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Showing posts with label target chip ganassi racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label target chip ganassi racing. Show all posts
Monday, 20 May 2019
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Texas News and Indy Car Series News
Two big bits of news for you all here.
First up.Announced this week in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Texas Motor Speedway will begin a major capital improvement project today consisting of a complete repave, construction of an extensive drainage system and a re-profiling of the 1.5-mile oval configuration.
The renovation will add a new layer of asphalt over the existing pavement, an expansive French drainage system on the frontstretch and backstretch, and reduce the banking in turns one and two by four degrees. Barring extensive weather delays, the project is expected to be completed by early to mid-March in advance of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Nascar doubleheader scheduled for April 7-9.
The repaving and drainage system come as a result of issues the facility was incurring in attempting to dry the racing surface, in particular this past year when both Nascar race weekends and the Verizon INDYCAR Series race were affected by weather-related delays. While the aged track surface at Texas Motor Speedway is lauded by drivers, speedway officials made the decision to repave in the best interests of their fans that had to deal with the inconveniences of the delays.
“The fans are why we are doing this,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “The old pavement no longer dried as quickly because through the years of use and weather, the asphalt became porous, kind of like a sponge. Even if we only had a brief shower it was taking us far too long to get the track dried in order to get on to the racing. We owe it to the fans to present the best possible race track so they will be assured of seeing Nascar and INDYCAR races even if we face some brief inclement weather. This will accomplish that goal.”
Lane Construction Corp. will handle the repaving project. The company has paved several prominent speedways since 2003 including such marquee facilities as Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona Int’l Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. The repave will feature an asphalt mix similar to the surfaces at SMI sister tracks, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The mix used in conjunction with the construction method will aid in the track’s properties of an “aged” track.
For the installation of the French drainage system, trenches will be cut in numerous locations on the frontstretch and backstretch to provide multiple points for water to drain away from the facility more quickly and efficiently than the current system. The drainable mat installation that will tie into a continuous toe drain will aid in the drainage of the track as well.
In addition to the repaving and drainage system, Texas Motor Speedway will undergo a re-profiling in turns one and two to give the venue a more unique layout from its currently symmetrical 24-degree banking in all four turns. While turns three and four will remain unchanged, the banking of turns one and two will be decreased to 20 degrees with the racing surface width expanding from 60 to 80 feet in that section of the track.
“Due to the issues we had in 2016 with moisture and track drying, we had to take steps to correct the problems to give the fans the experience they deserve,” said Speedway Motorsports Inc. Vice President of Operations and Development Steve Swift, who is coordinating the project. “With that task at hand, we looked at what would be the best way to create more exciting racing and to correct the water issues. We are excited to put these practices in place and create another great SMI race.”
The reduced banking, which will decrease lap speeds and potentially open up additional passing opportunities in turns one and two, will provide Texas Motor Speedway with a new, distinctive layout for a 1.5-mile oval. “For years, I’ve heard the absurd comments about 1.5-mile tracks being tagged as ‘cookie-cutter’ tracks,” President Eddie Gossage said. “While nothing could be further from the truth – all 1.5-mile tracks are different – this assures once and for all that Texas Motor Speedway is unique, unlike any other track in the sport. That’s the way we like it here in No Limits, Texas.”
This will be the second full repave since Texas Motor Speedway opened in 1997. That project occurred in the summer of 2001.
Then second up on the news front from IndyCar.
Fans of the series can expect the current Dallara DW012 Indy car chassis to be used at least through the 2020 Verizon INDYCAR Series season before a new car is developed, according to Jay Frye, INDYCAR’s president of competition and operations.
The 2016 aero kit rules have been frozen for this season, so Chevrolet and Honda are not allowed to make any developmental changes to the bolt-on pieces that began on-track competition in 2015.In 2018, a standard aero kit will be used by both manufacturers with the hopes of luring a third engine participant to the series.
“We have a plan and we put this plan together and talked about it with our paddock and both Chevrolet and Honda and they are very enthusiastic about that plan,” Frye said. “Simultaneously, we have also shared this plan with other OEM prospects because we thought it would be wise for them to have equity in the direction we are going. The worst thing we could have done would be to come up with a plan and then taken it to the other OEMs and they didn’t want to do that either. We feel good about where we are, where we are going and confident we will get another OEM.”
