Showing posts with label WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Show all posts

Friday, October 6, 2023

Porsche Design Watch Presentation Rennsport Reunion 7 Edition

Rennsport Reunion 7 close-up presentation area set-up in the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Media Center. Adorned with graphics in the wall and hands-on watch making materials on the desk space surround. Porsche Design Timepieces "Sports Car On The Wrist." Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Porsche Design Watch Presentation Rennsport Reunion 7 Edition

Once every five years, the Rennsport Reunion has become a significant event in the world of motorsports and Porsche enthusiasts. It was created to celebrate the rich racing heritage of Porsche and to provide a platform for drivers, fans, and historians to come together and honor the history of Porsche's racing endeavors. Rensport Reunion 7, held at Monterey's WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, celebrated 75 years Porsche as a car manufacturer and luxury products company.

Primary Porsche Motorsports ambassador and co-creator of the Rennsport Reunion series of celebration events, Brian Redman in his signature Bakerboy tweed cap, is imaged here as being the first of a long "Icons Of Speed" dais table of autograph presenters known, as is Mr. Redman, for their successes driving Porsche cars in races throughout the world. Also in this dais table are (R to L) David Piper, Jackie Oliver, John Osteen, John Fitzpatrick, Sascha Maassen, Arie Luyendyk. Other Drivers & Technicians further down the table in order included Rudi Lins, Willi Kauhsen, Kevin Jeannette, Hurley Haywood, Andrew Davis, & Manfred Schurti. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Brian Redman, a renowned racing driver with a successful career in various motorsports categories, and Bob Carlson, who served as Porsche Cars North America's longstanding press spokesperson, were the driving forces behind the inception of the Rennsport Reunion. Their vision was to create a gathering that would bring together individuals passionate about racing and Porsche, where they could not only celebrate the brand's racing legacy but also pay tribute to the people and cars that contributed to Porsche's storied history in motorsports.

Since its inception in 2001, Rennsport Reunion has become a recurring event, drawing Porsche enthusiasts, historic racing cars, and iconic drivers from around the world. It has become a must-attend event for Porsche fans and continues to showcase the brand's racing heritage, making it a remarkable celebration of Porsche's racing legacy.

PIXAR's Jay Ward sports a Porsche Design Watch along side of CARS 2 Sally who looks on adoringly down to the item on Jay's arm, just outside of the WeatherTech Raceway Media Center. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2023)

Porsche Design, the luxury consumer products company based from the inception of designing successful sports cars, is indeed known for its distinctive design philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on optimizing function and streamlining form. This approach can be summarized in several key principles:

** Optimizing Function: Porsche Design places a primary focus on functionality and performance. Their products are designed to excel in their intended use, whether it's automotive accessories, fashion, technology, or other categories. The aim is to create products that not only look good but also perform exceptionally well.

** Minimalism and Reductionism: The design philosophy of Porsche Design often involves reducing a product's design elements to the essential components. This minimalist approach seeks to eliminate unnecessary complexity and adornments, resulting in clean and uncluttered designs.

** Innovation and Evolution: Porsche Design is known for its willingness to challenge conventional design norms and push boundaries. They strive to overcome the familiar and constantly explore new solutions and materials to create unique and innovative products.

** Attention to Detail: The brand's commitment to quality and precision is reflected in its meticulous attention to detail. Porsche Design products are known for their craftsmanship and fine finishing, which contributes to their overall appeal.

** Form Follows Function: This design philosophy aligns with the famous modernist principle "form follows function." In Porsche Design, the form of a product is a direct result of its intended purpose and functionality.

** Awards and Recognition: Porsche Design's commitment to both form and function has garnered numerous awards and accolades over the years. Their designs have been recognized for their excellence in aesthetics and performance.

Overall, Porsche Design's design philosophy is characterized by a balance between aesthetics and functionality, resulting in products that are not only visually appealing but also highly practical and innovative. This approach has allowed them to create a wide range of iconic and award-winning designs across various industries.

The timepiece division of Porsche Design held an up-close presentation at the Media Center which was quite enlightening for those who attended. What follows is the audio from Porsche Design on the specifics surrounding the build of the timepieces produced and delivered to the customers who would also desire to wear a watch that represents the sports car they drive on their wrist. 

Please enjoy this audio from the onsite presentation of Porsche Design and the special limited edition timepiece by Rolf Bergmann - CEO, Gerhard J.Gerhard J. Novak, GM, and Kurt Straumann - R&D of Porsche Design Timepieces, Porsche Lifestyle Group.


