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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<<< Interview With Simon Pagenaud >>>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome Simon Pagenaud ...

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

====

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

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

====

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

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

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

====

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

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

====

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

====

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

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

====

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

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

====

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

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

====

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

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

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

... notes from The EDJE


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

Interview With ACS President Dave Allen Ahead Of The MAVTv 500

 

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

Interview With ACS President Dave Allen Ahead Of The #MAVTv500

SCRIPT BEGIN
====

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome, Dave Allen ...

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

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

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

====

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

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

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

====

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

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

====

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

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

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

====

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

====

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

====
ENDS

... notes from The EDJE


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

Racing Datsuns - The Happy Coincidence Of Adam Carolla And Paul Newman

Banner on the back wall of Adam Carolla's Picture Lab Entertainment and garage facility in Glendale, California - Adam Carolla and Nate Adams recently held a private screening of the documentary WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN. Much of the archive footage and images have never been in wide release of seen in public and through interviews with those people closest to Paul Leonard Newman exposes a very personal insight to the little-known side of this very public life of an iconic actor and brightest stars of Hollywood. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

Racing Datsuns - The Happy Coincidence Of Adam Carolla And Paul Newman

Adam Carolla, who bounded onto the entertainment scene (for many) when he partnered with Jimmy Kimmel for the cable broadcast television show "The Man Show" (1999-2004) and as his career progressed, became noted for finding, restoring, and racing historic race cars, has put together a compelling and entertaining documentary about the automobile racing life of iconic actor Paul Leonard Newman.

Adam Carolla discusses one of his current restoration projects - 1988 Trans-Am 300ZX 2+2 - with those gathered at the pre-release screening of the new documentary about Paul Lenard Newman's racing life. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

At a recent pre-release screening of the documentary, WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN, Adam Carolla shared that his interest in restoring winning Datsun/Nissan race cars became the "Happy Coincidence" (stated by Adam at 15:15 in the Q&A) that led him to discover this somewhat unknown life about how Paul Newman, after becoming one of the brightest stars in Hollywood through his acting, in his late forties ... late in life for a race car driver, focused his pursuits at being a standout race car driver and top level racing series team owner.

The Paul Newman raced, Bob Sharp built, and Adam Carolla restored #33 IMSA GTX 300ZX Twin-Turbo. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

The following sixteen minutes is what Adam Carolla and co-producer Nate Adams had to say in a post-screening Q&A about their film effort involved in the making of WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN.

Adam Carolla & Nate Adams Q&A Audio File

Movie poster of WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN leaning against the studio wall. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN

Release Date:
VIDEO ON DEMAND – Release Date – May 22, 2015

Directed by:        Adam Carolla and Co-Directed by Nate Adams

Produced by:         Nate Adams, Adam Carolla and Mike August

Exec Producers        Norm Pattiz, Matt D’Andria

Edited By:        Simon Sandquist

Cinematography By:    Mårten Tedin

Runtime:    83 Minutes

MPAA Rating:    Unrated

Distributor:    FilmBuff

Paul Leonard Newman as a team driver at 24 Hours of Le Mans as seen in the Documentary #newmanracingfilm #awesome

A photo posted by Edmund Jenks (@the_edje) on May 12, 2015 at 9:20pm PDT

Starring:    Paul Newman (archive footage), Robert Redford, Patrick Dempsey, Mario Andretti, Jay Leno, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward (archive footage), Arthur Newman, Tom Cruise (archive footage), Michael Andretti, Bob Sharp, Sam Posey, Sebastien Bourdais and many other racers,

Synopsis:    The world knows Paul Newman as an Academy Award winning actor with a fifty-plus year career as one of the most prolific and revered actors in American Cinema. He was also well known for his philanthropy; Newman's Own has given more than four hundred and thirty million dollars to charities around the world. Yet few know the gasoline-fueled passion that became so important in this complex, multifaceted man's makeup. Newman’s deep-seated passion for racing was so intense it nearly sidelined his acting career.

His racing career spanned thirty-five years; Newman won four national championships as a driver and eight championships as an owner. Not bad for a guy who didn't even start racing until he was forty-seven years old.

