Post #MAVTv500 & #CokeZero400 Superspeedway Event Observations

Ryan Briscoe has a moment of personal conversation with his helmet as he prepares to be a competitive factor in the MAVTv500 superspeedway five-hundred mile race held at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday June 27th. Image Credit: Ken Manfred (2015)

Post #MAVTv500 & #CokeZero400 Superspeedway Event Observations

This was NOT a good week for ‪#‎NASCAR‬. Last week they ask fans not to fly the ‪#‎ConfederateFlag‬ and we see more Rebel Flags at Daytona International Speedway than we have seen in years.

They pull the hard cards of the crew guys who should have been celebrated as heroes for rushing to help Austin Dillon after his crash and have to explain they just wanted to talk to them, they will not fine them at all.

Subway is the presenting sponsor of the Xfinity Series race and is at Daytona ... this week Jared, the face of Subway advertising, had his home raided as part of a child pornography investigation.

But all of this serves as a distraction to the real issue at hand - Pack Racing.

Pole sitter Dale Earnhardt Jr. held off the pack (a very good view of the definition of "pack racing") to win the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.  Earnhardt led 96 laps en route to his second win of the season.  Jimmie Johnson finished second, while Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch completed the top-five. Image Credit: NASCAR via RiverBender.com

This weekend's heavily promoted race on NBC at Daytona, the Coke Zero 400, was delayed from its normal broadcast window and pushed way past midnight on the West coast was won by Dale Earnhart Jr. in a journeyman display of restrictor plate, raceline control, superspeedway PACK RACING.

If it were not for a couple of incredibly hairy Pack Racing crashes where everyone survived and about three spectators (it could have been a lot worse) were injured due to debris from a car flying into the catch fence ... the race was a total bore as are most NASCAR oval racing restrictor plate events.

The week before, a race that was also on a NBC broadcasting property (NBCSN), but not heavily promoted, the Verizon IndyCar Series held a race at Auto Club speedway.

The MAVTv500 would have been a good news event for the series if the race was able to draw spectators because the racing was anything but just a pack of cars playing "Follow The Leader" behind a very experienced driver/tactician. The product on the track and the lack of spectators attending the event show a dichotomy of efforts between the teams and drivers versus the Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) management.

The product is the best it may be in years from top teams to the bottom of the points paying order ... this may be the most professional and talented to ever be assembled - the VICS management, however, may be the second worse ever (2015 explained here) with the worst management team being the last years of the Tony George regime, many of whom occupy positions in this current management team.

No.5 Ryan Briscoe (L) and eventual MAVTv500 winner No.15 Graham Rahal approach the Auto Club Speedway Start/Finish line side-by-side as a sparse crowd witnesses one of the best, most competitive races held in the annuals of open-wheel racing - world record 83 changes for the lead. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

This reaction to the MAVTv500 was posted by a friend of a longtime NASCAR fan on Facebook - this reaction has to see the light of day:

Geoff Gray (posted to facebook timeline)

One of my best and oldest friends came to visit us for the fourth of July weekend. He is a good ole boy NASCAR fan from Arkansas. We got to having a drink or two with dinner and he asked me what all this "business" was regarding "those crying tea and crumpet" Indycar whiners ... I told him that I had recorded the race so just sit back and watch. His response was the NASCAR fan typical "Why would I want to watch follow the leader IndyCar racing?" crap but I was able to convinced him regardless...

To say the least , from the drop of the green flag he was transfixed ... after 20 laps he was cheering and had already decided on a driver he wanted to see win ... Merican of course ... by the end of the race he was on his feet cheering on the race like a true fanatic. And then .... yup ... the after race whining began ... the Wheldon name was slung about wrecklessly as though there were even some semblance to that tragic day at all. 

Then my friend pointed out, most astutely pointed out, that:

(1) This not even remotely "pack racing" like them-thar "restrictor races" as there were rarely any one following or side by side for any length of time at all! In fact most of the time they were jumping out of line to actually pass one another!

(2) Don't these guys get paid a lot of money to do just that?

(3) Why wasn't there anyone there in them grandstands?

(4) Was it because it was a 500 mile race scheduled to run in the middle of the desert in the middle of summer?!?!?

(5) Who the hell was officiating when that fuel buckeye got ripped off .... Ain't that a penalty? It ain't like Rahal couldn't have made the time up ... hell, that crazy Brisco guy got a "drive through" and damn near won ifn' he didn't get wrecked!!!

(6) By the way ... I kinda like that Brisco guy ... he was Mr Spectacular and didn't cry boo after the race ... now that's a driver ... he oughta' drive NASCAR!

At the end of evening my good friend said to me " That was probably one of the best races I ever saw ... Maybe the best ... Ya'll got a good thang goin' there if they keep on drivin' like that and the management would shut those clowns up"! "Yup ya got a good thang goin there ... just dont tell anybody" ...
ENDS

Long Time Coming: Rahal, Andretti Names Share Podium Again: Drivers with two of the most recognizable surnames in IndyCar racing shared the podium following the exciting MAVTv500 at Auto Club Speedway on June 27, when Graham Rahal won and Marco Andretti finished third (Tony Kanaan in P2). Surprisingly, it's the first time in their Indy car careers that the two - who each now drive for teams owned by their fathers - have celebrated together in Victory Circle. The last meeting on the podium for a Rahal and an Andretti was Sept. 1, 1996, in the Molson Indy Vancouver street-course event. Marco's father, Michael, won that day and Graham's dad, Bobby, finished second. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

Inside the box score - MAVTv500: Numbers to note following the MAVTv500 at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval - the 11th round of the Verizon Indy Car Series season:

6 - Positions gained by Stefano Coletti in the final 25 laps of the race (18th to 12th). ... Podium finishes in his last seven starts at Auto Club Speedway by Tony Kanaan, who was the race runner-up.

7.77 - Average running position of winner Graham Rahal for the 250 laps.

14 - Drivers who led at least one lap, the most to lead a race at Auto Club Speedway since November 2001, when a track-record 19 drivers led.

18 - Positions improved by Rahal (19th to first), most of any of the 23 starters.

21 - Indy car wins for cars owned by Bobby Rahal, who won 24 times as a driver.

74 - Top-three career finishes by Kanaan, tying Rick Mears for 13th on the all-time Indy car list.

76 - Laps in which rookie Sage Karam improved his position, most of any driver.

80 - Lead changes in the race, an Indy car record. The previous was 73 at Auto Club Speedway in November 2001.

124 - Starts between Indy car victories for Graham Rahal, the longest streak between wins by an Indy car driver. The previous record was 97 starts between wins held by Johnny Rutherford.

