Target Boyz’ reunion with Marshall Pruett

A gracious Alex Zanardi greats a star-struck Tomaso at Mother speedway on Carb Day.

(The Tomaso Collection)

 

The world is a sadder place without Alex Zanardi!

 

The seas ‘O synchronicity have struck thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville again Ah-Mighty!

 

Sometime between the Long Beach IndyCar race and Indy 500 Open test. I tried inquiring upon Zed Intrawoods’ about Marshall Pruet interviewing Top Jimmy’, ergo Jimmy Vasser that weekend?

 

Having heard IndyCar Radio pit reporter Ryan Marin interviewing Vasser over being re-united with His 1996 Long Beach Target chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96i Honda HRH winner.

 

With Jimmy saying He hadn’t put a leg over a cockpit in quite awhile! And I swear I heard Vasser say something about the reunion involving Marshall Pruett. Being the 30th anniversary of His Long Beach victory…

 

Hence, although I didn’t find anything about this, I did run into a fantastic 38 minutes video from seven years ago. When Marshall got Vasser, Alex Zanardi and Mike Hull to sit together and reminisce about those Glory Dazes during the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona.

 

Having totally forgotten that Zanardi had raced in that year’s Rolex 24 in a specially adapted Hand controls No. 24 BMW M8 GTE BMW Team RLL entry. Racing with John Edwards, Chad Moster and Jesse Kroh to a ninth place finish in the GTLM category.

 

It’s a fantastic interview with lots of laughs and absolutely worth listening to!

 

VIDEO: Target Ganassi IndyCar reunion with Alex Zanardi, Jimmy Vasser and Mike Hull

 

Then karmically, having just put the finishing touches on my No Fenders story including Alex Zanardi never getting to race at Mother Speedway the very same day He unexpectedly died at age 59.

 

Opening my email Saturday morning, I learned that El Zorro was gone, saying Oh Fuck!

 

As I’ll never forget that day at Mother Speedway when He graciously walked across the racetrack to “Meet ‘n Greet” Mwah to my astonishment!

 

Alex Zanardi: 1966-2026

 

While here’s another interview of Alex on Late Night with David Letterman following the 2014 Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. Which exudes all of the typical Zanardi charisma, charm, humor and humility which made Him a Hero for Mwah!

 

Nonchalantly describing seeing a female spectator had tears flowing down Her cheeks over Alex’s grit ‘n determination to persevere in the Triathlon. Noting actually, He was just sweating profusely because His gloves were slipping on the wheelchair’s wheels when trying to go uphill, and He wasn’t crying…

 

VIDEO: Alex Zanardi on Late Night with David Letterman

 

Salute Alex! 

Indy Road Course tidbits

Which became a very long, but entertaining day for some of us…

 

Question. Am I expecting too mucho by thinking that IndyCar Radio should have “broken-in” to their canned rerun’s and told us that qualifying was in a hold Friday?

 

Having listened to a very entertaining Indy NXT race, complete with a red flag to allow for the fitting of rain tyres. The broadcast ended at 2:14PM Pacific, which I was happy hearing how “Stoked” Enzo Fittipaldi was during His winner’s interview, but.

 

Got pretty tired of the cliché of stop me if you’ve heard this before. A Fittipaldi wins at Indianapolis…

 

As it was Enzo’s maiden win in Indy NXT, being the grandson of two-times Indianapolis 500 winner Emmo’, aka Emerson Fittipaldi.

 

2:30PM came ‘n went, ironically or karmically/ The driver I’d been trying to come up with a nickname for, i.e.; The Count, aka Rinus VeeKay presumably discussing His lone IndyCar win with Nicky Salt’ yeoman

 

After playing two-plus minutes of the pre-broadcast countdown blather, followed by more commercials. It was 2:47PM and we’re in the midst of an old First to The Flag episode featuring Symone’, aka Pageantry’, nee Simon Pagenaud’s breakthrough victory at Belle Isle. (2013)

 

As it was fun hearing Mike Yippee-Aye-Eh! King tell Driver Analyst and first time team owner Davey Hamilton to leave the booth early to go celebrate in victory lane! As Pagenaud won for Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports running the HP sponsorship Davey brought to the team.

