Where have All of the Cowgirls’ gone?

Rookie Ana “Bia” Beatriz's car being pushed down the pitlane following the 2011 race. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

And who will fill Katherine Legge’s racing boots in the future…

 

First off, let me say I’m happy that Katherine Legge’s back in the Indianapolis 500 field this year…

 

Fifty years ago, Janet Guthrie was all the rage at Mother Speedway. Attempting to become the first female to crack the Indianapolis 500’s glass ceiling, which history denotes, didn’t occur.

 

Guthrie encountered much resistance in the form of sexism from Her male counterparts during the Month of May. Along with Her luggage being lost upon arrival. Which  included Her firesuit and helmet, albeit perhaps just coincidence?

 

Practice foresaw a difficult road for Guthrie. As teammate dick Simon suffered an oil leak when shaking down Her racecar. The following day Simon burned a piston and suffered a turbocharger fire!

 

Guthrie finally got on-track on the third day of practice, but also suffered a burned piston after only seven laps. The next day She completed phase one of Her rookie test, before rain cut short Her final phase on Thursday. She then completed Her rookie test on Monday with a top speed of 171.429mph, following the first week of qualifying.

 

With turbo boost having been slightly reduced to slow speeds, the fastest in practice was Johnny Rutherford at 189.833mph, wit speeds in the high 180’s. With Al Unser and A. J. Foyt giving chase to Lone Star JR’.

 

Day-3 of qualifying; Saturday May 16th saw Guthrie not attempting a qualifying run, having been hunting for speed, only able to muster 173mph-plus. Not fast enough to bump Her way into the field.

 

Reportedly Foyt was so incensed over His counterparts attitude towards Janet, that He loaned Her his No. 1 backup chassis to attempt qualification on Sunday.

 

Foyt had lapped at 190mph in the car on Friday. And Sunday morning, Guthrie recorded a speed of 180.796mph, being Her fastest lap of the month. Yet even with this improvement of some seven miles per hour faster, Guthrie didn’t make a qualifying attempt and the drama was over…

 

Humpy Wheeler then cut a deal to have Janet race in the World 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte, becoming the first woman to race in a Super Speedway NASCAR event. Finishing 15th after two cylinders “Done Blown Up!” Toward race’s end.

 

Guthrie would race at Mother Speedway between 1977-79, with a best finish of ninth in 1978. Bookending Her time at the Brickyard by failing to qualify in 1980. Before disappearing from the landscape from what’s become a common occurrence for female racers, i.e.; lack of sponsorship.

 

13 years would pass before Lyn St. James arrived at 16th & Georgetown, becoming the 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie Of the Year. Yet it would be 24 years since Guthrie first attempted racing in the Indy 500 until two females made the race, when Sarah fisher joined the party And St. James made Her swansong appearance

 

Having first scribbled about this subject nearly two decades ago, I’m not inclined to re-create the wheel, or relive Danica Mania, Yawn! (2005) and will refer Y’all to my original No Fenders post.

 

Women in Racing

 

Whilst 2007 was a watershed moment for le Femmes, the first time ever that three women raced in the Indianapolis 500. With Sarah fisher and Danica Patrick being joined by Milka Duno.

 

Three years later, the bar was raised to four Femme fatales competing at Mother Speedway, which I teased Yuhs with the following No Fenders yarn Wayback then…

 

Speedway Sirens flock to Indianapolis in droves: The Centennial Years (2010 Edition)

 

Quattro females would compete in the Indianapolis 500 again in 2011, the following year reverted to just three. And then four again for 2013, with Katherine Legge having joined the fiesta in 2012

 

The party abruptly ended in 2014, with only relative newcomer Pippa Mann in Her third Indy 500 carrying the torch as the lone female between 2014-2019.

 

2020 would be the first time in over two decades that no Femme Fatales raced in the Indianapolis 500, with Mann running into that ominous funding issue.

 

Simona de Silvestro drove for Beth Paretta’s female team Paretta Motorsports in a technical alliance with Team Penske in 2021. With year’s 2022 and 2025 again seeing no female competitors at the Speedway.

 

Katherine Legge competed for Dale Coyne Racing in 2023, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2024. Before returning with HMD Motorsports with A. J. Foyt enterprises as the 33rd and final entry for this year’s 110th running of the famed Indianapolis 500.

 

Since 1977, a total of nine women have raced in the Indy 500: Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, Danica Patrick, Milka Duno, Ana Beatriz, Simona de Silvestro, Pippa Mann and Katherine Legge.

 

And like I said in the beginning, I’m happy that Legge’s back in the race this year. But at 45 years old, you’d have to wonder how many more “Rodeo’s” will She contest at Mother Speedway?

