IndyCar Star Paul Tracy Gets An Indy500 Borg Warner Trophy

Who says one can never litigate the past - once a champion, always a champion. Bravo to Mama Kaye and Paul Tracy.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Paul Tracy, Mama Kaye, Borg Warner, Trophy, Indianapolis 500, The EDJE

Spoils Go To The Canadian Victor At The 43rd Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' James Hinchcliffe driving the No. 5 Honda Dallara DW12 IndyCar celebrates with his red-gloved fist in the air as he wins his first Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Ken Manfred (2017)

Spoils Go To The Canadian Victor At The 43rd Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Victory takes on many forms when one perseveres through the struggles of being a top-level race car driver in a top-level racing series.

It had been two years since Oakville, Ontario's James Hinchcliffe stood at the middle and top spot of a podium platform at the end of a Verizon IndyCar Series contest held at the "one-of" race held in the rain at NOLA Motorsports Park outside of New Orleans. Just soon after this momentous fourth win in IndyCar, James suffered a major life-threatening puncture to his left upper thigh reaching up into the pelvic area through a Turn 3 crash at 220mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during INDY 500 practice.

Driving the No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, Hinchcliffe collected the first pole of his Verizon IndyCar Series career in what will be his 79th race, edging Josef Newgarden for the honor by a mere 0.0407 of a second over the 10-mile run. Image Credit: IndyCar (2016)

Recovery and the drive in James Hinchcliffe to continue in this passion of driving a race car at the highest levels of competition were rewarded one-year and three days later when he captured his first ever Verizon P1 Pole Award at the very same track that almost killed him.

As icing on this cake, it came at the celebration of the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. True grit was shown because James put together this scintillating four-lap run of 230.760 mph as the final driver of the day in the Fast Nine Shootout - no pressure.

James Hinchcliffe gets instructions while in the pits at the 38th Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach at the controls of his Andretti Autosport No. 27 Go Daddy Chevrolet DW12 Dallara. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Hinchcliffe has raced here at Long Beach in the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2011 with three different teams - Newman-Haas, Andretti Autosport, and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports - and has reached the podium once at P3 in 2012 for Andretti Autosport.

James Hinchcliffe leads Andretti Autosport teammates Alexander Rossi and Marco Andretti through the Hairpin Turn before applying the power down the long Shoreline Drive front straight early in the race before all Andretti Autosport cars retire with problems by the race's end. Image Credit: Myles Regan (2017)

This excerpted and edited from CBS NEWS (AP) -

IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe, who nearly died in race, checks big one off bucket list
CBS NEWS (AP) - April 10, 2017, 7:46 AM

Not once did James Hinchcliffe think his career was over after a near-fatal accident in 2015.
----
At long last, he’s got his first win on the race track since his accident.

Hinchcliffe won a three-lap shootout to the finish Sunday on the streets of Long Beach to win in a Honda for Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports. It was the Canadian’s first victory since 2015 at New Orleans, a month before his accident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“To finally do what was goal No. 1 when we set out at the start of the season, to get back into winner’s circle, to do so as early in the season as we have, as convincingly as we did, was great,” said Hinchcliffe.
----
He’ll gladly take it at Long Beach, the most historic street course race in the country.

“After Indy and personally me for Toronto, this is the biggest one to win,” Hinchcliffe said. “I’ve had a lot of luck here. We’ve been really quick here in the past and to finally get to victory lane here is more than I can put into words. This place has a lot of history, that’s what drivers really care about. The greatest of the greats have won here.

“Toronto, Indy and this place were on my bucket list to win before I die, and it’s nice to check one off.”

Sebastien Bourdais followed his season-opening victory at St. Pete with a second-place finish to give Honda a 1-2 podium finish.

Josef Newgarden was the highest finishing Team Penske driver and was third in a Chevrolet.
----
[The three-lap shootout] set it up for Hinchcliffe to have to race Bourdais to the finish, but Bourdais was focused on the big picture in the closing laps. Hinchcliffe had gotten off to such a great start when racing resumed, that Bourdais tried only to maintain his running position.

“We played to our strengths and I’ve always been comfortable saving fuel,” Bourdais said. “We lost balance a little bit, and I was really thinking about saving second place. I was thinking championship.”
[Reference Here]

Oh Canada! ... James Hinchcliffe celebrates with Canadian maple leaf flag in Victory Circle as he captures his fifth win in the Verizon IndyCar Series sharing the podium with Frenchman and four-time champion, Sebastien Bourdais and American Josef Newgarden. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

Complete Race Description By Motorsport.com  HERE >>>
Verizon IndyCar Series Box Score HERE >>>

For many who race at the highest levels in autosport, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (TGPLB), after running as an event for 43 years and exclusively the home of American open-wheel racing for for 33, is the considered to be "INDY 500 of street courses."

