling

– Even with the curbing removed, turn 1 is still a kicker

TAKU passes RHR for position … due to pitstops was fot the LEAD of the race!

– Wow, Sato’s looking pretty damned racy again this week!

– Takuma foi o primeiro japonês a ganhar uma etapa da Indy e hoje está ganhando boas posições, atualmente em 1º!

-  Sato not intimidated by anybody!! Lap 34/75 takes the lead!!!!

– Great photo by showing at Sao Paulo

– Sato in for service at Lap 38. Stays with the reds, gets fuel.

– Pits are open, full course yellow for debris that fell from No. 15 car of Rahal after contact with the Turn 2 wall.

– That corner where smoked it really needs changing, would’ve been 2 less cautions and more racing

- was that of his own doing? or did he hit / get hit by someone?

40 of 75 – Top Ten – RHR, TK, Franchitti, Servia, Marco, Dixon, Viso, SDS, Hinchtown, and Wilson

– Based on my calculations, only needs to pit one more time this race. ;-)

– Am I the only one who noticed Ethanol is spelled Etanol on engine cover? Is it a brazil thing?

IndyCar Race control: Nos. 77, 3, and 7 must pit next time by for entering a closed pit. #IndySaoPaulo #IndyCar

Matt ‏@MotoM4TT  – Interesting, the international feed immediately showed RED FLAG after the accident….

– Think Taku could be on for decent result if doesn’t need another stop considering how many yellows > 1 yellow/10 laps

Marco Andretti has four less laps on his tank than the cars in front of him – Fuel strategy same a Danica Patrick’s in Japan – same strategist.

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN -Lap 44 of 75

Two-wide restart – Marco up to P4

– Green flag on Lap 44! Top 5: .

OUTSIDE move by TK past RHR for P1 – crowd goes crazy again!! Superb racing side-by-side

Marco up to P3 then to P1 and becomes the 10th driver to lead a race – passing at the front as RHR has car trouble and fades

– Kanaan does the over under on RHR for the lead. Very nice. Now Marco picks up 2nd then gets around TK. Good stuff!

– Drag race down the backstretch goes to Marco Andretti, who takes the lead from Tony Kanaan. 29 to go.

IZOD IndyCar Series ‏@IndyCar  – . moves into the lead on Lap 47! Hunter-Reay has a flat tire.

– This is freaking awesome racing. who needs

Woodsie ‏@WoodsiesGarage  – RHR supposedly has a tyre going down, so he’ll be coming in if he can. Now Marco looks under Kanaan & gets him!

50 of 75 – Top Ten – Marco, Servia, Franchitti, Viso, TK, Hinchcliffe, Wilson, SDS, Vautier, and Dixon

Pit activity – TK may have run out of fuel – WOW!

YELLOW Flag – sixth full course caution – Marco takes advantage and can go the distance

IndyCar – Full course yellow to retrieve Kanaan from the front stretch. Pits are open. #IndySaoPaulo #IndyCar

ForTheLoveofIndy ‏@4TheLoveOfIndy  – Terrible break for Kanaan. At home in his 200 consecutive race.

JR Hildebrand has the lead with the pistops – may have enough fuel to make it to the end – only car at the front that is running on Firestone Blacks

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN -Lap 55 of 75

Two-wide restart – JR Hildebrand was able to get away clean – Graham Rahal cloggs up the restart and gives JR a big break being five laps down

Christopher Estrada ‏@estradawriting  – Sato slams the door on Hinchcliffe out at Turn 11, takes back third…

YELLOW Flag – 7th of the day – James Jakes and Justin Wilson get together and bring out a caution

-This race is FUN but hard to keep up with strategy-glad our ABC can!

Top ten on RESTART – LAP 59 of 75 – TAKU, Hinchtown, Newgarden, Marco, Pagenaud, RHR, Servia, Viso, Franchitti, and Tags

Hinchcliffe drops to fourth as Newgarden and Marco take advantage.

– How the heck did Pagenaud get back up into third?!
TAKU, Pagenaud, and Newgarden as Simon takes P2
–   helluva race going on in Sao Paolo! I’m pissed I didn’t schedule to be down there this week.
– Zero Penske or Ganassi cars in the top 5. The only Andretti is Hinch.
– Pagenaud started 23rd and Newgarden 25th and running 2nd and 3rd
Jon ‏@JFDT33 - really is going down hill having Avis sponsoring how to go round a corner, what next, how to drive straight sponsored by KFC?
65 of 75 LAPS – It’s TAKU, Newgarden, Pagenaud, Hinchcliffe, and Servia in the top 5 positions
– Look how loose that rear bumper is on Pagenaud. That can’t be fun to drive with…
– Newgarden chasing Sato for the lead, hunting Pagenaud for 3rd, this is gonna be a great finish!

Servia off of the pace but the cars in front are racing very hard

– Josef Newgarden is your biggest mover of the day, starting 25th and currently running 2nd.