244 - Consecutive starts by Kanaan, extending his all-time record.

2,537 - Total on-track passes for position. Kanaan had 204 (in 250 laps), most of any driver.

3,173 - Total on-track passes. Of the 6,248 total on-track passes this season, 51 percent occurred in the MAVTV 500.
(ht: VICS)

As the Verizon IndyCar Series heads to race on "the oldest speedway in the world" known as the Milwaukee Mile, let's hope that the attendance gap closes up so that folks can actually witness competitive open-wheel racing on a flat oval venue and come away with the appreciation for the toughest competition in motorsport. NBCSN Race Broadcast - Sunday, July 12, 2015 - 5:00pm ET.

Regardless, it is still time for a change in management to one that actually has someone who drove a car in competition as opposed to a committee of people who occupy Race Control who make most of their decisions, post race, in a vacuum of direct competitive track knowledge driving in open-wheel cars.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: #MAVTv500, @ACSUpdates, Auto Club Speedway, Brian Barnhart, Country Club, Derrick Walker, Mark Miles, MAVTV 500, Race Control, The EDJE, Verizon IndyCar Series, NASCAR, Coke Zero 400, Daytona, Pack Racing

Embarrassment And Riches Color Rahal's #MAVTv500 Win In Fontana

Graham Rahal survives a record setting race (83 lead changes) to win for Honda power and aerodynamics. Race winners at Auto Club Speedway, participate in a recently implemented tradition (2009) while in Gatorade Victory Lane: the ringing of "Mobell" ... a full-scale replica of the hundreds of bells that line California's El Camino Real. The 700-mile-long El Camino Real linked California’s 21 Franciscan missions, which were founded by Father Junipero Serra in the late 18th century. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

Embarrassment And Riches Color Rahal's #MAVTv500 Win In Fontana

If one were just talking about the level of professionalism and talent found throughout the paddocks and race track of the teams that had come to compete in the 4th MAVTv 500 at the record holding superspeedway, Auto Club Speedway, we would be saying "Embarrassment Of Riches."

But we cannot ignore the embarrassment bestowed upon the riches that were on display for a record-setting 500 miles for 250 laps that recorded 80 lead changes, four and five wide lane competition for the lead where a driver was able to breakthrough a seven year, 124-race winless drought to take the trophy for a Honda-powered and aerodynamically-wrapped Dallara, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal.

Three of the four Dallara IndyCars in this image from the beginning of the MAVTv 500 will not complete all 250 Laps. From L-R, #14 Takuma Sato led for 8 times for 31 laps but got squirrely and took out #1 Will Power, #5 Ryan Briscoe led 5 times for 7 Laps collided with #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay and flipped on Lap 249 of 250,  #15 Graham Rahal goes on to win (third car from the left - Red), and #67 Josef Newgarden was taken out as his teammate #20 Ed Carpenter slide up to the outer lane of the track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

The embarrassment was that this monumental display of automobile racing talent put on by the teams and drivers of the Verizon IndyCar Series was only physically witnessed by (depending on who one listens to) 3,000 / 5,000 / well under 10,000 people who had come out to watch the race in the Fontana, California afternoon sun at Auto Club Speedway (ACS). A racing facility as large as ACS routinely hosts and supports crowds as large as 70,000 to 80,000 for its annual NASCAR stock car race in Southern California, where the market has 15 million people, is no problem.

This shortfall in attendance can most legitimately be placed on the racing series management.

The first point-of-order to consider is the movement of the date and the change in the importance of the scheduling of the race at Auto Club Speedway, itself. Over the previous three years, IndyCar had chopped the schedule to end before the beginning of Professional Football season for it was perceived by management that this kind of direct competition for entertainment dollars was not good for gate and television receipts. The season had to end by late August or early September to accommodate this view.

Helio Castroneves comes in hot for a pitstop and locks up his tires in order to get to 60mph pit speed. The first half of the race was caution-free with 43 lead changes and heading for a record for all-time average speed. The first yellow came out on Lap 136 when the cars driven by Castroneves and Briscoe made light contact on the backstretch. Five other caution periods followed, including two for debris. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

As to the change of importance of the MAVTv 500, during the previous three years this race was the last race of the season, and in each case, since the points race was so tight, the race decided who would be crowned the champion of the season.

Lastly, the MAVTv 500 was a race ... again, for three years ... that started in the late afternoon sun and transitioned into the evening giving the race on a high-speed oval some additional mystery due to changes in the light, temperature, and strategy employed by the teams in order to finish on top.

In 2015, it was decided that the MAVTv 500 was to be moved to an all-afternoon race at the end of June when the summertime heat was beginning to get its legs in the desert climate Los Angeles is known for.

Normally, temperatures are in the mid-eighties but the weather pattern became humid and hotter just before the race was to be run where two days before practice took place on Friday, June 26, 2015, the temperature broke through the 100 degree mark. On raceday, however, the track was blessed with a little monsoonal cloud cover reducing the near 100 degree predicted temperature to be only about 90 degrees.

The MAVTv 500 was just race number 11 in a shortened 16 race season for points and the championship. The way the season was planned by management was 17 races for points to decide the championship, but just before the season was to start, the race to begin the season in Sao Paulo, Brazil was cancelled. No make up race for points was ever scheduled.

The MAVTv 500's previous significance as Season Finale, with the pomp and circumstance of evolving day-part change -- to "just another" oval race to begin a stretch of oval races at The Milwaukee Mile on July 12 - Iowa Speedway on July 18 - & Pocono's Tri-Oval on August 23 over the summer months was just too big a change for the public to handle.

Further, with very little promotion to bring awareness to these changes in the months leading up to the race date by IndyCar management, there was very little that the racing venue could do to unbake this cake ... and evidence suggests that everyone at Auto Club Speedway did their best against these scheduling change odds placed upon them by IndyCar.

Graham Rahal, driving the No. 15 Mi-Jack Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (center), won under caution as the cars driven by Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay made contact in a pack battling for position coming to the white flag. Tony Kanaan finished second in the No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (left) and Marco Andretti placed third in the No. 27 Snapple Andretti Autosport Honda (right). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

The riches were enjoyed by those who were there or watched on television. On the web, most all of the comments were in support of the MAVTv 500 being one of the most entertaining races held in years where full crowd attention appeared to be focused on the track for all of the 250 laps of competition. Cheers could even be heard throughout Auto Club Speedway by the (depending on who one listens to) 3,000 / 5,000 / well under 10,000 people at the track when a RED Flag was displayed in order to preserve the final four laps to competition as opposed to having the race cars circle the track to end the race under a YELLOW Flag. This could be pointed to as the best decision Race Control and series management made in support of the MAVTv 500 ... save a non-penalty call for the race winner Graham Rahal.