 

Then at 2:58PM more commercials were followed by Yeoman interviewing DJ WillyP’, ergo Will Power on the pitfalls of making it to Indy Cars…

 

This was followed by Paul Page and a very old Indy 500 race, making me wonder if something was wrong with my browser’s connection? So I closed out the program and reconnected to IndyCar Radio, which had now morphed into Mark James calling the 101st Indy 500, Urgh!

 

Obviously Qualie’ must have been Rained out, but I thought they had rain tyres for road courses and street circuits…

 

Decided to ask “Mr. Google”, which was hilarious, since I got three different AI generated answers. First telling me Yes, qualifying has already occurred, when asking at 3:18PM Pacific.

 

Then Yes, qualifying is on FS1 at 2:30PM Pacific. Before finally I got a link to Trackside Online (TSO) saying Qualifying had been postponed until Saturday morning. With the funniest part being the TSO article was written by Bruce Martin, who I thought was writing for IndyCar.

 

Fast-forwarding to Saturday morning’s 7:45Am Pacific IndyCar qualifying being shown on two different Fox Sports channels…

 

During Group-1, Round One’s Qualie’, believe it was Mark Gravelly’ James who casually said that Alexander rossi was one of six drivers to have won both on the road course and oval.

 

Naturally this made me start pondering this trivia question. As I could only come up with five, albeit guessing the sixth had to be Schlick’, Righto?

 

The first to complete the “Double” was Will Power in 2018. Followed by Simon Pagenaud in 2019

 

Third to the party was Scott Dixon in 2020. Before Rossi joined this club in 2022. Followed by Josef Newgarden in 2023, and our newest member “The Surgeon”, aka Alex Palou in 2025.

 

Indianapolis Road Course Winners

(5) Will Power: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020*, 2021*

(3) Simon Pagenaud: 2014, 2016, 2019

(3) Alex Palou: 2023, 2024, 2025

(2) Scott Dixon: 2020*, 2023*

(1) Josef Newgarden: 2020*

(1) Alexander Rossi: 2022*

 

Notes

From 2020 to 2023, IndyCar held a second IMS road course race in conjunction with the NASCAR Brickyard 200 weekend; known as the Gallagher Grand Prix. Also known as the summer race.

 

Scott Dixon claimed both of His road course wins during these summer events. Along with Will Power in 2021, and Alexander Rossi’s latest IndyCar win in August, 2022.

 

The Harvest Grand Prix was held as a Double Header during the weekend of October 2-3, 2020 in order to make up for the raft of COVID-19 race cancellations. Serving as a support event  to the inaugural 8 Hours Intercontinental GT Challenge.

 

Josef Newgarden won Race-1 on October 2nd, and Will Power won Race-2 on October 3rd.

 

Lastly, it was also mentioned during qualifying for pole, that there were four former Indy road course pole sitters in the Fast Six shootout, i.e.; Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Christian Lundgaard. 

Foyt to become regional Feeder Series powerhouse?

Although letting others do the Heavy lifting…

 

Indy NXT competitors return to action with a Double Header weekend at Mother Speedway beginning today, after a month’s hiatus. Which currently is a battle of the “Young guns”, with Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR’s rookie Nikita Johnson leading the championship ahead of Andretti global rookie Max Taylr.

 

AJ Foyt Enterprises rookie driver Alessandro de Tullio is making some noise Himself. Having finally “Broke His Duck”  last time out at thee Oh, so Beautiful Barbers’, nee Barber Motorsports Park, scoring His maiden Indy NXT win. Currently fifth overall, de Tullio’s been quick, having scored three poles in the first four races, albeit currently 60 markers adrift of Johnson.

 

Interestingly, Foyt has decided to beef-up its Junior Open Wheel Racing involvement with the decision to partner with Crosslink Motorsports in Formula four U.S. and Formula regional(FR) Americas Championship feeder series, to strengthen its driver development ladder.

 

Crosslink Motorsports, a Dallas, Texas racing organization is a “Powerhouse” itself. Claiming to have won the most F4 U.S. races, plus two F4 U.S. titles. Since the team’s official website mentions their known as Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports. Whilst I’ve also seen this written as Crosslink with Kiwi Motorsports and Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsports, Corfuzed?

 

Having won the U.S. formula 4 title in 2019 and 2023. While Kiwi Motorsports won last year’s championship.

 

Crosslin Kiwi Motorsports won the2023-2024 FR Americas titles with drivers Callum Hedge and Patrick Woods-Toth respectively.