– Top10 1 Sato 2 Newgarden 3 Pagenaud 4 Hinchcliffe 5 Servia 6 Andretti 7 Franchitti 8 9 Hunter-reay 10 de Silvestro

Hinchcliffe passes Pagenaud and is 2.5 seconds behind Newgarden

Ases del Volante!!! ‏@Ases_DelVolante -  Hinchcliffe pasa a Pagenaud y sube al 3er lugar.

– Hinch to 3rd, Newgarden 2nd and Sato leads, can Sato do it again?

LAP 69 has Newgarden dogging TAKU who is on old Blacks – 1.5 stints

– The margin between 1st and 2nd is .02776 with five laps to go.

Hinchcliffe is pulling back into contention – Newgarden is filling all the mirrors he can find as the GoDaddy car are covered by a blanket

– Battle for the win, Sato VS Newgarden ! 5 laps to go !

Two laps remain and Hinch gets Newgarden and TAKU get a little room – Hinch is pulling in TAKU – WOW, WOW, WOW!

Hinch gets tapped by Sato and may be called for blocking

– NO ACTION from Race Control on Sato for moving in front of Newgarden down the backstretch.

One and a half laps remain and Marco joins the train – Three-Wide for second in the Sambadrome – more WOW!

TAKU remains in the lead through the corners – Hinch is almost a part of TAKU – TAKU blocks Hinch but James is persistent and gets past TAKU

– What a finish to the end of the race!! Great work

Andretti Autosport’s James Hinchcliffe wins the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle – TAKU, if there is no penalty, will come away with the season points lead going into the INDY500

– Wow that was a BADASS move by Hinchecliffe!! Very cool!

– WOW!! What a finish at ! Now, THAT, is what racing is all about! It doesn’t get any better in IndyCar, congrats !

 

In four races this season, James Hinchcliffe was P1, P26, P26, and now P1. Hinchcliffe Tweeted from his Mayor of Hinchtown account – @Hinchtown – I don’t always finish races, but when I do, l prefer to win – ala “the most interesting man in the world” commercials. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)
 IndyCar The margin of victory for today’s race is .3464, the closest at #IndySaoPaulo and the 13th closest in #IndyCar Road/Street Course history.

It’s FEAST or FAMINE for who has a P1, P26, P26, and now a P1 in four races

IndyCar Takuma Sato is the new #IndyCar points leader. Marco Andretti is in second, just 13 points behind.

At LAP 75 of 75 – Top 10 finishers were Hinchcliffe, Sato, Andretti, Servia, Newgarden, Viso, Franchitti, de Silvestro, Pagenaud, and Kinball!

– Race control says no action to be taken on Sato. Agree?

– Congrats@Hinchtown you rock. Best racing action I’ve ever seen. Final lap final turn FTW; at it’s finest!!!

ENDS

Full Results From IndyCar.com>>

… notes from The EDJE

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IZOD IndyCar Series Review At 3 Of 19 Scheduled Races For 2013

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Former F1, and IZOD IndyCar Series KV Racing Technologies team driver, Takuma Sato – AJ Foyt Racing … looking at data feedback after posting a P4 in qualifications for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

IZOD IndyCar Series Review At 3 Of 19 Scheduled Races For 2013

With 15.7894% of the season in the books, an early review of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) season seemed to be in order.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach helped to cement a couple of themes that seem to shaping up in this sophomore season of the Dallara DW12 racing platform, two engine manufacturer era of American open-wheel racing.

Takuma Sato and the AJ Foyt Racing team in winner’s circle at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: AJ Foyt Enterprises (2013)

First, congratulations to AJ Foyt Racing for helping to deliver a team effort role in Japanese, and former F1 driver, Takuma Sato’s first win in the top rung of world automobile racing. A fully honest win won racing starting from P4 at the drop of the green flag aided only by a flawless performance driving the Honda-powered DW12 on the track, and team work in the pits for tires and fuel.

By winning the third race of the season, Takuma Sato notches his first win in 52 IICS race starts. His previous best finish at Long Beach was P8. Image Credit: Chris Jones IICS (2013)

This excerpted and edited from Aljazeera -

Sato and Japan make mark on IndyCar
Aljazeera – Fri, Apr 26, 2013

Takuma Sato says joining AJ Foyt Racing put him in position to become the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race.

Sato returned to Japan on Friday to speak about his historic win last Sunday in the Grand Prix of Long Beach, just his third race with the team.

“Motorsports is a team sport and you can’t win without complete effort from the team,” Sato said at a news conference. “The thing about AJ Foyt Racing is that regardless of the conditions they provide the stability needed to win.”

The win at Long Beach came in Sato’s 52nd career start in IndyCar, but was the first for AJ Foyt Racing since Airton Dare won Kansas in 2002.
—-
IndyCar pulled out of Japan after the 2011 race, and Sato said he hopes his win at Long Beach will help return the series to his homeland. “People in Japan love IndyCar,” the 36-year-old Sato said. “I can’t bring it back myself but I hope in some small way the win in Long Beach will help bring it back. I want to race in the Indy Japan before my career is over.”