The No. 15 entry driven by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal will face a post-race review for potential penalty because of a Lap 187 pit stop in which the gravity-fed fuel coupling broke off still attached to the car as Rahal sped away. It dislodged, forcing a caution for debris.

Big Race-Control-By-Committee meeting takes place in pitlane between Derrick Walker and Brian Barnhart while one car qualifies and Sebastien Bourdais waits for the signal to go out on his qualifying run. Wasn't the main purpose during this timeframe qualifications for the MAVTv 500 as opposed to sorting out the finer points of Race Control ... or was this just a social call? Where's the decorum? Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

To be blunt, this has been nothing but an embarrassment of series management - and things need to change from a culture that believes:

** It is perfectly ok to plan a series for 17 races that ends before there can be the threat of any competition for the entertainment dollar by Pro Football.

** Plans a race that happens on the West coast over the same weekend as a major NASCAR road race in wine country (and this is not calculated as competition for the entertainment dollar)

** Loses a race to cancellation at the beginning of the season, and is just fine to not schedule a make-up points race. If Series management isn't serious against the plan how does one expect the fan to be serious?

** Race-Control-By-Committee without having one race car driver with real racing competition under his/her belt on the committee - let alone that experience tells us that too many cooks spoil the broth.

** With a country that has a population of over 300 million people, bringing back, and adding, Brian Barnhart to the Race-Control-By-Committee.

** Increased use of post-competition penalty assessment when many infractions cited in this way were clearly visible as on-track infractions.

** Lack of clear understanding of the discretionary usage of YELLOW, RED, and BLACK Flag track condition employment.

** Series Management through the reliance on information from outside consultants - do they also have as clients ... Pro Football?

** Guts the importance of "Bump-Day" at Indianapolis 500 on the premise the only thing that matters is the Month of May in Indianapolis - because outside of two races, the rest of the season is window dressing and ultimately does not really matter against plan. After all, "our country club is the only country club."

... add your own perceived professional racing series embarrassment here.

The MAVTv 500 at Auto Club Speedway was heralded by some as one of the most exciting races in the sport's history, which was reflected by a more than 100 percent increase in overnight television ratings. The 250-lap event at Fontana, drew a 0.37 overnight rating as reported by Nielsen - up from a 0.18 rating in 2014. It was exhilarating to watch these incredible drivers race each other so closely, so fast, for so long, without putting a wheel wrong, and we all were enjoying the thrills. The most common word used to describe the action was “insane.” Image Credit: Timo Hulett - TRACTALK Pulications (2015)

This template of thinking must change to a corporate and racing competition culture:

** That adheres to a full race season points schedule (and 20 races would be nice).

** Where the season championship points race is of prime importance over the course of seven to eight months.

** The absolute fear of competition of other sports, especially Pro Football, be damned.

** Automobile craft and innovation is fostered.

** The development and recruitment of talent is paramount.

... add your own perceived culture improvement here.

Robin Miller, of Racer Magazine and the NBCSN broadcast team, had been somewhat quiet until race end at the MAVTv 500 where he placed out a challenge to all of the team owners to wrest control of the management, and thereby the culture, of professional open-wheel racing from Mark Miles and the country club crowd that calls Indianapolis their home.

The riches shown by the drivers and teams this season has been something to behold. The last 20 laps of racing at the INDY 500 were probably some of the most exciting and professional on display - ever ... as could be said for the MAVTv 500.

Those who have the greatest investment in the outcomes need to begin the process of inculcating a culture of determination and competency as opposed to a culture of control, dictate, and fear of  entertainment competition.

We need to honor the talent and efforts of these drivers and teams.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Verizon IndyCar Series, MAVTv 500, #MAVTv500, Auto Club Speedway, @ACSUpdates, Race Control, INDY 500, Robin Miller, Mark Miles, Brian Barnhart, Derrick Walker, Country Club, The EDJE, Milwaukee Mile, Iowa Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Tri-Oval, Bullring, Banked, IndyCar,

A.J. Foyt Racing's Takuma Sato Shares IndyCar Thoughts Pre #MAVTv500

TAKU (Takuma Sato) negotiates Turn 6 in his No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing, ABC Supply sponsored, Honda-powered & aerodynamically outfitted Dallara DW12 at the 2015 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

A.J. Foyt Racing's Takuma Sato Shares IndyCar Thoughts Pre #MAVTv500

TAKUMA SATO ON:

 • Auto Club Speedway: “Auto Club Speedway is one of the most exciting high speed ovals. It’s a very fast track and there are lots of overtaking opportunities. I always enjoy racing there and I have great support too [from the fans].

 • On racing during day vs. night: “Running the race during the heat of the day will be very tough. You lose tons of downforce with the high ambient temperature and you lose significant mechanical grip due to the high track temperature as tires are given a very hard time. So there will not be enough grip and the race will be a tough one to deal with as a driver.”

 • Last year’s best start/finish (4th/6th) for you and team at ACS: “We worked one specific setting for a long time and finally it seemed to work better. The track is quite bumpy so you need a very good mechanical grip and try to reduce the downforce. The boys did very fast pit stops last year so that helped for track position too!”

 • The aerokit at ACS: “I think we will have a tough race but we learned a lot from both Indy and Texas so it’s expected to be competitive. Especially the tire management (like Texas) will be very important as we will have a day time race and it will be very much grip-limited compared to the previous night races there.”

 • His weekend off: “I had a very busy week with appearances and a photo shoot in Japan, but had a good weekend off to spend some time with my family. I am now very refreshed and ready to get back in the car!”
(ht: A.J. Foyt Racing - pre-race comments)

SCRIPT BEGIN
Takuma Sato has become one of the most recognizable and respected names in motorsports.

At 10-years-old, a family friend took the young Takuma and his father to the first Formula 1 race in Suzuka, Japan in 1987. Takuma never forgot the excitement of that first race.

He began his competitive career racing bicycles and did not turn his attention to driving machines until the age of 20 ... late by most standards in motorsports.

After a competitive season in All-Japan Formula3, Sato kept his sights on racing in Formula 1 which he was able to do full-time beginning 2002 to 2008.

After a short hiatus, Takuma Sato was able to transition to the IndyCar Series in 2010. The last three seasons, he has been driving for A.J. Foyt Racing with a major highlight being winning the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

This year, Takuma Sato's results have been star-crossed at best, while starting the season's first race qualifying well, mechanical and incident issues have rotated his car to the lower half of the running order at race's end. He currently sits just outside the top 10 at P13 in the season championship points race.