Facebook:   
https://www.facebook.com/NewmanRacingFilm 

Twitter:          
 @NewmanRaceFilm

#:           
#NewmanRacingFilm, #PaulNewman, #WinningMovie

For additional information please contact:

New York
Lee Meltzer – Lee.Meltzer@pmkbnc.com – 212.373.6142
Nina Baron – Nina.Baron@pmkbnc.com  – 212.373.6150

Los Angeles
Tiffany Olivares – Tiffany.Olivares@pmkbnc.com – 310.854.3272
Jazmin Sanchez – Jazmin.Sanchez@pmkbnc.com – 310.854.3267

UPDATE - Movie Link Free On-Demand - Pluto TV:

WINNING: THE RACING LIFE OF PAUL NEWMAN >>>

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: Documentary, Adam Carolla, Nate Adams, #NewmanRacingFilm, #PaulNewman, #WinningMovie, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Patrick Dempsey, Mario Andretti, Jay Leno, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward, Arthur Newman, Tom Cruise, Michael Andretti, Bob Sharp, Sam Posey, Sebastien Bourdais, The EDJE

99th Indianapolis 500 Qualifications Exemplify A Disastrous Start To 2015

Verizon P1 Pole Winner sticker as it was placed on Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon's No. 9 Chevrolet-powered Dallara IndyCar. Notice the lack of attention to detail on how the sticker was placed. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski

99th Indianapolis 500 Qualifications Exemplify A Disastrous Start To 2015

After having a fairly interesting week of watching the Verizon IndyCar Series work in, and understand, the new aerodynamics kits for large oval racing that were added to their Dallara DW12 racing platforms, and after the weather elements washed out any chance of holding the scheduled 4-lap qualification runs used to decide where the drivers would line up for the INDY 500 race, then, lastly, a third Chevy chassis spun and turned around backwards causing the chassis to lift off of the track surface, Race Control saw fit to shut down all of the team and driver development understanding achieved over hundreds of laps logged at the old Brickyard.

The third Chevy-powered accident damage on Ed Carpenter's Dallara DW12. It was feared that the new aerodynamics body work led to having cars become airborne when they spin and present the rear of the car toward the wind. Image Credit: Mike Young

One might say ... IndyCar Race Control "Bricked" the 99th Indianapolis 500 qualifications.

The 2015 season at this point has had more going wrong with the competition and fan enjoyment than at almost anytime during these merger years.

To understand and gain a perspective on how the decisions made for Sunday's augmented qualifications session played out, one needs a brief review of the 2015 season.

2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season had its opener in Brazil canceled ...

its second scheduled race at St. Pete ended up in a non-passing crash fest with the first time implementation of new aerodynamics body work with restricted testing imposed on all teams ...

its third scheduled race, Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, at NOLA (a brand new venue) ran almost having more laps run under YELLOW Flag with the rest of the timed-race laps being a mud bath ...

Long Beach Formula E Race winner Nelson Piquet Jr. - NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team - at the beginning of the FIA Formula E electric car open-wheel race as he negotiates Turn 3 at the end of Shoreline Drive at Pine Ave.. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2014)

the fourth scheduled race at The Beach becoming a snoozer as a lack of passing ruled the day (two weeks earlier the FIA sanctioned Formula E had more interesting competition) ...

the fifth scheduled race at Barber Motorsports Park finally had some excitement - and passing, imagine that - passing ...

and finally, if this idiocy of INDY500 decision-making keeps up, the crown jewel of Speedway, Indiana during the month of May might become the Grand Prix of Indiana as opposed to the INDY 500 because, again, the Race Control by committee crowd allowed competition to break out (OH! ... and it was a road race).

Announcement of modified and augmented INDY 500 qualification's procedure at IMS delivered by CEO Mark Miles (L) and Race Control Director Derrick Walker (R). Image Credit: Bret Kelley

This excerpted and edited from Racer Viewpoints -

MILLER: Barnum & Bailey spotted at IMS
By Robin Miller - Sunday, 17 May 2015

It wasn’t as big a circus as 1997, when every bit of integrity and competition got kicked to the curb so the Indy Racing League could avoid the public relations nightmare of not starting the fastest 33 qualifiers.

