ACURA GPLB Celebrates Its 50th Year Of Motorsports Competition & Motor Culture Pageantry

ACURA puts on the display for influencers and invited members of the media to generate interest in the upcoming celebration of a "Rites Of Spring" icon event that happens every year as the poppies begin to bloom in the deserts of Southern California. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

ACURA GPLB Celebrates Its 50th Year Of Motorsports Competition & Motor Culture Pageantry

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (AGPLB) is poised to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking a half-century of motorsports competition and motor culture pageantry with a spectacular weekend from April 11 to April 13. This iconic event, held on the streets of downtown Long Beach, California, will commence its milestone festivities on Thursday, April 10, at 11:00 AM with the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame ceremony. The celebration will conclude on Sunday, April 13, with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES third race of the 2025 season, a gripping 90-lap race starting at 1:30 PM PT. This golden jubilee, themed “50 Years at Full Speed,” promises an exhilarating blend of racing, entertainment, and historical tributes.

Held on the grounds of the Long Beach Convention Center and where soon become the community of the support paddock home for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race 03, the Grand Prix Association Of Long Beach Press Day pace car track ride center brings attention to a very special time that happens every Spring (almost always) in Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame ceremony on April 10 will set the tone for the weekend, honoring motorsports legends Scott Dixon, a six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, and former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill. Held in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue, this free public event will induct these luminaries into the Walk of Fame with commemorative medallions. The ceremony, a tradition since 2006, celebrates the giants who have shaped the Grand Prix and the sport, kicking off the 50th anniversary with a nod to its storied past.

The racing action begins in earnest on Friday, April 11, with the Super Drift Challenge illuminating the night with high-adrenaline drifting from top professional drivers. This event continues on Saturday, April 12, offering fans two nights of sideways spectacle under the lights. The 1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit, renowned for its challenging layout, will host a diverse array of races throughout the weekend, showcasing the evolution of motorsports over five decades and reinforcing Long Beach’s status as North America’s longest-running major street race.

Acura Meyer Shank Racing W/Curb-Agajanian No. 93 - Acura Motorsports ARX-06. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

On Saturday, April 12, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship takes center stage as the third round of its 2025 season. Featuring high-performance hybrid prototypes from brands like Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche, this endurance race will thrill spectators with its blend of speed and strategy. Also on Saturday, Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks will debut in a doubleheader format, with Race 1 showcasing gravity-defying jumps, followed by Race 2 on Sunday, April 13, adding a wild, crowd-pleasing element to the weekend.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Sunday, April 13, remains the headline event, serving as the third round of the 2025 season. Starting at 1:30 PM PT, top drivers like defending champion Scott Dixon, alongside past Long Beach winners Josef Newgarden, Colton Herta, and Will Power, will compete over 90 laps on the iconic street circuit. As the second-oldest continuously running race in IndyCar history, trailing only the Indianapolis 500, this event carries immense prestige, drawing over 190,000 fans annually to witness its high-stakes competition.

Vince Tjelmeland's F5000 Lola T332-Chevrolet, driven by Danny Ongias in the 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix, will join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inaugural race, along with other noted racing platforms here in 2025. Held on September 28, 1975, this landmark event took place on a 2.02-mile (3.25 km) temporary street circuit as the 7th race of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators watched Englishman Brian Redman take the victory, followed by Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian Eppie Wietzes rounding out the podium in third, kicking off a motorsport legacy that continues to captivate fans five decades later. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)

Adding a historical flair, the Historic Formula Exhibition will feature legendary cars from Formula 5000, Formula 1, and INDYCAR racing in twin 20-minute races on both Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13. This tribute to Long Beach’s racing heritage, which began with a Formula 5000 race in 1975, transitioned to Formula One from 1976 to 1983, and shifted to IndyCar in 1984, will captivate fans with a rolling museum of motorsport history. The exhibition underscores the Grand Prix’s evolution into a Southern California institution.

GT America Powered by AWS will bring GT2, GT3, and GT4 racecars like this No. 69 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2 prepared by JTR Motorsports driven by Anthony McIntosh at Sonoma Raceway last weekend on March 29th, 2025. Image Credit: Brian Cleary via SRO (2025)

The GT America Powered by AWS series will bring additional excitement with GT2, GT3, and GT4 racecars from brands like Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren. Two 40-minute races, one on Saturday, April 12, and one on Sunday, April 13, will showcase these sleek machines, offering a contrast to the open-wheel and prototype racing. Meanwhile, the Mothers Exotic Car Parade on Sunday, April 13, will dazzle attendees with a display of automotive beauty, featuring Ferraris, Porsches, Lotuses, and more parading through the streets.

Saturday post events concerts at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach are legend. In 2017, a supergroup was formed under the name Kings Of Chaos which performed in 2017 - the rotating group, consisted of Cult drummer Matt Sorum, The Cult’s Billy Duffy on guitar and Stone Temple Pilots brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo on bass and guitar respectively for this gig, brought in some A-list rock power to amp up the show. Vocals by Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington and Billy Idol, as well as some extra guitar help from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Chester Benington performs here on the AGPLB stage as a member of the Kings Of Chaos just three months before his passing. Image Credit Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2017)

Beyond the track, the 50th Acura GPLB is a festival of motor culture, enriched by concerts and off-track activities. On Friday, April 11, “Fiesta Friday” will feature a live performance, followed by a Saturday, April 12, concert headlined by the legendary band Foreigner, with VIP packages including a meet-and-greet opportunity. The Lifestyle Expo and Family Fun Zone, running all weekend, will offer interactive displays, automotive exhibits, and family-friendly fun, while a driver autograph session (exact day TBD) will bring fans closer to their racing heroes.

The weekend’s festivities are preceded by Thunder Thursday at The Pike Outlets on April 10, an evening of entertainment and activities that primes the city for the Grand Prix. This event complements the Walk of Fame ceremony, ensuring the celebration begins with a bang. Local businesses will join in, offering special deals, while the Grand Prix Foundation’s 5K run the prior weekend will raise funds for Southern California charities, reinforcing the event’s community impact.

Paul Tracy launched his CART career in 1991 with Dale Coyne and Penske Racing, stepping up in 1992 to race part-time for Penske in 11 events, substituting for the injured Rick Mears and finishing 12th overall. His breakthrough came in 1993 with Penske, where he clinched five victories, including a hometown triumph at the Molson Indy Toronto, before a standout 2003 season with Player’s Forsythe Racing, winning seven of 18 races—highlighted by another Toronto win—and cementing his legacy in the series. Despite stints with Newman/Haas and Team KOOL Green yielding mixed results, Tracy’s seven podiums in 1999 and third-place championship finish showcased his talent, making him a fan favorite over his dynamic career. Image Credit: Paul Tracy via FB/META (2013)

Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr., named co-Grand Marshals for the April 13 IndyCar race, will bring their legendary stature to this milestone event, joined by the recently announced attendance of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame honoree (2017) Paul Tracy. Andretti’s illustrious career, Unser’s multiple Long Beach victories, and Tracy’s 2003 CART championship - highlighted by his thrilling win at Long Beach that year - embody the Grand Prix’s rich competitive legacy, seamlessly connecting its past and present. Their participation will amplify the event’s pageantry, which has revitalized Long Beach from a struggling city into a vibrant hub, contributing nearly $100 million annually to the local economy.