 

Crosslink Motorsports won a third consecutive FR Americas Championship with Titus Sherlock last year. Although I’m still not sure how the FR Americas Championship fits into the grand scheme of Feeder Series?

 

Since I’m Arse-suming nobody’s heard of either Woods-Toth or Sherlock, and I cannot find what they’re currently doing? With Sherlock garnering a measly $100,000 cash prize for winning the championship, Youch!

 

SCCA Pro Racing’s Alternate Single Seaters Feeder series

 

By my rudimentary records, Kiwi’ Hedge is the latest FR Americas driver to graduate to Indy NXT, having raced two years for HMD Motorsports and Abel Motorsports between 2024-2025, with a best finish of fourth overall in 2024.

 

Although the Road to Indy and now USF Pro championships run by Anderson Promotions still seemingly is the preferred pathway to Indy NXT.

 

America’s preferred Open wheel Racing ladder system

 

Currently four FR Americas Alumni; Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas, Kyffin Simpson and Jacob Abel are IndyCar drivers. Kirkwood and Simpson are past champions, with Malukas finishing runner-up. While Abel will race in His first Indy 500 this year, after failing to qualify in 2025.

 

Yet being a champion of both series doesn’t guarantee a long term IndyCar career. As just ask Linus Lundqvist about that! Having won the 2020 FR Americas and 2022 Indy NXT Championships, who's still trying to return to IndyCar…

 

Crosslink appears to be mimicking Indy NXT juggernaut HMD Motorsports by having the most cars on the grid with six. With rookies Alejandro Bobadilla, (#8) Kekai Hauanio, (#29( Evagoras Papasavvas (#71) and Aidan Schuh driving the storied No. 14. Plus Barrett Wolfe (#13) and Kevin Janzen. (#24)

 

While Kiwi Motorsports has just two entries for rookies Harbir Dass and Cooper Shipman.

 

Papasavvas briefly made waves in Indy NXT last year upon debut driving for HMD Motorsports. Qualifying third and finishing runner-up to Dennis Hauger at Barber in the vacated No. 24 seat Sophia

Florsch occupied for one round. Having signed for a partial season, before finishing P21 overall after five races.

 

Perusing the entry list for drivers, another Indy NXT Journeyman’s name jumped out to Mwah. Noticing that Christian Bogle is driving for Toney Driver Development this year. Having raced four seasons in Indy NXT, beginning with Carlin, remember them Y’all? And then a further three seasons with HMD Motorsports, but I digress…

 

Crosslink’s drivers will be welcomed into the Foyt program to interact with Engineers and other team personnel to help them advance their careers, while giving Foyt access to more talented, potential future drivers…

 

Further muddying the waters, when trying to find out more about Kiwi Motorsports, I learned that Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) formed the same “strategic” partnership alliance with New Zealand Kiwi Motorsports them late 2024. Seeing Kiwi Motorsports and Crosslink become fully separate entities for 2025.

 

Along with learning that Kiwi Motorsports are Toyota’s entry in the Formula Oceania series.

 

Thus giving us two FR Americas operations with clearly defined links to Indy NXT, and possibly IndyCar. 

Pato O’Ward celebrates another Year

Although He might wish for something a bit stronger than that energy drink, ci? (The Tomaso Collection)

 

And I’m quite certain He’d like a Borg Warner trophy as one of His presents!

 

For those of you following the gossip columns, today marks Patricio O’Ward Junco’s 27th Birthday. While I’ve got zero clue how Pato’s celebrating today.

 

Arse-sumedly all of the IndyCar drivers busses, Err motor coaches are parked at Mother Speedway. So perhaps Pato will be searchin’ for a tenderloin sandwich or some fried chicken to share with Alex Palou, Ole!

 

INDY 500: Searchin’ Far and Wide

 

Meanwhile, like typical. Thinking of my Numero Uno IndyCar driver’s nationality, I wondered who was the last Mexicali IndyCar Pilote before Him to race at Mother Speedway?

 

Think it was Michel Jourdain Jr, who last raced in the 2012 Indianapolis 500. Before failing to qualify the next year, when Bump Day saw ten cars vying for the final nine grid spots.

 

Ironically, Katherine Legge sat on the Bubble, driving for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. While Jourdain’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) “Steed” just wouldn’t Giddy-Up! As RLLR took several swings to get the Dallara-Honda entry to run fast, but no dice! Before the team finally gave up at 5:45PM with Jourdain never having made a qualifying attempt.