But Sunday’s sideshow at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would have surely brought a little smirk to Barnum & Bailey. A lot of panic, a little knee jerk, possibly some politics, a little confusion and a lot of “WTF?” summed up a very forgettable and embarrassing day in IMS history. From the time Ed Carpenter flipped in morning practice to the inane Last Row battle, it looked more like the Speedrome instead of Speedway.
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Carpenter’s crash was the third in which a Chevrolet­powered Dallara driver wound up on his head. Helio Castroneves got upside down on Wednesday, followed by Josef Newgarden on Thursday. All three drivers escaped injury but not speculation. Why were their Indy cars suddenly sailing?

The finger was pointed at the new aero kits with the angled tire ramps and ramps inside the rear wheel pods or the vertical wickers on the nose but was countered by the Physics Police who reasoned as long as there are tunnels under a car and it goes backward there is going to be lift. Everyone seemed to have a theory except IndyCar, which offered nothing publicly until Sunday. “We knew the cause of the first two wrecks were very different and that probably obscured the overall concern,” said Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles, who at least chose Indy qualifying over golf this weekend.

IndyCar did mandate those vertical wickers be removed from all Chevys, but not the Hondas, after Helio flew.

Of course Carpenter crashed with no wicker but using the extra boost for qualifying while Castroneves had the wicker and normal horsepower before a tank­slapper sent him into the wall. Newgarden had no wicker and no added boost in a crash caused by a deflated tire. Even though Carpenter snapped loose before climbing the wall backwards and flipping over, it was his accident that suddenly sent IndyCar officials into DefCon 1. So when IndyCar sent out the word that it was taking away the extra power for qualifying and all the cars would have to start the race in the aero package they used to qualify (which instantly slowed the cars by several miles an hour), it created some predictable emotions in Gasoline Alley.

“We look like a bunch of pussies,” said one driver.
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“It’s amateur hour, they’re throwing darts at a board,” said a former IndyCar champion of the process.

Honda drivers and teams bit their tongue but the obvious question was why did Honda have to abide by the edict?

Competition director Derrick Walker replied: “Just because we’ve seen three incidents happen with a Chevrolet doesn’t mean that there aren’t three Hondas out there that are likely to happen [fly while going backward] or could happen. I can assure you that Honda doesn’t believe that they have any issue, but then again, they will admit right now that we don’t have that answer.
----
Was it more about safety or competition? Chevy has clearly been ahead of Honda in pace this season and this month (with or without extra boost) so it’s not like Honda lost any advantage, other than its cars weren’t flipping at any speed or under any configuration.

Three accidents force a total change in philosophy? Sending drivers out with a combination they hadn’t run all month for a short practice session before qualifying hardly seemed safe but that’s what happened.

Some people blamed IndyCar for not doing more testing with the oval­track kits, which prompted one veteran mechanic to say: “We could have run for two weeks but unless somebody spun backwards, how would we know if there was a problem?”

Of course nobody wants to see anybody hurt when it can be prevented and nobody crashed Sunday afternoon ...
----
And naturally the day ended with some head shaking stupidity. Instead of letting the Fast 9 at least get one chance to battle for the pole, the hearty but tiny gathering of fans that hung around had to endure the dramatic duel to see which one of the 34 drivers was [to be] sent home. IndyCar opted to have the slowest four drivers go back out to eliminate one of them in an effort to keep the insulting “Bump Day” theme alive.

How pathetic.

There’s no Jim Nabors this year so my suggestion is scrap “Back Home Again in Indiana” for “Send in the Clowns.”
[Reference]

Charlie Kimball and former champion Dario Franchitti pose for fan pictures at IMS. Image Credit: Forrest Mellott

Robin Miller (Racing, Viewpoints) was very correct to cite the 1997 IRL embarrassing INDY500 event because - and this is the reason - The Hulman/George decision-making Race Control by committee of 2015 was what had the event of last weekend's 99th INDY 500 qualifications feel so similar and familiar.

We are reliving the Tony George inspired competitive attitudes that the IRL gave American Open Wheel Racing right now in 2015. We have a racing series that is being run by a committee of pussies and one of them has been brought back (TGBB) after being replaced (with reason) a few years ago ... need we say more?

Robin Miller​ spanks the system but does not call them out as morphing into the IRL of old ... running the present day.