FACTOID: preparations for the 50th anniversary began on February 20, 2025, with crews installing over 24 million pounds of concrete blocks, four miles of fencing, and 17,000 bolted-together tires to craft the temporary circuit. Led by Grand Prix Director of Operations Dwight Tanaka and supported by LIUNA Local 1309, this effort transforms downtown streets into a world-class racetrack. Acura, the title sponsor since 2019, will provide pace cars like the 2025 Integra Type S, aligning its innovation with the event’s legacy.

FOX Sports will broadcast the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on April 13, its first year as IndyCar’s exclusive home, bringing the 90-lap showdown to a national audience. The coverage will capture the race’s intensity and the weekend’s spectacle, from jet flyovers to the checkered flag. With former ChampCar owner Gerald Forsythe’s 2024 investment in the Grand Prix Association, the event’s future looks robust, ensuring its continued evolution.

The 50th Acura GPLB has been a proving ground for talent, with first IndyCar wins for drivers like Michael Andretti and Kyle Kirkwood etched into its history. Young stars like Pato O’Ward and 2024 Rookie of the Year Linus Lundqvist will aim to join them in 2025. The challenging circuit, with tight corners and long straights, demands precision, making victories here a career-defining achievement.

In its 50th year, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach stands as a motorsport festival unlike any other, weaving together world-class racing, historical tributes, and vibrant entertainment. From April 10’s opening ceremonies to April 13’s thrilling conclusion, it celebrates “50 Years at Full Speed” with a legacy that resonates far beyond the track. As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars roar past the finish line, the echoes of five decades will herald a milestone etched in speed and community spirit. (schedules are tentative; fans should check the official Grand Prix website for final details).

... notes from The EDJE






TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Formula Drift, #formulad, 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, #AGPLB, Rites-Of-Spring, Formula 5000, Formula 1, The EDJE

Decisions Made, Digital Games Played

Sage Karam leads Felix Rosenqvist (complete with the 2020 season introduction of the Aeroscreen safety platform addition) and the rest of the field through the esses during the American Red Cross Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, the first event of the planned 6-Race INDYCAR iRacing Challenge. Image Credit: Chris Graythen (Getty Images) via NTT IndyCar Series

Decisions Made, Digital Games Played

The Wuhan Virus | Chinese Virus | Coronavirus | COVID-19 pandemic has had its impact on just about everything in life, and living activity worldwide. In an effort to reduce the speed of the spread of this potential life-ending illness through human contact, it was determined that a policy of social distancing and human interaction through shelter-at-home "lockdown" requests all around, was the first best policy at protecting life of those who has not become infected.

Sports car racing team Marco Polo Motorsports got the 2020 GT4 America season off to a strong start last weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas. The No. 71 KTM X-BOW secured podium finishes in both races with drivers Nicolai Elghanayan and Mads Siljehaug, putting them fourth in the GT4 America Silver Cup class championship standings. Due to pending homologation for the 2020 KTM X-BOW, the team reverted to running the 2019 KTM race car against a highly competitive field of sports cars. Image Credit: SRO GT4 America (2020)

What motorsports enthusiasts across the globe missed due to the timing of the advancement of this invisible scourge was the beginning of every professionally sanctioned season start to the 2020 championships - F1, WEC, NTT IndyCar (under its new stewardship as a Roger Penske led enterprise), NASCAR, and so on. About the only professional series race held, without the planned WEC participation, was the SRO Motorsports GT World Challenge America, GT4 America Sprint, SprintX, and TC America held at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) the weekend of March 7-8, 2020.

This social distancing and human interaction through shelter-at-home "lockdown" requests wasn't going to end activity, especially since all had to place their motor culture based competitive passions on hold throughout the winter off-season. Fans and participants alike were not going to be held back from their desires to compete and watch competition by professionals each in their own disciplines.

Enter ... the virtual life.

iRacing NASCAR race screenshot as displayed by The Vrege

This excerpted and edited from The Verge -

PRO DRIVERS ARE COMPETING WITH GAMERS AFTER F1 AND NASCAR CANCELED RACES
Virtual replacement races are drawing stars — and tons of eyeballs
By By Sean O'Kane@sokane1 Mar 22, 2020, 7:00am EDT

For many, the cancellation of major sporting events was the moment that made the coronavirus pandemic feel real for the first time. But while fans of baseball, basketball, soccer are left wondering when they’ll see players back in action, racing fans don’t have to wait — because many of their favorite drivers are already competing in online sim racing competitions that were spun up in the days since the first real world races were canceled.

The first few of these substitute sim races, held last weekend, were successful in ways that surprised even the organizers. Now, many of the people who put them on have spent the intervening week trying to figure out how to use that momentum to fill the gap left by real world racing, as fans around the world hole up at home in a collective attempt to slow the spread of a global virus.
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The success of these first few replacement races was a testament to how far sim racing has come during the rise of esports (and the era of Twitch), but it also sheds light on a truth that a lot of motorsports fans have become familiar with: that a new age of competitive, virtual motorsports is already upon us.
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Within minutes of those [season opening] races being canceled, people like TJ Majors started making phone calls and sending text messages.

Majors is the “spotter” for the #22 NASCAR team, meaning every Sunday during the season, he’s standing on the roof of the grandstands letting the driver know (via radio) what cars are around him, when it’s safe to change lanes, things like that. It’s no surprise, then, that he helped spin up a virtual replacement for the canceled Atlanta race. After all, it’s literally his job to be looking out for other people.
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Majors called up iRacing’s executive vice president to get the green light. He started contacting NASCAR personalities, too, like Dale Earnhardt Jr. (who retired last year after suffering multiple concussions), rising star driver William Byron, and Chad Knaus, who was the crew chief for each of Jimmie Johnson’s seven championships.

Majors also called James Pike of Podium eSports, which puts on broadcast-quality productions of sim races. “I got the call from TJ on Friday afternoon, and he told us about the idea that they had put together,” Pike said in a phone call with The Verge. “He asked if we were interested in broadcasting the race, and I said, ‘are you kidding me? Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and all of those other drivers are going to be running in our race? Where do i sign?’”
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“One of the funniest moments was [when fellow spotter Kevin Hamlin] calling me asking for a name of the race,” Majors said. He kept thinking about the movie The Replacements, so he suggested that, with a small tweak: “The Replacements 100,” a nod to the number of laps they would run.
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One reason for the [virtual racing's] popularity, NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman said, is the similarity of the skillsets. “It’s the only esport that connects in such a parallel with the real world,” he explained. “The reason you see so many real-world drivers doing this all the time is it’s not only fun, but it literally in many ways can feel like I’m doing something that could be helping me as a real driver.”
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Even Majors, who watches over a driver going 200 miles an hour every weekend, agrees to an extent. “Real racing requires an enormous amount of skill and bravery,” he said. “Sim racing is still incredibly difficult.”
[Reference Here]

As to anyone who might be skeptical as to the entertainment value to the fan who might be stuck at the issue of "skin-in-the-game" and the full team with pit stops experience, this will take just a bit of transposition - no matter how difficult SIM racing might actually be.

Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, and Kyle Kirkwood go three-wide during the American Red Cross Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, the first event of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge. Image Credit: Chris Graythen (Getty Images) via NTT IndyCar Series

This excerpted and edited from Racer -

PRUETT: The eRevolution has to be televised

The numbers can’t be ignored. NASCAR, FOX Sports 1, and iRacing combined to generate a 0.53 Nielsen rating on Sunday, which equated to 903,000 viewers, by choosing to air stock car racing’s first live Esports event on cable television this year.

Even better, 297,000 of those who tuned in for the eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series skewed towards a younger demographic, with the coveted 18-49 range making up nearly one-third of the viewers. That’s roughly the size of the crowd that packs into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500 each May, which is hailed as the largest single-day sporting event in the world.

One analyst reckons the broadcast was the most watched Esports event of all-time across North American airwaves, and that alone should have IndyCar, IMSA, Formula 1, and every other major series clamoring to have their upcoming Esports races featured on TV.

IMSA held its Sebring SuperSaturday iRacing event last weekend across its YouTube and Twitch channels, which combined to draw an average of 10,000 viewers or so through live streaming, and IndyCar is set to use the same online delivery outlets for its upcoming race on Saturday. Even with a significant spike over IMSA’s streaming numbers, IndyCar’s audience size will pale in comparison to NASCAR’s wildly successful e-visit to FS1.

The TV component has become a must-have item, and with most sports networks struggling to produce new content, the NBC/NBCSNs and ABC/ESPNs should have the ability to clear the decks and accommodate their various racing series.

And before we hammer IMSA and IndyCar for aiming low and offering nothing other than YouTube and Twitch, there are a few nuances to consider here.

Every racing series has prioritized finding new and younger fans, and venturing into gaming has been among the core strategies employed by most sanctioning bodies.
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But life in a coronavirus world is far from normal, and by sticking to the let’s-get-younger-by-streaming-with-Esports playbook, a massive amount of older fans get orphaned in the process. It makes the dual delivery methods chosen by NASCAR and FS1, with cable and streaming options presented to fans of every age, especially smart.
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With everything else in our lives seeming to change on an hourly basis, giving folks an eNASCAR race, on the day and time the series’ fans carve out to watch from their living room, was a welcome respite from an uncomfortable reality.
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As series and their teams search for ways to give sponsors value while the pause button has been pressed on live racing events, the 903,000/293,000 numbers from FS1 are guaranteed to spur action from the IndyCars and IMSAs.

Some digital artists who develop liveries for various teams have reported an increase in business since last weekend as everyone from professional drivers to auto manufacturers have commissioned iRacing liveries that replicate their real cars.
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“There’s the potential for something big here, that can last,” said IndyCar driver Conor Daly, whose passion for all forms of Esports is well-known. “I was watching the eNASCAR race on FOX, but I was also watching one of the driver’s Twitch feed because it was more of a personalized thing. The TV option was great, and they clearly advertised it enough, and the drivers tweeted it out, and people knew to tune in. And it worked.
[Reference Here]

American Red Cross Grand Prix 

Race 1 - INDYCAR iRace Challenge At Watkins Glen - RACE VIDEO

The NTT INDYCAR Series effort was received very well by fans (IndyCar reports 600,000+ online) and driver participants alike. Nothing will ever replace real racing on real track, but the iRACE display over YouTube was very acceptable visually as well as on-track feel in competition.

This excerpted and edited post race comments from the inaugural INDYCAR iRace Challenge effort titled the American Red Cross Grand Prix and run on the virtual Watkins Glen International -

Most informative comment was made by Will Power:
Obviously we all want to get back in the real car, get back testing and all that, but in the meantime this is what we've got, and it's kind of amazing that you can get a bunch of drivers all in different places racing a race in cars that look exactly the same and doing about the same lap times, so it just shows you what technology -- how far technology has come in the last 20 years.

Second most interesting comment was contributed by Felix Rosenqvist:
I mean, my other one was only a steering wheel attached to the desk, so it was very -- like the most simple rig you can have, so I've made a big upgrade this winter because the off-season is so long.

I started to get bored, and I was thinking, what do I need to do to keep up with my driving, and I bought a really good setup here in the U.S., and yeah, it kind of came in handy. I got that in January, so I'm pretty happy I did all that, and I got some practice done the last couple of weeks. So yeah, it's good fun. It's a good way to get into the sport, as well, for young kids.

I really want to stress the point that you don't need a really expensive sim to be competitive. You know, there's plenty of guys out there iRacing who they finish top three in really, really tough races and they only have basically what I had before, just a steering wheel on a desk.

INDYCAR iRacing Challenge News Conference
Saturday March 28, 2020 - Press Conference
Sage Karam - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Felix Rosenqvist - Chip Ganassi Racing
Will Power - Team Penske

LEIGH DIFFEY: Hi, folks. Hope you've enjoyed the inaugural iRacing INDYCAR Challenge, the American Red Cross Grand Prix of Watkins Glen. I think sort of the first one out, it was very enjoyable, and I think that we can call it a success. And we need to congratulate the top three in the race, starting with the race winner from Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Sage Karam.

Sage, you're no newcomer to this form of racing. I think it was something like your 144th iRacing road course win, so congratulations. Nice way to come out and start 2020 that way. By the way, if you didn't know, there's going to be a donation made to the American Red Cross in your name, and you're also going to get a ring and a custom trophy from Jostens, so a couple of extra bonuses there for you on a job really well done today.

You had a victory of just over three and a half seconds, and from pole to Victory Lane you looked pretty much in control the whole way. Was that the case?

SAGE KARAM: I'd like to say yeah, but no, it wasn't totally in control the whole way. Had a few moments for sure, especially late in the race, had a lapper spin right in front of me and nearly lost it all there. But no, it was good. I was really worried about qualifying because Will was basically doing qual sims for the past week like every day all day, and I thought he was going to be hard to beat for pole. I didn't really have a perfect lap. It was a pretty good one, but when I saw his first lap, I thought, I think he's going to be able to get me here.

But I don't know if he like went off on his second or whatever, but --

WILL POWER: Yeah, I did.

SAGE KARAM: I wasn't too confident, and then when I just knew I had it, I was like, all right, this is going to make life a little bit easier hopefully. But it seemed like Felix found some speed today where he was able to run really, really good race pace. I was really banking on my race pace to be my strong suit, and when I saw Felix was not going anywhere and not falling back, I was getting kind of worried. I was hoping I could get a little bit of a gap and kind of cruise, but I basically had to push basically the whole race.

Yeah, it was cool to get Wix up front and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and it means a lot to those guys, and during this time where we can't really do much, it's great to be able to get the sponsors out and the teams out and be able to give the fans and the media something to cover and watch and have some fun.