 

More alarmingly, it doesn’t appear there’s anybody on the horizon to take the spurs from Legge.

 

As I can only think of these four le Femmes having recently competed in Indy NXT, the final rung on the ladder to IndyCar, i.e.; Linsey Brewer, Jamie Chadwick, Haley Deegan and Sophia Florisch.

 

Chadwick was the most promising, being a three-times winner of the women’s W Series. Along with winning the Road America Indy NXT race in 2024, whilst holding off teammate and eventual Indy NXT champion Louis Foster. The first female win since Pippa Mann in 2010.

 

Chadwick tested an Andretti Global IndyCar at Barber Motorsports Park before IndyCar became a “Closed Shop” and currently is Genesis Magma Racing’s FIA World Endurance championship’s Hypercar reserve driver. And hopefully will get an opportunity to compete for Genesis in IMSA GTP in the future…

 

Florisch arguably was the second most promising of this quartet. But only made a single Indy NXT start at the 2024 St. Pete season opener before Her budget dried-up and She was forced to leave the series.

 

Both Deegan and Brewer had less than promising results during their 2025 Indy NXT tenures. And sadly, I’m not aware of any aspiring le Femmes on the Open wheel Racing horizon Stateside… 

INDY 500: Revisiting The Split – 30 Years later

But who really won the war, and does it matter?

 

Yeah, I suppose I’m the only one who cares about this topic? But since I lived thru it and its my Blog. I can Gory well scribble about what I want!

Although thirty years is a long ways to go in the Wayback’ machine, and my recollections are Hazy at best…

 

As what most prominently stands out, beside that scourge simply known as TG’. Whom I preferred calling Ronnie or ‘lil Napoleon, aka Tony George forever ruining Open wheel Racing, with the creation of the Indy Racing League and that infamous 25/8 rule! And yes, I’m well aware it takes two to Tango.

 

Since All I really recollect now is that tag-line of CART having All the Stars, IRL All the Cars! Or something to that effect. Which one must say bit CART in the Toosh when having a massive pile-up on lap one of its competing race, Butterfingers!

 

Although I do recall a T-Shirt which one side said This is your Brain. (CART) And the other side saying This is your Brain on Drugs! (IRL) A takeoff of that infamous Just Say NO to Drugs era…

 

Supposedly Anton Hulman George didn’t like the escalating costs and lack of American drivers in His namesake’s race. And as early as 1989 proposed a new racing series, which didn’t progress pas the planning stage.

 

George than became a Board member of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) between 1992-94 before resigning, to ultimately create the Indy Racing League. (IRL)

 

The IRL would begin in 1996 wit a three race schedule, with the Indianapolis 500 its showpiece. And since the new, normally aspirated “lower” priced racecars wouldn’t be ready until 1997, older CART machinery (circa 1991-95) was allowed for the inaugural season.

 

The final straw in what became irrevocably known as The Split was the invoking of the 25/8 rule. With the top 25 drivers in IRL points guaranteed starting places in the Indy 500, and eight “At large’ open entries for all competitors, including CART.

 

1996 Indianapolis 500 Rookies (17)

Michele Alboreto, Robbie Buhl, Buzz Calkins, Mark Dismore, Paul Durant, Raccin Gardner, Joe Gosek, Jim Guthrie, Davey Hamilton, Scott Harrington, Richie Hearn, Michel Jourdain Jr, Brad Murphy, Johnny O’Connell, Tony Stewart, Johnny Unser, Fermin Velez.

 

Reportedly, there were 49 entries, albeit I could only come up with 44. With 17 rookie drivers being the third most ever, only eclipsed by 19 rookies in the 1919 and 1930 races. With former CART entrant Hemelgarn Racing and driver Buddy Lazier winning “the Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

 

CART boycotted the race, with the exception of two teams, i.e.; Galles Racing and Walker Racing participating. Although both teams sent backup drivers instead. With Galles running Davy Jones and Walker utilizing Mike Groff.

 

The Cars of the 1996 Indy 500 Part 1

 

CART Drivers at the rival U.S. 500 had 109 starts and 5 wins amongst entrant vs. 75 starts and one win for the Indy 500 field, the lowest since 1932. And further highlighting this disparity; CART Drivers had 127 wins and seven National Championships vs. IRL Drivers having a paltry 14 wins and no National Championships.

 

27 Drivers in nine rows of three took the green flag at the U.S. 500 held on the same day as the 80th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Michigan International Speedway, with Jimmy Vasser the eventual winner.

 

1996 U.S. 500 Rookies (7)

Mark Blundell, Fredrik Ekblom, Juan Manuel Fangio II, Greg Moore, Jeff Krosnoff, Eddie Lawson, Alex Zanardi.