Porsche Design Watch Presentation Rennsport Reunion 7 Edition
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generated Transcript - Un-Edited - 90% Accurate

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: I have two colleagues with me. He's running out of the in Switzerland is one of our master watchmakers and master engineers. He will also give you some insight into.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So what we are doing is there have been a certain transfer from the dash to the river and this didn't happen by chance. There's a little story, a little heritage behind and would like to give you some insight. If there are any questions, please jump in and as a brand and to watch it goes back to the year 1972 and it goes back to this man. It is Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: He is one of four sons of the sports car company founder Garry Porsche. He was a designer and he joined his hardest company in 56, 57 becoming head of design and he had the honor and also the pressure to create the success of the 356. Today, we knew that he was the man to great that I love him, which set the back post for today and made him become an icon as a designer as well.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: In 1972 it was a very important year because in 1972. Due to several reasons, family decided to take the company public and to bring in el management to all four sons of Harry and the cousin. And here they were engaged in a car company. So by deciding that the, the company goes public and management was brought in a young gentleman all in the late twenties, mid thirties, suddenly they were jobless.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So no need to really as it was, it's a Porsche, Porsche and he was a designer, he started his own business called Porsche Design that goes back to 1972. Today, we're really happy that it was him and not Mr Muller. Otherwise, he would talk about Muller Design today.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: The whole thing started with the first order or the first project that was given to the newly founded studio. It was to create the wrist watch for the employees that were with the company for 25 years. And I support the family has always been very deep and closely related to me wrist watches. They want to go over something that was existing and put an engraving on. They asked to create the watch.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Please try to go back to the fifties and sixties. There was only one model line, the 356 and then the 911 as a designer, he was mainly doing race cars and in the fifties and early sixties, long distance racing became popular and long distance 24 hours means 12 hours driving. Make yourself an idea. In the early sixties, the front lights, they were more, they were better candles.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Then the weather condition like today, a little rain and 12 hours at night, the cars were doing more than 200 MPH already in these days. So imagine at night the guys could see nothing mainly due to the fact that the dash, it was metal and it created a lot of distraction. So the best thing before putting more and more power to the engine was to reduce glare distraction.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So and slowly but suddenly in 1969 the death within the 911 turn to black white, just a lot of the fact that Matt black and Matt white is the maximum contrast and this is how the looks like it still 911 or look like this. So when he was asked to do a was he exactly what he did? He transferred what he detected what he developed over here and made a watch truck in 1972.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: I was four years old. I cannot prove that, but it was told that it was a complete revolution because watchers per definition were jewelry. They were glimmering, they were shimmering and like watch some British media stated that you can only wear it for fun, but it was quite strange. So this is how everything started.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Now, we know that not all of the employees that were given one of these watches kept it because suddenly some of the watchers were spotted on the race drivers, wrist watches, race drivers, wrist like surfers, they could be easily spotted. So here we see Mario Andretti wearing the watch in 1978 from the world world champion. You have many others of this, of this era wearing it.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And by doing so that what became popular for owners of their deal, there is a watch on it, how to get that and this is how the whole thing started to be commercial. So there was no commercial stuff behind that. Two other gentlemen from this era, you probably know, might know a family is still today and in these days, that's a victim of the early eighties.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So in these days, he was head of Formula One Ferrari team and he was only fierce in the early eighties was the sponsor of Formula One, was a partner of Ferrari and he was very the designer because he was the coolest stuff these days, he always wore it outside. That was the Italian style. So this is how the one became quite popular due to his properties. So perfect.


GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And so what a second career as a military watch, the military means that many air forces, mainly air force organizations took the watch and gave their staff, their pilots the watch because it was perfect to read. It was very functional. So we had to er even with have to put that on the wrist. Then we had all the airports of Tigers they were equipped with that war gave another another something in 1968 top gun movie.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Tom was wearing the, was a funny marketing guy or somebody for placement. Cruz wanted to be as authentic as possible in everything he wore. So as the Tigers wore the time he wanted to go with it as well because that was the watch of the Tigers. He didn't want to go for anything else. And this is how to watch them.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: By the way, in 86 she raimer doing the production, they, they did not buy it. They asked us our Beverly Hills store down, down to rent the watch. So we took it back after the, after the movie in a 22 release, he wore the watch again.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: It was exactly the same watch. We kept it over the years. So we lend it to him for more time too, but we took it back. Of course, he wanted to purchase it, but we didn't sell it to him and maybe there will be a third and they will give it for the third time.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So in a nutshell, this is the history and heritage by Port Sargeant or how to watch it.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Alexander. He was a guy here when he was asked about his purpose. He said it was all about raising the risk.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So today we call it sports, the w and all that started 51 years ago.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Today is a fully owned subsidiary of OEG. So we belong to the sports car. It's not a privately held company anymore, but it, and we have four main tasks. One task is we need to work on. I won't call it compensate, but at least lower the risk of the biggest disadvantage of our sports car that we have.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You know what it is. There's one big disadvantage that every sports car has that we of course, you cannot take it with you, the restaurant, the living room, the gym, the golf course, you have to leave it outside in the parking space, parking lot, the garage, whatever.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So we started to work on extending sports car ownership experience and puts the essential part of the watch of the power inside the watch by doing so we have the honor and all the privilege to preserve and continue as new territory.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Perception of Porsche. Porsche is the only car manufacturer that does watches on its own. And so we are approaching the target group, we are approaching him and the friends with the, that's the one.