Then something I feel all fans will agree on
Legendary open-wheel racer Dario Franchitti, who won three Indianapolis 500s as well as the 2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29 at Daytona Int’l Speedway. Franchitti will deliver the command “Drivers, start your engines” for North America’s most prestigious sports car event.
“We’re honored to have Dario Franchitti serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Daytona Int’l Speedway President Chip Wile said. “Dario has had a decorated career in open-wheel racing and conquered sports car racing’s grueling twice-around-the-clock challenge in 2008. Fans and competitors are looking forward to his starting command as we kick off Speedweeks 2017.”
A native of Scotland, Franchitti captured four INDYCAR Series championships (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011) as well as three Indianapolis 500s (2007, 2010 and 2012). Overall, Franchitti has 265 starts in INDYCAR racing with 31 wins and 33 poles.
In the 2008 Rolex 24, Franchitti and co-drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Juan Montoya captured the overall victory by a margin of two laps driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Franchitti also has a class win in the 12 Hours of Sebring.Franchitti retired from competition in 2013 but is still active in the sport, serving as a team advisor for Chip GanassiRacing with Felix Sabates.
Hard to think January is flying on by already not long until all the world Motorsport scene kicks off once again, all the very best everyone enjoy the read.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
One More Award.
It had to be Dixon!
After my earlier posting there reallywas only one other that needed to be added.
The Most dominant weekend Award in 2016
Don't forget to check out my books on Amazon.com and my personal stories from the Indy 500.
After my earlier posting there reallywas only one other that needed to be added.
The Most dominant weekend Award in 2016
Nobody put a bigger stamp on a race weekend than No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi driver Scott Dixon did in the Verizon IndyCar Series' return to Watkins Glen International. The 36-year-old New Zealander topped the timesheets in every practice before posting a pole time that was an amazing 5.61 seconds quicker than the previous lap record held by Ryan Briscoe.
Once the green flag waved on the INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen presented by Hitachi, the four-time series champion made himself scarce, pulling a huge gap and easily managing the race from the front. To add insult to injury, Dixon cruised to his fourth Verizon IndyCar Series win at The Glen with plenty of fuel to spare, while the rest of the drivers struggled to make their Sunoco E85R ethanol last. He took the checkered more than 16 seconds ahead of Josef Newgarden now signed with Team Penske for 2017 and beyond replacing Juan Pablo Montoya.
Dixon may for the first time in years placed out side of the final podium steps in the quest for the championship but one thing is very much for certain he is ALWAYS there and should never ever be written off.
Don't forget to check out my books on Amazon.com and my personal stories from the Indy 500.
Monday, 19 September 2016
Looking to 2017.
IndyCar announces and aero kit development freeze for 2017 and a universal car in 2018.
News last week from Indianapolis when it was announced that IndyCar has placed a freeze on aero kit development for manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda that will take effect immediately in preparation for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
Manufacturers will run their current aero kit specifications next season as the series and IndyCar prepares to introduce a universal aero kit for the start of the 2018 season.
"The announcement follows an extended dialogue with Chevrolet, Honda, our teams and stakeholders - this decision focused on what is best for the future of the Verizon IndyCar Series," said Jay Frye, IndyCar president of competition and operations. "This is an integral component to INDYCAR's long-term plan to continue to produce the highest quality of on-track competition while also positioning ourselves to add additional engine manufacturers."
Aero kit regulations were initially announced in 2013 and introduced into on-track competition in 2015. The kits featured aerodynamic bodywork components that were designed, manufactured and supplied by Chevrolet and Honda for road/street/short oval courses and a separate kit for superspeedways.
"The 2018 car is a tremendous opportunity for INDYCAR and the design collaboration is already underway," Frye continued. "The goal of the universal car is to be great-looking, less aero dependent, have more potential for mechanical grip/downforce and to incorporate all the latest safety enhancements."
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Indy Car at Texas Motor Speedway.
The Firestone 600 stopped by rain after 71 laps, will be completed August 27.
Josef Newgarden during driver introductions at the Indy 500
News today from Fort Worth Texas and the Sunday attempt at the race after rain on Saturday evening - The Firestone 600 will have to wait another day for its completion. Another two months, in fact.
The scheduled 248-lap event at Texas Motor Speedway - the ninth race of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season - was stopped after 71 laps today by heavy rain. INDYCAR and track officials announced that the race was suspended and will be completed August 27 as a night race.