 

Yet I suppose one could say that the IRL effectively won the war the following year, when CART raced at Gateway on Saturday, choosing not to go head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500 for the remainder of the arduous, stupid 12 year split!

 

25 Years Ago: CART used the U.S. 500 to take down the Indy 500

 

Chip Ganassi Racing was the first CART team to race at the Speedway in 2000, when rookie Juan Pablo Montoya waxed the field. And I still recall crowing over how the first seven drivers finishing were CART drivers, albeit not 100% correct…

 

Marlboro Team Penske joined the field the following year, and the floodgates essentially opened. With Penske winning three consecutive Indy 500’s.

 

CART further shot itself in the foot with the Firestone Firehawk 600 at Texas Motor Speedway having to be cancelled just hours before race’s start in 2001. As drivers had complained of dizziness, along with experiencing vertigo and blackouts due to the excessive G-Forces their racecars generated at over 230mph upon the 1.5-mile oval.

 

Penske was the first major CART team to leave for the rival IRL in 2002, after having won the CART Championship the previous two years.

 

Then seven years into The Split, the landscape truly shifted. As both Honda and Toyota moved to the IRL, along with CART teams Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Rahal and Mo Nunn Racing.

 

I tend to recall that Chris Pook, the creator of the Grand Prix of Long Beach and then CEO of CART spent $100 million before filing for Bankruptcy at season’s end!

 

As the miserable Split should have ended then, but Tony george’s bid was still deemed “Hostile” and the Champ Car World Series (CCWS) arose out of the ashes of CART. With Gerald Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi and Kevin Kalkhoven as its owners.

 

CCWS, or what soon became Chump Carz’ to Mwah soldiered on a further four seasons before finally, mercilessly The Split ended with Mergification in February 2008 with that year’s unified IndyCar series.

 

Then the strangest thing occurred in 2019. Ironically being the 40th anniversary of CART’s inaugural season.

 

Tony George sold His beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar series and IMS Productions to Roger Penske for an undisclosed amount. With the irony being that El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske had been one of CART’s primary founders…

 

For those interested in a more detailed examination of The Split. May I recommend John Orovitz’s Indy Split: The Big Money Battle that nearly Destroyed Indy Racing book, which hopefully I can read one day. 

A Weekend of Motorsports Firsts

As who’ll break the next record?

 

Yeah, who knows what will happen next? Especially since we’ve been in the relatively “Quiet” month of April. With Formula 1 having cancelled both Middle East races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the Iran War! And MotoGP postponing its Qatar round until early November, in hopes the Straight of Hormuz will have been reopened, Splat!

 

IndyCar got off to a frenetic start with three races in three weeks, before a week off for the 12 Hours of Sebring. And then March’s Nightcap at thee Oh, so Beautiful Barbers. Saw some drivers and teams race five weeks in-a-row.

 

Before a three weeks gap to Long Beach and an Open test at some ‘lil ‘Ol Oval. (April 28-29) Gave drivers and their teams plenty ‘O time to hunt for Easter Eggs, but I digress…

 

Alas, a month ago now, I began the weekend of March 15th by tuning into Friday’s IndyCar first practice on FOX. Although really didn’t feel like we learned anything.

 

Then began Saturday morning by listening to Chinese GP Sprint race highlights, which Ho Hum, George Russell won, Yawn!

 

Then I “watched”, err listened to the entire IndyCar Qualie’ session on FOX, being my very final TV show before the Spectrum technician arrived to take away my overpriced cable box, having finally “cut the Chord!”

 

Being somewhat surprised with the amount of “air-time” Josef Schlick’ Newgarden got for having to switch to a backup chassis after crashing in practice. Before ScottyMac’, aka Scott McLaughlin crashed in the exact same corner during qualifying, Youch!

 

Have to say I was totally rootin’ for Marcus Ericsson to secure His first IndyCar pole, with two sets ‘O fingers crossed. As believe it was James Hinchcliffe who mentioned Ericsson may be had the advantage of going first in the Fast Six Shootout. Since His tyres and brakes were totally warm, while the other waited. With Marcus having the shortest turn-around time between sessions…

 

One-by-one, they couldn’t go faster than Ericsson. With only Alex Palou, the “Surgeon” waiting to break Ericsson’s Heart! But Palou ended up a half second slower than Ericsson, and the Swede claimed His first pole position in thirteen Gory years, Aye Karumba!