Comment/Observation From FB:
Ira Fierberg · Friends with Dicken Wear and 82 others - If you watched the coverage on Sunday, Roger Penske was interviewed and several times during the interview he referred to the sanctioning body as "The IRL"!

Can the reinstatement of Tony George as Chief "Clown & Mucky-Muck" be too far behind?

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Verizon IndyCar Series, 99th INDY 500, Indianapolis, Qualifications, Aerodynamics, Chevrolet-­powered, Honda-powered, Dallara, Testing, Hulman & Company, Mark Miles, Derrick Walker, Race Control, Boost, The EDJE,

At GP Of INDY It's Rayhall vs. Rahal ('RAyHALl') ... Is There An Echo In Here?

Fans walk the frontstretch during the post-race track invasion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via VICS

At GP Of INDY It's Rayhall vs. Rahal ('RAyHALl') ... Is There An Echo In Here?

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) during the final day of competition during the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, the only name heard, it seemed, was the sound made by the last name of a one-time Indy 500 winner (1986) - Bobby Rahal. In this case the name heard belonged to two different drivers in separate open-wheel series, although sounding the same, was spelled in two different ways.

Fans observe on track road course action on the mounds at IMS. Image Credit: Dana Garrett via VICS

The first session of the day belonged to a first-time driver in new IndyLights Series (that features a new Dallara racing platform powered by Mazda that looks like disturbingly like the ChampCar DP01 - down to the louvers in the sidepod) by the last name of Rayhall ... Sean Rayhall (8Star Motorsports).

Sean Rayhall leading IndyLights Race 2 at IMS. Image Credit: Tim Holle via VICS

He began the two race event by qualifying third and finishing second in Race 1 where he received a Podium trophy. on this final day of the event weekend, he began Race 2 in P2 along side of season series points leader and polesetter Ed Jones ... drafted his way down the front straight to put on a clean pass in Turn 1 and young Rayhall was never seriously challenged after the second GREEN Flag flew for the balance of the 35 lap race.

Sean Rayhall wins the IndyLights Race 2 at IMS. Image Credit: Doug Mathews via VICS

Post Race Quote:

Sean Rayhall  (#8 Bass Egg and Edvisors-8Star Motorsports): "In my head, that was longer than the six hours I've driven in endurance races! Jack was probably faster than me, but I was trying to save my tires for the end in case he got close. The restart had me nervous but I used a little trick I picked up driving Late Model (stock) cars to keep him back. After that, the only thing that was going through my head was to keep hitting my marks. I never expected this. Racing against guys like Max, RC, Ed, these guys have been doing open-wheel racing for the last five or six years, while I've done endurance racing. I'm inexperienced compared to them; it was an honor yesterday just to be on the podium with them so to be able to win, I'm just blown away. In the end, it's another race car. It's a switch in your head; you go from one to another, you drive different styles and push in different ways but you get to a point where you can flip it on and flip it off."

Sean Rayhall leading IndyLights Race 2 at IMS. Image Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography

He improved all event weekend long at the IMS infield road course where he posted a P5 in Practice 1, a P6 in Practice 2, A P3 in Qualifications, A Podium P2 in Race 1, a P1 in Practice 3, and brought home the Podium hardware in Race 2 with the winner's trophy and bragging rights for next year if he is still driving IndyLights.

P1 Rayhall, P2 Enerson, P3 Chilton at IMS Race 2. Image Credit: IndyLights

As reported by IndyCar:

Rayhall crossed the finish line 4.9438 seconds ahead of RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian). Max Chilton (Carlin) finished third. After seven of 16 races, Ed Jones (Carlin) holds the provisional points lead (176), 14 ahead of Jack Harvey (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian).

After only two races, Sean Rayhall (8Star Motorsports) has P11 in the points (81) out of 14 drivers with points.

Leaders in for 1st pitstop leaving 15 - Graham Rahal to make up ground with light fuel tanks - 1 - Power, 22 - Pagenaud, 11 - Bourdais - no mishaps or changes in order #gpofindy #lndycar #indyrivals

A photo posted by Edmund Jenks (@the_edje) on May 9, 2015 at 1:21pm PDT

Which brings us to the main event of the weekend, the fifth race of the Verizon IndyCar Series - Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and the other Rahal ... Graham Rahal.