LEIGH DIFFEY: It was a lot of fun for myself and Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy. Because you've been involved with iRacing for so long, what was your big picture view of it? Typically you would be racing fans, other racers, members of the public. Now you're in here against your INDYCAR peers. How was it in your view and in your mind?

SAGE KARAM: Yeah, no, it was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the rest of them. It's kind of cool, you've got like a complete mixed bag. You've got guys who literally just signed up for iRacing this week, and then you've got guys that have been there forever, since like 2007, like me. You know, it's pretty cool to see and try and help out everybody and get them fully up to speed, and I think it was really awesome to see the amount of time and prep that every driver put into it.

It was almost every single day, all hours of the day for the past week of drivers just in the rooms, doing laps. Even though some guys were new to it, nobody wanted to be that guy that just was out there just cruising around. We're all competitors. We all want to do our best. We all want to win, and it was really impressive to see everybody grab it by the horns and get after it. Big hats off to INDYCAR, big hats off to the drivers, all the teams, everybody who made it happen. It was a really cool event, and I really hope the fans enjoyed it.

Felix Rosenqvist sails up the hill toward Turn 3 during the American Red Cross Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, the first event of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge. The cars are sporting the new Aeroscreen and full sponsorship badging making all to feel a bit more serious - great track graphics from iRace. Image Credit: Chris Graythen (Getty Images) via NTT IndyCar Series

LEIGH DIFFEY: Congratulations on the win. To second place now from Chip Ganassi Racing, Felix Rosenqvist. You had a very kind of parallel race and similar race to the one that Sage had and you got pretty close to him there towards the end. Did you ever think you may have had something for him?

FELIX ROSENQVIST: I think by just based on pure pace, I didn't really have what it took. I think we did similar lap times, but whenever I got closer, it seemed like Sage was able to react and go a bit faster. So I was kind of hoping for the lapping part to be my advantage, but there were some cars flying and stuff, and every time I thought Sage was collected, he seemed to get through all of them.

In these races you can never really -- you have to do all the laps until the finish because you never know when -- it's very easy to make a mistake on your own or to get together with someone. It's pretty hard to race closely.

But yeah, I think I was also really impressed with the effort that everyone put in and how well it came together. I actually had a look at the TV just to see how it looked, and the cars look amazing and the track and everything almost looks like real. It was cool to see my NTT Data car there, as well. Yeah, in these times it was nice to do something for the fans and for ourselves. We're competitors, and we don't want to sit around all the time just waiting, so yeah, good fun.

LEIGH DIFFEY: Just listening to a couple of things you said there, was there a few times it was a bit wild? Was it a bit of a wild ride?

FELIX ROSENQVIST: I mean, my race was pretty smooth. I think Sage had more -- he had more things going on when he lapped other cars, but he never lost any time, so yeah, it was hard to make any advantage doing that. My race was -- I never really had any battle with anyone, just the lapped cars, but I just blew my Push-to-Pass trying to get around people quick, and I think Sage kind of did the same thing.

Will was behind us, so his gap was also kind of static, so he had some quick laps, as well, so he was pretty fast, and I don't know what happened in the beginning, but he had like a 10-second gap to us already from the beginning, so hopefully next time he can get into the fight a bit more, as well.

LEIGH DIFFEY: There will be more questions coming from fellow members of the media here shortly. To third place, Will Power, Team Penske. You've got this ridiculous top-5 finishing percentage on iRacing. I think it's almost nearly half the races you've run you've finished in the top 5 on iRacing road courses. You continued that streak today. How was your race?

WILL POWER: Yeah, it was pretty good. I didn't know that I actually had that many top 5s in iRacing. Every time I do it, I always bloody crash out. But yeah, it was fun. I kind of was really cautious on the first lap and lost a couple positions, and then got stuck behind a couple people and Felix and Sage were able to check out, and once I cleared those guys through a pit stop sequence, it got a little longer. The gap kind of just maintained. They'd catch traffic, I'd close a little and then I'd get that traffic and it would open up again. Yeah, just tried to focus on not making mistakes, and yeah, it was enjoyable.

It was actually not very eventful for me. I kind of kept out of trouble and didn't have cars really spinning in front of me or anything. It was a pretty straightforward race. It would have been nice to have a restart or something close up with those guys, but that may have been bad for everyone watching because maybe the top four would have taken each other out, who knows.

LEIGH DIFFEY: I can't let you go without asking about this: What is this (pointing to mustache)? Is that just boredom?

WILL POWER: Yeah, it is. It's a 30-day lockdown regardless, so by the time the 30 days is up this thing is going to be gone. I might keep it, man. Nigel Mansell has never been the same since he shaved his mustache. All the great things he did with a mustache, he looked tougher; he shaved it off, it just looks weird. So maybe this is to stay.

Continued Press Conference Questions & Answers 

At Motorsports Journal Podcast Above

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Needless to say, for most motor racing fans, this is a brave new world without the actual sound and feel of engines. That said, when one is watching real drivers who we have witnessed doing their magic on the track with actual skin-in-the-game, this digital game, oddly, has a place.

Just to keep a level of fan interest and sponsorship up during the off season, a virtual race a couple of times a month with the actual drivers who raced the previous season, as well as drivers who have been advancing up the ranks in advancing feeder series, could put on a scheduled display with post race interviews performed by the on-season broadcast professionals, which can serve for the training and enjoyment to all who participate - fan and driver alike.

The second of six events will be held Saturday, April 4, on the Barber Motorsports Park permanent road course. The event will be held at 4 p.m. ET and streamed through INDYCAR.com while INDYCAR's YouTube and Facebook platforms as well as iRacing's Twitch will serve as additional outlets for viewing.

Future events will be held weekly each Saturday through May 2 at the following sites: a "Driver's Choice" track (April 11), "Random Draw" track (April 18), Circuit of The Americas (April 25) and a non-INDYCAR "Dream" track (May 2).

... notes from The EDJE


Keep Calm | Wash Hands & Wear Gloves | Bump Elbows Or Shoes


TAGS: Coronavirus, IndyCar, iRacing, Esports, IMSA, IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, American Red Cross, Grand Prix, INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, The EDJE

Niki Lauda Passes At Age 70 - Social Tributes Rich In Admiration

Favorite Lauda quote as posted by Journalist, Podcast personality, and MPG colleague Mark Greene on his Facebook timeline. Image Credit: Mark Greene via FB (2019) 

Niki Lauda Passes At Age 70 - Social Tributes Rich In Admiration

Niki Lauda, born Andreas Nikolaus Lauda (22 February 1949 – 20 May 2019), was an Austrian Formula One driver, a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1984, and an aviation entrepreneur. He was the only driver in F1 history to have been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren, the sport's two most successful constructors. He is widely considered one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.

As an aviation entrepreneur, he founded and ran three airlines: Lauda Air, Niki, and Lauda. He was a Bombardier Business Aircraft brand ambassador.

He was also a consultant for Scuderia Ferrari and team manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years. Afterwards, he worked as a pundit for German TV during Grand Prix weekends and acted as non-executive chairman of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, of which Lauda owned 10%.