 

During Sunday morning’s pre-race blather. Heard IndyCar Radio’s Ryan Marin say it was Ericsson’s first pole in any discipline in 13 years. Since claiming pole for the June 30, 2013 Silverstone GP2 race. Which interestingly, somebody named Alexander Rossi was also participating in…

 

Actually, it was the day prior (June 29) when Ericsson claimed His second and final pole position of the season driving for DAMS for the Feature race. As the Swede’ won once at Germany’s Nurburgring, with a total of five podiums to finish sixth overall that year.

 

Alexander also claimed one win at Abu Dhabi’s season finale on Yas Isle, starting from pole. With Rossi Finishing ninth overall in the (2013) GP2 championship, driving for Caterham Racing.

 

As it was Rossi’s maiden GP2 win, and the first ever by an American driver. With Rossi claiming three more wins in 2015 for Racing Engineering, enroute to Vice Champion, err runner-up, albeit a distant second to Stoffel Vandoorne.

 

Meanwhile in Shanghai, Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed His maiden Formula 1 pole in just His 26th Grands Prix. Becoming the sport’s youngest ever pole winner, as a teenager!

 

Antonelli’s pole came at the tender age of 19 years, six months and 18 days. (19yrs 201 days)  The first ever teenager to do so. With the previous record holder being ‘lil Syd Viddle’.

 

As Sebastian Vettel claimed the first of His eventual 53 pole positions at 21 years, two months and 11 days old. (21yrs, 73 days)  At the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, some 18 years ago, Momma Mia!

 

Also the site of where Vettel would win His first Grand Prix for Scuderia toro Rosso at Monza. The Minnowesqe Italian team’s debutante Grand Prix victory! And the first non-Ferrari chassis to do so, since toro rosso was utilizing 2.4-litre V-8 customer Ferrari lumps’.

 

Antonelli becomes the 116^th maiden Grand Prix winner, and the first since Oscar Piastri at Hungary, 2024. The year that both current McLaren F1 drivers scored their maiden Grand Prix wins at, with Lando Norris having done so at the Miami Grand Prix earlier that year…

 

Yet Antonelli wasn’t done setting records yet. Since not only did He go back-to-back with another pole position and win at the Japanese Grand Prix. Kimi also left Suzuka with the drivers point lead, becoming the youngest ever to do so.

 

As move over George, (Russell) Thars’ a New kid in town! 

RETRO: A Sad Day for French Motorsports

Will le Reggie’ ever return as a Power Unit manufacturer?

 

Strange how the Renault in Motorsport’s website proclaims that Motorsport is written in their History. And that they’ve Always been motivated by the challenge and yearn for something new. Hmm, then how come you’ve given up on producing your own Formula 1 Power Units, especially when the new regulations commence in 2026, merci?

 

Denoting that founder Louis Renault’s first major technological achievement was His direct drive transmission in the Model A voiturette, being the first to climb Montmartre’s Rue Lepic in the fall of 1898.

 

Other early models I’ve never heard of before include the Model K, the first equipped with a Renault engine,  and the 40CV, winner of the 1925 Monte Carlo Rally. Or the modern day Megane RS, which just ended production in 2023.

 

As we all know, the Alpine F1 Team will brazenly become a Mercedes PU customer beginning next season after nearly a half century of racing with Renault engines in the pinnacle of motorsports, nee formula 1. Which I find to simply be blasphemy!

 

Reportedly, Renault has the fourth most Grands Prix victories with 169, with only ford, Mercedes and Ferrari ahead of them. With Ferrari’s next victory being the firm’s momentous 250th Grand Prix win…

 

Ultimately, Renault’s Formula 1 history goes Wayback’ to the 1930’s and Amedee Gordini, who was then tuning engines for Simca, FIAT’s French car assembler. With the Simca-Gordini Type 5 Le Mans contesting the event in 1937, for example. As Gordini would contest Formula 1 with little success between 1950-57, albeit having success in Formula 2.

 

The Simca-Gordini relationship began dissipating in 1951, and by the 1960’s Gordini was tuning engines for Renault, along with entering Renault-Gordini works at Le Mans. Amedee retired in 1968 and sold a majority 70% stake of His company to Renault.

 

Renault-Gordini moved to Viry-Chatillon in 1969, becoming Renault’s Sport division before merging with Alpine in 1976 to become Renault Sport.

 

We know that the first formula 1 turbocharged racecar was the Renault RS01 powered by the Renault Gordini EF1 1.5-litre V-6 engine, but try finding anything substantive upon how we arrived at this point in history?

 

Other than being able to vaguely discern that Alpine was racing in the European Formula 2 Championship for many years, while Gordini was busy building race engines. As the Renault Alpine A442 racecar, propelled by a Renault-Gordini 2.0-litre turbocharged 90 degree V-6 lump’, won the 1978 24 Heurs du Mans.