James Hinchcliffe expressed this attitude and feeling about the TGPLB with the following comment, "We worked hard this off-season to perfect the package we had. Good speed at a lot of races last year. To roll off the first two races of the season, being in the Fast Six both times, if not for a caution falling for the wrong time at St. Pete, could have been in the top five or on podium there. To do it here and finally at this place, a track that I love so much, a track that's been very good to me in my career, one that I think is the Indy 500 of street tracks, it's the second longest running race after the 500. I think because of that history, it makes it a very special event, one that every driver wants to win. The greats have all raced here, the greats have all won here. To get in the winner's circle was huge."

Additional points of order to history as a race car driver from Canada are reflected in a bit of everything James Hinchcliffe does, from the number on his car - No. 5, which he now has as the number of wins in IndyCar matching the marks set by Greg Moore, Jacques Villeneuve, and Patrick Carpentier.

Champagne bath provided to winner James Hinchcliffe by three-time winner of the TGPLB Sebastien Bourdais who came in P2. Josef Newgarden takes a swig on the podium at P3, his first Podium since becoming a Penske Chevrolet driver. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2017)

Additional Post Race Quotes From James Hinchcliffe:

“If someone told me after NOLA last year that five wins was the number Greg had, the number Jacques Villeneuve had, and I believe the number Patrick Carpentier had. Only PT is higher than that in the list of Canadians in in IndyCar racing. To drive at a level with those guys, I mean, it’s tough to put into words”

“Greg was a huge motivation and a huge inspiration to me as a child. I followed Jacques’ career religiously. When Pat and Greg were teammates, followed Pat as well, to now be level with those guys is incredible.

“You know what, when I came into this sport, I felt a huge responsibility, to be honest, to keep up the good name that Canadian drivers had in IndyCar. There haven’t been a ton of us. The ones that have been here have been race winners, they’ve been contenders week in and week out. I wanted to maintain that, you know, record for Canada, not be the guy that let us down.”
ENDS

AND ... about the Red Gloves with the Canadian flag and HINCH emblazoned on them, raised high in victory? A tribute to the shortened career of Greg Moore.

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: James Hinchcliffe, Sebastien Bourdais, Josef Newgarden, Red Gloves, Greg Moore, Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier, Paul Tracy, #TGPLB43, No. 5, Arrow, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Honda, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, 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

Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Honors Paul Tracy And Adrian Fernandez With Medallions

Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame's temporary wall of fame display. All honorees starting with the first year to present - 2006-2012 are on display. This event acts as the first official event of the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach extended event weekend (slideshow). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012) 

Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Honors Paul Tracy And Adrian Fernandez With Medallions

Two of the most popular drivers to ever turn a wheel at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez – will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame on Thursday, April 18.

The public is invited to the free, 8th annual, induction ceremony which will be held at 11 a.m. on South Pine Avenue in front of the Convention Center, along the route of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

View slideshow: Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame honors Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez with medallions

“Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez have made legendary contributions to the field of motorsports, and they have truly earned their place on the Motorsports Walk of Fame” said Mayor Bob Foster, who will be presenting medallions to the honorees. “Paul Tracy has four wins here at Long Beach, and Adrian Fernandez is one of the sport’s greatest international ambassadors.”

Tracy notched his first open-wheel race victory here at Long Beach in 1990 when he won the Firestone Indy Lights support race. Three years later, he won the 1993 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, then went on to take the checkered flag three more times, in 2000, 2003 and 2004, tying him with Mario Andretti for second in all-time Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach wins behind Al Unser Jr.’s six.

During his illustrious career, the talented Canadian scored 31 race victories and 25 pole positions in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Champ Car series and, in 1993, won seven races en route to the Champ Car series championship.

Fernandez, one of the most popular athletes ever to hail from Mexico, made his open-wheel debut here in 1993 and, in 11 appearances, had a career best-finish second place (2003) at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Fernandez’ career resume includes 11 open-wheel race victories in both the Champ Car and IZOD IndyCar ranks, including three victories in 2004.

He has continued that open-wheel racing success into the sports car racing ranks. In 2009, Fernandez teamed with Luis Diaz to win the LMP2 Class in the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series race at Long Beach, the duo going on to win seven more races and the ALMS LMP2-class championship.

“There couldn’t be two more deserving individuals to be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “Paul has to rank as one of the true masters of the Long Beach circuit and Adrian was not only successful on the track but also was highly responsible for the significant increase in the number of Hispanic fans who now attend our event.”

The Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers' cars and their major achievements in motorsports.

For more information, visit www.lbmotorsportswof.com.

... notes from The EDJE

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Paul Tracy & Alex Tagliani Nixed From Support By IZOD IndyCar Series

Paul Tracy driving the Ralphs supermarket sponsored Dallara for KV Racing Technology entering turn #9 during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Paul Tracy & Alex Tagliani Nixed From Support By IZOD IndyCar Series

The IZOD IndyCar Series leaves Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani off of the list of drivers and teams that are expected to share in the benefits received through large IndyCar Series advertising and broadcasting contracts. A pool of money is distributed between teams and drivers and since Tracy and Tagliani are not on the list, they will not get the expected subsidy of the approximately $1.3 million dollars each which helps teams to field a driver for a full season.