He passed away from complications undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney problems on 20 May 2019. Lauda died in his sleep at age 70 in the University Hospital of Zürich following a period of ill health. A statement issued on behalf of his family reported that he had died peacefully, surrounded by them.

Various current and former drivers and teams paid tributes on social media and during the Wednesday press conference session before the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.
[ht: Wikipedia]

“But I also have everything well under control and I can analyze things properly. What drives me crazy is the amount of talking that goes on. I like to make my life simple. I get straight to the point. If it's my mistake, it's my mistake. In motor racing, you learn to achieve the best result in the shortest amount of time. It applies in life too. Be quicker than the others. And don't make mistakes. Even if things fail, have the discipline to find a new way, rather than embarking on a pointless emotional journey." ~ Niki Lauda.


James McNiff - April 17, 2015 
Flash Back Friday: In recognition of the LBGP this weekend; I am reposting this shot from 1976. Niki Lauda in his Ferrari 312T entering the Oueen's Hairpin 39 yrs. ago!


The person who liked childhood or indirectly lived the same era, or the people who were taking a big part of my memory, every time I leave the world, I feel that I am getting older too. It is the origin of the yeongmyeon-eul of the the. 

 Nikki Lauda (1949.2.22 ~ 2019.5.20) 

 The Photo was written at the time of the German Grand Prix in 1976 as a helmet of Nikki Lauda, which was held at the time of the 2012 Korea GP, and the help of the Mercedes-Benz Korea, which was taken at the time of the 2015-Year-OLD KOREA GP.

The Ferrari Museum of Maranello lit only Niki Lauda's F1 today! A great tribute, Ferrari style.

Bravo.

Ferrari's 2019 Monaco livery and helmet for Sebastian Vettel - Godspeed Grand Champion.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Niki Lauda, Ferrari, Formula 1, FIA, F1, BAR, BRM, Ferrari, McLaren, Austria, Lauda Air. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, The EDJE

Formula 1 World Championship Begins 2019 With Gripping Notes - Whiting & Mercedes

Paying our respects to Charlie Whiting this weekend on the #VF19. #AusGP #F1 #HaasF1 Image Credit: HAAS F1 via Twitter (2019)

Formula 1 World Championship Begins 2019 With Gripping Notes - Whiting & Mercedes

The 2019 Formula 1 World Championship season begins with the biggest drama in Melbourne, Australia being that 1) Longtime competitor as team mechanic becoming Chief Mechanic at Brabham, to staff then Race Director since 1997 at FIA Charlie Whiting passing away from Pulmonary Embolism ... & 2) Mercedes speed domination that continued in the race from nearly having a full second on the field at qualifications.

The sudden passing of Charlie Whiting shocked and gripped the paddocks of Formula 1 as they prepared the cars to compete in the first race of a twenty race season. The Pulmonary Embolism blood clot malady arrest occurred on the morning of Thursday, just three days ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Whiting held a key role in the running of Formula One race weekends as Race Director, overseeing the FIA's operation of all on-track sessions. In addition to his duties at grand prix weekends, he also had a wide-ranging position at the FIA overseeing safety and technical matters in the sport.

All at McLaren are shocked and deeply saddened at the news of Charlie Whiting's passing. Charlie will be remembered as one of the giants of our sport, as well as a great colleague. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with all of his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/DmrSZAT4Cc

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 14, 2019

This excerpted and edited from CNN -

Charlie Whiting: Formula One race director dies suddenly, aged 66

Leading motorsport figures have paid tribute to Formula One's race director Charlie Whiting following his sudden death after he suffered a pulmonary embolism in Australia.

The 66-year-old Whiting was in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, which kicks off the new Formula 1 season at the weekend.

He had begun his F1 career as part of the Hesketh team, before joining Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham outfit, where he served as the team's chief mechanic during a successful era that saw Nelson Piquet win the World Drivers' Championship (WDC) in both 1981 and 1983.

He had been the motorsport series' race director since 1997. FIA president Jean Todt described Whiting as "a central and inimitable figure in Formula One who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport."

Prior to taking over as the competition's race director, which saw him serve as the official starter of each grand prix, as well as the overseer of F1's rules and regulations, Whiting had initially joined the FIA in 1988 as its technical director.

'Our sort of man'

Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was one of many current and former F1 stars to pay tribute to Whiting, who was seen as the go-to man for drivers on any race weekend.

"What he did for the sport, his commitment, he really was a pillar," Hamilton said. "Such an iconic figure within the sporting world, and he contributed so much to us. May he rest in peace."

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel called him "our sort of man, our drivers' man". He said: "I spoke to him yesterday and walked the track for the first couple of corners together with him. It's difficult to grasp when somebody's just not there anymore.

"He was the middle man. He was someone you could ask anything, at any time. He was open to everyone, any time his door was always open. He was a racer, he was just a very nice guy."

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn recalled his own long-lasting friendship with Whiting, who also worked with triple world champion Niki Lauda during his time at Brabham.

"I have known Charlie for all of my racing life," he said. "We worked as mechanics together, became friends and spent so much time together at race tracks across the world.

"I was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news. I'm devastated. It is a great loss not only for me personally but also the entire Formula 1 family, the FIA and motorsport as a whole."
[Reference Here]

VALTTERI BOTTAS WINS the 2019 F1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX for MERCEDES in a MASTERCLASS DOMINANT VICTORY from START to FINISH after a winless 2018! #F1 #F119MEL #MEL #AusGP #AustralianGP #MelbourneGP #Formula1 #points #VB77 #MercedesAMGF1 - Image & Caption Credit: @F1Racing via Twitter

ADDITIONAL TRIBUTE INFORMATION - SKY SPORTS >>>

With this backdrop of sadness and loss, the show began in earnest.

This excerpted and edited from ESPN -

Mercedes and the art of throwing pie in everyone's face
By: Nate Saunders - F1 Associate Editor

Oh dear. Mercedes has displayed some pretty ominous pace all weekend in Melbourne but no one was expecting such a comfortable pole position for Lewis Hamilton. Preseason suggested Ferrari would be in the mix but the Italian team has to go back to the drawing board ahead of tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix.
----
A few weeks ago, Hamilton claimed Ferrari was 0.5 seconds ahead of Mercedes -- a significant margin in F1 over one lap -- and the narrative which formed during the winter was that the Italian team had the edge. All the evidence from Barcelona suggested that was the case. Sebastian Vettel finished 0.7 down on Hamilton's eventual benchmark on Saturday. Mercedes seemed surprised by the gap and how comfortable things have been in Melbourne, while Ferrari expected it to be closer.
[Reference Here]

Motorsport Network's Julia Piquet gives her top five takeaways from the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, the opening round of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship.

Valtteri Bottas dominated the season opener - captures fastest lap point against instruction - after getting ahead of poleman and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton on the run to the first corner at the start - first point awarded for fastest lap since 1959.