A.J. Foyt Racing's Takuma Sato as he gets ready in the pits. Image Credit: Chris Owens (VICS)

2015 highlights include, setting the fastest lap average speed recorded by a Honda-powered car at INDY 500, registering a P2 podium finish in the second race at the Duel in Detroit, and is P4 of 21 drivers to drive Honda-Powered cars this year.

Takuma Sato and A.J. Foyt's ABC Supply team both posted their best start of fourth ... and best finish of sixth at Auto Club Speedway's MAVTv500 last year.

Perhaps the greatest factor in Sato’s success is not his quickness behind the wheel as much as it is his optimism or his perseverance in the face of adversity. Those are qualities he shares with his team owner A.J. Foyt whose career is distinguished as much by the comebacks as it is by the victories.

TAKU sits in his Honda-Powered Dallara while in the pits checking out information imparted through his steering wheel. Image Credit: Richard Dowdy (VICS)

<<<  A.J. Foyt Racing's Takuma Sato Shares IndyCar Thoughts Pre #MAVTv500  >>>

--  I N T E R V I E W  -- 

Welcome, Formula 1 and IndyCar driver, Takuma Sato ...

====

First, welcome back from a weekend off after a run of 9 to 10 straight weeks of racing, and testing. I understand you were able to go back to Japan to visit family and do promotional and awareness appearances. Please give us an idea of some of the more interesting appearance activity that impressed, or entertained you most.

====

It is no secret, after 10 races, that with the use of the new aerodynamic body parts to the Dallara DW12, Honda was found to be generally underpowered for long straight-aways on road/street courses and somewhat unstable when encountering trailing turbulence.

Scott Dixon, who drives a Chevy-powered and aerodynamics DW12, stated after the INDY 500, that if he found himself more than a couple of cars from the front, the combined trailing turbulence was too much to overcome to drive back to the front.

What has been your primary experience of change over the last year's version of the DW12 - First - On Road/Street courses vs Oval courses?

Second - Major factors of Power vs Trailing Turbulence?

====

IndyCar has scheduled two one-hour practices with the last one ending at 1:30pm PT on Friday ... before a late afternoon qualifications session beginning at 4:15pm PT.

With the race due to be run in a predicted 95 degree plus heat on Saturday June 27th, is there enough afternoon, hourly conditions drive time, to effectively set the car up for a race, which is set to be run from 1:30pm to 4:45pm PT in the afternoon?

====

When you have been able to gain positions on the track during a race, on Road/Street courses, you averaged a gain of 6.75 positions whereas, on Oval courses, you averaged a gain of 11 positions.

Would you say that you are more of an Oval course specialist or a Road/Street course specialist in light of this view of the year's results?

====

We are facing an end of season, at this point, before the MAVTv500, with six races to be run ... [note: this was cut-out due to time - and four of the races are on tracks that are classified as Oval courses - the superspeedway at Auto Club Speedway, the flat track "bullring" of The Milwaukee Mile, the classic oval at Iowa Speedway, and the tri-oval superspeedway of Pocono Raceway].

Please give us a flavor on how your driving and team strengths match up to each of the challenges ... First, next weekend's Auto Club Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile on July 12 - Iowa Speedway on July 18 - & Pocono's Tri-Oval on August 23.

====

Any final thoughts on this weekend’s 500 mile / 200 lap MAVTv500 from Auto Club Speedway?

====

Well, Takuma Sato, thank you for sitting down with us and we wish you consistency and great success through the rest of the season.
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: MAVTv 500, #MAVTv500, Auto Club Speedway, June 27, Takuma Sato, A.J. Foyt Racing, ABC Supply, The Milwaukee Mile, July 12, Iowa Speedway, July 18, Pocono's Tri-Oval, August 23, The EDJE, 

IndyCar's Only Team Owner/Driver, Ed Carpenter, Talks MAVTv 500 Challenge

CFH Racing owner/driver Ed Carpenter leads breakout team-mate and employee, Josef Newgarden through the banked curves of Texas Motor Speedway. Both drivers have statements to make at the afternoon Race 11 of 16 #MAVTv500 at the 2 1/2 mile Auto Club Speedway superspeedway oval. Image Credit: Chris Owens (VICS)

IndyCar's Only Team Owner/Driver, Ed Carpenter, Talks MAVTv 500 Challenge

After enjoying their first weekend off since early April, CFH Racing drivers Josef Newgarden and Ed Carpenter, along with their mechanics and engineers, are rested and ready for Saturday's 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

CFH Racing is coming off the highest of highs after a spectacular 1-2 finish at the last race in the streets of Toronto. Newgarden, driver of the No. 67 Hartman Oil Chevrolet, claimed the victory 1.4 seconds ahead of teammate Luca Filippi in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Car. A strategy call to pit early to switch from rain tires to slicks vaulted Newgarden to the front of the field, where he battled the rest of the race. Meanwhile, Filippi raced forward from his career-best starting position of 6th and was Newgarden's biggest challenger at the end of the event.

Auto Club Speedway has been the backdrop of much success for CFH Racing, with team co-owner Carpenter finishing on the podium each of the last three years. Newgarden earned one of his best starting positions last year at the 2-mile oval, starting on the front row after qualifying third.

In the previous three events at Auto Club Speedway, Carpenter has led 65 laps. Newgarden led his first career Verizon IndyCar Series lap at the track during his rookie year in 2012. Carpenter has six previous starts on the oval track located outside of Los Angeles; Newgarden has three.

CFH Racing's Josef Newgarden currently sits at P8 in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series championship points race after winning his first two VICS races this year at Barber Motorsports Park and Honda Indy Toronto. Can Josef do well in a hot 90+ degree afternoon 500 mile oval challenge? Image Credit: Shawn Gritzmacher (VICS)

The 24-year-old Newgarden is having a career-best season since joining the Verizon IndyCar Series four years ago, capturing two wins in the past seven races. His victory at Barber Motorsports Park in late April was the first of his IndyCar career. The Hendersonville, Tenn.-native has finished in the Top 10 of half of the events this year.

With his win two weeks ago in Toronto, Newgarden joined Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon as two-time winners through 10 races this season. CFH Racing is now ranked with Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing as the only teams with multiple victories in so far in 2015.

The 2015 MAVTV 500 will feature 250 laps and is one of three 500-mile events on this year's schedule. The race be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 27.

ED CARPENTER, NO. 20 FUZZY'S VODKA CHEVROLET: "It is always exciting to go back to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.  It has been a track that we have had a great history at the past three years with a podium each year.  We have really been struggling on the ovals so far this year, but I feel like Fontana is a great track to get things turned around.  We have been working very hard to make sure we go there with a good plan to address some of the struggles that we have had.  I can't wait to get on track and get back up to speed."