This excerpted and edited from The Columbus Dispatch -

IndyCar: Graham Rahal trying to make the best of slower car
By: Tim May - Friday May 8, 2015 10:44 PM

Coming off a stirring run to a second-place finish in the previous IndyCar race, Graham Rahal spoke of renewed momentum for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan race team headed into Saturday’s second Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

He stuck with the momentum on Friday, but after qualifying he wasn’t happy. Neither were most of the other 11 drivers in the 25-car field who are using Honda engines and aerodynamic devices.

Chevrolet drivers smoked them. Team Penske’s Will Power led the way, taking the pole for the race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The “fast six” final qualifying was all Chevy; the top 12 who advanced to second-round qualifying included just one Honda, Jack Hawksworth from the Foyt Racing team, who wound up 11th.

It was like taking a “knife to a gun fight,” said Rahal, who will start 17th.

This year, IndyCar moved from stock bodies for all of the cars to aero kits (the downforce-inducing wings and pods on the cars) designed and produced by the two engine manufacturers in the series. If a team uses Honda engines it also uses the Honda aero kit. The same with Chevy.

Through the first four races and headed into the fifth, all on road or street courses, Chevy aero kits routinely have produced the faster times.

“It’s demoralizing,” Rahal said. “There’s nothing we can do; it’s out of our control. Our team has done the best job, I think, of driving the Honda all year (he’s eighth in points, up from 19th last season), but we’ve got to get the cars better.”

The Chevy drivers know there is a disparity. There is a chance of rain for the race today, which could close that gap.

“If it’s wet, absolutely,” Power said. Honda has “a lot of good drivers in their camp. Right now, they just don’t have their aero kits side of things together. … I hope they bridge that gap. It is more competitive when it’s an even playing field, which it isn’t right now.”
[Reference]


The race was run and it wasn't wet ... just a little messy at first, and fast (only one Full Course YELLOW Flag).

Seven cars were visibly involved in the Turn One incident, at race start, when the pack funneled down into the sharp first corner. Others got banged and bent. Third place starter, Helio Castroneves/No.3 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, rear-ended second place starter, Scott Dixon/No.9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. At least two cars stalled and had to be started – Jack Hawksworth/No.41 ABC Supply AJ Foyt and Josef Newgarden/No.21 Century 21 CFH Racing Chevrolet. Everyone else continued, eventually, but some had to pit for repairs. Image Credit: Eric Schwarzkopf

From IndyCar - ANGIE’S LIST GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS RACE RUNNING:

Lap 1: GREEN flag at 3:49 p.m. 1-Power leads the field into Turn 1. FULL COURSE CAUTION, contact in Turn 1 involving 9-Dixon, 3-Castroneves, 41-Hawksworth, 5-Hinchcliffe and 21-Newgarden. 3-Castroneves and 5-Hinchcliffe keep going. 9-Dixon, 41-Hawksworth and 21-Newgarden are stopped in Turn 1, assisted by the Holmatro Safety Team, restarted and return to the field.

Lap 2: Pits are open. Pitting are: 25-Wilson (replace front wing), 83-Kimball, 5-Hinchcliffe, 3-Castroneves, 7-Jakes, 9-Dixon (replace front and rear wings), 21-Newgarden (replace rear wing), 18-Huertas, 41-Hawksworth (replace front wing).

Lap 4: GREEN flag. 1-Power leads 22-Pagenaud. 15-Rahal has advanced 11 positions from the start to sixth place.

P1 Rahal in & out in 8 seconds - slots in after Power but before Pagenaud. #gpofindy #lndycar #indyrivals

A photo posted by Edmund Jenks (@the_edje) on May 9, 2015 at 1:47pm PDT

This excerpted and edited from NBC Sports Motorsports Talk -

Graham Rahal bridesmaid again in Grand Prix of Indianapolis
By: Daniel McFadin - May 9, 2015, 7:14 PM EDT

It never rained and Rahal didn’t require its services. Thanks to a Lap 1, Turn 1 crash involving Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Jack Hawksworth and Josef Newgarden, Rahal was able to go from 17th to sixth before he made it to Turn 5 on the opening lap.