Ferrari faltered, so Red Bull stepped into the breach - and on to the podium - in its first race with Honda.
(ht: Charles Bradley - Motorsport Report)

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Formula 1, Charlie Whiting, Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, #F1 #F119MEL #MEL #AusGP #AustralianGP #MelbourneGP #Formula1 #points #VB77 #MercedesAMGF, HAAS F1, The EDJE

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

A brilliant first move by a shoe manufacturer in an effort of cross-promotional branding. McLaren, as with all other F1 racing teams, have to field a car with the new cockpit protection superstructure known as a HALO. Image Credit: Gandys

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

McLaren teams up with the adventurous British lifestyle brand for next week's Grand Prix in a brilliant sponsorship deal.

Today’s announcement marks the first brand, Gandys, to take advantage of the unique shape of the new-for-2018 Halo cockpit protection structure, which has frequently been compared to the distinctive upper of a flip-flop. For the Australian Grand Prix, Gandys branding will be a feature on the front part of the HALO on both McLaren cars.

Gandys logo clearly sported on the joining section of the protective HALO superstructure. Image Credit: McLaren

Additionally, Gandys and McLaren will collaborate to create a limited-run ‘Halo-edition’ flip-flop, with 100 per cent of all profits going directly to the Orphans For Orphans foundation. They will be available from gandyslondon.com and all Gandys' London stores, as well as through mclarenstore.com.

Gandys was founded by brothers Rob and Paul Forkan, who were inspired to start the brand after tragically losing both their parents in the Tsunami that affected much of southeast Asia in December 2004.

The Gandys brand began with a single flip-flop design, with its initial success enabling Rob and Paul to achieve their goal and open the first Orphans For Orphans foundation kid’s campus, in Sri Lanka in 2014.

F1 champion driver Felipe Massa had this reaction he posted on his Facebook page which was latter shared with the social media platform Reddit. Great minds think alike but it was McLaren and Gandys that made this promotiona dream come true. Image Credit Felipe Massa via Reddit

Alongside their charitable foundation, the Gandys brothers have continued to grow the brand since its inception in 2012. Gandys introduced full menswear and womenswear collections to the brand in 2016, and continue to support Orphans For Orphans by donating 10 per cent of their profits to the foundation. The second campus was opened last year in Malawi, with plans to open more across the world.

John Allert, McLaren Chief Marketing Officer, said:
“We’re delighted to have Rob, Paul and the team at Gandys join us for the Australian Grand Prix. The placement of the logo, on the MCL33’s Halo, was not only perfect from a branding perspective, but also a great opportunity to underline Gandys’ charitable commitment to providing a safer, more protective environment for those at risk.

“Collaborating with Gandys on a limited-edition co-branded product was also a meaningful step for us. By giving 100 per cent of all profits to the Orphans For Orphans charity, McLaren is also able to help a very deserving good cause.

“Showcasing this partnership in Australia, where we race just a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s beautiful St Kilda beach, just felt like the best possible opportunity for Gandys to showcase its brand and noble cause on the international stage.”

Gandys co-founder Rob Forkan said:
“We were absolutely thrilled when McLaren came to us with this idea. When the brand was created, Paul was living in Melbourne, and I went out to surprise him on his birthday to tell him about the idea for Gandys. After managing to persuade him to return to the UK and start the brand, it’s really exciting to be going back. In fact, it will be the first time we’ve returned to Melbourne, so it’s great to feel we have come full circle!

“By putting Gandys’ branding on the car’s Halo, we can help to strengthen the message behind our Orphans For Orphans initiative; creating a protective and inspiring environment for children at risk. It is a step in the right direction for the safety of the drivers and a great step for Gandys.

“When we started Gandys we started working on a small scale, helping a few children. Now we are helping more and more vulnerable children all around the world. We hope the halo will have a similar impact in Formula 1, as we know that even if it only saves one life to begin with, it will go on to have a wider impact.”

“On a personal note, as huge fans of Formula 1 and McLaren, this was an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. We can’t wait to see Fernando, Stoffel and the whole team in action in Melbourne next weekend.”
(ht: McLaren)

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: McLaren, Gandys, HALO, Flip Flop, Felipe Massa, Formula 1, #F1, Facebook, Reddit, Melbourne, Australia, The EDJE

Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event

Sir Jackie Stewart, Clive Chapman and Jackie Oliver at the Motor Sport Magazine event. Image Credit: lotuscars.com

Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event

Colin Chapman CBE, the Lotus founder and engineer was recognized for his contribution to the automotive and motorsport industry at the 2013 Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame annual inauguration event, attended by Colin’s son and Classic Team Lotus founder, Clive Chapman.

The inaugural Motor Sport Hall of Fame evening took place in February 2010. Damien Smith, Motor Sports magazine’s editor, first came up with the idea, and it celebrated its fourth year at Covent Garden’s historic Royal Opera House – a suitably grand venue to honor some of racing’s greatest names.

The motorsport glitterati attended the star-studded evening honoring Mr. Chapman and Lotus where this outstanding engineer and visionary, who became known for his technical innovations and Formula 1 ‘firsts’, was celebrated.

Driven initially by his desire for motor racing, Colin Chapman built his first racing car in 1948 in a garage belonging to his girlfriend’s father. Now, over 60 years later Lotus has become both a class-leading manufacturer of desired sports cars and a globally respected automotive engineering consultancy. Team Lotus, the racing team Chapman formed went onto win seven Formula One Constructor’s Championships and six Drivers’ Championship titles. Today, the Lotus name in F1® has competed in over 500 Grand Prix races and had 80 Grand Prix wins. The 80th win was scooped last season when Lotus F1® driver Kimi Räikkönen stormed to victory during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Chapman’s genius saw him exploit engineering principles, applying them in new and innovative ways that would give his team the competitive edge on the circuit. Whilst a few of the innovations were banned, others went onto revolutionize the sport and still underpin F1® today.

The first Formula 1 race car to introduce managed airflow under the car and ground effects – Lotus Type 78 in 1977 driven by Mario Andretti. Image Credit: neilgrocock.deviantart.com

Lotus List of Firsts..

• First to use a sequential transmission in F1, Lotus Type 12 in 1957
• First to use reclining driving position – Lotus Type 21 in 1961
• First to put the spring damper units inboard for improved aerodynamics on the Lotus Type 21 1961
• First to use a fully stressed monocoque chassis – Lotus Type 25 in 1962
• First to introduce aircraft style bag tanks for fuel (big safety improvement) Lotus Type 25 1962
• First to “mould” the car precisely to the driver size and shape – Lotus Type 25 in 1962
• First to successfully use the engine as a structural member – Lotus Type 43 in 1966
• First in F1® to use full sponsors colour schemes – Lotus Type 49 in 1968
• First in F1® to use a wedge shape front – Lotus Type 63 in 1969
• First in F1® to use side mounted radiators – Lotus Type 72 in 1970
• First to use a multi-element rear wing – Lotus Type 72 in 1970
• First to introduce left foot braking and automatic clutch operation to F1 with the "four • pedal" Type 76 in 1974
• First to manage airflow under the car including ground effects – Lotus Type 78 in 1977
• First to introduced the concept of a rear diffuser on the Lotus Type 80 in 1979.
• First to design a carbon fibre monocoque – Lotus Type 88 in 1981
• First to use twin chassis – Lotus Type 88 in 1981
• First to use active suspension – Lotus Type 92 in 1983
• First to use aerodynamic bargeboards – Lotus Type 97T in 1985

This great accolade sees Colin Chapman alongside other 2013 hall of fame inductees Niki Lauda, Damon Hill OBE, Graham Hill OBE, and Tom Kristensen join other similarly revered motorsport greats.

