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! 

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… 

Wickens Wait to race in IMSA finally ends

As it will be good to have thee plucky Kuhnuck’ back in a major racing series…

 

This weekend sees the long awaited debut of thee Young Wicky’, aka Robert Wickens in IMSA’s Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) competition, behind the keyboard of the No. 36 DXDT Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

 

Wickens alongside General Motors “Hired Gun” Tommy Milner tested the custom DXDT Vette’ at Sebring over two days back in March at Sebring International Raceway. With Wickens noting He was leaning heavily on Milner to learn the nuances of the Corvette, and wasn’t sure how long Milner would put up with His onslaught of questions? Saying He’d be using Milner as a sponge…

 

Arse-suming by now everybody knows of Wickens horrendous and life altering IndyCar crash at Pocono in August, 2018, leaving Him paralyzed from the waist-down.

 

As Wickens credits DXDT team owner David Askew for taking a risk upon Him and making the project happen. Along with General Motors getting onboard. As well as Pratt & Miller who fabricate the Z06 GT3.R racecars and Bosch who make His custom hand control driving ring work with it’s electronic ‘fly-by-Wire” braking system.

 

Robby said He’s been having to learn to readapt His driving style after racing the front wheel drive Hyundai Elantra in the Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car championship. Having won the TCR (Touring Car) title with co-driver Harry Gottsacker for Brian Herta Autosport (BHA) in 2023. The first major championship win for a Hand Controls adapted vehicle.

 

Wickens hasn’t competed at Long Beach since His rookie IndyCar season for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2018. And hasn’t contested an IMSA race since driving in the LMP2 category during the 2017 rolex 24…

 

Back to driving a rear wheel drive Saloons’ vehicle for the first time in awhile, which naturally is a different Beast vs. the Dallara DW12 IndyCar He once piloted. Robby notes He was having to learn how to utilize traction control, which He’s never used before. As Wickens partnered with Bosch a year ago to design a bespoke hand control steering wheel system that can be adopted to multiple racing series and different racing makes. Allowing for Wickens and others, to not constantly have to relearn hand control systems every time they race a different vehicle.

 

Wasn’t aware that Milner, who most recently made waves by infamously giving BMW’s Agusto Farfus the universal “You’re No. 1” salute at Daytona, had raced for DXDT before. Winning an impressive eight races in the GT World Challenge America championship in 2024. Finishing “Vice Champion” George! Err runner-up in the Pro category with co-driver Alec Udell.

 

Robby and co-driver Milner are part of IMSA’s “Twin bill” with IndyCar this weekend at “the Beach”, nee Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach which is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary.

 

The Long Beach weekend is covered on a menagerie ‘O TV Networks beginning this afternoon at 3PM Pacific on (Fox Sports) FS1, with IndyCar’s first practice.

 

Saturday sees IndyCa’s second practice on FS1 at 8:30AM. With Qualifying at 11:30AM on FS2. While IMSA’s 140mins race featuring just IMSA GTP and GTD competitors airs on USA Network at 2PM.

 

Sunday’s IndyCar’s morning warm-up is at 9:00AM on FS1, with the  race airing on the Flagship network FOX beginning at 1:30PM. While the command for Drivers, Start your Engines! Is listed for 1:15PM, according to the LBGPA schedule.

 

All times Pacific and subject to change; as Y’all try looking up this dearth ‘O information on your sometimes not updated Zap-2-It TV Guide!