[Reference Here]

Helio Castroneves survives a Honda engine onslaught at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach to lead all drivers in the points with his Penske Racing Chevy-powered DW12 after three races. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

When the dust settled on the third race of the 2013 season, the top five drivers in the points for the IZOD IndyCar Series season championship are 1) Penske Racing’s Helio Castroneves – Chevy – 99 points, 2) AJ Foyt Racing’s Takuma Sato – Honda – 93 points (the only race winner this season in the top five), 3) Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon – Honda – 89 points, 4) Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti – Chevy – 87 points, and 5) Dale Coyne Racing’s Justin Wilson – Honda – 81 points. To paraphrase Takuma Sato in what he stated in the interview above, these drivers through three races “regardless of the conditions they (the teams and drivers) provide the stability needed to win.”

The drivers of the podium take their victory lap to the cheers of the crowd – all three drivers were from teams that were not named Andretti, Ganassi, or Penske. Takuma Sato of AJ Foyt Racing – P1 (R), Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing- P2 (L), and Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing – P3 (C). Image Credit: John Cote IICS (2013)

The other observable major point is that the top five, which almost always is exclusively populated by three multiple car teams … and we know them all to well, have been broken up with the presence of two very competent drivers who drive for single car teams that have had trouble with consistency in previous years. That, and

Honda, after not showing so well in the first race of the season at St. Petersburg, Florida, has rebounded to the point that one could say that if you are driving for a team with a Honda engine, you may have a shot at an IICS Championship. Honda was able to occupy 9 of the top 15 positions at races end at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – which Honda and HPD consider their home track being that their main facility is located in Santa Clarita.

Some numbers to note from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the third race of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season:

1 – Indy car race winners from Japan: Takuma Sato, who became the second first-time winner in three races.

2 – Consecutive fifth-place finishes at Long Beach for JR Hildebrand.

3 – Drivers who have finished in the top 10 in each of the first three IZOD IndyCar Series events: Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Justin Wilson.

5 – Different teams represented in the top five in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

6 – Points separating the top two drivers, Helio Castroneves and Takuma Sato, in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

7 – Different teams represented in the top 10 in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

8 – Different drivers to score podium finishes in nine races.

12 – Positions gained by Graham Rahal in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings, the biggest jump among drivers who competed.

13 – Drivers with at least one top-five finish in 2013.

18 – Points separating the top-five drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

20 – Drivers with at least one top-10 finish in 2013.

21 – Positions improved by Justin Wilson, the most positions gained by any driver. Wilson finished third. ["I think (the competition is) just so tense," said Justin Wilson, who charged from the 24th starting position to earn third place at Long Beach in the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing entry. "There are so many drivers in this championship that are capable of winning races. When you do your lap in the car, you don't know when you come in if you're first or 25th.

"You can't afford to miss anything. You can't afford to have a bad result. The way this championship happens, when racers have had bad results, it opens it right up. I think it's going to be more intense and interesting as the season goes on."]

27 – Laps led by Dario Franchitti at Long Beach. Franchitti led a total of 11 laps on road/street courses in 2012.

50 – Laps led by Takuma Sato at Long Beach, the most laps he has led in any Indy car race. Sato’s previous high was 31 at Indianapolis in 2012.

199 – Consecutive Indy car starts for Tony Kanaan dating to the 2001 CART race in Portland. Kanaan is second to Jimmy Vasser’s 211 straight starts.

(ht: indycar staff)

Lastly, do not bother to try to break into the top five in the points unless your car (and in one case, including helmet) livery colors include Red, White, and Blue:

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Helio has Automobile Club of Southern California – “Triple A”,

 

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

TAKU sports the ABC Supply Americana motif,

 

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Dixie’s predominately Red with White lettering and logo Target car combined with his distinctive Blue lid,

 

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Marco with RC Cola,

 

Image Credit: Richard Dowdy IICS (2013)

Finally, who can imagine becoming more Red, White, and Blue than the Boy Scouts of America who wraps the DW12 of Justin Wilson!

 

Quite fitting for the ultimate professional open-wheel racing series in America to be led by such a thematically colorful, yet international contingent.

Next weekend is the running of the fourth straight road/street race of the season and the last race before the INDY 500, the world’s most famous ‘oval’ race track. The drivers become the boys and girls of Brazil (Helio’s home track) as they race at an event facility known in Sao Paulo for it’s Samba Festival held during pre-Lenten celebration of Carnival.

… notes from The EDJE

 

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Mazda’s New SKYACTIV-D Technology Sets First Racing Mark

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 takes Grand-Am GX win at Road Atlanta as Mazda’s SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine technology occupies P1 and P3 on the podium. Image Credit: Mazda Motorsports

Mazda’s New SKYACTIV-D Technology Sets First Racing Mark

The fruits of real-time, in-season race development program become realized after only four races into the first Grand-Am GX Class season. The all-new Mazda6, powered by a production-based SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine, scored a win in the Rolex Grand-Am GX race at Road Atlanta.