The program set up to assist teams and drivers is meant to reward teams for both past performance and a commitment to a full season of racing to a driver is called the Leader Circle program. Not including Paul Tracy will impact his chances to put a full season ride together with Michael Shank Racing. It is expected to have less of an impact with Alex Tagliani as the Montreal native already has a full-season sponsorship deal in place with premium sound electronics giant Bowers & Wilkins to support his ride with Bryan Herta Autosport.

The decisions behind who actually receives the Leader Circle program which is limited to only 20 teams has many people scratching their heads.

Alex Tagliani as he sits in his Bowers & Wilkins Dallara while in the pits for adjustments between warm-up sessions at the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

This excerpted and edited from the Toronto Sun -

IndyCar gives Tracy, Tags cold shoulder
BY DEAN MCNULTY,TORONTO SUN

Oakville’s [a Toronto, Canada suburb] James Hinchcliffe did make the cut with the No. 27 team from Andretti Autosport.

The so-called Leader Circle program is meant to reward teams for both past performance and a commitment to a full season of racing in 2012.

[Bryan] Herta was livid at the news his team — that won last year’s Indianapolis 500 with the late Dan Wheldon behind the wheel — was not among the Leader Circle cash recipients [with the seat being picked up by Alex Tagliani].

“I’m extremely disappointed and angry, it’s a travesty,’’ Herta told SPEED-TV. “We’ve got the only national brand as a primary sponsor and I was always told the Indy 500 was the most important race in the world. But obviously it wasn’t enough to get us into the 20 most important teams.”

In an astounding bit of irony Tagliani’s old team — Sam Schmidt Motorsports — was awarded one of the $1.3 million aid packages based on his performance with that team in 2011 where he won the pole at the Indy 500.

SSM’s money will go, however, to support Simon Pagenaud of France, who has no poles and no wins in his one-season of IndyCar racing [note: Pagenaud was a CCWS Formula Atlantic Champion edging out Graham Rahal in 2006].

For Tracy — the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion and winner of 31 career races — it is a bitter pill to swallow as it shows that IndyCar is still throwing its established stars under the bus.

For example the list of 20 teams and drivers that were awarded Leader Circle money includes an open spot on the KV Racing Technology team that is being held for Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.

This would be the same Barrichello who is out of rides in Formula 1 after a career with no championships and just 11 wins in 326 races.
----
Barrichello, who turns 40 this season, is only two years younger than Tracy, so it is not as if IndyCar teams are seeking out new and exciting drivers to entice fans back to their events.

Tracy, contacted on Friday, said he was going to wait until all of his options are looked into before commenting on the loss of the Leaders Circle money.

However in typical Tracy fashion he tweeted his thoughts: “People want to know my thoughts on the leader circle, never thought I would get one in the first place, not wasted any time thinking on it.”
[Reference Here]

It is understandable that the IZOD IndyCar Series would want to broaden the appeal of the racing series with strong or recognized names from Europe, but if the limit is only 20 teams, the driver's past performance, certainly in Paul Tracy's and Alex Tagliani's case, should be given a greater weight.

Frankly, to shun these two top Canadian drivers over some of the other drivers mentioned who are receiving the Leader Circle subsidy at a time of formula transition seems a little fool hardy. Fans are concerned about how the new DW12 package will translate to the competition on the track and to not have those with a greater history and traditions of American open wheel racing on the track would be to allow a potential disconnect between fan and series.

UPDATE:

Randy Bernard, CEO of the IZOD IndyCar Series, responds to the questions raised when some good drivers and teams were left out of the subsidy funding provided by the ICS program known as Leader Circle.

Randy Bernard (left) shares a happier moment of camaraderie with Bryan Herta - BHA (right) with Dennis Reinbold - DRR (facing) and Keith Wiggins - HVM (from behind) looking on in the Lotus Group Ltd. booth during the IZOD IndyCar/Lotus team press announcement at the 2011 LA Auto Show. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

This excerpted end edited from Racer.com -

Q & A: Randy Bernard on the eve of 2012 State of IndyCar address
David Malsher, Racer.com - February 11 2012

On the eve of his State of IndyCar address, series CEO Randy Bernard talked with RACER editor David Malsher about some of the major topics brewing in the IZOD IndyCar Series right now.

DM: It's caused a lot of controversy, so tell us, how were the Leader Circle allocations decided this year?

