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Filed under: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IRL, Danica Patrick, Indianapolis 500

Practice for the May 30 Indianapolis 500 has begun at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and after two rain-interrupted days on track this weekend, the leader board will surprise no one.

Defending race winner Helio Castroneves has started his quest for a record-tying fourth victory by posting the fastest speed to date with a lap of 227.046 mph in his No. 3 Team Penske Dallara-Honda. The previous two Indy winners, Target Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon (226.202 mph) and Dario Franchitti (226.044), are ranked second and third.

The only major incident in more than 1,900 total laps turned on Saturday and Sunday -- despite the rain -- was when 2004 winner Dan Wheldon's No. 4 National Guard Honda hit the wall exiting Turn 4 on Sunday. He suffered a bruised foot but was expected to be back on track Monday should the rainy weather clear long enough for practice.

All seven first-year drivers completed Indy's unique Rookie Orientation Program, with Jay Howard and Simona de Silvestro posting the fastest laps of that group.

Noticeably absent from her usual spot near the top of Indy's speed charts was Danica Patrick, whose best lap (223.651 mph) was only 15th fastest.

 

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Filed under: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, FanHouse Exclusive, IRL

In his first in-depth interview since his June 30, 2009 dismissal as CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his subsequent resignations from the Hulman & Co. board of directors and as CEO of the Indy Racing League he founded, Tony George tells FanHouse how he's spent the past few months and how he is adjusting to his new roles in business, racing and family.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In part two of FanHouse's exclusive interview, Tony George discusses the state of the Indy Racing League and why he's not a big proponent of the new championship format.

He discusses the possibility of working in the family business again, the upcoming Indy 500 and whether his great gamble 16 years ago to form a second major American open-wheel series was all worth it in the end.

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Holly Cain: What is the direction you'd like to see the IRL take in the future to be a successful racing organization? And did you have any input on hiring (new CEO) Randy Bernard?

Tony George: I will answer the second part of the question first. No, I did not. I had already resigned my position effective the end of the year.

I will tell you that Randy came highly recommended by the "Horse Whisperer" Chris Cox, a friend of my sister Josie and my mother. Randy was also known to a fellow rancher in the Wyoming valley Josie lives in. She has said she was looking for a racing outsider and she found one.

 

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Filed under: IRL

Tony George will be at the Indianapolis 500 this May, but not as the famed Speedway's Chairman and not as the head of the IZOD IndyCar Series he founded.

For the first time in two decades, George's only responsibility will be as race team owner.

George's Vision Racing team announced Thursday that it will field a car for its driver Ed Carpenter, George's stepson, in the Indy 500. The team will partner in the effort with Panther Racing, teaming Carpenter with 2005 Indy winner Dan Wheldon.

"There are close personal and professional relationships within our two organizations that should allow us to put forth a cohesive effort we will all be proud of and have high expectations for achieving results,'' said George, who has been friends with Panther co-owner John Barnes for more than 20 years.

George, who founded the Indy Racing League in 1995 and served as Chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until June 30, 2009, submitted his formal resignation from all roles in his family's Hulman & Company business, the speedway, the Indy Racing League and IMS Productions in January.

 

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In light of today’s announcement that starting this weekend at Pocono NASCAR will make all restarts double file, I thought it might be fun to get some of your thoughts on what else you would change or add to competition.  It sounds as though many people are happy NASCAR made this change, and hopefully it will lead to some better racing.

Let me kick this off with a couple of suggestions.  One is from me, and another from one of our great readers, George.  They both have to do with qualifying.

First, here is George’s take on qualifying:

If I were in charge of competition, I would elect to start each year with a clean slate.  When you show up at Daytona you have to get in the race based on performance.  Keep the same format, but no more starting the race on owner points, past champions, etc.  If after the first five events they want to have owners points get starting spots then so be it.  I think the best is when it is all down to weekly performance.

How great would it be for qualifying to actually have a little bit of drama?  I got this email from George following bump day for the Indy 500.  Those nail-biting final minutes of the last day to qualify for the 500 are crazy intense.  Imagine if it came right down to the wire for somebody like Dale Jr. or Tony Stewart to qualify for a race! 

My suggestion for qualifying comes from the same place the double file restarts came from; the All Star race.  What if we threw in a pit stop during qualifying?  It would certainly shake things up and make it more interesting.  Plus, it gets the crew more involved.  You would not only have to have fast laps, but also a fast pit stop, and good entry and exit from pit road.  All I keep thinking about was Tony Stewart leaving his stall after two tires, and having to throw it in reverse to get the left sides.

I feel like either qualifying suggestion would make the normally monotonous time trial sessions more entertaining, and I bet the tracks would sell more tickets for pole day.

Now I will turn it over to you.  Feel free to either comment on the double file restart situation and/or throw out your own suggestions.  I know Neon will throw out his heat racing idea…