#70 Mazda6 with the SKYACTIV-D turbo diesel showcar where the two turbo assist devices are used primarily to cool the engine as opposed to directly add to the development of power or torque. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

In 2013, the Grand-Am racing series for full-bodied GT cars added a new class of racing platform to its field of formally pedestrian but hardened sedan cars that can be purchased from dealerships around the country. The GX Class will have 13 models from 12 different manufacturers to choose from, based on the list of cars eligible for the new GX class in the Rolex Sports Car Series. Eligible cars announced for the class include the Lotus Evora GX, Porsche Cayman, Mazda6 with the SKYACTIV-D turbo diesel, Audi TT, BMW 1 Series, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus (four door), Hyundai Genesis, Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, Nissan 370Z or Altima, and Volkswagen EOS.

SpeedSource engineering improvements to the factory SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine include changes to the crankshaft, fuel intake manifolds and pistons. Images Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Joel Miller and Andrew Carbonell drove the #00 Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 to the win, with team-mates Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long finishing third in the similar #70 SpeedSource Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D.  It was a three-way battle for most of the race with a Porsche Cayman splitting the two Mazdas.

This win represented a day of firsts for Grand-Am competition and for Mazda Motorsports.  This is the first-ever win for a diesel-powered car in Grand-Am competition.  It also marked the first win for the all-new Mazda6 in any race series.  It was the first Grand-Am race win for drivers Joel Miller and Andrew Carbonell.  Miller is a former Mazda Motorsports Scholarship winner, having won the Skip Barber National Championship in 2007.  Carbonnell has been racing Mazdas with Freedom Autosport for many years, and was part of the team that delivered the 2011 Continental Tire ST Manufacturers Championship to Mazda.  Carbonell was substituting for Miller’s usual teammate, Tristan Nunez, who had a schedule conflict with another race in Long Beach.

GX Class Mazda6 driver Joel Miller (r) discussed how driving a diesel-powered race requires a different, “more loving” feel in acceleration and shifting than other gasoline fueled race cars. It is kinda like “hyper-miling” for the race track because the strongest power band on diesel performance is a little tighter with lower RPM at the top of the range. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

“The new Mazda6 prepared by SpeedSource ran perfectly,” said Joel Miller, co-driver of the #00 Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 in a post race interview. “The torque of the SKYACTIV-D pulled up the elevation changes around Road Atlanta circuit strongly and the Mazda6 handled beautifully. During the course of the race we attacked when needed and paced ourselves when required. The event had only one caution during the two-hour and 45 minutes race, thus there was hardly any time to relax. The SpeedSource crew was in constant communication with myself and co-driver Andrew Carbonell as we worked through traffic. Bringing home the victory for the SpeedSource crew who worked so hard on this program brings great joy and I cannot wait to continue the [development] program. Over the past eight years Mazda has taken me from karting through their ladder program. I’m proud to be racing the Mazda6 and to be a part of Mazda history in gaining the first SKYACTIV Technology victory.”

Joel Miller is the Southern California driver who’s mother gave title to a 2011 documentary featuring the Star Mazda Series, an open-wheel driver development series that has since changed its banner to the Pro Mazda Series. “Driven To Race” was billed as a documentary film effort about what it takes to win which garnered several film festival awards when it was debuted.

Sylvain Tremblay, owner of SpeedSource Engineering, explains what changes were made to the Mazda6 SKYACTIVE-D clean diesel engine pistons for racing in the Grand-Am GX Class at the Mazda Motorsport 2013 media kick off meeting. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

The truth behind this new Mazda6 SKYACTIVE-D development and win in the Grand-Am GX Class can be summed up by the owner of SpeedSource Engineering (the engineering firm behind the race tuned Mazda effort), Sylvain Tremblay. “While Joel and Andrew sprayed the champagne, this win truly defined the expression, ‘team work.’ The victory is shared with everyone at SpeedSource, Mazda North American Operations and Mazda Motor Corporation, and is a tribute to the thousands of hours of hard work over many months,” said Sylvain. “After that rough debut at Daytona, everyone stepped up to make sure we had a fast, reliable car as soon as was humanly possible. The normal plan with a new car is to spend the first year in development, the second year seeking race wins, and challenging for a championship in year three. We are already at our year-two status after four races. We can’t wait to get to the Belle Isle course in Detroit for round five.”

… notes from The EDJE

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‘The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach: A Look Back’

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Gilles Villenueve

First printed at: http://draftingthecircuits.whoobazoo.com/

As the Indycar teams begin to roll into Long Beach this week, it’s a great time to look back on the history of this fine event. The idea for a street race through the downtown Convention Center area of Long Beach was hatched by race promoter Christopher Pook nearly 40 years ago. He had a vision that essentially would make his race the United States’ version of the Monaco Grand Prix.

At the same time, Formula One was beginning to look for an alternate site for the United States Grand Prix as safety concerns were growing over the course at Watkins Glen. Pook staged a Formula 5000 race in the fall of 1974 to show that it could be done.

He was granted to go-ahead from Formula One and the circuit hosted the inaugural United States Grand Prix-West in March of 1976 with Clay Reggazoni as the winner. The race was a moderate success, but not on the level that Pook, and the F-1 organizers, would have liked.