"We certainly want to come back and have a full race for the fans here in Texas," said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. "The people at TMS do a great job, so what we will do, per our rulebook, is start the race from where we stopped. So we will come back and start the race from that point.
"This is unique. It hasn't happened for a little while, but there are a lot of unique things here and we'll look forward to coming back Aug. 27."
The race was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but lingering wet track conditions from daylong rain prevented it from starting. The 22-car field took the green flag at 2:48 p.m. ET today, but was able to complete only 71 laps on the 1.455-mile oval before storms returned.
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver James Hinchcliffe was leading the race when the red flag came out. The cars will restart the race in August in the same order in which they were scored at the completion of Lap 71.
"We maybe could have hung around and try to get it dry tonight and run enough to get halfway, but that's not right," said Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway president. "We want to give the fans a race. That's the plan."
The last Verizon IndyCar Series race to start one day and finish on another came at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2011. The race was red-flagged for rain and standing water on the track after nine laps May 1 and finished the next day. The last time an event was postponed until later in the season was at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001, when the race scheduled for Sept. 15 was delayed until Oct. 6 following the 9/11 tragedies.
Drivers Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden were involved in the only incident of the first 71 laps, when Daly's No. 18 Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality Honda spun in Turn 4 and collected Newgarden's No. 21 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevrolet. The two cars slid into the SAFER Barrier on the outside wall before coming to rest along the frontstretch.
Newgarden was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, where he was diagnosed with a fractured right clavicle and small fracture in his right hand, according to Dr. Geoffrey Billows, INDYCAR medical director.
"Thank you to Dallara, INDYCAR, the Holmatro Safety Team and everyone we work with at Texas Motor Speedway," Newgarden said. "The car held up great and the response from the safety team was amazing. I'm banged up a little bit, but I'm generally OK.
"That's all thanks to INDYCAR and all the work everyone within the series does. I am feeling a little pain but I hope to be ready to rock and go again soon. We had a great car today, it just did not go how we had planned."
Daly was uninjured in the incident.
"I didn't expect that slide at all," Daly said. "We were consistently running and, all of a sudden, the rear (tires) just totally lost grip. I felt like I floated all the way through the corner.
"I should have recognized it but it was definitely a rookie mistake. I was trying to stay a little bit lower because I knew Josef was coming. Maybe by pinching it a little bit, I just put too much load on the right rear."
The schedule for Aug. 27 includes a practice and driver autograph prior to completion of the race. Broadcast information will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the original race date will be honored for the resumption.
The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, from June 24-26. It will mark the return of Indy cars to the scenic 4-mile permanent road course for the first time since 2007.
FIRESTONE 600 POSTPONEMENT QUOTES:
JAY FRYE (president, INDYCAR competition and operations): "We certainly want to come back and have a full race for the fans here in Texas, our fans. The people at TMS do a great job. So what we will do, per our rulebook, is start the race from where we stopped. So we will come back and start the race from that point. We'll come in, have a practice, do an autograph session, run the race that night continuing from where we left off with the intent of getting an entire race in for our fans and the fans here at Texas Motor Speedway. This is unique. It hasn't happened for a little while, but there are a lot of unique things here and we'll look forward to coming back Aug. 27."
EDDIE GOSSAGE (president, Texas Motor Speedway): "After a lot of consultation this afternoon - and it was quite a meeting of people with everyone on their phones calling all the right folks, including a lot of teams for their input - what we are going to do is resume this race Saturday night, Aug. 27. Jay (Frye) will get into the particulars of how you resume a race, but I will tell you it will consist of one day only, there's going to be a practice, an autograph session with all the drivers up on the concourse under the grandstands and then the race. We felt like that was the best way to best serve all the fans. The lightning is still going on out there. We maybe could have hung around and try to get it dry tonight and run enough to get halfway, but that's not right. We want to give the fans a race. That's the plan."
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 11 Team Hydroxycut - KVSH Racing Chevrolet): "It was obviously a tough day. The Hydroxycut machine had the least amount of downforce of anyone and, unfortunately, it showed. For 15 laps I was just barely hanging on and the car was way too fast on its own. I think we had the second- or third-quickest lap of the race. That is just the way it is, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is that Josef (Newgarden) and Conor (Daly) aren't seriously hurt. The magnitude of that crash, we just have to very happy and feel very lucky. Obviously, Josef is hurt, but when you see the crash, it's a miracle. Also, I feel bad for the fans, but have a lot of respect for them. Two days of rain and they stayed with it. I'm just sorry we couldn't get an official race in for them."
GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 15 Mi-Jack/RLL Honda): "I had a really good start but I got held up a little bit, which is fine. I was just trying to be patient. At the end of the day, I think we had a pretty good baseline to get going from. I was having fun and just trying to work my way forward and be really patient. It's frustrating to not get to finish the race. I feel bad for the fans. We'll just have to try to regroup and come back and try this again another day. My thoughts are with Josef (Newgarden) and I hope that he is 100 percent again soon."
CONOR DALY (No. 18 Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality Honda): (On Lap 42 incident): "I was the rookie to make the mistake. The car was really consistent. It was fantastic and we were making great progress. I didn't expect that slide at all. We were consistently running and, all of a sudden, the rear (tires) just totally lost grip. I felt like I floated all the way through the corner. It was all my mistake. I should have recognized it but it was definitely a rookie mistake. I was trying to stay a little bit lower because I knew Josef (Newgarden) was coming. Maybe by pinching it a little bit, I just put too much load on the right rear. While the car was quite good, I was on the edge in (Turns) 3 and 4 all the time. I apologized to him in there because that was my mistake, for sure."
JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 21 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevrolet): "Thank you to Dallara, INDYCAR, the Holmatro Safety Team and everyone we work with at Texas Motor Speedway. The car held up great and the response from the safety team was amazing. I'm banged up a little bit, but I'm generally OK. That's all thanks to INDYCAR and all the work everyone within the series does. I am feeling a little pain but I hope to be ready to rock and go again soon. We had a great car today, it just did not go how we had planned. I feel bad for both Conor and myself but I'm glad Conor is OK as well. I'll be back out there fighting as soon as I can. Luckily I am all right, thank you again to everyone who helped me."
Media information ex Indy Car Media and Photos via the David Turner collection.
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
It's a sell out at Indy!
Historic sellout marks 100th Running of the Indy 500 and Local TV delay suspended for 2016.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced the first sellout in the history of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race today. All suites, reserved seating and infield General Admission tickets for the 100th Running of the Indy 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil are sold out.
"There's no event in the world like the Indy 500," said Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles. "This sellout is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the thrilling racing of the Verizon IndyCar Series and the bright future for both."
"The Indy 500 is a uniquely Hoosier event," said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. "The community support for the this race has fueled excitement for the 100th Running and paves the way for the next century for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500."
In conjunction with the sellout, it was announced that the long-standing practice of delaying the television broadcast in Indianapolis will be suspended for 2016. This is only the third time the race will be broadcast live on Central Indiana television and the first time since the early 1950's.
"With no way to accommodate more fans at IMS, we are delighted to be able to suspend the television delay in Indianapolis, making it possible for those cannot be with us on Race Day to watch the 100th Running live. The traditional delayed coverage on WRTV will continue, so race fans who attend the race will be able to go home with their families and watch the broadcast on the Sunday evening.
On May 6, IMS officials announced a sellout of reserved seating for the race. This included all grandstand seating, suite hospitality and several temporary suites built in turns 1 and 2. General Admission tickets continued to be available for purchase via the IMS ticketing office. Steady and increased demand for GA tickets led to today's announcement. The Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light is sold out as well. Tickets for Carb Day and Legends Day still remain.
While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway does not release official attendance numbers, the Indy 500 is the largest single day sporting event on the planet.
"What makes the Indianapolis 500 so special to our fans is the overall experience. It is more than just cars on track," said Boles. "As demand continued to increase following the reserved seating announcement, we reached a point where it became necessary to stop selling GA tickets to preserve the infield experience."
100th Running celebrations have been fueled by an action-packed 100 Day Countdown that began with a midnight party on the Yard of Bricks as the clock turned to FEb 19th. Festivities have been supported by the 100th Running Host Committee, a group of community volunteers and donors that have visited all 92 counties and activated several community programs to increase anticipation for the 100th Running.
Don't forget to check out my book before during and after the event.
Monday, 23 May 2016
THe Grid for the Indy 500 100th Running
100th Running of the Indy 500 Starting Grid
Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Row 9
Row 10
Row 11
Alex Tagliani
Warmup: ---.---
Lap 1: ---.---
Lap 2: ---.---
Lap 3: ---.---
Lap 4: ---.---
4 Lap Average: ---.---
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