 

Fast forwarding to today, there’s  currently two aspiring Indy NXT drivers hoping to join Pato in IndyCar.

 

Ricardo Escotto, age 21 is in His third season. Having driven for Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) in 2024 for five races. Then joining Andretti Cape NXT for the season’s first nine races, before leaving the team.

 

For 2026, Escotto as returned to JHR, and presumably plans on completing His first full season Indy NXT campaign.

 

Salvador de Alba Jr, age 26 is racing for HVM Motorsports in His third Indy NXT season.

 

De Alba spent His rookie season in 2024 competing for Andretti Cape NXT, finishing fifth in the championship.

 

Last year, Salvador graduated to Andretti Global, where He played “third fiddle”. Being overshadowed by Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes, albeit the entire grid was overshadowed by eventual champion Hauger. While Hughes finished third overall.

 

Nevertheless, de Alba scored His maiden Indy NXT win with an emphatic triumph on the Milwaukee Mile! Followed by being a disappointed runner-up at Nashville’s season finale. Once again finishing fifth overall.

 

And now, having just learned of the totally unknown rookie Alejandro Bobavilla, competing in this years Formula Regional Americas championship for powerhouse Crosslink Motorsports.

 

Whilst you can read my elongated, previous No Fenders tome about our Southern “Brothers” and Mexico’s involvement in Open Wheel Racing below.

 

On The Border - Mexicali Racing Talents

 

Happy Birthday Pato! 

Silent Force daughter Red lights

Obviously being one of the few times John’s at a loss for words…

 

Thanks to No Fenders Offical Photographer and roving reporter Carpets’, whose “Acting’ Indiana Bureau Chief tag should have come off years ago…

 

Having passed the John force Racing building in Brownsburg, Indiana recently, He wondered why its flag was at half mast?

 

Having since found out it was in honour of Adria Force Height having passed away on April 28th.

 

Think everyone knows of the Force daughters, albeit just Ashley, Courtney and Brittany. All having raced professionally, all three having won NHRA “Wally’s”, and Brittany a two-times Top Fuel champion.

 

Thus one tends to forget about Adria, John and Laurie’s oldest daughter who died at age 56. And yes, She was previously married to triple NHRA Top Fuel Funnycar champion Robert Height.

 

Was also unaware that Robert had stepped-down and retired from being President of JFR last March. While Adria had risen to CFO of John Force Racing, (JFR) having been one of its first employees.

 

The former couple had one daughter, Autumn, who raced NHRA Junior dragsters.

 

Adria K. (Force) Height 

A Weekend of What Ifs?

When Fairytale endings don’t quite happen…

 

Cannot say the Long Beach weekend of IndyCar and IMSA racing was overly exciting. In truth, both races seemed exceedingly processional. Which perhaps was a biproduct of excessive marbling offline? Or the propensity of different rubber compounds being applied over the weekend?

 

Saturday’s Wat If naturally involved thee young Wicky’, aka Robert Wickens. With that nickname being indelibly ingrained thanks to who’s going by the handle Jimmy Hinge’ these days…

 

Everyone knows Robby’s story and life changing effects from that 2018 Pocono IndyCar incident. Thus how cool was it having Wickens claim His maiden IMSA pole position after the No. 89 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F racecar was DQ’ed (Disqualified) for exceeding minimum ride height during post tech inspection.

 

Wickens not only led the race’s first 25 laps, but pulled out a healthy lead, in part to minimize the time loss of extracting Him from the cockpit during their first pitstop some 35+ minutes later. The minimum drive-time requirement.

 

It was interesting hearing Davey Hamilton of IndyCar Radio commenting on how Wickens has to switch hands on His specially adapted steering wheel hand Controlled Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R at Long Beach’s famous Hairpin turn. Assuring everyone its not easy! Which I thought was fascinating coming from another driver who’s been through the adversity of having some 20-plus foot operations!

 

And although the crew was ecstatic over their work of dragging Robby to the pit wall. Unfortunately co-driver Mason Filippi first ran into trouble with a GTP car. And then got roughed-up by the Turner Motorsports BMW with Robbie Foley at the wheel! Ultimately finishing sixth in the GTD class.

