USAC Pits not in a Lull/ Media Coverage/ What’s the Mood?/ IMS Corp. Owns Chicagoland/ Race Fans Could Hate Ricky Bobby
USAC Pits not in a Lull 2pm
JOLIET, Ill. – Just because the USAC Silver Crown Series has a six hour break between qualifying and the race, doesn’t mean the teams have idle time. Every team in the pits seems to be busy tweaking their cars and working to solve problems.
Five of the cars missed qualifying due to mechanical errors. All are expected to start the race. For some teams, it is changing air pressure. The No. 17 team is making Dave Darland’s seat more comfortable. Meanwhile, the Carl Edwards/ R.E. Technologies Racing team is finishing up repairing broken bolts in the bell housing. Most of the teams are inspecting their cars, looking for anything that could prevent them from winning the 67 lap USG Fiberock 100. Teammembers from the Busch and Cup Series have visited the USAC pits today when they have had time. JJ Yeley and John Andretti were on pit road visiting friends during qualifying today.
Media Coverage
The CBS affiliate in Lafayette, Indiana was also out there. They were working on a story that could air either tonight or tomorrow. Both the NBC and ABC affiliates from Indianapolis, Indiana and both Kurt Cavin and Steve Ballard from the Indianapolis Star are also here at Chicagoland.
What’s the Mood?
There is some Open Wheel media here this weekend that is here mainly to cover the Silver Crown Series. The folks that cover the NASCAR seem pretty interested in the series and our drivers. This is the first time that the Cup Media has been at the same track that the Silver Crown Series has been running on the same day. There are a lot of questions about horsepower, how the series is going and what drivers are doing well.
IMS Corp. Owns Chicagoland
From the “I did not know this” department, International Speedway Corporation is not the sole owner of Chicagoland Speedway. ISC owns 37.5 percent, the founding owners of Route 66 Raceway own 25 percent and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation owns 37.5 percent. No wonder the IRL runs so well here.
Race Fans Could Hate Ricky Bobby
If you are a race fan or like NASCAR, you may not like Talladega Nights, the Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The movie company is doing a huge push to sell their movie this weekend. As we noted Thursday the company has purchased billboards like this at the speedway.
They also did a press junket (media tour where the movie stars were interviewed by the media to promote the movie.) They had a preview for select members of the media last night. In talking to those that attended, the movie is not a racer’s movie. According to those that saw it, don’t go see it thinking you are going to see a racing movie because it is not a racing movie. It is a typical Will Ferrell silly movie. In fact some of the folks that attended told me that NASCAR fans probably will be offended by the stereotyping in the movie. There also is a lot of male to male kissing. I think I will wait until it comes to network TV.
All Open Wheel top three as Kahne Leads Busch Series Practice
Open Wheeler and former USAC star, Kasey Kahne led Busch Series practice today turning a time of 31.112 at 173.566mph. Carl Edwards was right behind him at 31.184. Dave Blaney was third quick at 31.211.
Vickers Paces Cup Practice
Brian Vickers paced the first Cup practice today. Vickers made it around the track in 30.117 seconds at 179.301mph. JJ Yeley was 4th quick. Kasey Kahne was 11th.
Before we wrap up this update, here is the starting lineup for today’s Silver Crown race:
26 Aaron Pierce 41 Jay Drake
1 Dave Steele 29 Bud Kaeding
18 Tiago Medeiros 00 Wayne Reutimann Jr.
17 Dave Darland 21 Brian Tyler
8 Bryn Gohn 28 Tim Barber
199 Peter Shepherd 2 Pablo Donoso
14 Josh Wise 96 Rodney Weesner
JOLIET, Ill. – Just because the USAC Silver Crown Series has a six hour break between qualifying and the race, doesn’t mean the teams have idle time. Every team in the pits seems to be busy tweaking their cars and working to solve problems.
Five of the cars missed qualifying due to mechanical errors. All are expected to start the race. For some teams, it is changing air pressure. The No. 17 team is making Dave Darland’s seat more comfortable. Meanwhile, the Carl Edwards/ R.E. Technologies Racing team is finishing up repairing broken bolts in the bell housing. Most of the teams are inspecting their cars, looking for anything that could prevent them from winning the 67 lap USG Fiberock 100. Teammembers from the Busch and Cup Series have visited the USAC pits today when they have had time. JJ Yeley and John Andretti were on pit road visiting friends during qualifying today.
Media Coverage
The CBS affiliate in Lafayette, Indiana was also out there. They were working on a story that could air either tonight or tomorrow. Both the NBC and ABC affiliates from Indianapolis, Indiana and both Kurt Cavin and Steve Ballard from the Indianapolis Star are also here at Chicagoland.
What’s the Mood?
There is some Open Wheel media here this weekend that is here mainly to cover the Silver Crown Series. The folks that cover the NASCAR seem pretty interested in the series and our drivers. This is the first time that the Cup Media has been at the same track that the Silver Crown Series has been running on the same day. There are a lot of questions about horsepower, how the series is going and what drivers are doing well.
IMS Corp. Owns Chicagoland
From the “I did not know this” department, International Speedway Corporation is not the sole owner of Chicagoland Speedway. ISC owns 37.5 percent, the founding owners of Route 66 Raceway own 25 percent and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation owns 37.5 percent. No wonder the IRL runs so well here.
Race Fans Could Hate Ricky Bobby
If you are a race fan or like NASCAR, you may not like Talladega Nights, the Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The movie company is doing a huge push to sell their movie this weekend. As we noted Thursday the company has purchased billboards like this at the speedway.
They also did a press junket (media tour where the movie stars were interviewed by the media to promote the movie.) They had a preview for select members of the media last night. In talking to those that attended, the movie is not a racer’s movie. According to those that saw it, don’t go see it thinking you are going to see a racing movie because it is not a racing movie. It is a typical Will Ferrell silly movie. In fact some of the folks that attended told me that NASCAR fans probably will be offended by the stereotyping in the movie. There also is a lot of male to male kissing. I think I will wait until it comes to network TV.
All Open Wheel top three as Kahne Leads Busch Series Practice
Open Wheeler and former USAC star, Kasey Kahne led Busch Series practice today turning a time of 31.112 at 173.566mph. Carl Edwards was right behind him at 31.184. Dave Blaney was third quick at 31.211.
Vickers Paces Cup Practice
Brian Vickers paced the first Cup practice today. Vickers made it around the track in 30.117 seconds at 179.301mph. JJ Yeley was 4th quick. Kasey Kahne was 11th.
Before we wrap up this update, here is the starting lineup for today’s Silver Crown race:
26 Aaron Pierce 41 Jay Drake
1 Dave Steele 29 Bud Kaeding
18 Tiago Medeiros 00 Wayne Reutimann Jr.
17 Dave Darland 21 Brian Tyler
8 Bryn Gohn 28 Tim Barber
199 Peter Shepherd 2 Pablo Donoso
14 Josh Wise 96 Rodney Weesner
posted by Blake Johnson at 3:10 PM
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