It was the 1977 event that forever cemented Long Beach as one of the premier motorsportsevents in the United States. Mario Andretti, driving for the Lotus team, fought a spirited duel with Jody Scheckter and Niki Lauda for the entire race. In the end, Andretti was able to outbrake Schekter going into the hairpin grabbing the lead and taking the victory.  It was the first time an American driver had won a Formula One race on American soil. News of this race was featured everywhere from the front page of the New York Times to the cover of Sports illustrated. The rest, as they say, is history.

Formula One had a great run with Long Beach producing several memorable races. Who could forget Gilles Villenuve’s popular victory in 1979, Nelson Piquet’s total domination in 1980 or Niki Lauda coming back from retirement to win in 1982? Then of course, there was John Watson starting from the 22nd spot on the grid and methodically picking off cars each lap to take the win in 1983.

The cost of staging a Formula One race was increasing to astronomical proportions. Looking for a more cost-effective alternative, Chris Pook and the Long Beach Grand Prix Association opted to run the CART IndyCar Series as the headliner beginning in 1984. The series was gaining popularity at the time, and looking to add more street and road races to their schedule. The CART series was an instant success in Long Beach.

During the early years of the CART era at Long Beach, the names Andretti and Unser became synonymous with the event. Mario Andretti won three times, Michael Andretti twice, and Al Unser Jr. was able to take his car to victory an astonishing six times. Other drivers who have found considerable success at Long Beach include Paul Tracy with four wins and Sebastian Bourdias with three.

John Watson

The race stayed on the schedule through the transition of CART to ChampCar and became a part of the Izod IndyCar Series when ChampCar was absorbed by the Indy Racing League in 2008. The 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach was the final race sanctioned under the ChampCar name.

The event remains as popular as ever today and has had a tremendous economic impact on the area. Weekend attendance regularly tops 200,000 fans. The event is held in a carnival-like atmosphere that lasts the entire week. Sports heroes, movie stars and television personalities alike can often be seen strolling around the pits, paddock, and hospitality areas. One of the weekend’s popular events is the Toyota Pro-Celebrity race. This race features professional drivers squaring off against well known celebrities in identically prepared showroom stock Toyotas. The celebs are given a thirty second head-start. Television personality and noted ‘car-guy’ Adam Corolla won last year’s event.

The Izod Indycar series will return this weekend to kick off the 39th straight year of racing at the Beach. Andretti Autosport won the first two races of this season and are coming in as the favorites. Michael Andretti must be totally stoked about returning to a circuit that has been so good to him. Andretti’s first win in the CART series came on this track way back in 1986. In 2002, his final win in the series before retiring from driving was at Long Beach. Andretti Autosport drivers have also won two of the last three races at Long Beach.

They’ll certainly get a challenge from Penske driver Will Power who won here in 2008 and 2012. While Power still seems to be finding his mojo this season, he can never be counted out at a street or road race.

Michael Andretti

Indeed, with sixteen drivers picking up top-ten finishes in the first two events, this is nearly anybody’s race. You won’t want to miss it.

Race coverage will be provided by NBC Sports and Sirius XM Radio Channel 211 beginning at 4:00 PM on Sunday April 21st. Live timing and scoring will be available through the weekend atwww.indycar.com or on the IndyCar 13 mobile app provided by Verizon wireless.

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ALMS’ David Calvert-Jones Gives Mid-Life Crisis A New Meaning

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CJ’s lid used for the pursuit of his newest machine environment to conquer. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

ALMS’ David Calvert-Jones Gives Mid-Life Crisis A New Meaning

CJ, as David Calvert-Jones prefers to be addressed, took his first laps around the famed street course at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in preparation for the debut at his adopted “home” track for the second race of the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season.

“It’s a home race,” exclaimed CJ after a couple of test runs during open track sessions at the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Media Day, April 9th. “At least Long Beach is the closest we get to Australia! But I’m really thrilled to race at Long Beach for the first time. It’s a challenging circuit – absolutely no margin for error. Not even a millimeter.”

The Competition Motorsports 911 GT3 used by CJ to take his first laps around the 1.97 mile, 11 turn temporary street course during the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race media day. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Most race car drivers begin with a vision of being one of this rare breed of dreamers and technicians when they get behind the steering wheel of a tractor, then a car on a dirt farm road, and eventually by the ripe old age of 8 or 9, find themselves competing with others with go-kart platforms used to develop the skills necessary to eventually race cars at the highest of professionally sanctioned levels.

Not so with CJ – his life took a decidedly different path. Growing up around Melbourne, Australia beginning August 12, 1969, CJ became a pilot because around the land down under, the territory is so large (as with the United States’ Alaska), if one wishes to get around and be useful to others, one needs to fly. Along the way CJ developed the talent and business acumen to manage large scale flying service operations and international investments.