 

Listening to IMSA Radio Saturday afternoon, I first heard John Hindhaugh mention the rumours of Acura pulling its IMSA GTP programme at season’s end, Huh? But I’m getting ahead of myself…

 

Apparently Colin Brown had a massive shunt during Friday, necessitating the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06B being completely rebuilt. While the Seester’ No. 93 claimed pole in the hands of Nick Yelloly.

 

And although the No. 93 lost the lead once in traffic, Yellowly and Renger van der Zande were victorious for Acura at their home race. The team’s first wins since Watkins Glen six hours Enduro’ last June, by the nO. 60. While the No. 93’s last victory was last year’s street race at Detroit. And Acura’s first win at Long Beach.

 

Felix-the-Cat’ (Rosenqvist) said it best Saturday after capturing His first IndyCar pole in two years, ironically also at Long Beach. Telling boss Mike Shank to soak it in, it doesn’t get much better than Y’all know. Isn’t that a beer slogan for somebody? And not Mike Shank’s favourite Busch lite, but I digress…

 

Winning the IMSA race from pole, having Green Day on His No. 60 IndyCar and also being on pole . For which we know the only blemish to the weekend was that solitary full course caution on lap 58. When the entire field pitted, and with a slight bobble and worse pit box selection after leading 51 of 58 laps. “The Surgeon” Alex Palou and His pit crew roared out ahead of Rosenqvist, Frick! And as IndyCar Radio pit reporter Ryan Marin said. Say Good Bye! With Palou winning again, Rosenqvist second and Scott Dixon third. With Honda sweeping the podium Sunday.

 

Suppose it should have been inevitable? With it being suggested that MSR will run the Honda Charter entry in 2028, giving them three cars in IndyCar.

 

And with Honda, Err Acura winning almost everything in IMSA recently. And the massive financial loss just incurred. Acura confirmed the rumour Wednesday, April 22nd they would “pause” their factory IMSA GTP programme at season’s end.

 

Interestingly, Honda HRC U.S. boss David Salters said Acura will beef-up its presence in IndyCar, with Marcus Armstrong’s No. 66 MSR entry now sporting Acura branding. Which previously had Spectrum listed as its primary sponsor for the 110th Indianapolis 500.

 

Whilst MSR said it will seek opportunites with other OEM partners for future IMSA participation, which may occur? I’m also reminded of Chip Ganassi Racing saying something similar after losing its service provider contract with Cadillac in IMSA GTP.

 

Scuttlebutt suggests the two MSR Acura ARX-06B’s most likely will end up in the Asian Le Mans Series newly created Hypercar category as true privateer efforts. While I’d forgotten that Sports Car regulations will “reset” in 2030, which could see an Acura/Honda return to top flight prototype racing?

 

Yet obviously, its always sad to have a manufacturer leave motor racing. And so much for celebrating Acura’s 40th birthday over the Long Beach weekend… 

A Beautiful Sports moment

When the goodness of Mankind sparkles…

 

Today being May Day, which forever will conjure up images of Ayrton Senna, Roland Ratzenberger and Black Sunday…

 

F1: Remembering Roland Ratzenberger - 25 Years later

 

May Day also signifies the beginning of summer, International Worker’s Day or Labour Day, not to mention that ominous distress signal…

 

Being a day to recognize our “Tired, Poor, Huddled” Brothers and Sisters who toil relentlessly doing the jobs nobody wishes to do.

 

As I was truly moved by this demonstration of Brotherly Love! As perhaps you’ve heard of the two selfless runners in this year’s Boston Marathon?

 

Having only used the word Mankind since the story involves three male runners, with American Ajay Haridasse had fallen for the fourth time at the 26-mile mark.

 

As the 21 year old Massachusetts University student was gathering strength to crawl on hands and knees the final two-tenths mile distance. Aaron Beggs, a 40 year old Northern Ireland runner stopped on His left side and pulled Haridasse to His feet. Then when Ajay stumbled again, a second runner, Robson De Oliveira, a 36 year old Brazilian caught Him from behind! 

 

Beggs and De Oliveira then put Haridasse arms upon each of their shoulders, and the trio triumphantly ran the remaining distance and crossed the finish line together!

 

When Two is Better than One: Pair of Boston Marathon runners help struggling Runner

 

Making me wounder out loud rhetorically, why can’t our Government show the same compassion and Humanity to the rest of the world?