SPEAKER 2: We are doing that for.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: We have a little overview about the 51 years that we're doing watches. The 1st 40 years, we were cooperating with external partners with a little in this was I was doing our watches and in 2012, we stopped that bring the operation setting up the amount of in Switzerland So as of 2014 became a fully independent watch manufacturer.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So that's a little bit, a little bit that in our story. So in terms of experience and in terms of your ability of watch making, we are still in our baby shoes for 10 years next year. But in terms of we already, so what are we doing?

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: We are not behaving as a typical watch manufacturer because we are doing watches to extend his experience and to continue his legacy is to a certain extent, the majority of our business to create individual watches, matching our customers cars, we'll do a deep dive on that.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Then there, since 2020 all model lines offer the opportunity to have a high end mechanical looking like a mechanical watch inside the of course, we brought back to watch last year. So that's the offer that we do and it's of course, very important.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: The main thing that we do is we offer fully real life watches to our customers. It may not sound that dramatic to you yet, but we'd like to give you some insight why we do that and how we do that. So probably have seen the house, we call it, you dream, we build it and we do that with the watch it.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So our customers, as you probably know, they maximize the individualization of cars in terms of colors, in terms of leather, in terms of yard, in terms of wheels coloring the wheels. So 911 is personal and there is no stock. So we don't build houses, start to put it anywhere on the lot, you order the car and then we start building it and we follow that and transfer that into.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So it's all about colors. Of course, it's all about the maximum to the car. And we call the program custom built because the custom built, what is mentioned in your car and how we do that. We have a little movie with us.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So whatever we do at the moment is late to the 911. So we still watch this fully magic.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: It means as a customer, you have, you choose your car, it's red if it's yellow and then you start choosing your personal was. So the they are variety. The start of the past of the Titanium Titanium black. All you like. There we go with the hands.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Then we have the coloration of the ring, matching the interior color, all the, all the yarns exactly matching what you have inside your car. And as we are an engineering company, of course, we don't do normal winding rotors. We transfer to the design of your wheel and make it a winding rotor even using the same class problem.

SPEAKER 2: So as you have seen.

PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECE CONFIGUTATOR
Image Credit: Screengrab at >>> https://www.porsche-design.com/us/en/timepieces/custom-built-timepieces/#Configurator

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Today, there are more than 6 million options without over banned options. So we cannot behave like a normal watch manufacturer because what watch shall be built and what, what should be put on stock. We would need warehouses that would cover all inside here. Like so there is only one man woman knowing how the future watch looks like it's you as a customer. So that's with the sports car.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So we have created a watch config it's net based web based and you enter it and you create your watch following the car config with the housing with the hands with all the details. And at the end, it gives you a hope, you know the price, you hand it over to your dealership and your dealer orders. They want to match it to your car.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: If you have a car, you can move at the the vehicle identification number and send it to actually more than 6 million options available on top of that. As of last year, we also offering paint to sample. I don't know how familiar you are with the paint to sample is one of the key offers at port. Also have the maximum individualized for the outside, which is offering inside the 26 space colors, which is offering one.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And so in total, you may choose nearly 150 different colors, blues and whatever this is a screenshot from the watch config. So then you do the same choice. In that case, you can read, you click on the configuration, it shows how the what you look like, it gives you the price and it will accept or not like the car config each click is increasing your bill.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So important to know we only have Porsche colors because we are the sports car manufacturers manufacturers. So when we talk about red, we talk about red and Carmine red. When we talk about yellow, we talk about pink, yellow. When we talk about green, we talk about green, 10 green, green, but Nova green. So exactly what we offer within our sports and how we do that.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: This is the Switzerland to do so we have to build an dedicated factory, possible to do it with anybody else just by a lot of reasons, but to do all that like the winding road and all the things, we, we need to have access to the future cars. So we start working on the watches, matching our future cars 3 to 4 years in advance and how we do that. I would like to ask my colleague to give you a deep time on that.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Yes, of course. Thank you. So when it comes to design time pieces, we first of all have to know that we take the development process of the car. And so we are deeply involved and that's what advise us for the future. So we know the, we know the when you talk about material, we talk about Titanium. Why?

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Because Titanium, we know for motor sport since 1968 Titanium and strong and Titanium is absolutely skin friendly. There is no reaction to the human skin and it's corrosion protected, it cannot corrode. So therefore, Titanium is the best material for witch. And therefore today our time pieces are made only from Titanium.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So to show you a little bit of parallel in the assembly, we have this movie because we adapted the partial production principles and exactly built like a 911 factory. Due to the variation, every watch is a single watch for a watchmaker. Every watch is picked for the customer. Every watch is different. So we do not have the same watch in the assembly line.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: When these are a few pictures in the movie for the 911 exclusive where we did it. And you see what we do for the time and what we do for the car. And he got to work at the body shop and he used to work in the manufacturing in Switzerland. So that's the measuring of the diet of the printing. After picking this for a watch, you pick every part for a watch.