In 2004, CJ decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he flew helicopters outfitted as camera platforms and was able to deliver memorable action images used in films with recognizable titles of “Transformers,” “Secretariat,” “Domino,” “Horrible Bosses,” and “We Are Marshall” among many others. He became CEO of of Helinet Aviation Services, a best-in-class provider of helicopter flight services to a broad range of markets, including film, executive transportation, hospital patient transport, etc.. CJ was responsible for the successful management of Helinet’s aerial coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  As the only commercial operator cleared by the FAA to fly in the restricted airspace above the hurricane’s affected areas and as a result, Helinet’s aerial video footage was shown on all the networks in the United States and across the world.

CJ is currently the owner and president of Helifilms, an aerial production company with offices in the United States, Australia, England and South Africa.

This would be good enough for most folks but CJ’s core passion is to be able to push the limits of man and his machines. He found his way to placing his physical command sensibilities to automobiles on a bit of a lark when a friend of his asked him to attend a Vintage Auto Racing Association event at Auto Club Speedway. While there, he was invited to drive a racing prepared BMW and was bitten to become focused driving automobile platforms at the greatest of speeds and limits.

CJ closes out another successful race weekend with a runner-up result. He finished at least one race on the podium in all but one of his five IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge doubleheader weekends in 2012, and all of those trophies came on racetracks he hadn’t driven on prior to the week of each race event. Image Credit: Competition Motorsports (2012)

Last year, he decided to devote his driving attention to the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and came away with one class race victory and achieved the runner-up position (P2) in the season points championship. He was invited to try his hand at the final American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race of 2012 at the Petite Le Mans in Atlanta in a GTC Class Porsche and liked the experience.

CJ now finds himself at the age of 43 in the troughs of a mid-life crisis of opportunity … the opportunity to challenge man and his machines at the highest levels in American sports car racing. CJ expects that the crisis he will be delivering (not having) at mid-life is at least a podium finish against a field filled with drivers 75% his age, or less, who began driving four wheeled automotive platforms before the age that CJ took to the skies in Australia.

Look for David Calvert-Jones … CJ … as he joins another Australian race car driver, IZOD IndyCar Series Will Power – who began being a race car driver by racing karts, racing the concrete lined streets at the 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach April 19-21, 2013. You’ll find CJ driving the second race of his rookie season in the ALMS GTC Class driving the No. 99 Competition Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 for two hours on Saturday, April 20.

… notes from The EDJE

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‘Drivers You Should Know: Takuma Sato’

April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Takuma Sato

First Printed at: http://draftingthecircuits.whoobazoo.com

With the support of automakers like Honda and Toyota, American Open Wheel Racing has seen a number of Japanese-born drivers come over to compete. Some were very good, some were mediocre, and some had no place in the series. However, they all have one thing in common; not one of them has tasted victory on the circuit.

Takuma Sato is hoping to change that statistic. He has, perhaps, the best chance of any of his predecessors to do just that. With 2 pole positions, 2 podium finishes, 14 top-tens, and 137 laps led, he is undoubtedly the most successful IndyCar driver to come from the Land of the Rising Sun.

He nearly took that elusive first win this past season on the biggest stage in racing; the Indianapolis 500. He had a strong car and stayed in contention for the bulk of the race. On the final lap, Sato Dario Franchitti avoids being hit by Takuma Satomade a move around Dario Franchitti for the lead in turn two. He couldn’t make the car stick, and he ended up in the wall, while Franchitti enjoyed his third 500 win.

Although born and raised in Japan, Sato moved to Europe at the age of 21 to further his racing career.  He won the British Formula Three Championship in 2001 and subsequently moved up to Formula One.  He competed in 92 F-1 races over six seasons with the Jordan, BAR, and Super Aguri teams.  His best result came in 2004, when he finished on the podium at the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis.  He was left without a ride in 2009 when Team Super Aguri fell on financial hardships.s1_1

He then came over to America to visit the Indianapolis 500, the site of finest day in F-1. There he struck a deal to compete in the 2010 IndyCar season for KV Racing Technology. He spent two seasons with the team before moving to Rahal Letterman Lanigan for 2012.

In 2013, Sato will be driving for A.J. Foyt Racing. The pairing of Takuma Sato with Texan A.J. Foyt seems like an odd East meets West scenario, but this pairing may turn out to be mutually beneficial. The book on Sato is simple: He is fast, he is aggressive, and he seems to possess no fear. The problem is that he wrecks a lot of cars in the process. In 2012, he had five top-tens, but was only running at the finish in six events. I can almost see A.J. Foyt meeting Sato for the first time. In my mind it looks like Ned Beatty talking to Burt Reynolds in ‘Stroker Ace.’ “I like you; you either crash…or win!”

JDC_STPETE_1254Foyt’s team hasn’t exactly been setting the racing world on fire as of late, and maybe an aggressive guy like Sato is exactly what they need to move forward. Also, given the disproportionate amount of street and road courses on the schedule, Sato’s background comes into play. Sato put the car on the front row for the season opener in St. Pete and came home with a top ten. Something seems to be working, at least for the time being.