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 67 HARTMAN OIL CHEVROLET: "I am really excited to get to Auto Club Speedway. We've had a lot of work to do since Texas and have put a lot of effort in at the shop to be as prepared as we can going into Fontana. Hopefully we can keep the good results rolling after Toronto! I have a lot of faith in all of our guys. We have a lot of good, smart people on the team and I am looking forward to a solid weekend in California."
(ht: CFH Racing) 

A no-bones American oval track driving specialist, Ed Carpenter has never missed a podium at the 2 1/2 mile superspeedway at Auto Club Speedway located in Fontana, California. Image Credit: CFH Racing

<<<  IndyCar's Only Team Owner/Driver, Ed Carpenter, Talks MAVTv 500 Challenge  >>>

--  I N T E R V I E W  --

BEGIN SCRIPT
Ed Carpenter is a two-time Indianapolis 500 pole position holder, this earned, on his home track.

Known to be an oval-track driving specialist, who has three IndyCar career wins, all on ovals, he won his second race at the inaugural MAVTv500 at Auto Club Speedway in 2012. He accomplished this win as a first-time team owner, and driver, of Ed Carpenter Racing.

In 2014, as team owner, Ed hired Mike Conway to drive the #20 Fuzzy's Vodka Dallara DW12 in all street/road course races. This bold move allowed the team to garner three wins for the season and gather enough single car combined points, if allowed to be shown against single driver/single car standings, to break into the top 10 at P8 – good for sponsorships.

This season, Ed Carpenter is co-owner of CFH Racing team that combined efforts of Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing in the off-season.

After 10 races, CFH Racing driver, Josef Newgarden, has two wins, and holds down 8th in the current season’s championship points standings, ahead of recognizable drivers as Tony Kanaan, Simon Pagenaud, and Charlie Kimball.

As the only owner/driver in the series, Ed has placed himself to drive all six ovals on the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule.

A huge basketball fan of his alma mater, Butler University, Ed also follows the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

Ed Carpenter accepts the first MAVTv500 trophy as IndyCar returns in 2012 to race at Auto Club Speedway after a 6-year hiatus. Image Credit: CFH Racing

Welcome team owner and IndyCar driver, Ed Carpenter ...

====

2015 has been a crazy year, with the cancellation of the first race of the season, the introduction aerodynamic body work to the seasons tested DW12 chassis, then the merger of two teams. What has it meant to you as a owner/driver to share ownership responsibilities with someone who is as big an independent supporter of American Open-Wheel racing as yourself, Sarah Fisher?

====

As a driver, how does it feel to be a part of a team owned, by an owner, that you had driven for in the past, before becoming an owner/driver, and what lessons has this imparted to you along the way?

====

Josef Newgarden, after winning his second race sits at P8 in the driver's championship points race, Josef has done well here in qualifications - in 2014 qualified P3 and finished P10, even though he is a team-mate, what counsel will you be giving him as team owner on how to survive the race and achieve maximum points?

====

The Auto Club Speedway has been an excellent venue to showcase your driving skills - As mentioned, you won the first MAVTv500 in 2012, started 7th and finished 2nd in 2013, and last year, you started in 14th and finished in 3rd ... All of the previous races started in the sunlight of early evening and finished well after sundown and were the season finale.

What will change, with a track that will be run, for the first time, in this Verizon IndyCar Series modern era, in the afternoon 90 degree plus sun, 500 miles, 200 laps, and comes with another 5 races to be tackled before seasons end?

====

Further, all of the previous at Auto Club Speedway races were run without the new aerodynamics body work, that has some concerned about the increased levels in trailing turbulence, keeping drivers from being able to charge toward the front - I think this view was shared by Scott Dixon post INDY500 with other drivers chiming in after Texas.

Have you experienced this and will you have to change or adjust your driving style at all?

====

As an owner, or a driver, what else do you anticipate for this next Verizon IndyCar Series Saturday afternoon race?

====

Thank you, Ed Carpenter ... good luck to you, Josef Newgarden, and the rest of the crew at CFH Racing to maintaining the good results at Auto Club Speedway's MAVTv500.
ENDS

MAVTV 500 Returns to Auto Club Speedway - Sat. June 27.

Now into its fourth year commitment, MAVTV Motorsports Network will sponsor the MAVTV 500 Verizon IndyCar Series race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana Ca., on Saturday, June 27. The MAVTV 500 is round 11 of the IndyCar Series championship and the points' battle is heating up with some of the world's fastest drivers in the field including 2015 Indy 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya and reigning IndyCar series champion Will Power.

Grand Marshal for the 2015 MAVTV 500 will be motorsports broadcast legend Dave Despain.

Programming Note: The Dave Despain Show returns to the MAVTV Network on Sunday, July 12 at 8pm ET. Following the premier, each weekly episode will air 30 minutes later on Sundays at 8:30pm ET.

Monster Jam Truck World Champion and off road racing star, Todd LeDuc is Honorary Starter and will drop the MAVTV 500 Green Flag at 1:30pm PT.
(ht: MAVTv)

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Auto Club Speedway, MAVTv500, #MAVTv500, MAVTv 500, ACS 2015, Verizon IndyCar Series, IndyCar, Ed Carpenter, Owner/Driver, CFH Racing, INDY 500, Sarah Fisher, Race 11, The EDJE

Simon Pagenaud Interview – Post Toronto And Before Auto Club Speedway’s #MAVTv500

Simon Pagenaud exits Turn 10 during qualifications (P2) for the Honda Indy Toronto. Image Credit: Chris Owens

Simon Pagenaud Interview – Post Toronto And Before Auto Club Speedway’s MAVTv500

With only six races left in a shortened, messy, and much complicated sixteen race season, we find ourselves facing a series of oval races leading to a season finale at the famed road track located near the San Francisco bay area - Sonoma Raceway.

The 2015 series season began by not beginning as it was scheduled ... through a late cancellation of the first race.

The anticipated new aerodynamics body work created and added to the Dallara DW12 chassis by engine providers Chevy and Honda has had many problems including, lack of allowable testing, durability, trailing turbulence, and changes ordered by Race Control.

Decision making in race management by Race Control has been inconsistent in its application of penalties, the changing of the consequences of penalties, assessing penalties post race where if assessed during the race may have changed order outcomes, inconsistent Flag Control over the race track by leaving the track under Full Course Yellow when a Red Flag condition would be correct call and vice versa - conditions resulted in potential changes in race end outcomes and championship points.