SPEAKER 2: Yes.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And then we assemble each single box head in the hand carbon fiber marriage with the engine for the car, with the engine in the assembly of the rotor assembly of the wheel, bringing the cap on the rod, bringing the cap on the wheel.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And the quest is very detailed checking if the wheel is turning, checking the wheel for the car, posing the checking of the rotors working quite well and turning the car to the testing area for the car, the leather shocking how sewing the leather for the sport car, the door handle, the door panel and also for the bra, the same leather, the same stitching, the same holes inside.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So the cause there is no question which kind of leather we take, we take only original car. They no and you do that, you can get a little feeling of that what we are doing because there is not only a video and a few pictures we have here a lot of samples with us where we can show you how it works.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So now you can take pictures of everything. So first of all, let's talk about the coloration of the cow. Every color has a sample. These are the color samples. The original ones, we have all the colorations and we use this original coloration rings to color the rings.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So we take the the original also when it comes to leather and we develop and make the coloring.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So all the 150 colors that we have and you have your car and you have a in there, we paint one ring in the same on his side.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You answer is the original dial where the colored ring then is, the dial is always the same.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Of course, depending on several versions of dial looks a bit different to the dial.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: For example, when it comes to the click on to give to the on the, and we do it because the wheel has a crest.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You take the, we have it with the.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Color on the back.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And once you get your needs when you have the colored crest and we do the colored one. If you have it black and white, when you have an RS, it says Rs on your wheel, then we have the RS exactly the one.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Like your car.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So it's the same with the letter.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So we use exactly the same skin like with the cars. So we put the leather in all the coloration to the supplier in Italy. And we learned them how to, how to sew a band because this letter of course, normally is not used car. Leather, automotive letter is not used for. So you have to have a certain packing. So there is something in if you give it a try, there is a little exactly which avoids the keeps like this.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So it has a certain tension and the supply in Italy when you order, for example, a band like this with, with red because you have it in your car. Then you order from the dealership reaches the manufacturer and then there's a list with all the components. Then the order close to a supplier in Italy, then he takes one of the skins exactly the same skin that is used for your car.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: He takes the yarn which also is there. So we have, we have stock with our supplier. So then the config says you want to have that band with that yarn, then they start se one band and make it your coloration, your size three sizes available and build one bank. So zero effect policy because we only we can't build a watch like that. So that's a philosophy. Every component.

SPEAKER 4: When I do the allocation at the same time, I order the watch the website link, the number from one. Give me a number.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: The leading number is called commission number with the car. The commission number also runs with the watch. That's how car. So as soon as the commission number and if you would like to have to win, then we, we start at 5000.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You have to win.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Get to look forward to you. How long did it take? How long did it take? It's managed by how long it take?

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You take? 10 days and.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You are no force. We don't force, we have a test for three days at the moment. The program is available in six markets here in the US, the UK.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Can anyone get one?

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: You have to have a Porsche around 5000 quite quickly. And we are now the next time, bigger markets, then you can work markets in 28.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: The program with the wheel of the principle is the same. But the 911, for example, it only.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: In the parking, I'm running the washi vision of. So everything that's related to hands, indicate to me in jeopardy for a while.

EDMUND JENKS - MOTORSPORTS JOURNAL: I don't think if I may since I'm recording. Can I have you introduce yourself and your title and then have Rolf and then Kurt, can we do that now? Ok. Your name is Gerhardt Novak. Yes. And you are, I'm the general manager. Ok. And this gentleman over here is Rolf Bergmann. No, he can talk, come over here and introduce yourself. Your name is.

ROLF BERGMANN - CEO, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: So my name is Rolf Bergmann. I'm the CEO of course time pieces, Switzerland. Ok. And we are in Switzerland responsible for the development and the production of the time pieces. So we take the customers and bring it to the excellent.

EDMUND JENKS - MOTORSPORTS JOURNAL: And then I'd like Kurt to come over here if he can, I'd like to interrupt you. Hello, Kurt. Could you introduce yourself and give me your title first off your name.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: My name is Kurt, and Truman. Kurt Truman. My name and you function maker. Yes. And I'm an R and D engineer at Porsche Design Time Piece. And I, I am in charge of this new product, which is of this new product and I try to be humble, but that's just the way it is.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: It's unique in the watch industry. It, it, we have here a case out of car Titanium and this is think about almost like as hot as diamond. So you can see and not just hot, but you can feel it. It's a very.

SPEAKER 4: Light Titanium alloy.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: Yes.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: If you want more in detail, it's made out of you and we compress it. And then in the first step, we're going to make a pre heat at 800 degrees.