 

As Alpine had turned its attention towards endurance racing in 1973, and its A441 dominated the 1974 Group 5 European 2.0-liter championship. With the A441 Sports prototype winning seven of seven races and that years manufacturer and driver titles. For which I’d Arse-sume that this was the basis of the future Renault-Gordini EF1 Formula 1 engine…

 

Derisively known as the Yellow Peacock, Renault made its Formula 1 debut at the 1977 British Grand Prix with Jean-Pierre Jabouille as its chauffeur. And like all new technology, suffered many technical issues during its teething period. Before finally scoring its first points at the 1978 USGP at Watkins Glen, finishing fourth.

 

For the 1979 F1 season, Renault added Rene Arnoux as the team’s second driver. As the team began the season with its RS01 chassis, while its Ground Effects RS10 was completed.

 

After Jabouille claimed the first ever pole position for a turbocharged car at the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. Appropriately, Jabouille claimed the first ever turbocharged victory at the team’s home race at Dijon. As Monsieur “Jelly Belly” started from pole with Arnoux second, with the duo finishing one-three, with Ferrari’s Gilles Villeneuve sandwiched in-between le Reggie’ teammates.

 

Jabouille claimed pole for the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, followed by Arnoux scoring His debutante pole the following round at the Osterreichring in Austria. Arnoux claimed pole at Zandvoort and Jabouille took P1 at Monza, seeing Renault score four consecutive pole positions. As Arnoux would finish eighth overall with three podiums vs. Jabouille finishing P13 with two wins.

 

1980 saw Jabouille score two poles; Brazil and South Africa. While Arnoux claimed victory at Brazil and Kyalami. Along with claiming a Hat trick of pole at Austria, Zandvoort and Monza.

 

Jabouille scored His second and final Grand Prix victory that year in Austria, before suffering a nasty crash at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, breaking a leg. As the crash effectively ended His F1 driving career, being replaced by Alain Prost for 1981.

 

The Professor, aka Prost would appropriately win His debutante Grand Prix at Dijon in His sophomore season, eventually scoring more than one fifth of His career wins driving Renault powered racecars. Finished fifth overall with three wins that season.

 

Prost and Arnoux were a front running affair, finishing fourth and sixth overall respectively in 1982. Before Arnoux moved onto “Greener” pastures at la Scuderia, nee Ferrari, partnering countryman Patrick Tambay.

 

Although scoring four wins, Prost missed out on the 1983 F1 World Championship by two points, with rival BMW becoming the first ever turbocharged engine to win a world title with Nelson Piquet. While Prost was fired two days afterwards for supposedly berating Renault over its lack of development upon the RE40, after finishing Vice Champion, Err runner-up.

 

Prost was immediately snapped-up by thee Ronster’, nee Ron Dennis to drive for Mclaren, and the rest was history…

 

For 1984, Renault hired Tambay and Derek Warwick as the team’s two drivers, while Renault provided customer turbo engines for the first time to rival F1 constructors Ligier and Lotus.

 

As le Reggie would go scoreless in the wins column that season. With Lotus’s Elio de Angelis’s pole at the season opening Brazilian Grand Prix and Tambay’s pole at the French Grand Prix being Renault’s season’s highlights. As the Mclaren duo of Prost and Niki “The Rat” Lauda ruled the championship with their TAG-Porsch turbos.

 

1985 saw Renault expand to a third customer team, supplying Ligier, Lotus and Tyrrell with its engines, in what would be Renaults final season as a F1 Constructor. (During its first foray)

 

This would be Ayrton Senna’s breakout year, having moved to Lotus. Sweeping the season’s second round in Portugal. Claiming His maiden pole, fastest lap and win. As Senna would go on to win again at Spa-Francorchamps and rack up an impressive tally of seven poles. While Italian teammate Elio de Angelis would score victory at Imola, being Renault engine’s only three wins that season.

 

With Renault suffering heavy financial losses, CEO Georges Besse declared they could no longer afford to maintain the commitment to a Formula 1 team. Hmm, sound familiar to just departed Renault CEO Luca de Meo, who consigned the Alpine f1 Team to become a Mercedes PU (Power Unit) customer beginning in 2026, curtailing production of Werks’ PU at Viry-chatillon, Merci!

 

Thus Renault became just an engine supplier one final year in 1986, once again supplying Ligier, Lotus and Tyrrell. With Senna once again being the Renault’s highlight reel. Winning the Spanish and Detroit Grands Prix, and capturing a further eight poles, before le Reggie quit formula 1 for the first time… 

Wood Brothers Honour Jimmy Clark

As almost makes me wanna “Tune-in” to this NASCAR race…

 

Ran across the following article when scurrying thru Racer.com to “See” what has happened in Ye Wurld de Motorsporten whilst away from Thy Gory keyboard…

 

Very cool to read that the Wood Brothers of NASCAR fame are honouring Jimmy Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis 500 victory with a Throwback theme Ford Mustang at Darlington over April 5-6.