With this as an overlay for the 2015 season, the racing on the track has probably been the most challenging and professional across the board the fans have been treated to in years. The 99th INDY 500 ... especially the last 20 laps were some of the best the old brickyard has ever produced.

IndyCar driver, Simon Pagenaud (left) shares a laugh with Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) before the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Image Credit: Ken Manfred (2015)

<<< Interview With Simon Pagenaud >>>

BEGIN SCRIPT
We are talking with the latest addition of a 4 driver line up at Team Penske super-team for 2015, Simon Pagenaud.

The Verizon IndyCar Series finds itself with a weekend off between this last weekend's street course race at Toronto and the superspeedway 500 mile challenge of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California ... after an intense nine consecutive weekends of either testing, qualifying or racing.

The 31-year-old Frenchman drives the #22 Penske Truck Leasing Chevrolet/Dallara for Team Penske, along side, Helio Castroneves, Will Power, and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Now in his fourth full season in the Verizon IndyCar Series, Simon has four wins, including the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2014.

In qualifications, Simon has been in the Firestone Fast Six phase of Knockout Qualifying of every street/road course session since the beginning of the season which has had Simon secure three top-five finishes in those six races this season, and after last weekend's Honda Indy Toronto, moved up one position to 10th in the point standings.

He earned the 2012 IndyCar Sunoco Rookie of the Year and is a 2010 American LeMans Series Champion.

Known to drive anything, Simon competed in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 2013 driving a modified Honda Odyssey minivan and finishing second in class.

Welcome Simon Pagenaud ...

@simonpagenaud is about to dive into a corned beef sammie at the famous @cantersdeli #indycar - Image Credit: David Hovis Team Penske (2015)

====

The start time of the Honda Indy Toronto was moved up in order to have the race be run between predicted rain cells, and Race Control called for a single-file start.

What was your reaction to this call given that you were able to qualify P2 next to your pole sitting team-mate Will Power?

====

Throughout the first half of the race, especially when the track became dryer, there was speculation with the on-air broadcast team (primarily Paul Tracy) that you seemed to have a set up that was better in the dry - they observed that you were challenging Will Power with a stronger car.

Further, they mentioned that this race in Toronto, Penske Racing took some of the first year team orientation restrictions off to allow you greater freedom in the set-up with engineers.

What type of new things - I believe Tracy used the term, ARTIFACTS - were you able to bring forward to effect in the car's set up and how did this workout in the communications with the pits?

====

In an effort to promote more overtaking at Verizon IndyCar Series road- and street-course races, Race Control announced just after qualifications and before the race that it will no longer display entrants' push-to-pass counts and usage via indicators in its timing and scoring software.

Was there any post race discussion between the folks - drivers and pit crew - about if this helped or hurt racing on the track?

====

Last question on Toronto, Following a FULL COURSE Yellow on Lap 40, on the Lap 46 GREEN Flag re-start, you almost got by Will Power, then your car seemed to not have as much for the rest of the race - what happened?

====

Simon, they have a saying in American Rules Football that it is a game of inches ... at the INDY 500 this year, you were in the thick of the competition all race until near the end when your front wing got clipped by just an inch or two.

If this did not happen, did you have a car to be at the front? ... and how would you have been able to be at the line of bricks, first, against team-mates Will Power and eventual winner Juan Pablo Montoya in the end? What was your plan?

====

The Auto Club Speedway holds two world records for speed - one for qualifications and the other for laps at race speed in traffic. In fact, one of those records is held by a former team-mate you raced with during the final season of his career, Gil de Ferran.

With friends and colleagues like this in the paddock, how do you feel about the track and qualifying at Auto Club Speedway on Friday, June 26th?

====

The race is scheduled to be run in the afternoon with cable NBC Sports Network broadcast window starting at 1:00pm ... and the race scheduled to start at 1:30pm and run to 4:45pm Pacific Time.

What challenges are posed to you, racing three-years in a late-afternoon to evening window for a season finale, to now, competing in a 500 mile, 200 lap race all in the afternoon with five more races to go ... most of on them ovals?

====

So Simon, do you have any special plans for the weekend off from racing?

Here's wishing you a great MAVTv500, Thanks Simon ...
ENDS

For additional information on Auto Club Speedway's MAVTv 500 and fan activities that include a driver autograph session, Driver’s Story Time with Gabby Chaves, Tony Kanaan Walk of Fame Ceremony, Southern California Wine Festival presented by Yancey’s Fancy Artisan Cheese, and Lefty’s 5k Run  ... go online at Auto Club Speedway today. Also, drop in on their social media Twitter portal @ACSUpdates.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Simon Pagenaud, Honda Indy Toronto, MAVTv 500, #MAVTv500, The EDJE, ARTIFACTS, Paul Tracy, NBCSN, Team Penske, Auto Club Speedway, Gil de Ferran, Tony Kanaan, Gabby Chaves

Interview With ACS President Dave Allen Ahead Of The MAVTv 500

 

Auto Club Speedway's start/finish line with Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay about to cross the line. This superspeedway holds the records for the fastest qualifying and at race speed records - both are IndyCar series records. Image Credit: Verizon IndyCar Series

Interview With ACS President Dave Allen Ahead Of The #MAVTv500

SCRIPT BEGIN
====

We are talking with Dave Allen, who serves as President of Auto Club Speedway in advance of Race 11 Of 16 For The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series Championship - The MAVTv 500.

He was named president of the Speedway in December, 2014. Allen has served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Speedway since 2006.

Allen, 41, a 17-year veteran in the sports marketing industry, is responsible for all operations of Auto Club Speedway and Auto Club Dragway.

With the support of Penske Motorsports he joined then California Speedway as a marketing manager in April 1999 after spending one year at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Allen has been the driving force behind the corporate sales department for the last ten years including the ground breaking naming rights partnership with Auto Club of Southern California. This partnership emphasizes the importance of strong working relationships Allen has based his career upon.

From his early childhood karting days at Laguna Seca to Crew Chief of a World of Outlaws Sprint car team to his rise as the Vice President of Auto Club Speedway, Dave Allen has grown up in the motorsports world and is a race fan at heart. Coming from a racing family, Allen has seen the sport grow from both the competition side and the business side and has applied his knowledge and know-how to move up motorsports’ executive ladder.

He is a 1997 Graduate of Colorado State University with a BS in Speech Communication.

Racing fan and Auto Club Speedway president Dave Allen looks forward to a fast paced race that will combine elements of safety and speed found at the last racing oval venue at Texas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: ACS

Welcome, Dave Allen ...