RB: We said from the start that the top 22 in points last year would qualify. So at the end of the year, those 22 were guaranteed a slot. When Newman/Haas Racing decided to throw in the towel, we decided that, with interest in the series meaning we might have 28-29 cars, what we'll do with those other two Leader Circle slots, will be to invite all teams to tell us why we should choose them – what are they going to do for the series to bring fans in? Why do they deserve that $1.1m? And they came back with some compelling stories and information. Jay Penske promised 50 million impressions from all his internet websites committing to IndyCar. His presentation was head and shoulders above everyone else's. And then Ed Carpenter came in with a sponsor that was committed to creating four-week, three-week and two-week marketing strategies in every IndyCar market to help the promoters sell tickets as well as helping us with other areas of promotion. Then we considered also that Sebastien Bourdais is a hell of a driver who deserves to be in the series, and Ed Carpenter won a race last year. So those were the two we chose.

But after that, Lotus DRR [formerly Dreyer & Reinbold Racing] and Andretti Autosport told us they were going to give back one Leader Circle each as they cut a car from their lineups. So we've interviewed everyone – Jay Penske wanted another one, as did Ganassi, and then there was Bryan Herta, Michael Shank, Eric Bachelart and Bobby Rahal. But they were so on a par, we didn't feel it was fair to, for example, choose Herta and Rahal over Ganassi and Shank. It was too close to call, it would get political – and it shouldn't be about politics. So if no one was head and shoulders above the others, how do we make it fair for everybody? OK, we could have just taken that $2.2m and put it into our bottom line, because we don't owe anybody anything, but we said “Let's put it into prize money.”

So there are five places for non-Leader Circle entrants eligible for payouts in each race aside from the Indianapolis 500. The highest finishing non-Leader Circle entrant will get $80,000 through to the fifth non-Leader Circle car getting $26,000. Then, additionally, all entrants in the starting field get bonuses of $35,000 for first place, $25,000 for second, $20,000 for third, $15,000 for fourth and $10,000 for fifth place at each race [not including the Indy 500]. So if you finish first of non-Leader Circle cars, you can do a lot better than you could from the Leader Circle program, and come in second all the time and get the equivalent of a Leader Circle. So I think that what we did was the best thing for the sport going forward because it's created another storyline. Paul Tracy is a great driver, so if he's good enough and Michael Shank Racing is good enough, then they'll win a lot of money.

DM: Why have the Leader Circle scheme at all? Why not scrap the scheme and use the money to substantially boost the prize fund for each and every race? The rich would get richer but so would the poor. Wouldn't that encourage teams to a) start the season and then accrue further funding by doing well and you'd have a race-by-race meritocracy?

RB: Right, and I think that may be the way to go. If you're not prepared to race for success and its rewards, what are you in the series for? Are you in it to make a profit or are you in it to win? I read Eric Bachelart's comments about how he's been loyal to Indy car racing for 16 years, but to my mind, there are two things he should be saying to himself right now: 1) “Am I in IndyCar to win?” and 2) “If I am and I'm not in the top 22, then I have a problem.” And if he's in it just to make money, then I have a problem with it. We're not just about making money: we have to create a great product and show credibility to our fans.

[Reference Here]


Still smells a little like Tony George, lurking in the background, pulling strings.

... notes from The EDJE


- Article without UPDATE first published as Paul Tracy & Alex Tagliani Nixed From Support By IZOD IndyCar Series on Technorati -

Paul Tracy Close To Becoming A Bricklayer In IndyCar

Paul Tracy during a time he thought a three-race agreement with KV Racing Technologies announced at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach might lead to a full ride in 2011 ... it was not to be. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

Paul Tracy Close To Becoming A Bricklayer In IndyCar

Paul Tracy is looking to have a full year secured ride in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series ... and he is close to getting his deal.

In a conversation at the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona with the media in attendance, Tracy shared that he is nearing an agreement on driving for a full season with Michael Shank Racing, a team partially owned by AJ Allmendinger, co-driving winner of the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona held this past weekend.

In looking to find additional information on the progress of these developments, this posting at Twitter this morning from Paul Tracy speaks volumes:

paultracy3 paul tracy

When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more brick layers ................

For a little understanding of what frustration Las Vegas resident the "Thrill From West Hill" is talking about, one needs to know what may be standing in the way of finalizing a Michael Shank Racing DW12 effort to deliver a full season ride for Paul Tracy.

This excerpted and edited from The Sault Star -

Tracy's last ride: Racer close to 1-year deal
By DEAN MCNULTY, QMI AGENCY - Jan. 30, 2012

It was Tracy who spotted a then-teenaged Allmendinger at a go-kart race in Arizona more than a dozen years ago and decided to help the youngster with his racing career.

Tracy even introduced Allmendinger to some high-powered ChampCar World Series team owners that resulted in Allmendinger winning the Atlantic Series championship in 2003. But after only three seasons in ChampCar, Allmendinger defected to NASCAR, a move that Tracy was highly critical of at the time.

Time, however, seems to have healed those wounds because in an interview with Associated Press motor sports writer Jenna Fryer at Daytona where Tracy was driving the No. 77 Doran Racing Riley Ford, he said there are only some finishing touches that need to be made to get him in an MSR Dallara DW12 come March 25 for the opening IndyCar race at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

"We have a car, we have a sponsor, but we need to put an engine package together," Tracy said of the contract talks.