GERHARD J. NOVAK, GM, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: During three days. And then yes.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And then in the second heat process for about 2000 °C and then you will have the shape and the finishing, we will have to make it too. It takes, it takes three hours to finish it because you cannot do it by 11 way it's almost like.

KURT STRAUMANN - R&D, PORSCHE DESIGN TIMEPIECES, PORSCHE LIFESTYLE GROUP: And what is, what is also unique is, you can imagine this is material, material for the case. It has to be from anesthetic standpoint. It has to look good, you know, so we have to make our own recipe to get to this tool for the cavity. And that's what we have to do. That's how it looks like you.
[transcription ht: Spreaker/Musixmatch]

Porsche Design Timepieces Configurator, Porsche Lifestyle Group >>> https://www.porsche-design.com/us/en/timepieces/custom-built-timepieces/#Configurator

Follow Porsche Lifestyle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/porsche.lif...
Like Porsche Lifestyle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/porsche.life... 
Visit the Porsche Design Website: https://www.porsche-design.com/

... notes from The EDJE


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TAGS: Porsche Design, Watch, Timepieces, Rennsport Reunion 7, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Brian Redman, Rolf Bergmann, Gerhard J. Novak, Kurt Straumann, The EDJE

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

"Less Is More" Describes The Intrigue In The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Season

Australian born Will Power ascends the throne as king in the House Of Penske as he ascends a throne in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to become the all-time record-holder in the number of pre-race pole positions achieved - eclipsing Mario Andretti's 67 Pole positions (1997 Michigan International Raceway) at number 68 - in the highest level of professional open-wheel racing out of North America. Here Power is about to climb out of his Team Penske prepared Chevrolet-Powered, Firestone clad Dallara while he zips up his driving suit before meeting the media for photos and interviews. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022) 

"Less Is More" Describes The Intrigue In The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Season

Yes! House Of Penske driver Will Power won a second series season championship in his stellar professional open-wheel racing career.  

Many, including Will himself, attributes the application of a different attitude he decided to bring to the work process and the track each event weekend during the course of a 17 race season that just concluded at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. This overarching template in his professional approach could be labelled ... Less Is More.

The Lord of the House Of Penske, Roger Penske, congratulates the Verizon 5G team in it's accomplishment to help Will Power achieve capturing his 68th NTT P1 Pole Award setting a record that, if history is any indicator, may last another nearly 30 years. Mario Andretti set the mark of 67 P1 Pole Awards in 1993 at the age of 54, whereas Will Power set this modern day mark as he is in his 41st year circling the Sun ... where will his record-setting mark end? Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

For example, take the results found at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey ... after he smoked the field in the three round Knockout Qualifications format and landed a record-setting 68th NTT P1 Pole Award - Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou wins the race followed by Penske Racing's Josef Newgarden who started P25 and is P2 ... Will Power finishes P3, he didn't have to win at all costs and captures his 2nd NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship with only one win in 17 races, but always finishing and finishing high - Less Is More.

It became a talking-point throughout this season that Will seemed to be sporting a less intense, less critical, less abrasive presence (to himself) as he would pursue his duties as one of three very expert drivers racing open-wheel cars for Team Penske. Power's House Of Penske teammates are second year driver and 2021 Indianapolis 500 as well as NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year New Zealand born Scott McLaughlin and American born two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, claiming titles in 2017 his first season with Team Penske and again in 2019 Josef Newgarden.


In the post-race interview, Will probably summed it up best when he answered this query:

Q. I wanted to ask when you decided to go to this playing the long game thing, were they fully behind you doing that, or were there days when Dave or Robby or Ron were like, s--- we could have won that race?

WILL POWER: "Look, you're never disappointed. Looking from a championship perspective, every time you get a podium, that's not the day you're looking back on it. You're looking back on the day you finished 19th like at Road America. They're the days that lose championships. Top threes don't. We got a lot of them this year. Anytime I got a top four, I was pretty happy.

But in the past I would have been really pissed off. When your teammates are winning, that was a big change. It's like, I don't care. I'm going to weather their storm while they're having a good run, and just -- that in itself was a mental change. It's like, I'm not getting pissed off with a top four, where before I would have been, just after the race, just seething." - Less Is More.

Will Power begins his run down the front straight after negotiating Turn 11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This is the last time these cars will be racing on this surface since the famed track that features a turn known as "The Corkscrew" will all be repaved and become a track with a different, grippier personality. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2022)

Throughout the season, especially just beyond the halfway point, the story wasn't how many multiple times a driver won the NTT P1 Pole Award position to start the race(s) in an event weekend, no, the story was far from this occurrence, since there wasn't a repeat pole winner through the first nine race events in a seventeen race season. No repeat P1 Pole Award in 9 race events - Less Is More.

Speaking of competitiveness, especially given the NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing platform formula applied for potentials of equal performance, Will Power noted in the following exchange:

Q. When you look at it today and just using Dixon as the example as someone who qualifies midfield and you're just further up the road, again, it's that same thing, the series is so equal, people look at it and go, he's midfield but it's thousands of seconds separating you guys in qualifying.