<<< INTERVIEW LINK >>>
- Originally broadcast on Dennis Michelsen's Race Talk Radio June 11, 2015 -

First off, you have been President of Auto Club Speedway since the beginning of the year, you have held several local events and hosted the Auto Club 400 with NASCAR on March 22, has the experience of being able to steer the show measured up to the expectation you felt going in after being at ACS since near its beginning?

Have there been any interesting unanticipated happenings that you can share?

====

This is the fourth year of hosting the Verizon IndyCar Series MAVTv 500.

The previous three years had the MAVTv 500 as the last race of the season where the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship was finally decided on the track. How does the change of hosting a race in the middle of a series schedule effect the hosting of a race as big as a Verizon IndyCar Series open-wheel championship?

====

There is one more race to be run at Toronto before the IndyCars come to the big oval in Fontana, making this the third oval race of the season after the INDY 500, and Texas Motor Speedway. With the new aerodynamics body kits being applied to the cars, the fly overs on crashes at INDY, and the apparent stability and record speeds shown at Texas Motor Speedway, what are you being told and what do you expect about the racing at Auto Club Speedway?

====

The MAVTv 500 schedule begins on Friday June 26 where the infield will open at 9:00 am - Practice sessions are held during two sessions - one between 9:00 to 10;00am and the second from 12:30 to 1:30pm - followed by qualifications to be run from 4:15 to 5:30pm.

What else will be happening at the Auto Club Speedway on Friday ... and what's planned that is new this year?

====

(This question did not get asked due to the fact Dave Allen covered the information with the previous answer)

Then on raceday, Saturday June 27, there is scheduled an autograph session at 10:00am, Driver's Story Time with Gabby Chevas and Tony Kanaan being inducted into the Auto Club Speedway's Walk Of Fame saved for winners of the previous year's race - both at 11:00am.

Tell us more about what is planned as fan activity for raceday, Saturday.

====

The race is scheduled to be run in the afternoon with the NBCSN broadcast window starting at 1:00pm ... and the race scheduled to start at 1:30pm and run to 4:45pm. What additional challenges are posed moving from a three-year run of a race in the evening and hosting a 500 mile, 200 lap race in the afternoon?

====

Thank you, Dave, for your time, we look forward to the second race to be run on a superspeedway this season from the Verizon IndyCar Series open-wheel cars at Fontana during the last weekend in June - any final thoughts?

====
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: MAVTv 500, #MAVTv500, Southern California Wine Festival, Yancey’s Fancy Artisan Cheese, Lefty’s 5k Run, Tony Kanaan, Walk of Fame Ceremony, Gabby Chaves, Driver’s Story Time, NBCSN, Will Power, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, Honda, Chevrolet, Aerodynamics, The EDJE, 

Ed Carpenter Talks MAVTv500, ECR Team Performance, & CFH Racing 2015

Ed Carpenter - Driver, Team Owner, Oval Track Specialist. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Ed Carpenter Talks MAVTv500, ECR Team Performance, & CFH Racing 2015

Ed Carpenter has been racing since he was 8 years old and balanced racing and education throughout much of his career. Carpenter graduated from Butler University with a degree in Marketing in 2003, a few weeks before he won the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Carpenter always has been interested in things with engines.

Carpenter started Ed Carpenter Racing for the 2012 season and is the lone team owner/driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series. He is driving in the oval races for 2014, while Mike Conway is driving the street and road courses. In their second event together, Conway won the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

This past weekend in Milwaukee Ed Carpenter finished in the top 10. Carpenter is successful at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. He won ACS's 2012 MAVTV 500 INDYCAR Race. Last year, he came in 2nd for ACS's 2013 MAVTV 500 INDYCAR race (lost to Will Power). He also won the pole position for back-to-back INDY 500 races - May 2013 & 2014. As an INDYCAR driver and team owner ... over last weekend, he announced that that his team (Ed Carpenter Racing) is merging with Sarah Fisher Hartman racing for the 2015 season.

As we go into the final two races of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series (VICS) championship season, Ed Carpenter answers a few questions and expresses his hope that Ed Carpenter Racing team ends the VICS season in the Top 5 in points accumulated.

One and a half weeks before the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season finale MAVTv500 race at the AutoClub Speedway, Ed Carpenter attends a USC Football practice and attempts a Field Goal. Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

Interview Questions:

AUDIO  FILE  OF  INTERVIEW  >>>

(1) This year has been a pretty good year for Ed Carpenter Racing if one looks at the points the Fuzzy's Vodka DW12 has been able to post up with only 2 races left - Mike Conway's road course at Sonoma and Your Auto Club Speedway's super oval. The two of you are ranked right next to each other - Mike Conway is sitting at P22 and you are at P23 ... but the car's total points have the effort ahead of 3 out of 4 drivers on the two 4 car teams - Ganassi and Andretti - at P7 with 1 Pole and 3 wins.

A) Has this unusual team mix of specialists delivered the results that you expected? B) Has this mix of fielding a car with specialists for a season been done before?

(2) How do you see the team/car finishing the season with these two races that are left? - First, Mike Conway's road course at Sonoma and Second, Your Auto Club Speedway's super oval performance.

Last weekend, before the race was held in Milwaukee, the announcement came out that Sarah Fisher Racing, a team you use to race for and Ed Carpenter Racing were going to merge to compete in the 2015 season and form a 2-car team.

(3) With announced merger forming CFH Racing, what do you see as the advantage in a multiple car team over your present one car/two driver efforts which are impressive on their own? (4) Did the use of the new aerodynamic kit packages for 2015 enter into your decision to merge and grow the team? (answered in context of previous question - skipped)

(5) Does this merger forming CFH Racing allow your current sponsor Fuzzy´s Vodka to gain more exposure?

(6) Do you see the multi-car teams having an advantage in this area of sponsorship and racing platform changes?

(7) Sarah Fisher's driver, Joesef Newgarden seems to be becoming a hot commodity right now in the paddock. Do you intend to try and retain Joesef Newgarden as a driver on this new 2-car team?

(8) Will you continue with the 2-driver line up in one DW12 with Mike Conway taking up duty on the road courses as part of this 2-car team? ... or will you eventually join Sarah in a team management role?
ENDS

MAVTv500 Tickets >>>

... notes from The EDJE

Helio Castroneves visits SoCal to promote MAVTV 500

Helio Castroneves explains to fellow Brazilian and 3rd year L.A. Galaxy midfield player #8 Marcelo Sarvas where a driver needs to look in order to key the Dallara DW12 to a corner ... the tires are the frame. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Helio Castroneves visits SoCal to promote MAVTV 500

With only three races left in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season, Auto Club Speedway teamed up with their sponsored driver Penske Racing's Helio Castroneves. The last race of the season is a double-points paying event that is scheduled to run for 500 miles at Auto Club Speedway in just 21 days on Saturday, August 30.