That may be a sticking point as MSR had been reported to be in line of one of the new Lotus engine packages that will debut in the IndyCar series this season.

Tracy has a long term relationship with rival Honda, which has backed the Canadian driver for the past four seasons as he attempted to get his open-wheel racing career back on track.

The 43-year-old native of Toronto has not had a season-long contract since ChampCar folded in 2007.
----
"What I think what has hampered me most over the last few years is really only being in a car three, four, five times a year," he said. "When you are not out there testing all the time with the likes of Dario (Franchitti) or Scott Dixon and all these guys, they are in the car all the time.

"When you are out of the car, you get rusty. It didn't affect me as bad in '07 when ... I jumped back in and I could get going right away. And I can still get going pretty well, but it's so competitive now that you just can't be out of a car for that long."

Tracy said most teams in the IndyCar Series are at a competitive disadvantage at the best of times going up against the financial might of Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing.

"It's very, very difficult to get in top notch, top level IndyCar equipment because it's so expensive and Penske and Ganassi really have a handle on that," he said.
[Reference Here]

The 2012 season provides a unique opportunity for a new team to be competitive right away due to the fact this is the first year of a new formula. All teams are starting out with a new chassis, with a choice of one of three new turbo-charged power plants - Honda, Chevrolet, and Lotus.

This scenario just might be what the doctor ordered for a new team, that has a winning tradition behind it, with a driver who has the skill, experience, and heart to be a bricklayer in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

... notes from The EDJE


- Article first published as Paul Tracy Close To Becoming A Bricklayer In Indycar on Technorati -

Edmonton INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Race Start: Will Power, Team Penske leads the field to the Checkered Flag at the Rexall Edmonton INDY at the Edmonton City Centre Airport. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

Edmonton INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

The Edmonton INDY is in the middle of a three-year contract to bring the race to Edmonton. It would be a shame to see this Canadian venue go by the way of, say, Vancouver. Edmonton has been one of the better temporary courses ever set up and is similar to the type of race that another defunct venue had in Cleveland Burke Lakefront airport.

Edmonton INDY is the 11th race of the IndyCar Series 2009 season and it has been another tough year for the fortunes of the Transition Players with only one consistent highlight ... flashes of brilliance from Will Power, Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal, and Paul Tracy but little in the way of consistency.

Will Power, driving for Penske Racing, has been a consistent performer but due to contract issues with Penske ... has not been able to actually race consistently with only five appearances in races so far this season. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

Order given to have drivers to the cars!

This excerpted and edited from Twitter, IndyCar Live Timing and Scoring, and various digital resources -

IndyCarNationDrivers introductions have begun at Edmonton City Centre Airport. Second of four Snowbirds flybys will be 15 minutes.
FuriousWedgewhat a concept, VS giving more coverage & explanation to the Dario-PT pit order issue than ABC did, and ABC were the ones covering that race
CrashGladysOh man, my Helio 'I love Canada' bit just cut out... hopefully it wasn't my DVR! I was wanting to hear that bit... #indycar

15:44:58 GMT-0600 Lap 0: All cars are away from the grid for the pack laps. Green flag 2nd time by.

15:48:55 GMT-0600 Lap 0: Mario Moraes has some damage after going off course.

IndyCarPRLap 1: #5 Moraes is off course in Turn 5 with damage to the car. #24 Conway off course in Turn 14.

Will Power leads the way on the first lap

luczodragonRear suspension was bent in the turn, he's coming in

15:53:36 GMT-0600 Lap 5: The lead has dropped to around one second.

VisionRacing10 laps in + Will Power is leader. Red car. Red car. Red car. (Normally) Red Car. But OH CANADA!! PT is P6 + looking to get in the mix!

16:00:00 GMT-0600 Lap 11: Will Power has a comfortable lead, but isn't pulling away.

Top five Will Power , Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, and Dario Franchitti - go figure. The good news is that Paul Tracy is on Dario's rear wing in sixth.

16:01:22 GMT-0600 Lap 12: Will Power just had his fastest lap of the race.

IndyCarPRLap 12: #12 Power leads #6 Briscoe by 1.5258 seconds.

Matos got his car fixed and is heading out on the track 14 laps down!

16:07:15 GMT-0600 Lap 18: Tomas Scheckter is back out after a pit stop. He appeared to have no damage.