... notes from The EDJE


** Article first published as Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event on Technorati **

Brazilian Changing Of The Guard, Barrichello In As Meira Leaves IndyCar

Pitting on lap 27 at the 2011 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, after a full course caution was called for Simona DeSilvestro’s spin, the ABC Supply team pulled out a 7.1-second pit stop for Vitor Meira (above), but Meira had to be held for a half a second to avoid hitting J.R. Hildebrand’s car entering the pit box directly ahead of Meira’s. On the way out of pit lane, Meira was tagged by Graham Rahal who shot into the fast lane exiting his pitbox. The impact shoved Meira into the outer pit wall but he was able to continue with only minor damage [photo slideshow HERE>>]. Caption Credit: Catchfence | Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Brazilian Changing Of The Guard, Barrichello In As Meira Leaves IndyCar

Lest we think there will not be the requisite number of drivers from Brazil commanding the wheel of a DW12 IZOD IndyCar Series car during the 2012 season, ever since ten year veteran Vitor Meira announced his departure from the series last month, today, nineteen year Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello joins KV Racing Technology. Also announced today was the re-signing of fellow Brazilian, Tony Kanaan to a two-year KV Racing Technology deal.

A couple of weeks ago (Feb. 11, 2012), Vitor Meira announced that he will be leaving the IndyCar IZOD Series to race back home in Brazil in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Stock Car. Brazil's premier stock car series. He has not decided if he will race in select races in the IZOD IndyCar Series or cut ties completely. The decision seemed a little sudden at the time because the first race was just over one month away ... March 25 in St. Petersburg, Fla..

Vitor Meira and the ABC Supply team weathered a few close calls in the 2011 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach to finish ninth, his second top-10 finish in three races. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Vitor's best years were from 2003-2005. During those years he finished in the top ten overall. He also had several second and third place finishes throughout his career. He missed most of the 2009 season due to injuries incurred in a scary accident during the Indy 500 which broke several vertebrae bones in his back. He made a full recovery and since his accident, he managed to secure only two top five finishes racing for AJ Foyt. One of those top five finishes occurred in 2010 in his first race back after his injury.

As for Rubens Barrichello, 39, the Brazilian announced Thursday he has joined KV Racing Technology on a one-year contract. He will make his IndyCar debut at the season opener on March 25 in St. Petersburg, Fla.. Barrichello, with a record 325 races in his F1 Series career, is the biggest name to move to an American-based open-wheel series since F1 champion Nigel Mansell joined CART in 1993. Mansell won five races and the series title that season. Barrichello finished second in the F1 drivers' championship in 2002 and 2004, both times behind seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari.

"I'm loving the idea I'm going to be a rookie," he said. "That makes me young, and I'm loving that."

Barrichello will participate in all 16 IndyCar races on the calendar, including the Indy 500 in May and the other four races on ovals.

A trio of drivers that included young up and coming star E. J. Viso, Formula One legend Rubens Barrichello and IndyCar superstar Tony Kanaan, tested with KV Racing Technology for two days (February 25-26) on the of around the 2.303-mile, 12-turn Infineon Raceway permanent road in Sonoma, California. Viso behind the wheel of the No. 5 CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone machine ran the most laps, 143, over the two days and produced the fastest times. He was third fastest overall among the seven drivers testing and the fastest KVRT pilot with a time of 78.50 seconds on Saturday and a 77.36 second lap on Sunday. Caption & Image Credit: KVRT

This announcement comes on the heels of KV Racing Technology confirming the re-signing of EJ Viso who will return to the team for a third year to compete for the full 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Viso, 26, who hails fron Venezuela, will drive the No. 5 CITGO | PDVSA - KV Racing Technology Chevrolet-powered DW12 with additional support from Herbalife, Mindeporte CANTV and SBA Airlines. Barichello has been assigned the No. 8 BMC | Embrase race car with Kanaan returning in the No. 11 GEICO | Mouser Electronics entry.

"I am really happy to be back with KV Racing Technology," EJ Viso said at the announcement. "Last year was very successful even if the results don't necessarily reflect what we wanted. We worked very hard and we proved we were competitive. The progress we made over the last two years will be a key to our success in 2012."

As for Kanaan, 37, the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, will be entering his 15th US-based open-wheel season. Kanaan started in 1996 with Tasman Motorsports in the Firestone Indy Lights Championship. It's his 11th Indy car season and his second with KVRT. Kanaan's driving history with the IZOD IndyCar Series is one of the strongest ... he was fifth in the standings last year, is one of the most consistent and fearless drivers in the series who has placed in the top six every year he has competed.

"I am very excited to be returning to KV Racing Technology, not only with a two-year deal but also to have Rubens Barrichello as my teammate," Kanaan said. "We have always dreamed about racing together (aside from their winter kart races in Brazil) but never imagined it would actually happen and certainly not in the near future or in Indy cars. So I am looking forward to the start of the season. I think it's going to be a very exciting year."

Rubens Barrichello reacted. "I am thrilled, it is something very new to me. With all my experience I will start as a rookie, but I think I will get better as the year progresses. I hope with my contribution to KV Racing Technology we can build on Tony's contribution to the team from last year and take the team to another level. I am extremely happy and have a big smile on my face."

IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard went to one of Barrichello's test sessions to meet the Brazilian. He said Thursday it was an exciting day for the series ''and a positive step to start'' the year.

"There's not a person in the world who knows racing that wouldn't tell you that Rubens Barrichello is one of the greatest drivers of all time," the series CEO said in a statement. "That will create great competition and expands our international platform."

Barrichello brings with him an ardent and strong New Media fan base ... his 1.47 million followers on Twitter is one million more than Kanaan's, who leads all IndyCar Series drivers with 448,000 Twitter followers.

So basically, what we will expect to be hearing from the PA speakers in the stands, at every 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series venue during the season is - Ladies and Gentlemen ... start your "Tweets"!

... notes from The EDJE



** Article first published as Brazilian Changing Of The Guard, Barrichello In As Meira Leaves IndyCar on Technorati **

Toyota leaves Formula 1 with departing email

Panasonic Toyota Racing’s last Formula 1 car, the TF109. The end of Panasonic Toyota Racing's Formula 1 program is not the end of activity on www.toyota-f1.com - far from it. Image Credit: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota leaves Formula 1 with departing email

This morning, those who had been following the exploits of the Toyota Formula racing effort throughout the last couple of seasons, woke up to an email communique outlining the last efforts Toyota Motorsport GmbH will be doing to close the final chapter of their effort.

