Are You Danica Patrick?/ Converting the Tin Toppers/ I’m Two for Two with Bud/ Racing Perfection/ Penske vs Ganassi/ Richmond Images Posted
Are You Danica Patrick?
Race fans are what make our sport run but sometimes you have to wonder what they are thinking. Two different brunettes with long hair in the USAC pits were approached several times this weekend by autograph seekers wanting a John Hancock and photo with Danica Patrick. One of the gals, I can understand because her hair and look does pattern DP. The other doesn’t look like Danica at all. She does wear a fire suit from time to time. She says she gets the mistaken identity all of the time.
Converting the Tin Toppers
The Richmond race typically brings out the NASCAR fans. For many of those fans, the IRL and USAC weekend is their first in person experience with Open Wheel. Most of the fans are wide eyed and very inquisitive. They want to know everything about the cars, drivers and teams. This weekend several of the teams did what they could to make the teams feel more comfortable including letting them sit in the race car before the event. Open Wheelers sharing the joy of their sport with new fans. That is how we grow the sport. The fans at RIR were very vocal. When Peter Shepherd emerged from his wrecked car without a scratch in turn one, there was a standing O. When the final restart produced exciting racing, the fans again were on their feet making noise. When Bud Kaeding lit up the tires, well that brought the house down. Richmond has always been a great to gain new fans and the fans have been eager to learn. This weekend was no different.
I’m Two for Two with Bud
For the past two Silver Crown races Bud Kaeding, has won and smoked the tires and for the last two races I have missed the smoke screen. Last weekend in Kentucky, I thought that the new generation Silver Crown cars were not capable of smoking them. I was wrong. This weekend I was ready to make up for my mistake. With camera in hand I was ready as he approached. He kept on going on his cool down lap and it looked like he would be headed to victory lane so I left pit road and headed to VL. Bud faked me out and lit the tires up again to the delight of the fans who game him a standing O. Oh yea, I would like to thank Marie Buffenbarger of TJ Slideways.com for providing the image above, seeing how I missed it for the second weekend in a row.
Racing Perfection
Richmond International Raceway really stepped up their PR/Marketing efforts for the IRL/ USAC weekend. The buzz in town and in the media was all about the race and it just wasn’t about Danica. Both the IRL and USAC received great coverage. The track also went the extra mile Friday night. When rain cancelled qualifying, the track could have cancelled the USAC Sprint race but instead, they stuck it out, had personnel stay late and got the race in. The teams got paid and were on their way home or to the next race Friday night. RIR first their slogan, “Racing Perfection.”
Penske vs Ganassi
Roger Penske’s and Chip Ganassi’s drivers have won ever IndyCar Series race this season. Saturday night was no different as Penske won this round. It was a little odd that it was Helio’s lost tire gave Sam Hornish the win under caution but that is the way it went. I wonder if Mr. Ganassi thinks the tire problem was a setup by Hornish’s teammate to give the 2006 Indy 500 winner the win?
Richmond Images Posted
Images that I shot at Richmond have been posted at my Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/92448439@N00/sets/72057594134006261/ site.
Yes I downsized the images so if you try to steal them, you will end up with crappy images.
I have the high resolution images on file if you need them.
You can always visit the website by looking on the right side of this website and scrolling down.
I also added images to the RE Tech http://www.retechracing.com/ website.
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of TJ Slideways and RE Technologies.
Race fans are what make our sport run but sometimes you have to wonder what they are thinking. Two different brunettes with long hair in the USAC pits were approached several times this weekend by autograph seekers wanting a John Hancock and photo with Danica Patrick. One of the gals, I can understand because her hair and look does pattern DP. The other doesn’t look like Danica at all. She does wear a fire suit from time to time. She says she gets the mistaken identity all of the time.
Converting the Tin Toppers
The Richmond race typically brings out the NASCAR fans. For many of those fans, the IRL and USAC weekend is their first in person experience with Open Wheel. Most of the fans are wide eyed and very inquisitive. They want to know everything about the cars, drivers and teams. This weekend several of the teams did what they could to make the teams feel more comfortable including letting them sit in the race car before the event. Open Wheelers sharing the joy of their sport with new fans. That is how we grow the sport. The fans at RIR were very vocal. When Peter Shepherd emerged from his wrecked car without a scratch in turn one, there was a standing O. When the final restart produced exciting racing, the fans again were on their feet making noise. When Bud Kaeding lit up the tires, well that brought the house down. Richmond has always been a great to gain new fans and the fans have been eager to learn. This weekend was no different.
I’m Two for Two with Bud
For the past two Silver Crown races Bud Kaeding, has won and smoked the tires and for the last two races I have missed the smoke screen. Last weekend in Kentucky, I thought that the new generation Silver Crown cars were not capable of smoking them. I was wrong. This weekend I was ready to make up for my mistake. With camera in hand I was ready as he approached. He kept on going on his cool down lap and it looked like he would be headed to victory lane so I left pit road and headed to VL. Bud faked me out and lit the tires up again to the delight of the fans who game him a standing O. Oh yea, I would like to thank Marie Buffenbarger of TJ Slideways.com for providing the image above, seeing how I missed it for the second weekend in a row.
Racing Perfection
Richmond International Raceway really stepped up their PR/Marketing efforts for the IRL/ USAC weekend. The buzz in town and in the media was all about the race and it just wasn’t about Danica. Both the IRL and USAC received great coverage. The track also went the extra mile Friday night. When rain cancelled qualifying, the track could have cancelled the USAC Sprint race but instead, they stuck it out, had personnel stay late and got the race in. The teams got paid and were on their way home or to the next race Friday night. RIR first their slogan, “Racing Perfection.”
Penske vs Ganassi
Roger Penske’s and Chip Ganassi’s drivers have won ever IndyCar Series race this season. Saturday night was no different as Penske won this round. It was a little odd that it was Helio’s lost tire gave Sam Hornish the win under caution but that is the way it went. I wonder if Mr. Ganassi thinks the tire problem was a setup by Hornish’s teammate to give the 2006 Indy 500 winner the win?
Richmond Images Posted
Images that I shot at Richmond have been posted at my Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/92448439@N00/sets/72057594134006261/ site.
Yes I downsized the images so if you try to steal them, you will end up with crappy images.
I have the high resolution images on file if you need them.
You can always visit the website by looking on the right side of this website and scrolling down.
I also added images to the RE Tech http://www.retechracing.com/ website.
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of TJ Slideways and RE Technologies.
posted by Blake Johnson at 9:29 PM
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