“I said I’ll go as far left as they can, I’ll have a great angle to cut to the apex,” Rahal said of his plan for the first turn. “Worst comes to worse I’ll do the shortcut. It’ll be fine. Sure enough it worked perfect. I saw smoke everywhere. Next thing I know I see (Scott Dixon). I got (JR) Hildebrand into four. That definitely went our way.”

Then a strategy of pitting a lap later than the leaders put Rahal into the top three and within reasonable distance of Power. He led nine laps during green flag pit stops, but afterward was never able to make up full deficit due to lapped cars.

“I feel good about it. We’ve come away from finishing first by like three seconds combined,” Rahal said. “This tiny little one car team is fighting with Penske and that feels pretty good.”

It should feel good, though finishing second is undoubtedly getting old.

Still, Rahal, now fifth in points with his single-car team, has multiple podiums in a season for the first time since the 2011 campaign when Rahal notched three with Chip Ganassi Racing.
[Reference]

Angie's List #GPofINDY Podium (middle - Will Power P1, right - Graham Rahal P2, left - Juan Pablo Montoya P3) - This is Will Power’s first victory this season and 25th of his career, which ties him with Gordon Johncock for 15th place on the all-time list. It comes in Power’s 144th career start. Power is the fifth different winner in as many races in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season (following Juan Pablo Montoya, James Hinchcliffe, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden). The #GPofINDY race featured six different leaders (Will Power, Graham Rahal, Charlie Kimball, Scott Dixon, James Hinchcliffe and James Jakes). None of the six led a lap in the inaugural 2014 Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Graham Rahal finished second for the second straight race, tying his season-best finish. Image Credit: Eric Schwarzkopf via FB

This Verizon IndyCar Series season now has had 5 races with the last two showing great promise for the rest of 2015. Some complaints about the lack of Mushroom Busting or Trailing Turbulence which reduces an ease in passing with one of the most vocal drivers in the on-air post race comments being Sebastien Bourdais (starting P7 and finished P4).

Don't tell this to Graham Rahal (race's most improved 15 positions - started P17 - Finished P2) or, Helio Castroneves (started P3, booted Dixon in Turn 1, dropped back to P23 or P24 on Lap 10 pitstop, finished P6), or for that matter, the Verizon IndyCar Series PR department who is boasting 192 passes for position on the track, 11 lead changes and six leaders in the 82-lap race.

Podium Press Conference >>>

No matter how it's spelled (Rayhall / Rahal) it all sounds the same and that "RAyHALl" sound heard throughout the paddocks, for most all of the day, Saturday, is the sound the of success few other names have at the 2nd annual Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

What a way to start the "Month Of May" at IMS. Next up ... practice for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin May 11 (racecontrol.indycar.com).

Qualifications will be May 16 - ABC @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET and May 17 - ABC @ 1:00 pm - 3:00pm ET - includes V E R I Z O N  I N D Y C A R  S E R I E S – Q U A L I F Y I N G – F A S T 9 (racecontrol.indycar.com).

Coors Light Carb Day will be May 22 (racecontrol.indycar.com).

The INDY 500 race will be May 24 and televised at 12:00pm ET on ABC Networks and racecontrol.indycar.com.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Sean Rayhall, Graham Rahal, Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Month of May, 8Star Motorsports, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyLights, IndyCar, Will Power, Juan Pablo Montoya, RC Enerson, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Curb-Agajanian, Max Chilton, Carlin, The EDJE, Verizon IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway,

Mazda Provides Fleet Of New 2016 Mazda6s And CX-5s To Camp Zoom-Zoom

Mazda Provides Fleet Of New 2016 Mazda6s And CX-5s To Camp Zoom-Zoom (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca)

Mazda North American Operations handed over the keys to 13 all-new 2016 Mazda6 and CX-5 vehicles to staff of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during this past weekend's Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered by Mazda. The cars, emblazoned with Mazda-designed graphics, will become a staple on the Monterey Peninsula landscape and special events.

"We are extremely grateful and fortunate to have Mazda as a partner," commented Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "Their enthusiasm, guidance and ongoing activations throughout the year are remarkable, and enable us to host major international races each year."

Affectionately known as "Camp Zoom-Zoom" among Mazda officials, the automaker regularly uses Mazda Raceway to conduct new product launches, media drives, engineering tests and dealer meetings.

