Construction on Schedule for Hoosier Hundred/ May isn't Indy's Month Anymore?/ Bud Kaeding at Indy/ Sam Hornish leads at Indy/ Mears Tops CLT Test
Construction on Schedule for Hoosier Hundred
Indiana Racing.net reports that the construction upgrades to the Indiana State Fairgrounds track are on schedule for the May 26th running of the Hoosier Hundred.
The website reports Bob Parker of Parker Machinery, which is doing the work says All of the chain link fence on the low retaining wall has been removed and the east end guardrail is installed. Fence post extensions and cable will start going in late this week and be completed as soon as Sunday. New fencing will be installed next week. The author of the article snapped several photos of the work. Those images can be viewed at http://www.indianaracing.net/121/eid_143/hoosier%2Dhundred%2Dprogress%2Dupdate%2Ehtm
May isn't Indy's Month Anymore?
Ryan McGee of FOXSports.com says in an article on the website that NASCAR has eclipsed Indy in the month of May saying:
"But May ... May is for one sport and one sport only. Racing, baby. And I'm not talking about the goings on at that big track in Indiana. I'm talking about cars with fenders. The month began with old school Saturday night short-track racing at Richmond,
then swings down to the oldest speedway in the southland, Darlington. The last two weekends of the month are spent here in Charlotte, beginning with All-Star weekend and culminating with the most grueling oval race on the planet, the Coca-Cola 600."
Then he proceeds to leave the smack in the face on the side and talk about an early NASCAR Silly Season.
20 years ago, the mighty open wheel press corps thought open wheel racing was untouchable. Some still do. Sadly 20 years later, NASCAR is king. But I must warn Mr. McGee, don’t get too cocky on your throne.
Yes, the month of May in Indianapolis isn’t what it was. Yes the Coke 600 may pull bigger TV ratings than the Indy 500 this year. But there is change on the horizon.
Unlike past years, this season’s car count of 33 was never in question. While the IRL may only field 22 cars on a given weekend and NASCAR 45, the pending reunification will change that.
One will probably see 33 cars on any open wheel weekend and 40 or 50 for the 500 would be a welcome sight. A stronger open wheel premiere series would also grab some of NASCAR’s best open wheelers who can afford with hopefully larger sponsor dollars to stay with their first love.
The month of May in Indy isn’t what it was but the fight is not over. More on this story tomorrow.
Bud Kaeding at Indy
Bud Kaeding was in the Vision Racing pits today at Indy. No word if he is planning to run a Vision car or was just hanging our with fellow USAC drivers. See images at http://www.tracksideonline.com/
Sam Hornish leads at Indy
Sam Hornish lead Wednesday’s practice for the Indy 500. The day was shortened by rain. Jeff Simmons impacted the inside wall in the south short chute but there was only minor damage. Simmons was not injured.
Wednesday Indy 500 Speeds
1 Sam Hornish Jr (6) 226.056
2 Dan Wheldon (10) 225.636
3 Kosuke Matsuura (55) 225.140
4 Tony Kanaan (11) 224.500
5 Bryan Herta (7) 224.292
6 Helio Castroneves (3) 224.258
7 Scott Sharp (8) 223.997
8 Scott Dixon (9) 223.830
9 Dario Franchitti (27) 223.422
10 Marco Andretti (26) 223.291
11 Tomas Scheckter (2) 223.106
12 Danica Patrick (16) 223.084
13 Vitor Meira (4T) 222.934
14 Michael Andretti (1) 222.536
15 Buddy Rice (15) 222.334
16 Townsend Bell (90) 221.659
17 Eddie Cheever Jr. (51) 221.631
18 Ed Carpenter (20) 220.661
19 Jeff Simmons (17) 220.033
20 Buddy Lazier (5) 218.664
21 Al Unser Jr. (31) 218.058
22 PJ Chesson (91) 215.792
23 Marty Roth (25) 213.007
Mears Tops CLT Test
Chip Ganassi’s team might have been 2nd on the speed charts at Indy Wednesday but his team was first at Charlotte. Casey Mears topped the speed chart at 187.071 mph.
Testing speeds Showing driver and fastest lap:
1. Casey Mears, 187.071
4. Denny Hamlin/J.J. Yeley, 185.746
6. Kasey Kahne, 185.109
7. Paul Menard, 185.096
8. J.J. Yeley, 185.008
12. Jason Leffler, 184.596
16. Carl Edwards, 184.168
23. John Andretti, 183.237
29. Burney Lamar, 182.469
32. Tracy Hines, 182.180
40. Aaron Fike, 180.433
Richmond Numbers Up
The Richmond Cup race on FX earned a 3.5/7 (5.633 million viewers). That is up +3% over last year's 3.4/7
The Mill is Closing
Maytag confirmed today what has been in question for a while. The company will shut the doors on their washer and dryer-making plant in Newton, Iowa at the end of 2007. The Associated Press says about 1,800 salaried jobs will be cut as Maytag's Newton, Iowa, headquarters and administrative offices in Canada, Mexico and the United States are closed.