VisionRacingI gotta say, the Luczo Dragon crew helmets and mirrored googles are awesome looking. Very Star Wars looking.
DRRIndyCarTomas reports rear suspension damage. Car looks ok.
VisionRacingEngineer Jeff Britton on radio: " Keep after it. You're catching him!" Refering to Ed hunting down Antinucci. Ed reporting understeer in 9.
IndyCarNationLap 17: #12 Power leads #6 Briscoe by 2.7540 seconds. Lap 20: #12 Power leads #6 Briscoe by 3.4230 seconds
pressdogdoes power pull over at the end to "accidentally" let Briscoe by since he's in the championship hunt?
lesleyworldTop five in Edmonton IndyCar race are all Penske and Ganassi. Ooo, how exciting! {YAWN}

16:10:44 GMT-0600 Lap 21: A battle for P10 is developing between Justin Wilson and EJ Viso.

16:11:49 GMT-0600 Lap 22: Richard Antinucci is in the pits for an extended stop.

pressdogfestival of lock step
VisionRacing8 laps to pitstop. Vision crew will try to get Ed a spot in the pits.
PlanetIrldotcom@pressdog Lockstep would be a compliment. That means they're close!

16:13:40 GMT-0600 Lap 24: The lead of Will Power is increasing with each lap.
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16:16:46 GMT-0600 Lap 27: The lead of Will Power has stabilized around four seconds.

DRRIndyCarFuriously working to repair the 24 http://yfrog.com/7gzg1zj
VisionRacingEd coming in this lap. Turn and a half front wingm taking reds off and putting black firestones on. And fuel of course.
luczodragonMoraes, Conway, Scheckter are now behind us. Shooting for 98 next
kvracingTracy now 6th after 29 laps. Still on red tires, not pitted yet. Race order, Power, Briscoe, Castroneves, Dixon, Franchitti, Tracy

16:20:27 GMT-0600 Lap 30: The lead cars are working their way through lapped traffic.
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FuriousWedgedid Dixon just go over a speed bump coming out of the pits, he got some serious air!

Marco Andretti, Andretti Green Racing with the center of the city of Edmonton in the background. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

Marco26WebDan's in - so Marco has a chance to make up some time on the track before his own stop.
luczodragonLeaders all coming in to pit, 61 laps left

Rahal and Doornbos pit - Tony Kanaan's car is on FIRE!
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16:27:12 GMT-0600 Lap 36: The fire was in the cockpit of Kanaan's car, but it appears he is uninjured.
16:28:19 GMT-0600 Lap 37: Ryan Briscoe is working on the lead of Will Power as it continues to come down.

lesleyworldScary pit fire for Tony Kanaan, but great to see all of the other team's crews running out immediately to help.
VisionRacing@tonyKanaan waving to fans on his way to medical. He's okay. VERY wet. But okay.
IndyCarNationLap 33: Leader #12 Power and #6 Briscoe and #9 Dixon pit for four black tires and fuel. New leader is #3
IndyCarPRLap 34: Leader #3 Castroneves on pit lane for four black tires and fuel. #11 Kanaan exits pits with a fire on-board.

16:31:35 GMT-0600 Lap 40: Dan Wheldon off course and continue in Turn 3.
16:33:42 GMT-0600 Lap 42: Will Power is looking strong as his lead stays around 2.5 seconds.

DRRIndyCarBoth our cars seem to be back running smoothly.
FuriousWedgeScary fire for Tony Kanaan with fuel splashing into the cockpit. he just can't catch a break at all this season
CrashGladysDamn I thought I was live with you all on the race, but you kept tweeting about a fire... just saw it... holy cow! Glad everyone is OK...
VisionRacingEd is P17 w/ Mutoh + Wheldon ahead. @ryanracing is P11. Elsewhere... Power leads (understatement!) Followed by parade of red cars + PT.
FuriousWedgemany kudos to all the indycar drivers this weekend for not taking out that Budweiser sign

16:35:42 GMT-0600 Lap 44: Helio Castroneves is running laps quicker than Will Power as the gap continues to go down.

We are nearly half of the way through, we've had off track excursions, bumping, scrapes, and fires but NO YELLOW FLAGS!

IndyCarNationLap 45: #12 Power leads #3 Castroneves by .6861 of a second.
luczodragonPitting on lap 46
PlanetIrldotcom@toomuchracing Not much to talk about. Will Power is dominating. No action. a Penske Parade
TheEDJE@PlanetIrldotcom - Parades are fun ... if you are a trombone player! #irl #ics #indycar
IndyCarNationLap 50: Working heavy traffic, #12 Power leads #3 Castroneves by .6265 of a second.
VisionRacingNext stop Vision crew will go to red Firestone tires. (Yes 4 tires. This is not NASCAR) Full tank of Ethanol. No wing adjustments.
kvracingPT just gone faster, now done 63.3452 on lap 52. Still P6, got 42 laps to go

16:44:32 GMT-0600 Lap 52: Will Power has had the strongest car all day.

FuriousWedgeIf Will is content to follow Danica & Marco, 2-8th will catch up by the pit stops #indycar
IndyRacingNewsKiss His Bricks: Jimmie Johnson Wins The Allstate 400 at The Brickyard: Bleacher Report On the restart second pl.. http://bit.ly/Q91Fn
pressdogProbably won't be any real racing here until after last pit stops. Wake me up when that starts.

