‘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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Now A Dario Franchitti Fan, How Will Season Unfold?

March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Franchitti's gregarious nature serves him and IndyCar well

Dario Franchitti first came on my radar when he married actress Ashley Judd in 2001.

I knew nothing about the man other than the fact he was a race car driver. I’m sure I thought he was Italian based on his name and had no idea he was Scottish until many years later.

The next time Franchitti crossed my path he was coming from IndyCar and invading NASCAR in 2007. By that time I was coming off a self-imposed hiatus from NASCAR, but my husband was not, so I would get an earful. He would try to pull me into watching by saying, “Aren’t you going to watch Mr. Ashley Judd race today?”

“Um, no, no I’m not,” I’d reply, uninterested.

As is well documented and widely known, Franchitti’s foray into NASCAR was lackluster at best and ended rather quickly in 2008. Chip Ganassi attempted to create a team that could be viable in NASCAR only to have Franchitti suffer as a result of no sponsorship.

In a short period of time even Ganassi saw the handwriting on the wall, disassembled the team, and brought Franchitti back to IndyCar where he so plainly had achieved success before the NASCAR fiasco.

When Franchitti returned to IndyCar I initially lost track of him.

But about three years ago my husband took his passion for watching racing beyond the confines of NASCAR, which I had eagerly rejoined him as a fan of sorts, and had included all forms of auto racing into his viewing schedule.

My husband recorded races from across the globe – not least of which included the Izod IndyCar Series.

Once again he coaxed, “Don’t you want to see Mr. Ashley Judd in his own realm driving?”

“OK,” I replied, half-heartedly. He was unimpressive in NASCAR, but I was curious to see how he muscled an IndyCar.

Then I saw something I wasn’t expecting. I saw genius. I witnessed greatness. And it happened over and over again.

Franchitti, it would seem, was virtually unbeatable winning three consecutive Izod IndyCar championships in 2009 – 2011 succeeding a win in 2007. He also has two Indianapolis 500 wins to his credit, in 2007 and 2010.

The NASCAR experience of Franchitti was short-lived as most underfunded efforts are

Although I was definitely a fan by this time, and happy to see outstanding racing and victories from one competitor, I was enamored with a driver named Will Power as I’ve written previously on MotorsportsUnplugged.com.

Like Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR, Franchitti has dialed in his abilities to dominate in his sport.

In addition to his prowess behind the wheel, we’ve seen him be a loving husband, a fun person, a stunningly handsome fellow and a grieving friend in the wake of the news of Dan Wheldon’s accident and subsequent passing at the last race of the season in 2011.

As the 2012 Izod IndyCar season dawns I am drawn to the sport like never before.

How will the drivers react to their first time in competition since Wheldon’s death?

What cues will the drivers take from their champion Franchitti?

How will the newer, safer cars fare in competition?

Will Franchitti have the same magic this season as he’s conjured the last three previous ones?

Can Power finally topple the current “king” of IndyCar?

How will the women perform?

There are so many questions that can only be answered as the season begins to unfurl.

I’ll be here watching, leaving my opinions, and asking for yours.

Let’s get this 2012 Izod IndyCar season on the grid and revved up!

 

Follow Candice Smith at www.chief187.com

 

 

 

 

 

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March 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

IndyCar and DreamWorks bring the big screen to families with new movie "Turbo"

The greatest thing that happened to my family entertainment-wise in the last decade was the release of an animated movie about automobiles that ran in a stock car circuit akin to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup.

Last year the sequel came out and those two movies are among my three children’s all-time favorites.

But for those parents and children who adore IndyCar racing there haven’t been options to indulge in animated entertainment… until now.

DreamWorks Animation and IndyCar announced this week that they are indeed collaborating on a full-length animated feature film entitled “Turbo,” that is scheduled to be released on July 19, 2013.

The story revolves around an ordinary garden snail who dreams of one day winning the Indianapolis 500. When a freak accident leaves the snail with extraordinary speed, the little fellow sets out to make his dream become reality.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation, explains, “The Indianapolis 500 is a one-of-a-kind live event that has fascinated people of all ages for many, many years and Turbo is a character whose biggest ambition is to add his name to its list of international champions.

“DreamWorks Animation’s alliance with the IndyCar team represents an authentic tie-in between a real-life race and an imagined adventure that is certain to culminate in a thrilling ride for the whole family next summer.”

I’m thrilled that racing will once again be the focal point of an animated full-length feature film. The commitment from DreamWorks Animation to bring this film to fruition gives validity to the sport. It entices an entire generation and more to forge a life-long infatuation with IndyCar racing.

The tie-ins, from collectible cars to bed sheets, keep the current roster of drivers and teams hot commodities to their fan base. This is the best that could have happened to IndyCar.

Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR, enthused, “We’re very honored to work with Jeffrey (Katzenberg), his team, and the incredible star power of the cast to bring the Indy 500 to the world in such a unique and engaging format.

“We believe new and existing fans of all ages will be captivated by the animated depiction of Indianapolis Motor Speedway as well as the wonderful characters that inhabit the universe of DreamWorks Animation’s “Turbo.”

The title "Turbo" is relative to IndyCar's new turbo engines, kids will want the action

My children are already scouring the store shelves to be the first to own the Turbo characters and are making plans to attend the movie on opening day.