WILL POWER: It is. When we were at Portland, It was like seven tenths covered 20 cars. Seven tenths covering 20 cars. You're never going to see that in something like Formula 1. Never. It's the ultimate driver's series. It's the ultimate driver's series." - Less Is More.

In this post Portland driver's ranking by points, it is interesting to note that the driver that will not have a mathematical chance at winning the season championship is the reigning 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season Champion Alex Palou. At the time he was going to compete in the last race of the season, he had contract commitments with two teams, his current contract with Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren SP. At the end of the season, Alex is hoping to be in a position where Less Is More. UPDATE - Alex Palou agrees to remain at Chip Ganassi Racing driving the No. 10 Honda-Dallara for the 2023 season with the added provision that he is free to participate in a Formula 1 driver's test outside of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES obligations - Less Became More. Image Credit: NCIS (2022)

Take this example of the competition between teams. 

Before the last race of the 2022 season in Monterey, California, a very proper and kind mutual admiration society broke out in a ZOOM Call between the top operations managers of the two teams that had drivers that were mathematically viable to win the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season Championship. 

To be clear, Penske Racing's Tim Cindric and Chip Ganassi Racing's (CGR) Mike Hull had a lot of professional clout at stake in the then upcoming challenge to close out the season. Will Power led the points chase at the time with a tied 20 point margin over two drivers, his teammate Josef Newgarden and CGR 6 time NTT INDYCAR Champion Scott Dixon. The other two drivers in contention in order are CGR's and winner of INDYCAR's biggest event prize, the 106th Indianapolis 500, Marcus Ericsson at 39 points behind and another Team Penske teammate second season driver Scott McLaughlin at 41 points to overcome. 

Again, a lot of professional clout to manage.

<<< Pre-Finale ZOOM Call Press Conference >>>

The most interesting part of the conversation Tim and Mike shared with each other was found in the following exchange:

Q. Because of what's at stake here, the respect level, the rivalry, is it a situation where the two of you can be friendly but you can't really be friends until maybe your careers are over?

MIKE HULL: My career is closer than Tim's into being over, I'll say that (smiling).

TIM CINDRIC: If we don't win on Sunday, Mike, I might call you for a job (laughter).

MIKE HULL: Or vice versa. Maybe I'll think about a second career.

Tim and I had a go at each other a few years at Edmonton. That taught me something. It taught me that I was too intense. Since that time I've learned that the respect comes in the results.

Tim, I hope I don't have to call you up. I've got your number. I hope you don't see a call from me Sunday afternoon at 4:00 (smiling).

I'm just thankful and looking forward to this thing. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to be in a position to be able to say that.

I know you're the same. You grew up around motor racing. I did, too, in different decades. We're now in the same decade together and this is a lot of fun.
ENDS

With all that was on the line, both needed their drivers to win the race, an impossibility, but in the end these two giants in racing didn't have to call one another for a job - they just split the difference. 

Mike Hull took the race win with the reigning 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season Champion Alex Palou, and while Tim Cindric didn't win the race, he placed two drivers on the podium with Josef Newgarden at P2 and Will Power at P3 thereby secures the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season Championship, with 16 points to spare, and will take home the Astor Cup for the second time - Less Is More.

The Astor Cup, the grand prize for winning the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season Championship, sits atop the famed turn known as The Corkscrew. Will Power holds this prize the day after he finished on the Podium at P3 to finish the 2022 season (a season for the ages) by just 16 points away from his nearest competitor after beginning the race weekend with a 20 point margin - Less Is More. Image Credit: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca via FB/META (2022)

Think about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES sanctioning body itself. 

This was a year that was able to see many high points. All broadcasts and live streaming were carried exclusively through NBC Universal broadcast properties. The growing popularity of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES was reflected in the most-watched season in six years on television, with viewership up 5 percent over 2021. The season averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.30 million viewers across NBC, USA Network, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms, the best in NBC Sports history.

Half of the season’s 16 races on television delivered more than 1 million viewers, the highest mark since 2008. A record 14 of 17 races were on NBC network television in 2022, and selected series races also were televised by Telemundo Deportes on Universo.

This was the most streamed INDYCAR season on record as well, with exponential growth compared to 2021. A series race, the Honda Indy Toronto, was streamed exclusively for the first time, and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was the most streamed INDYCAR SERIES race ever. 

Having a single corporate broadcast/streaming partner with many recognizable portals allowed fans to find a presentation of an INDYCAR event featured on most any weekend during the season as opposed to having to look up which broadcast partner might be carrying content ... so access was assumptively simple as being at one's controller or fingertips - Less Is More.

Lastly, there was a grand event venue success though the focus on sponsorship and promotion by a primary sponsor to the race weekend. 