The event is called  MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships and rightfully so. Helio, who currently is in a strong position to get his first Verizon IndyCar Series championship, sits only four points behind points leader and team-mate Will Power who is also looking for his first title.

It turns out that with only three races left in the 2014 season - Milwaukee, Sonoma, and Auto Club Speedway - roughly 11 drivers are within mathematical striking distance of capturing the Verizon IndyCar Series World Championship Trophy, the Astor Cup. Helio felt that a driver would need a 75 point lead to feel safe ... that would be 75 points ahead after the next two races of the 1 mile bullring at Milwaukee and the 2.52-mile road course at Sears Point near Sonoma.

Helio points out that he is beginning to gain a collection of shoes to the gathered media. First, of course, are driving shoes ... then dancing shoes because of his winning appearance on Dancing With The Stars ... and now a set of professional soccer shoes with this L.A. Galaxy/MAVTV 500 promotion. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

At StubHub Center, formally Home Depot Center, in Carson California, a group of Brazilian athletes came together to draw media support to have folks become aware of the L.A. Galaxy soccer season and the end of the Verizon IndyCar Series season.

Three-time INDY 500 winner, Helio Castroneves was joined by L.A. Galaxy players Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho along with Auto Club Speedway President, Gillian Zucker.

The next two home games for the L.A. Galaxy feature the first Friday Night Fireworks & Lights Show, presented by Best Foods tonight with L.A. Galaxy meeting the San Jose Earthquakes - 8/8 7:30PM PDT and Back to School Night where the first 15K fans will receive a tin lunch box courtesy of The Flame Broiler with L.A. Galaxy meeting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 8/23 7:30PM PDT.

After about three tries, Helio Castroneves strikes an LA Galaxy practice soccer football toward the net situated on the practice pitch at StubHub Center. Fellow Brazilians and LA Galaxy Midfielders Juninho (left) and Marcelo Sarvas (right) look on. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

The joy of GOOOOOOOOOAL was expressed by Helio Casterneves (flying off of the pitch) as he placed the ball through the upper right corner of a protected practice net. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

Helio Castroneves started his day showing his interest in Little League Baseball at the opening of a contest in San Bernardino. He met with the teams gathered and threw out the first pitch prior to the Southern California/Nevada Little League Western Regionals at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino.

The coastal North San Diego County club Encinitas Little League, along with 11 others, take their first steps toward Williamsport, as the West Regional and the Northwest Regional begin with four games at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. Helio Castroneves gives the team a thumbs-up! Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

Here, Helio Castroneves follows tradition as he removes his cap in observance to the pre-game playing of the National Anthem. Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

This excerpted and edited from Press Enterprize - 

Instead of entering Al Houghton Stadium in a single file line, Bonham said players will walk in more as a group and closer to the stands. Instead of the usual picnic the night before the opening ceremonies, this year’s regional teams have a planned night out Thursday at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino for a professional minor league game involving the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League.

“This is showtime for these kids,” Bonham said.

In the West Region, teams come from California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Utah to compete. In the Northwest, teams hail from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Most arrived Wednesday and will stay at the on-site dormitories during the duration of the two tournaments, which wrap up with championship games Aug. 9. The Little League World Series begins Aug. 14 in Williamsport.
[Reference Here]

Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

Encinitas Little League catcher gives Helio some tips on throwing out the first pitch. Image Credit: Albert Wong (2014)

After his So Cal MAVTV 500 Auto Club Speedway promotional swing, Helio participated in a test at Sonoma Raceway.

This excerpted and edited from San Jose Mercury News -

Eleven IndyCar drivers completed a one-day test session at Sonoma Raceway on Thursday.

Participants included Team Penske's Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Juan Pablo Montoya, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan and this year's Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport. Power won last year's Sonoma race.

It marked the final test scheduled for the 12-turn, 2.38-mile course before race weekend. The Grand Prix of Sonoma is Aug. 24.

"Driving a Verizon IndyCar here is a rush. There's really no comparison to driving a stock car here," said Montoya, who won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Sonoma in 2007.
[Reference Here]

Then after the Grand Prix of Sonoma, the season comes to an end ... in August ... at Auto Club Speedway ... Saturday, August 30.

Come one and come all to see just who will celebrate winning the new 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Astor Cup.

... notes from The EDJE

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson is released to recover from home

Justin Wilson in the pits. Image Credit: Ken Manfred (2013)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2013)

Justin Wilson being attended to out on Turn 2 at Auto Club Speedway. Image Credit: Ken Manfred (2013)

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson is released to recover from home

IndyCar pilot Justin Wilson returned home to Colorado this week to begin his recovery process after suffering injuries in a lap 111 accident in the 2013 IndyCar season finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California last weekend.

Wilson suffered a pulmonary contusion as well as three fractures to his pelvis from the impact, which saw the front of a competitor’s car make lateral (t-bone) contact with the right side of Wilson’s DW12. The recovery process will require several weeks of inactivity for Wilson.

The order to keep off his feet is a big adjustment for Wilson, who in addition to his duties as a doting dad to his two young daughters, stays extremely active with a comprehensive training program that integrates long-distance cycling, mountain biking, and weight training.

“They said it will be six weeks before I can put weight on my right side,” said Wilson, who has already become adroit with his new crutches he will use to get around. “I am hoping for a lot less (time) of course, but you have to do what they say. It will be hard because I am already thinking about getting back in the car and training to be ready for that, but it will just take some time.”

Wilson has a recent precedent for this process after suffering a back injury in practice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August, 2011. But after sitting out the final six races of the IndyCar season, Wilson returned to 2012 race duty in fine form, winning in his first race back with a breakthrough victory for Michael Shank Racing in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona.

While obeying doctors orders and keeping off his feet will be key to his healing, the affable Briton has already also benefited from an outpouring of support from a wide range of sources.

“It has been amazing, several of the drivers came and visited me in the hospital and everyone has called, tweeted, or texted me just saying ‘get well fast’.  It has been a little overwhelming,” said Wilson. “I’d like to respond to everyone, but I think it would be impossible!  I am grateful for the support, and it is  really encouraging for me.”

The primary partner on Wilson’s No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda-powered machine was the Boy Scouts of America, and the group was another outlet of support as the national council organized a section of the website for Scouts from across the country to wish Wilson a speedy recovery  (http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2013/10/21/justin/).

... notes from The EDJE