Above it all, I truly like Takuma Sato. I have watched him running a mid-pack level car and take it to the front to mix it up with the Penske and Ganassi guys. I’ve also seen him get into quite a few avoidable accidents, but, he sure is exciting to watch! He is extremely talented, and his big day is coming soon, provided that he begins to weigh the risk versus reward factor a bit more carefully.

I have been loudly rooting for him in the grandstands at Indy for the last three years. The group we sit with every year all think I’m joking around when I cheer for Takuma, but I’m not. And they weren’t laughing last year when he nearly pulled it off. In fact, Sato gained some new fans that day as they all got on board and cheered along with me.

Sato_Hero

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Champion Driver John Paul Jr. Now Drives Home A Cure

March 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Van Nuys played host to Kevin Cogan (L) and John Paul Jr. (R) and a crowd of well wishers as they discussed increasing the awareness of Huntington’s disease. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Champion Driver John Paul Jr. Now Drives Home A Cure 

The following post, written by Tom Stahler, details a “where are they now” encounter with a motor culture icon this last weekend, a weekend that had many a Porsche owner and fan visit Southern California for literature, restoration/race-team open houses, and specialized Porsche commemorations using the LAX based 30th annual LA Lit and Toy Show as the excuse.

– BEGIN –

The hardware earned throughout a career that spanned 19 years. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Many race fans around the globe remember John Paul Jr.  He was the youngest ever Champion in the IMSA GT series, Won at the 24 Hours at Daytona, scored a podium finish at the 24 Hours of LeMans, Led the Indianapolis 500, and won races in both CART and the IRL — but then in 2001 he vanished, almost without a trace …

John Paul Jr. would discover that his skills were rapidly deteriorating.  “My crew kept radioing to me that I was braking too early and decelerating into the corners.” said John Jr.  “I was always a late braker..”  John Paul Jr. didn’t notice how erratic his driving had become.  Sadly, as it would turn out, he would be diagnosed with the debilitating genetic disease, Huntington’s.

This would lead to his stepping out of the driver’s seat — forever.  Like so many before him in the passionate world of big-time racing, the vortex of his career closed and the sport marched on with a new set of heroes.  But this hero has re-emerged to come forward with a message that he hopes will help many others.

John Paul Jr. (L) shares a moment with Vintage Motorsports magazine’s Tom Stahler and John Morton at HD awareness event. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

On Saturday March 2, John Woerheide, a long-time friend and racer, gathered a number of notable race drivers, including IMSA legend John Morton, Indy star Kevin Cogan, collectors and friends of the embattled former racer to unveil the JLP-HD1 Porsche 935 — encompassing all the great 935s that John Paul Jr. notably drove with so much success in IMSA.  The car will be campaigned throughout the year to raise awareness of the rare disease — related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The awareness platform of JLP-HD1 Porsche 935 twin turbo to be driven throughout the year at selected racing events [Ctrl-click to launch VIDEO]. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Similar to Parkinson’s, Huntington’s effects the brain and motor skills.  John Paul Jr. would step out of the racing seat and begin a new race — one to fight for quality of life and find a cure for the degenerative condition.

Dr William Yang, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at David Geffen School of Medicine, and head of the Yang Research Group at UCLA explained, “Huntington’s Disease is genetic and is present in 1/10,000 people.  if you have the gene, you have a fifty-fifty chance you will be effected.  The disease causes the degeneration of cells in certain areas of the brain leading to uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties and emotional disturbances.”

UCLA research Scientist Dyna Shirasaki has dedicated many hours and written many papers to finding the cause of the disease and reports, “We have isolated the gene and the protien that causes the disease.  We hope that though treatment of the cause that we will be able to develop treatments that will not only help with Huntington’s, but positively contribute to the treatment of Alheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”

Heads … no longer in the game. Collectors and friends of the John Paul Jr. gathered in Van Nuys to raise awareness to Huntington’s disease. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2013)

Since HD is not as well-known as Alzheimer’s (AD) or Parkinson’s (PD), funding and research have lagged behind. However, while they are all different diseases, they share some pathological similarities. As a result, it is hoped that breakthroughs in the treatment of one disease may shed light on the others.

The JLP-HD1 that will promote John Paul Jr.’s cause is built on a chassis that attempted the 12 hours of Sebring six times, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona three times and the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen twice, but never finished on the podium.

While it may never achieve the collectability status of the cars John Paul Jr. previously drove, it hopefully will help underscore the reality that it is the people who made previous victories possible, and it will again be the people who make the difference in the battle against HD that lies ahead.  As for John Paul Jr., he continues to make history as he competes against the toughest opponent he has ever faced: Huntington’s disease.

The car will make its competitive debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 13-17, and during the year will be driven by a host of celebrity drivers including Brian Redman, John Andretti, Elliot Forbes-Robinson and racer/instructor Jim Pace.

– ENDS –

This life is finite with infinite paths that can be taken. John Paul Jr. stands as an example of always braking late, at keeping the peddle down, and making the most out of the road ahead, no matter where the path leads.