Jarno Trulli and former Champ Car World Series driver, Timo Glock have moved on, both have signed to drive with newly formed teams for the 2010 F1 season. Jarno was confirmed as one of the newly-formed Lotus F1 Racing's team drivers, joining former McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen. Timo chose an option where he will be guaranteed a drive, although the car might be less competitive, at the newly formed Virgin Racing. Virgin's car for 2010 will be the first F1 car designed entirely using CFD computer simulation technology and will be powered with Cosworth engines. Timo will be teamed with long-time Brazilian GP2 regular Lucas di Grassi.

Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli take the front row at the Bahrain Grand Prix 2009. Image Credit: Bahrain International Circuit

A visit to the farewell website is a wonderful mix of photography, technology, and past F1 memories.

This excerpted and edited from Toyota's departing email -

A virtual goodbye to Formula 1
Monday 25 January 2010

Toyota Motorsport GmbH bids farewell to Formula 1 with an offering to all those who supported it during eight emotional seasons at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Fans, media and sponsors alike can relive memories from the team in the form of exclusive photos and videos, including an eight-minute video retrospective featuring exclusive footage of moments which variously made us laugh, smile or shed a tear.

Simply visit http://ms.toyota.co.jp/en/ and click on the banner ‘A Virtual Goodbye to Formula 1' to look back on our time Formula 1.

Since our first season competing in Formula 1, in 2002, we have experienced a whole spectrum of emotions but through the highs and the lows, we have been fortunate to enjoy the valued support of partners, media and fans.

There have been so many sponsorship campaigns, media collaborations and distributor initiatives it is impossible mention individual cases but we would like to sincerely thank all those partners, media and fans who have been part of our Formula 1 adventure.

This special website represents the final act for the marketing and communications department, which has ceased normal operations.

Until further notice, all media enquiries regarding Toyota's motorsport programmes should be directed to Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on bl-pr@mail.toyota.co.jp while only specific requests relating to Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne should be directed to pr@toyota-motorsport.com.

Our media website www.toyota-f1-world.com will continue to function until the end of the year to provide an archive of photography and information from the team's time in Formula 1.
Reference Here>>

Funny, it would be nice to have the same type of departure website attention given to other automobile-culture departures that have happened over this last full year ... and not necessarily departures in motorsport.

Let's see websites devoted to the history and legacy of Pontiac, Saturn, Dodge Aspen, Hummer ... heck, lets just add General Motors and Chrysler, in general, since they were once proud companies involved in the pursuit of free-enterprise and have departed from the annuals of needs-satisfaction, profit-oriented American automobile manufacturers.

... notes from The EDJE

The Wizard Of OZ - F1 Qualifying In Australia

Jenson Button took his first pole position in three years at the Australian Grand Prix, as Brawn GP utterly dominated qualifying on its debut. Image Credit: BBC

The Wizard Of OZ - F1 Qualifying In Australia

World famous British businessman, Richard Branson, stepped up and threw his sponsorship muscle behind one of the more promising F1 ventures to come along in this era of slick tires and modified areodynamics.

Virgin Group has become the first major sponsor of the Formula 1, Mercedes-powered, Brawn GP team. It is not a title sponsorship deal and the team's official name will remain unchanged for now.

Branson, who had been linked with a takeover of the former Honda team recently, said that moves to cut costs in the sport and a push by the American Gevo company, in which Virgin is investing, to come up with a clean fuel for the sport were contributing reasons for his decision to jump into F1 team sponsorship.

"I am very, very excited to be here today," said Branson, who had flown direct from London after agreeing the deal. "A few weeks ago I said that there were two preconditions for us to get involved with F1.

One was that the costs of F1 should come down. It was just too expensive to get enough new entrants into the sport, and the second one was that F1 should be spear-heading a clean-fuel revolution.", said Bransom at the announcement ceremony at Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Branson's pledge of sponsorship support was soon rewarded, in that, the two drivers that pilot the Mercedes-powered Brawn GP machines placed the cars in P1 and P2 during qualifying for the OZ Grand Prix event to be run tomorrow.

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello confirmed the pace showed previously in testing, with the Briton, Button securing pole position ahead of the Brazilian, Barrichello ... and with rival teams admitting Brawn GP's cars were simply out of reach.

The Brawn team raced as Honda last season but secured their survival with Mercedes engines only at the beginning of this month following Honda's decision to quit F1 because of the global financial crisis. From Saturday, the Virgin logo was added to the previously unbranded white cars - and a new colour scheme will be unveiled at next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. Image Credit: BBC

This excerpted and edited from autosport.com -

Button leads all-Brawn front row in Oz
By Matt Beer, autosport.com - Saturday, March 28th 2009, 07:03 GMT

Jenson Button took his first pole position in three years at the Australian Grand Prix, as Brawn GP utterly dominated qualifying on its debut.

Rubens Barrichello led Button in a Brawn one-two in both Q1 and Q2, with a clear margin over their rivals in each session.

But in the pole position shoot-out it was Button who emerged on top, beating Barrichello to first place by 0.305 seconds.

Button had taken provisional pole by half a second on his first run, before being briefly deposed by his teammate, but he was able to redress the balance moments later.

Although Brawn GP is effectively a renamed Honda operation, it is officially classed as a new team - which makes today's result the first time a new entrant has taken pole for its debut since the factory Mercedes-Benz team in the 1954 French GP.

The grid line-up was strikingly different to the previous season's form, with Red Bull and Williams among Brawn's main rivals, Ferrari near the foot of the top ten, and the McLarens 14th and 15th.
Reference Here>>

How the field sets up after penalties (the two Toyota cars that originally placed P6-Glock and P8-Trulli, will have to start from the back of the grid for having rear wing elements that were too flexible)

Melbourne results (BBC) -

Final Qualifying
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Position Country Driver Car number Team Qualifying time
1 great britain Jenson Button 22 Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.202
2 brazil Rubens Barrichello 23 Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.505
3 germany Sebastian Vettel 15 Red Bull-Renault 1:26.830
4 poland Robert Kubica 5 BMW Sauber 1:26.914
5 germany Nico Rosberg 16 Williams-Toyota 1:26.973
6 brazil Felipe Massa 3 Ferrari 1:27.033
7 finland Kimi Raikkonen 4 Ferrari 1:27.163
8 australia Mark Webber 14 Red Bull-Renault 1:27.246
9 germany Nick Heidfeld 6 BMW Sauber 1:25.504
10 spain Fernando Alonso 7 Renault 1:25.605
11 japan Kazuki Nakajima 17 Williams-Toyota 1:25.607
12 finland Heikki Kovalainen 2 McLaren-Mercedes 1:25.726
13 switzerland Sebastien Buemi 12 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.503
14 brazil Nelson Piquet Jr 8 Renault 1:26.598
15 italy Giancarlo Fisichella 21 Force India-Mercedes 1:26.677
16 germany Adrian Sutil 20 Force India-Mercedes 1:26.742
17 france Sebastien Bourdais 11 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.964
18 great britain Lewis Hamilton 1 McLaren-Mercedes
19 germany Timo Glock 10 Toyota
20 italy Jarno Trulli 9 Toyota

After this qualifying performance from Brawn GP, backed by the Virgin Group's timely sponsorship ... Richard Branson can now be called, for the moment, the Wizard of OZ.

... notes from The EDJE