16:51:37 GMT-0600 Lap 59: Will Power has every lap that he has been on the track and not in the pits.

pressdogmarco inhalation!
PlanetIrldotcom"If WP is so awesome, how come he can't pass a backmarker on a track that 150 feet wide? " lol, nice one
kvracingPT pitting again for red tires and fuel. Lap 61 or 95. Hitting a little bit of traffic but everything is good.

16:55:43 GMT-0600 Lap 63: Will Power gives up the race lead for what should be his last pit stop.

IndyCarPRLap 61: #10 Franchitti to pit lane for four black tires and fuel. #15 Tracy pits for four red tires and fuel.
DRRIndyCarGetting ready for a routine stop with Mike.
kvracingPaul just briefly went across the grass, but back on track

16:57:06 GMT-0600 Lap 64: Ryan Briscoe takes a pair of scuffed red tires.

lesleyworldAh, that's good, the cameraman couldn't figure out which one was Paul Tracy. And now Jon can't figure out where the cars are on the track.

16:59:13 GMT-0600 Lap 66: Ryan Briscoe gets around Dixon for P2.
17:00:10 GMT-0600 Lap 66: Helio Castroneves is the next driver to look at getting around Scott Dixon.
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VisionRacingPower in lead. P2 Dixon locked up his front brakes. Briscoe gets past Dixon. Mixes up order... Red car. red car. red car. Oh wait nevermind.
pressdogthat was it, kids. the excitement for the day, baring air strike. thanks for watchin.
mariomoraesindyHave a team mate like this for what ? better dont have any one ..
mariomoraesindypra que que serve o companheiro de equipe ? pra ajudar no desenvolvimento nao ? O MEU SOH TEM FUDIDO TUDO .... pqp
pressdogpower +6.7 wings back in the delta
IndyCarPRLap 62: #12 Power and #3 Castroneves on pit lane for four black tires and fuel. New leader is #6 Briscoe.
IndyCarPRLap 63: #6 Briscoe on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. New leader is #9 Dixon.
IndyCarPRLap 64: Leader #9 Dixon on pit lane for four black tires and fuel. #12 Power beats #9 Dixon into Turn 1
IndyCarPRLap 70: #12 Power leads #6 Briscoe 6.5675 seconds
TheEDJE70 Laps and still no full course caution YELLOW - #irl #ics #indycar
FilipCleerenBriscoe has more trouble with backmarkers than with Helio and Dixon...

17:07:10 GMT-0600 Lap 73: Scott Dixon uses lapped traffic to get by Helio Castroneves for P2.

Marco26WebL73: Lead cars make a strong move on Marco and he takes a trip across grass to avoid trouble. Lapped up to fourth, but holding P10.
FuriousWedgeUmm Jon & Robbie, you guys missed the fact that Dixon got by Briscoe as well
IndyCarPRLap 73: #12 Power leads #9 Dixon 8.8424 seconds. I missed where Dixon passed Helio.

Briscoe has dropped positions from 2nd to 4th - Scuff Reds are not working out for him.

17:11:02 GMT-0600 Lap 77: Ryan Hunter-Reay has some rear wing damage and is trying to make it to the pits.

VisionRacing20 laps to go in Edmonton. Power leads, Reds follow, PT chases. Nearly everyone else is at least a lap down.
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luczodragonHunter-Reay spins and hits wall rear end first, we'll see what that does for him
VisionRacingRT @IndyCarPR: #14 made contact with the retaining wall in Turn 10
toomuchracingI don't like this idea of having back-to-back-to-back race weekends in IndyCar. How's a guy supposed to catch up?!

17:14:16 GMT-0600 Lap 80: The gaps between the top five are opening up.
17:15:49 GMT-0600 Lap 81: Dixon is getting slowed down by Ed Carpenter and Helio looks to try and pounce.

IndyCarNationLap 80: #12 Power leads #9 Dixon 4.5154
VisionRacingPower still in control in Edmonton #indycar race. We're going back to the Menards day-glo yellow next week. Yellow cars rule! ;)
IndyCarPRMedical update from Dr. Michael Olinger: Tony Kanaan has been checked and released from the infield care center.
VisionRacingRHR @ryanracing is back on track with new rear wing.

17:17:42 GMT-0600 Lap 83: Helio is within a couple car lengths of Dixon.
17:19:28 GMT-0600 Lap 84: Helio uses a nice split move on Carpenter to take P2 from Dixon.

FuriousWedgeWhat a great move by Helio, that effectively saves the point chase for both Briscoe & Dario who were about to lose some good ground to Scott
luczodragonDespite the early set back Rafa has kept racing.
pressdogum. ok, why didn't Ed just go about 10 feet wide in that huge area and let the two contenders go?

17:21:09 GMT-0600 Lap 86: Helio Castroneves used the lapped traffic to open the gap up to nearly one second.