 

The No. 21 Wood Brothers entry of Josh Berry will be resplendent in the iconic Lotus colours of Colin Chapman’s British racing green and yellow. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Clark’s Indianapolis 500 victory. The first for Ford and the first for a rear engine racecar.

 

While this year also commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the legendous’ Wood Brothers racing team. With Glen, Leonard, Delano and Ray Lee Wood amongst Clark’s Pit crew at Mother Speedway that May sixty years ago. Having been brought aboard the Lotus Indianapolis effort to speed up the team’s pit stops, which saw Clark lead 190 of 200 laps that day!

 

The Wood Brothers tribute car was presented at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn with Clark’s Lotus alongside. And the Wood Brothers received the full blessing of Clive Chapman, son of Colin for the Throwback livery… 

Japan’s Next Wave?

Although will any of these prospects succeed to the Pinnicle of Motorsport?

 

As my working title was Japanese Drivers Logjam…

 

Japan has a long, storied history with formula 1. As the very first Japanese driver to Enter a international Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) sanctioned race fifty years ago was Hiroshi Fushida, who failed on both of His entries with the uncompetitive Maki Engineering F101 normally aspirated 3.0-liter Ford-Cosworth DFV V-8 racecar.

 

Hiroshi’s Cossie’ lump’ “Done blown Up!” at that year’s Dutch Grand Prix, for which the team didn’t have a spare motor! And then He failed to qualify (DNQ) at the 1975 British Grand Prix.

 

Hiroshi also contested the SCCA’s Can Am and Trans Am series Stateside. And made history alongside countryman Tetsu Ikuzawa, when they became the first two Japanese drivers to compete in the 24 Heurs du Mans. Driving a Mazda  Wankel rotary powered Sigma MS73 (SARD) in the 1973 event.

 

Japan’s first Formula 1 race was the epic 1976 Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, where a further four Japanese drivers entered their country’s inaugural Grand Prix; Masahiro Hasemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Masani Kuwashina and Noritake Takahara.

 

Although reputedly Kuwashina’s sponsorship Cheque failed to materialize, scratching Him from competing, i.e. DNS. (Did Not Start) Being replaced by Hans Binder.

 

Whilst Hasemi, Hoshino and Takahara all contested the race, becoming Japan’s first three Formula 1 drivers. Although I’d surmise this accomplishment was totally overshadowed by that year’s Mega’ F1 Drivers championship showdown between Niki Lauda and Jame Hunt, which is wonderfully documented in ‘lil Ronnie Howard’sexcellent Rush movie…

 

Kazuyoshi Hoshino’s nickname was “The Fastest Man in Japan”, which is pretty “Heady” suff!

 

Reportedly there have been 21 Japanese drivers to attempt a Grand Prix to date, with 18 making starts. Which I won’t attempt chronicling! Other than three have stood on the third step of the podium. First Aguri Suzuki in1990. Followed by arguably Japan’s “Greatest” driver Takuma sato in 2004. And finally K-Squared’, aka Kamui Kobayashi in 2012. With Kamui now firmly established as a Sports Car star; including a World Endurance Championship (WEC) title and 24 Heurs du Mans and Rolex 24 wins to His credit.

 

Currently, Yuki Tsunoda is the only Japanese driver competing in Formula 1, entering His fifth season driving for thee ‘lil bullz’, aka Racing Bulls. Which you’d have to say that Tsunoda’s inclusion in Formula 1 is backed by Red Bull’s engine, Err Power Unit (PU) supplier Honda. Even if Honda “withdrew” from full Factory F1 involvement at the end of 2021.

 

Yuki did finish a very respectable fourth overall in FIA Formula 3, and third overall in Formula 2 with Four poles and three wins before graduating to then AlphaTauri in 2021. Yet with Honda becoming Aston Martin’s Werk’s PU supplier beginning next year, the only option I “See” for Tsunoda is becoming one of Aston Martin’s reserve drivers.

 

But Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 FIA F2 champion has been the team’s reserve driver since 2023. And obviously neither Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll seem intent on departing Formula 1 anytime soon…

 

Ironically, Tsunoda turns 25 one day after Helio Castroneves 50th birthday on May 10th…

 

Ritomo Miyata who turns 26 this August, appears to be Japan’s best bet for joining the F1 Circus in the future. As Miyata will contest His sophomore season of F2 this year driving for ART Grand Prix. (#15) Having finished P19 overall last year for Rodin Motorsport.