"As we kick off our sixteenth season of partnership with Mazda Raceway, it's always fun to see the new fleet of Mazda vehicles arrive with the track's hard-working team," said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, US Operations, for Mazda North American Operations. "Some companies put their names in places that just don't make sense, but the reason for our ongoing partnership is that motorsport is in our blood, and Mazda Raceway is one of the most iconic race facilities in the world. We look forward to many more years of partnership."

The 2016 Mazda6 is the flagship model in Mazda's new-generation product lineup. It has earned high acclaim in markets around the world thanks to the alluring vitality of the "KODO - Soul of Motion" design language and SKYACTIV Technology's balance of driving pleasure, environmental performance and safety. Mazda went to extraordinary lengths to bring new levels of depth and maturity to every aspect of the 2016 model. In addition to an innovative interior design, the updated refreshed Mazda6 offers the customer greater sophistication and value with enhanced exterior design, functionality, ride comfort, quietness and safety.

Mazda SKYACTIV Prototype Progress - For the second time in four races, the Mazda SKYACTIV Prototype (both captured here during the pre-race Grid Walk) led the race. The No. 70 car of Tristan Nunez and Jonathan Bomarito started eighth and took the lead after the 45-minute mark, heading the field for seven laps. They finished sixth in class and seventh overall, matching the best-ever finishes for the Prototypes. The No. 07 car of Tom Long and Joel Miller started ninth but retired with mechanical problems. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2015)

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 was the first model to fully adopt SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and the "KODO - Soul of Motion" design language. The model offered much more than the basic values of utility and practicality that customers expect from an SUV and it delivers high levels of both driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance. Since the launch of the original model, Mazda has made steady refinements to the CX-5 each year, aiming to deliver customers even greater value and sophistication.

Since Mazda became title sponsor of the iconic motorsports and events facility in 2000, located in the destination-rich Monterey Peninsula, Mazda has had a prolific presence. The Soul Red Metallic vehicles serve a variety of purposes, from utilitarian duties and participating in parades and civic activities, to serving as pace cars. "The Mazdas are instrumental in our jobs," added Campbell.

The next race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the MotoAmerica & FIM World Superbike Championship, GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round July 17-19. For ticket information and a complete season lineup, visit MazdaRaceway.com or call 831-242-8200.

For information on the full Mazda new model lineup, visit MazdaUSA.com.

... notes from The EDJE

Motor Culture, Social Media, And The Search For Creations Past

Image of a 1963, Derbi 50cc 7-speed Grand Prix motorcycle. Image Credit TOURNESOL via Philippe de Lespinay on his Facebook page

Motor Culture, Social Media, And The Search For Creations Past

Funny what pursuits in motor culture one finds bounding through social media news feeds.

In this case, a submission by driver, collector, historian, builder, standards judge, and artist (more could have been added) Philippe de Lespinay about his past in Grand Prix motocycle racing and the query on a model built and presented to a onetime benefactor to his exploits.

Images of a 1963, Derbi 50cc 7-speed Grand Prix motorcycle. Image Credit: Print Magazine via Philippe de Lespinay on his Facebook page

This was written by Philippe on his Facebook page [edited]:

"52 years ago, I built [a model of] this 1963, 1/8 scale Derbi 50cc 7-speed Grand Prix motorcycle using only basic materials: soldered steel-wire frame, wooden engine and fuel tank, wheels made from plumbing fiber gaskets... those were the days!

I gifted it [the model] to the late Jacques Roca, who had been instrumental in helping me begin my racing career. Not sure if it survived in his estate ... these pictures were found in a period magazine."
[Reference]

Philippe de Lespinay made several models, but to date, it is known that only two have survived as far as Philippe knows. This one being only 3" long and in need of repairs, it is of a 250cc Aermacchi Harley-Davidson. Image Credit: Philippe de Lespinay

If anyone knows additional information on this brief news feed item, please leave a comment (and a link, if helpful) so this can be passed on to Mr. de Lespinay.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS:  model, Derbi, 50cc, 1963, 7-speed, Grand Prix motorcycle, Jacques Roca, TOURNESOL, Philippe de Lespinay, The EDJE