My father, a life-long IndyCar fan who never misses an Indianapolis 500, will be there as well. A movie that incorporates IndyCar racing with Dreamworks Animation in a family-friendly film is sure to be a hit.

With DreamWorks at the helm and INDYCAR working hand-in-hand with it, “Turbo”is going to delight, inspire, and ignite a passion for INDYCAR racing for those who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed.

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An Appreciation For The Aussie Drivers, Will Power And Marcos Ambrose

March 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Australian Will Power has performed admirably on the IndyCar ciruit for Team Penske. However, as close as he has come to doing so, he still has not won the championship.

“Australia, Australia, Australia, God love her!”

Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper I loved most things that came from Australia.

I was and still am a big Bee Gees fan. Olivia Newton John was my most favorite singer of my entire childhood thanks to her plum roles in “Grease” and “Xanadu” and her many hit albums.

As I grew older Mel Gibson (before his drunken anti-Semitic tirades, walking out on his wife, and allegedly beating his girlfriend) was “all that and a bag of chips”. C’mon, “Lethal Weapon” and “The Patriot,” “Mad Max” and “Gallipoli,” “Braveheart” and “Pocahontas!”

Air Supply’s music is sublime and don’t even try arguing because you know if you heard just one of their many hits you’d be singing to it longingly!

I always thought Australian tennis star Patrick Rafter was not only adorable but such a gentleman when he’d shout, “Sorry, mate” after doing his ball toss for a serve and calling it off at the last moment.

Now I am partial to Geoffrey Rush, Baz Luhrmann, Nicole Kidman (sorta), and Keith Urban.

My admiration and adoration of all things Australian does not stop at entertainment. It carries over into my love of racing, too.

 

Although I have never been a huge Izod IndyCar fan, the circuit’s races have worked their way into my television over the last several years.

Instantly I became a fan of Will Power.

First, the name is absolutely perfect. “With sheer will power, Will Power hopes to bring home the championship in 2012.” Is there anything better than that? That’s my quote by the way.

Secondly, the man can drive. Dario Franchitti is certainly an impressive driver with three IndyCar championships, but Power is breathing down his neck waiting to strike.

To finish second to Franchitti twice must be a hard tonic to swallow – and the only way to fix that is to beat him in 2012.

Power drives for Team Penske and has since 2009 when he took over for Helio Castroneves, who was facing federal tax evasion charges. Shortly after Power occupied the cockpit Castroneves returned to his ride and Penske was prepared with another car for Power.

Power’s 2009 season was going quite well when an accident led to injuries that took him out of contention for the rest of the year.

In 2010, back to peak performance, Power had a full-time commitment with Team Penske and won the first two races of the season. Power had an impressive five wins in 2010 and a record eight poles that year.

With all the accolades bestowed on Power in 2010, including winning from the pole at Watkins Glen and earning Roger Penske his first Izod IndyCar Series win at the historic track, as well as winning the inaugural Mario Andretti Trophy as the road course champion for the 2010 IndyCar Series season, Power could not capture the championship.

Six wins in the 2011 Izod IndyCar Series was not enough to win that year’s championship either. A string of events led to an irate Power giving a two-finger salute to IndyCar Director of Competition Brian Barnhart. Fines resulted, then some more bad luck on the track, and finally a season-ending crash that took the life of fellow driver Dan Wheldon all culminated in Power, once again, losing the championship to Franchitti.

Power is talented, passionate, a bit rough around the edges, and brash. Surely he is hungry to bring home that IndyCar championship that has eluded him to date.

Like NASCAR, where Jimmie Johnson’s stranglehold on the NASCAR Sprint Cup for five consecutive seasons made many drivers into underdogs, Power’s bridesmaid finishes in the last two seasons to Franchitti’s bride, makes him a focused underdog.

And, as an American, I love rooting for the underdog. Besides, I have to go back to his awesome name, Will Power.

I really want to see Will Power’s “will power” get him the coveted IndyCar championship.

Marcos Ambrose, from Tasmania, now competes with Richard Petty Motorsports and won his first career NASCAR race with the team last year at Watkins Glen.

In NASCAR I am enamored with Marcos Ambrose.

Ambrose came to America to pursue his dream to drive in NASCAR after winning two consecutive Australian V8 Supercar championships in 2003 and 2004.

By 2006 Ambrose was in America running in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving a Ford for JTG Daugherty Racing.

The following year Ambrose stayed with JTG Daugherty but was in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driving the No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion.

The legendary Wood Brothers Racing brought Ambrose into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Later he had a ride with Michael Waltrip Racing.

A move to Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011 brought positive change and resulted in an Ambrose victory at Watkins Glen. He made history as the first Australian to win there.

Ambrose is closing in on winning at ovals, too. He posted decent finishes, resulting in 12 top-fives and 25 top-10s since arriving in Cup, Ambrose is getting closer to Victory Lane outside of the road course venues.

His recent Cup appearance in Phoenix for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 had Ambrose solidly in third very late in the race until an unfortunate engine failure dropped him to 32nd to end his day.

I love my country, the drivers who represent my country and all of NASCAR, but I must admit I want to see Power and Ambrose succeed.

My love of Australia has no basis in actual ties, but I’m drawn to the continent and feel a kinship with its people.

Besides, these Aussies are fun to watch. And maybe, just maybe, the time will come when Olivia Newton John will sing at their championship banquets.

 

 

 

 

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