USGP: Before the Buzz 'O Red Bull Aeroplanes...

Long forgotten page from 2001 USGP Pocket programme featuring a much younger Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, etc. (The Tomaso Collection)

When just some good 'Ol Formula 1 cars went Round 'N Round at Mother Speedway...

In a different lifetime, when some sorta other Aeroplanes were making noise upon the world's stage. Fifteen years ago today, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was hosting the very first International Sporting Event Stateside after You Know What!

VIDEO:: 2001 USGP Race's First lap

As it seems somewhat appropriate that Mother Speedway's hosting an event this weekend, even if it's of an entirely different audience, it's always good to have racing, even if it's in the A-I-R occuring trackside at the Speedway!

Yeah, your humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso was indeed present for the long forgotten '01 USGP, for which I simply haven't been able to get the Mega 4-part Harmony; Err story loaded Justin-time'

Whilst I'd have enjoyed being at the Red Bull Air Races this weekend, even if I couldn't S-E-E 'em; Hooah!

Red Bull brings Wings to IMS this weekend

Ironically, after having listened to Don Kay's 'lil autosport Radio show, where he had Red Bull Air Racing Championship's Challenger class rookie Americano' Kevin Coleman as a guest, who's Aeroplane number is 48, which Don pointed out was the 'Ol Olsonite Eagle number, albeit think Jerry Grant ran it first...

SHUHZAMM! I ran across the following News blurb in my local Fish wrap later that evening, about a hidden bevy 'O classic Aeroplanes in the tiny enclave of Concrete, WA I'd never heard of before: FISH ON!

Where a 'Golden Age' of wings lives on

As Y'all can check out what sounds like some very exciting Air Racing on the grounds of Mother Speedway this weekend. Where Messer Coleman and his colleagues will skim thru the air 50-feet off the deck at 230mph! Slicing thru 75-foot high inflatable Airgates at the Brickyard...

IndyCar Ringers' at Petit Le Mans

Now that the IndyCar season's over, drivers are somewhat free to dabble in other arenas...

Newly crowned 2016 IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud will spearhead a Quintet of Open Wheel Racing drivers participating in this weekend's season finale Petit Le Mans Sports Car race, Saturday October 1st.

As Pageantry' and RHR', aka Ryan Hunter-Reay will moonlight in separate Corvette's in the B-I-G BOYZ' "DP" (Daytona Prototype) category, along with Spencer Pigot entered in both of Mazda's top tier entries.

Scotty Dixon and le 'Hamburgular, nee SeaBass, aka Sebastain Bourdais will return with Chip Ganassi Racing's Ford GT's in the GTLM (Le Mans) category as endurance event co-drivers.

Dixon will join the No. 67 with regular season drivers Ryan Briscoe & Richard Westbrook trailing the No. 4 Corvette C7R tandem of Ollie' Gavin & Tommy Milner by 11-points for the class title. Although the Corvette lads hold the tie-breaker advantage with four wins to the Ford duo's three.

My Homeboyz' Team Seattle and Park Place Motorsports will once again be campaigning their latest renditions of the venerable Porsche 911 in the No's 23 & 73 respectively. But should rightly be overlooked by history being made in their GTD (Daytona) class.

As Denmark's Christina Nielsen, who leads the title chase comfortably, is set to become the first female ever to win a championship in IMSA history, by simply contesting the minimum 3hr driving requirement aboard her #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488GT3!

So take that Milka-licious. Y'all know when thou Wanderin' Milka, nee Milka Duno shot to prominence by finishing runner-up in a Grand Am Sports Car race. Before puttin' a Bee in Queen Danica's IndyCar Bonnet; Hya!

Alas, for any of Y'all IndyCar Fanaticoes; Err Fans already Jonesin' for some more racing' action with some of our current crop 'O drivers. Look for the race being aired upon Fox Sports FS1 & FS2 channels. Whilst also believe it'll be available streamed live on imsa.com?

IMSA: Pagenaud among guest stars in Petit Le Mans entry

Halo debate..

I am not an engineer, nor an astute scientist, physicist, etc. Nor am I proclaiming that motorsports shouldn't protect Open Wheel Racing drivers to the fullest.

Although that said, there's one thingy' that's been bothering me mightily about this Halo debate for some time now, and seems prevalent with the two year anniversary of Jules Bianchi's horrific accident at Circuito Suzuka just round the corner.

I must admit, like many, I was partially drawn to Open Wheel Racing over the allure of its inherent dangers, nee the abilities of said Pilotes' mastery of driving these chariots somewhat exposed. Since although safety had improved markedly since the beginning of Formula 1's modern era in the 1950's, nevertheless the cockpits of said racecars were still very open during the late 1980's early 1990's.

Yet what truly bothers me about the current rage over driver protection, nee Halo device is the martyrum 'O Jules bianchi, as seriously? How can anybody rightly claim that said Halo device would have saved his life from his Horrific shunt! Not to mention what must Adrian Sutil feel as being an unsuspecting witness to said tragedy!

As Bianchi's death was due to several factors, which quietly the FIA has amended, i.e.; racing at Twilight during a Typhoon weekend on wet asphalt, albeit NO mention of mobile cranes being deployed to remove stricken race cars - whilst I'll leave the debate over transportation methods untouched.

As I personally believe that NO measure of head protection, with the exception of being in a closed coupe "Tintop" Sports car may have helped him possibly survive?

So can we please QUIT using Jules as a pawn in the argument over Driver Safety! As yeah, Halo or whatever most likely would have saved, or greatly improved Justin Wilson and Harry Surtees chances of survival, but not so much for either Dan Wheldon or Bianchi...

Since once again, would Halo, Air Screen or whatever been able to bore the brunt of Wheldon's striking of catch fencing and deflect the enormous G-loading?

And let's not forget that unfortunately Allan Simonsen died at Circuit de la Sarthe in a closed top Aston Martin Vantage Sports Car early during the 2013 24 Heurs du Mans...