VIDEO – Huntington’s Disease: John Paul Jr. shares his story

Please follow champion driver John Paul Jr. on this path creating awareness and a finding cure for Huntington’s Disease at www.johnpauljrhd.com.

… notes from The EDJE

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Seven Questions With IZOD IndyCar Series’ Graham Rahal

March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TwitPic uploaded by Graham Rahal after he saw the RLLR 2013 DW12 in its Midas livery for the first time. Image Credit: Graham Rahal (2013)

Seven Questions With IZOD IndyCar Series’ Graham Rahal

Graham Rahal is entering his sixth year competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) after beginning his top-level open wheel driving career in the ChampCar World Series in 2007 where he finished 5th in the points, his best top level end-of-year position, driving for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.

This year will mark the first time Graham will be racing for a team owned by his father, open wheel racing champion and sports car championship winning team owenr Bobby Rahal, in an open wheel racing series since the Star Mazda Series (now rebadged as the Pro Mazda Series in the Mazda Road To INDY ladder series) in 2005. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) team effort will have Brit, James Jakes, join Graham and form a two car effort for 2013, and this will mark the first time RLLR has fielded a multi-car full season team in the IICS since 2007.

Graham Rahal sat down to give a preseason interview with IndyCar Advocate in advance of a Graham Rahal Foundation charity event scheduled to be held March 9th at the Dallara Indycar Factory in Indianapolis, Indiana.

VIDEO of our out lap at Sebring to kick-off 2013 IndyCar testing. Check out the GoPro camera on G’s helmet (Ctrl-click image to launch video). Image and Video Credit: RLLR

This excerpted and edited from the IndyCar Advocate –

This isn’t your first time racing with your dad, but a lot of fans are definitely looking forward to seeing how your father-son duo does over the rigors of the season. In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits to being a part of his team?

GR: The biggest benefit is the commitment and the at ease feeling that I have from within right now. This group is top notch, they want to win, the commitment is superb, and I think we are going to have a great few years together.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was extremely fast last season, grabbing a couple of podiums and narrowly missing out on winning the Indy 500. With bringing veteran engineer Eddie Jones on the offseason, what are the main goals to improve upon last year?

GR: Eddie is certainly a great addition to our team. I love Eddie’s mentality and his work ethic. His approach to our team and the sport is exactly what you like to see with an engineer, cool calm and collected while always searching for every advantage possible. Eddie mixed with my engineer Gerry [Hughes] will be a great combination. Certainly excited to have him with James.

You’ve got a new teammate this year in James Jakes. How much have you hung out with him before this season, and what do you look for in a teammate?

GR: James is a great guy. He and I have really clicked, something I can’t say I’ve had much in the past. It’s nice we share a lot of the same interests, and I think that will help us both on and off the track. I am excited to have him with us, and I think people will see a whole different James with this team than what they have before!

This is your 6th year in IndyCar since the merger. Mentally, how is your preparation and attitude going into the season compared to previous years?

GR: I think I am much more at ease this year. I feel quietly confident that this team can surprise some people. I have always been someone that was concerned with what was going on when I wasn’t watching, but here I know everything that is happening is happening so we can win. There are zero doubts in my mind we have put together a great group of people here at RLLR.

Aside from the obvious answer of Indianapolis, is there another race on this year’s schedule you have circled in red you’re really looking forward to this year?

GR: I am looking forward to Houston, St. Pete of course, Mid Ohio and really everywhere we go. Every track presents a different challenge and that’s what I love about indycar racing!If you’re anywhere around Indianapolis, you’ll want to be at the Dallara Facility in Speedway on Saturday, March 9. That’s the day the Graham Rahal Foundation will be hosting a big charity event at the facility, along with Indy Cars and Coffee. Graham himself took the time to answer a few questions about the event and his charity.

Tell us about the big charity event at Dallara coming up on March 9?

GR: Our event on March 9th is going to be great. I attend a local group called Cars and Coffee in Indianapolis on Saturdays. They’re a large group of car and racing fans with big hearts. They were invited to tour the Dallara Indycar Factory and decided to turn the tour into an event to benefit my foundation, The Graham Rahal Foundation. The event will be from 11-5 on March 9th with tours of the Dallara facility, two seater rides, iRacing simulators, an autograph session and more.

With the Graham Rahal Foundation involved, this might be a good time to tell fans a bit more about just what it does. Who does your foundation seek to help, and was there a reason your specially chose those causes?

GR: The Graham Rahal Foundation was started in 2009 after my boss, Paul Newman, passed away. Paul was such a huge advocate for giving back to others and I wanted to continue that even after his passing. He inspired me to be a better person and to never take life for granted. GRF raises money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Paul’s foundation, SeriousFun Networks. Donations at the event will be taken to help us raise money for GRF, which will allow us to give back to these two amazing groups. Through various events, we have raised over $200,000 and helped many children in need. It’s a great thing to be part of.

For more information, follow the Graham Rahal Foundation on Twitter, and also remember to follow Indy Cars and Coffee.  Thanks to Graham for his time, and see you for a great cause on March 9!
[Reference Here]

… notes from The EDJE

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