Perhaps the biggest success story of the 2022 schedule was the revitalization of INDYCAR racing at Iowa Speedway after a one-year COVID Protocol hiatus. The Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend featured a doubleheader for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and a single event for Indy Lights on the fast oval. A successful promotion with enthusiastic title partner Hy-Vee, which included four concerts with country and pop music superstars at the track, resulted in big crowds despite stifling summer heat. 

A single stand-out sponsor based upon the marketing of high-turnover consumer goods, that took control of all of the trappings of an INDYCAR event weekend, beyond being just a title sponsor, delivered measurable results - Less Is More.
[ht: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Penske Entertainment, NCIS, The Comeback]


Looking forward to next season, are we seeing additional opportunities to implement a lesser path so as to deliver more and more benefits to the drivers, teams, sponsors and the overall series sanctioning body? 

With the announcement that the NTT INDYCAR SERIES plans on holding a test at Southern California's premiere private racing facility in the Coachella Valley town of Thermal - The Thermal Club, utilized by MotoAmerica, BMW, Truspeed AutosportGMG Motorsports, various driver development operations, and of course ... just plain motorsports enthusiast who would rather drive a car than drive a ball (as in golf). 

A pre-season test by INDYCAR on "Private Pavements" located at a private racing facility as opposed to a recognized event track raced during a championship season - Less Is More.

... notes from The EDJE


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TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, 2022, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Will Power, Roger Penske, Team Penske, House Of Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Mike Hull, Tim Cindric, The Thermal Club, The EDJE

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Firestone GP Of Monterey Locks Down A Make American Great Again NTT IndyCar 2019 Season Finale

Checkered Flag from the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Start/Finish Line tower ends a winning weekend American-style for the NTT IndyCar Series 17 race season in history making fashion. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019) 

Firestone GP Of Monterey Locks Down A Make American Great Again NTT IndyCar 2019 Season Finale

Really, how good can a season finale in American open-wheel racing get? The sanctioning history of the top professional racing series season if rife with agendas and policies to promote the development of winning American-born race car drivers.

To be honest, this was one of the main reasons for the split-up of the extrodinaridly successful CART into ChampCar and the Indy Racing League. Now, eleven years after the re-unification announcement of American professional open-wheel racing, IndyCar has a final race of the season that all Amerifiles can be proud of, and over-the-moon about, because not only did an American rookie win the P1 Pole Award and race ... an American driver secured the IndyCar Series championship.


Josef Newgarden wins the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Championship - Celebrates with Team Penske - Kisses the Astor Cup. Images Credit: Ken Manfred (2019)

Colton Herta wins the race in a perfect weekend for team Harding Steinbrenner Honda after beating out the four season points leaders for the NTT P1 Pole Award at the end of the "Firestone Fast Six" third round Knock-Out qualifications format.

Colton Herta as he guides his Honda-powered Dallara DW-12 with modern aerodynamic road course body work through Turn 8a toward 8b, also known as the Corkscrew. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

What placed a cherry on top of this innaugral Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (WRLS), the first top level professional open-wheel race at this iconic track in 15 years, was Team Penske Chevrolet American-born driver Josef Newgarden matching his 2017 season performance at Sonoma Raceway by finishing with a 25 point margin over teammate Simon Pagenaud for the 2019 Championship honors in the form of the Astor Cup.

Andretti Autosport's INDY500 winner Alexander Rossi as he felt great about his chances in the race qualifying withing a good striking distance of NTT P1 Pole winning Colton Herta. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motor Driven Images (2019)

Adding just a touch more Make American Great Again to the mix, Andretti Autosport Honda driver Alexander Rossi entered the race one point ahead of Pagenaud for second most points garnered in the championship race - this, after losing out in 2018 to Ganassi Racing Honda driver Scott Dixon.

“It is the way it goes,” said Rossi on the team's race strategy. “We started on the used Firestone reds. We knew ultimately the guys [to beat] were Scott [Dixon] and Colton [Herta] because we knew we needed to win the race. We went opposite of them on tire choice on the grid. It was a gamble. We made the decision this morning if we were going to go for it, we would rather finish third [in points on the season championship] than second and be complacent. It is the way the chips fell."

Rookie NTT P1 Pole Award winner Colton Herta leads out the rest of the field at the start of the Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey contested at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time since 2004 [recap here]. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

Monterey Speed Week's Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey season finale logged in the following numbers - 90 Laps for 201.43 miles - Seven changes for the lead, Time of race: 1:53:57 - Average speed:106.057mph - Pole speed: 114.867mph.

This excerpted and edited from IndyCar-State-Of-The-Sport season-ending press conference held at WRLS -

Mark Miles - IndyCar CEO:
I'd start by saying we believe IndyCar is the most compelling form of motorsport on the planet, and I think that's more true, more defensible every year. Under Jay's [Jay Frye - IndyCar President] direction, with the combined expertise and experience of our teams of Dallara, Honda, Chevy and all of our suppliers, we just keep getting better, the racing improves, it's more competitive, and it's all done while being very attentive to managing costs for the team.

Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey 2019 Start - Polesitter and Rookie Colton Herta leads the field through the short chute between Turn 3 to Turn a - Firestone Banners stack up and act as a photo tunnel and back drop - Ken Manfred (2019)
----
So on the track, what can you say? We do believe it's great competition, probably the most competitive form of racing. The number of cars, as you know, if you follow the sport, has been solid on the grid for IndyCar races, 22 here to 24 throughout the year, and at the Indianapolis 500-mile race, we continue to add to the number of entrants. 36 this year trying to get in, and from my perspective, Bump Day is back, and I think the fans loved it.

Looking beyond that, we have had seven winners so far, seven pole winners and seven wins for Honda and nine wins for Chevy so far, a great balance in terms of the result between the manufacturers.

And for the 14th consecutive year, I'm sure most of you have written this, the championship has come down to the finale, and we're thrilled about that.

Team Penske's Will Power had designs on breaking up the all-American Pole/Race Win/ Season Championship by challenging Colton Herta in the final laps of the Firestone GP Of Monterey. Rookie Herta did not place a foot wrong while under pressur to win his second race of the 2019 season. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

Jay Frye - IndyCar President:
Thank you, Mark. So we've been working on this aero screen since 2016, so I guess you'd call this an overnight sensation. But the real game-changer for us this past year was when we partnered with Red Bull Advanced Technologies.

There's been no stone unturned on this program, this project, from driver cooling, driver expectation, clarity, glare, impact.
----
We believe this is an industry-changing total safety solution for driver cockpit protection. We're very excited to get it on the track because we always say the data doesn't drive, drivers drive, so the next step in the process is to get it on track and see where we're at.

The first test will be coming up at IMS on October 2nd. We'll go to Barber on October 7 and Richmond on 10/15. So it's a very aggressive schedule, but the ball is in motion for a 2020 implementation.
----
In regards to the hybrid piece, it's very important that we remain true to our DNA, and our DNA is fast, loud, authentic and unapologetic, so when we put together this product or put together an RFP for this product, that had to meet all those criteria. A couple of things we're working on with this piece is one is for safety so the cars will have electric starters, so the driver spins, they stall the car, they'll be able to start the car into 1 so the driver is not exposed. Another will be our AMR guys out there with an umbilical cord having to start the car, so they won't be exposed. Another thing that's really a byproduct of the whole system is hopefully we'll keep the pace of the race going, so there won't be as many yellows, so that will help, too.

But one of the bigger parts, the biggest part in our opinion is horsepower, so our goal, our stated goal is to get over 900 horsepower. This product will give us at least 50 of that, so we remain true, again, to our DNA. We want to have less downforce but have more horsepower. We're excited about this. We've got 10 current RFP's out, so the plan is to have a chosen partner in the first quarter of next year for a 2022 implementation.

These projects are big. I think they're game changers for the sport ... we've got to be who we are, and that's fast, live and authentic.
[ht: NICS]
ENDS

Marco Andretti, Team RC Cola Chevrolet, No. 26 beats out Ryan Briscoe for the pole position by a mere 2/1,000th of a second. Andretti won his second career IndyCar pole position today for the season-ending MAVTV 500. Andretti last won a pole at Milwaukee in 2008. He turned two laps at an average speed of 216.069 mph on the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway. This is the second pole position of the 2012 season for Andretti Autosport. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Not since the 15th race of a 15 race 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, in the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway when we saw American Marco Andretti in a Andretti Autosport Honda take the P1 Pole Award, American Ed Carpenter in a Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet cross the Start/Finish Line first after 500 miles, and have American Ryan Hunter-Reay in his Andretti Autosport Honda finish P4 with a lead in the IndyCar Series championship points of 3 points over Will Power, have we been witness to a Make American Great Again triple (Pole, Race Win, Championship) be captured in the final race of the season.

The end of the 2012 season for Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay (RHR). RHR jumps out of his #28 DW12 as he comes home to win the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship, A.J. Foyt Oval Course Trophy, and first MavTV 500 Auto Club Speedway night time race! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Twenty-nine changes for the lead, Time of race: 2:57:34 - Average speed: 168.939 mph - Pole speed: 216.069 mph, run under the lights at night.

The Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey was historic and a grand contest for a finale, but that race above, right there - the season-ender at Fontana? That was a finale that actually was Fast, Live, and Authentic!

MAGA baby, with a larger than 17 race season and a season-ender on the record-holding Fontana, California superspeedway with date-equity in October! It is time to make American open-wheel racing great again - MAOWRGA ... maybe we will just stick with the simple branding that can, at least, be pronounced - as in IndyCar MAGA.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: NTT IndyCar Series, Open-Wheel, Professional, MAGA, American drivers, Make America Great Again, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Firestone Grand Prix Of Monterey, Josrf Newgarden, Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, The EDJE