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of RE Technologies, FX, NASCAR Images, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speed and ABC.
Indiana Racing.net reports that the construction upgrades to the Indiana State Fairgrounds track are on schedule for the May 26th running of the Hoosier Hundred.
The website reports Bob Parker of Parker Machinery, which is doing the work says All of the chain link fence on the low retaining wall has been removed and the east end guardrail is installed. Fence post extensions and cable will start going in late this week and be completed as soon as Sunday. New fencing will be installed next week. The author of the article snapped several photos of the work. Those images can be viewed at http://www.indianaracing.net/121/eid_143/hoosier%2Dhundred%2Dprogress%2Dupdate%2Ehtm
May isn't Indy's Month Anymore?
Ryan McGee of FOXSports.com says in an article on the website that NASCAR has eclipsed Indy in the month of May saying:
"But May ... May is for one sport and one sport only. Racing, baby. And I'm not talking about the goings on at that big track in Indiana. I'm talking about cars with fenders. The month began with old school Saturday night short-track racing at Richmond,
then swings down to the oldest speedway in the southland, Darlington. The last two weekends of the month are spent here in Charlotte, beginning with All-Star weekend and culminating with the most grueling oval race on the planet, the Coca-Cola 600."
Then he proceeds to leave the smack in the face on the side and talk about an early NASCAR Silly Season.
20 years ago, the mighty open wheel press corps thought open wheel racing was untouchable. Some still do. Sadly 20 years later, NASCAR is king. But I must warn Mr. McGee, don’t get too cocky on your throne.
Yes, the month of May in Indianapolis isn’t what it was. Yes the Coke 600 may pull bigger TV ratings than the Indy 500 this year. But there is change on the horizon.
Unlike past years, this season’s car count of 33 was never in question. While the IRL may only field 22 cars on a given weekend and NASCAR 45, the pending reunification will change that.
One will probably see 33 cars on any open wheel weekend and 40 or 50 for the 500 would be a welcome sight. A stronger open wheel premiere series would also grab some of NASCAR’s best open wheelers who can afford with hopefully larger sponsor dollars to stay with their first love.
The month of May in Indy isn’t what it was but the fight is not over. More on this story tomorrow.
Bud Kaeding at Indy
Bud Kaeding was in the Vision Racing pits today at Indy. No word if he is planning to run a Vision car or was just hanging our with fellow USAC drivers. See images at http://www.tracksideonline.com/
Sam Hornish leads at Indy
Sam Hornish lead Wednesday’s practice for the Indy 500. The day was shortened by rain. Jeff Simmons impacted the inside wall in the south short chute but there was only minor damage. Simmons was not injured.
Wednesday Indy 500 Speeds
1 Sam Hornish Jr (6) 226.056
2 Dan Wheldon (10) 225.636
3 Kosuke Matsuura (55) 225.140
4 Tony Kanaan (11) 224.500
5 Bryan Herta (7) 224.292
6 Helio Castroneves (3) 224.258
7 Scott Sharp (8) 223.997
8 Scott Dixon (9) 223.830
9 Dario Franchitti (27) 223.422
10 Marco Andretti (26) 223.291
11 Tomas Scheckter (2) 223.106
12 Danica Patrick (16) 223.084
13 Vitor Meira (4T) 222.934
14 Michael Andretti (1) 222.536
15 Buddy Rice (15) 222.334
16 Townsend Bell (90) 221.659
17 Eddie Cheever Jr. (51) 221.631
18 Ed Carpenter (20) 220.661
19 Jeff Simmons (17) 220.033
20 Buddy Lazier (5) 218.664
21 Al Unser Jr. (31) 218.058
22 PJ Chesson (91) 215.792
23 Marty Roth (25) 213.007
Mears Tops CLT Test
Chip Ganassi’s team might have been 2nd on the speed charts at Indy Wednesday but his team was first at Charlotte. Casey Mears topped the speed chart at 187.071 mph.
Testing speeds Showing driver and fastest lap:
1. Casey Mears, 187.071
4. Denny Hamlin/J.J. Yeley, 185.746
6. Kasey Kahne, 185.109
7. Paul Menard, 185.096
8. J.J. Yeley, 185.008
12. Jason Leffler, 184.596
16. Carl Edwards, 184.168
23. John Andretti, 183.237
29. Burney Lamar, 182.469
32. Tracy Hines, 182.180
40. Aaron Fike, 180.433
Richmond Numbers Up
The Richmond Cup race on FX earned a 3.5/7 (5.633 million viewers). That is up +3% over last year's 3.4/7
The Mill is Closing
Maytag confirmed today what has been in question for a while. The company will shut the doors on their washer and dryer-making plant in Newton, Iowa at the end of 2007. The Associated Press says about 1,800 salaried jobs will be cut as Maytag's Newton, Iowa, headquarters and administrative offices in Canada, Mexico and the United States are closed.
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of RE Technologies, FX, NASCAR Images, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speed and ABC.
posted by Blake Johnson at 10:55 PM
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