IndyCarPRLap 85: #12 Power leads #3 Castroneves by 6.8821 seconds. @h3lio made a nice move to pass @ScottDixon9 and lap car of @edcarpenter20
luczodragon9 laps left, we may go entire race without full course yellow

KV Racing Technology's Paul Tracy locks up his tires as he approaches Newman/Haas/Lanigan's Bobby D, Robert Doornbos at the Rexall Edmonton INDY held at the Edmonton City Centre Airport. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

FuriousWedge@pressdog because that would have been boring, he knew you were bored and wanted to give you something to tweet about
luczodragonWill Power is going unchallenged. Could be wire to wire win
Marco26WebMarco flying again - just a few hundredths off his fastest lap of the day. DP matches it though.
PlanetIrldotcomNEW AWARD "The Marty Roth Award for excellence in Chicanery" - Awarded to the driver that best exemplifies Marty's ability to get in the way

17:23:13 GMT-0600 Lap 88: Most of the drivers are really spread out around the course.
17:25:10 GMT-0600 Lap 90: With five laps remaining, it is Will Power's race to lose.

pressdogthis plays right into my idea to have the Lights cars on the track at the same time to provide some picks for when we are all are sleepy.
luczodragonHunter-Reay made it back out 8 laps down, just ahead of Rafa. Thought we might sneak up one more spot. Nice effort by his crew
FuriousWedgeyou know what would make this race fun, put some sweet jumps out in the grass; Wheldon would be ready for the X-games by now

17:27:06 GMT-0600 Lap 92: Raphael Matos goes off course and continues in Turn 3.
17:29:06 GMT-0600 Lap 93: Full course yellow for Tomas Scheckter

Full Course YELLOW with the WHITE Flag displayed at the same time.

17:30:39 GMT-0600 Lap 94: Will Power wins the Rexall Edmonton Indy!

Podium: Will Power, Team Penske celebrates his win of the Rexall Edmonton INDY at the Edmonton City Centre Airport. He brought it home on a YELLOW/WHITE Flag final lap. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

TheEDJEWill Power's yellow Penske car with the wire to wire run gives a new meaning to the phrase ... Full Course Yellow! #irl #ics #indycar
IndyCarPRLap 95: CHECKERED: Will Power wins the Rexall Edmonton Indy.
FuriousWedgeHad Briscoe not had his little issue he could have just notched up his 5th 2nd in 6 races, still a Top 5 keeps him in the hunt #indycar
pressdogbeen fun, kids. ups to @kevinlee23 today. awesome job. Anyone miss Arute? Didn't think so.
PlanetIrldotcom@pressdog I missed his orange nuclear tan. Kevin shoudl have tried it.
kart58And good job to the Penske rent-a-crew :-) #indycar
VisionRacingCongrats to Will Power + crew. 20 car was okay on reds. Ran good times on last stint. Gotta take some positives home with us. P16
PippaMannCongratulations to Will Power and his guys! Great job!
Marco26WebSo after the Penske and Ganassi top four, the race is on for 5th place in the championship. DP - 5th/285pts, MA up one place to 6th/259pts
DRRIndyCarWe finished both cars. Days like today, that's all you can hope for! Congrats to our good friend Will Power on a much-deserved win!
END OF UPDATES

How the drivers fared (** denotes Transition Player)

Pos Driver Team Gap
1. Will Power Penske**
2. Helio Castroneves Penske + 1.0936s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 1.3213s
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 1.8266s
5. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 4.4652s
6. Paul Tracy KV + 6.3941s**
7. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 26.5700s**
8. Justin Wilson Coyne + 26.9169s**
9. Robert Doornbos Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 1 lap**
10. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 1 lap
11. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 1 lap
12. EJ Viso HVM + 1 lap**
13. Alex Tagliani Conquest + 1 lap**
14. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green + 1 lap
15. Dan Wheldon Panther + 1 lap
16. Ed Carpenter Vision + 2 laps
17. Ryan Hunter-Reay Foyt + 8 laps
18. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon + 10 laps
19. Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold + 22 laps
20. Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold + 32 laps

Retirements/not classified:

Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 34 laps
Richard Antinucci 3G 20 laps
Mario Moraes KV 0 laps**

Paul Tracy, KV Racing Technology at the Rexall Edmonton INDY at the Edmonton City Centre Airport. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2009)

So, five of the top ten positions in Edmonton were occupied by Transition Players, those drivers that have been merged into the IRL from the ChampCar World Series allowing only one Andretti Green Racing driver (Michael's son, Marco) to crack the top ten on a temporary race circuit.

Will Power as Transition Player, notches his first win for the Team Penske organization ... they should give him MORE races to ride in.

Paul Tracy was the first driver not in a car fielded by Team Penske or Target Chip Ganassi, driving for KV Racing Technology ... another Transition Player without a ride for the near future - what in the heck is going on inside the thinking of the management of the IRL?

Jus' askin'!

... notes from The EDJE