 

Ritomo is a member of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Driver Challenge programme, along with being a multiple title winner. Having won both the Super formula and Super GT Championships in 2023. Along with the 2020 Super Formula Lights and 2016-2017 Japanese Formula 4 titles.

 

Miyata was diagnosed with Autism early in life and is an ardent “gamer”. Having won some 500 iSports races!

 

Thanks to Toyota’s technical partnership with the Haas F1 Team, Miyata tested a Haas VF-23 at Jerez recently. Where race drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman ran one day apiece, with Ritomo getting valuable “Seat-time” at the end of each day.

 

Although Miyata’s trajectory seems aimed more for eventual Hypercar duty in the WEC for Toyota, unless a seat on the Formula 1 grid opens up…

 

Although Ayumu Iwasa, who currently competes in Super Formula might have something to say about that . As the 23yr old Red Bull Junior Driver and Honda Formula Dream Project member has already tallied two seasons in formula 2. Finishing fifth and fourth overall respectively between 2022-23. And finished fifth overall last year during His rookie Super Formula campaign.

 

Ayumu helped make “Waves” at last year’s Japanese grand Prix, driving in His first Free Practice outing during FP1. Driving alongside Racing Bulls “teammate” Tsunoda. Having last tested for RB during last year’s Abu Dhabi Young Drivers test.

 

Ryo Hirakawa (Age 31) is a Toyota Werks’ (TGR) FIA World Endurance Championship driver, having won two WEC titles along with the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans. And was announced this January as an Alpine F1 test and reserve driver.

 

As I’m guessing the latter has something to do with team principal Oliver Oakes and Hitech Racing’s involvement with TGR in it’s Junior Open Wheel Racing categories. As Hitech TGR competes in both the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships.

 

Interestingly, and this is purely conjecture on my part. But this arrangement gives Toyota two possible paths to future Formula 1 involvement. But that’s just pure conjecture Folks!

 

Lastly, Kakunoshin Ohta made His IMSA GTP debut at this year’s Rolex 24 as part of Meyer shank Racing’s No. 93 Acura ARX06 entry. As the 25yr old Japanese Sports Car driver will also drive the No. 93 at this year’s Watkins Glen and Indianapolis endurance rounds.

 

Kakunoshin also recently tested for era Motorsports, aboard it’s No. 18 LMP2 entry during the Pre-Sebring 12 Hours test in February. And was slated to ad further LMP2 outing to His busy 2025 schedule.

 

Then naturally, as I was putting this story to bed, word came that indeed Ohta would race for Era Motorsports at both the Sebring 12 Hours and later Road America races in the LMP2 category. With HRC US further cementing it’s “ties” with Era Motorsports in a collabourative effort to promote young Japanese drivers to Sports car racing. As Era has already restored previous Acura Sports Car prototypes for Historic Racing…

 

This is just further speculation. But with HRC US (Honda Racing Corporation) President David Salters recently noting how Honda would like to take it’s Acura GTP racecar to Le Mans, could we see Iwasa or Ohta as part of the drivers lineup? 

The Original Blind tom’

And No! Its got Nothing to do wit your Humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso! Other than being Blind…

 

“Say that Boy’s a wonderment

No! The kid’s a Freak

His Black hands resting on the keys

Popping like a big old Frog

And hissing like a train

 

Faint hearts with their fans out

Starched collars and cigars

He weren’t no use for Slaving

I wouldn’t want Him in my yard”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2-gOY-bK0

 

Once again, thoust Seas ‘O Synchronicity were splish-splashing ah-Mighty’ over Mwah Here in Nofendersville…

 

Being in the midst of “reading”, Err listening to Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides, an amazing book! Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen told me She’d just heard about something to do with me on the radio.

 

No, it wasn’t about me on the radio, but the local KING FM Classical radio station telling Her about a Black piano virtuoso simply known as Blind tom during the 1800’s.

 

As I’d just read the portion of The Prince of Tides where none other than Anne Frank is brilliantly used to point out the persecution African Americans were subjected to. Not to mention the Horrors they submitted to following 1954’s Brown v Board of Education ruling.

 

But back to our unknown Black piano virtuoso simply known as blind tom. As Thomas “blind tom” Greene Wiggins was born into Slavery on a Georgia Plantation in1849. Beginning to play the piano at age four, and reportedly composing His first song at age five titled the Rain Storm, after listening to a heavy downpour upon a tin roof.

 

Suppose you could say that wiggins had an idetic memory, since Tom’s claimed to have memorized 7,000 recorded songs. And could play back anything after hearing it performed just once! Whilst most amazingly playing one song with His left hand. A second song with His right. And singing a third, different song All at once! For which as Sir Elton sings, may be He’s a Savant!

 

And even though Slavery was outlawed by the end of the Civil War,and is now celebrated on June Teenth. Blind Tom remained in the servitude of the Family that Had bought Him and His parents in 1850 for the remainder of His life.

 

As the white Family He lived with is claimed to have eventually made $750,000 off of “loaning” out Blind tom for performances. Beginning at age eight, Tom’s hiring for up to four performances a day, netted General James Neil Bethune and His family an estimated $100,000 yearly.

 

At age 16 Bethune took Him to Europe for His first international exposure. With Blind Tom being the first African American to perform for a U.S. President in the White House. For which noted author Mark Twain was present for many of Wiggins performances over the years…

 

Yet Blind tom wasn’t without His criticism, mainly regarding His most famous song, The Battle of Manassa. Which reputedly the Confedrecy profited from His work, especially as the song is about their victory in 1861. With many Black newspapers failing to recognize Black Tom due to this perceived connection…

 

There were also nasty legal custody fights over whom Wiggins lived with during His life, all the while continuously traveling the United States playing the piano. With audiences playing Stump Blind tom to no avail, when challenging the musician to play two unheard, new compositions back to them after a single hearing.

 

Wiggins was present during the 1889 Johnstown Flood, and afterwards for years, people doubted He was the real Blind tom!

 

In 1903, Wiggins began performing on the Vaudeville circuit, until in December the following year, suffered an apparent stroke. This ended His public performance, albeit He could still be heard playing the piano at home for countless hours days and nights. Before He suffered His life ending stroke at age 59 in 1908.

 

 Reading His biography, I learned that several books have been written about Him. Along with various musicians recording His songs, or writing songs about Him.

 

As pianist John Davis recorded the album John Davis plays Blind tom in 1999. While Sir Elton John recorded The Ballad of Blind Tom on His 2013 album The Diving board. For which I really like its haunting piano melody.

 

Ironically, Elton John is currently suffering eyesight issues. Reportedly being totally blind in His right eye, and having only partial sight from His left. With John saying He’s gained great empathy for All of those with low vision or being blind from His eyesight issues…

 

Meanwhile, on January 8th, the youngest member of the original Freedom riders Bus Charles Person Died at Age 82. As Person was just 18 in 1961, a College Freshman at MoreHouse College, when He volunteered to ride a Bus to New Orleans to challenge the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC) failure of upholding the integration of Interstate Bus terminals and Bus Desegregation. Which the Supreme court’s rulings in both 1946 and 1960 had found to be unconstitutional.

 

 As six pairs of white and black Freedom Riders were paired together, including future Congressman John Lewis. Riding a Trailways bus departing Washington D.C. on May 4, 1961. Before encountering fierce opposition from white Klansmen who boarded the bus in Atlanta. Saying just wait until we get to Alabama!

 

Arriving in Anniston, Alabama, where another Greyhound Freedom Riders Bus had been “torched” hours earlier. The white Klansmen attacked the black Freedom Riders before dragging the bloodied men to the rear of the bus. And stacking them like pancakes!

 

With the bus continuing to Birmingham, where the Freedom Ride came to its Ugly conclusion! Where riders noticed about twenty whites outside with lead pipes, before all Hell broke loose when the Freedom Riders exited the bus to attempt testing Alabama’s segregationist policies…

 

As Person and James Peck, were designated the first pair to attempt entering the station and using a white’s only lunch counter . With Person later recanting He was attacked by a man with a lead pipe.

 

While Peck, a white Harvard Alumni was brutally beaten, recalling being unconscious in seconds, before both men escaped to Fred Shuttleworth’s home…

 

On May 29, 1961, after the Kennedy’s had asked for a “cooling down” period, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sent a petition to the ICC requesting them toenforce their rules regarding integration. Before the ICC finally invoked a new integration policy on November, 1, 1961.

 

While its hard to think that the murder of George Floyd occurred only some four-plus years ago on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020.

 

As how will our current President choose to act regarding Diversity during His second term?

 

So much for that pipe dream, as what Diversity and Inclusion? Welcome to White Man Central 2.0!

 

Partial song lyrics from Elton John’s the ballad of Blind tom. From the 2013 album The Diving Board.

 

(Steinway and Sons concert grand Piano model D-274 image source: commons.wikimedia.org) 

F1: When is a Grand Prix not a Grand Prix?

Gran Primio de Cuba 500km magnet with the date February 25th on it. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

As no Jokes about Lions, Tigers, Cheetah’s, alligators, Crocodiles, or other “spotted” critters here, Oh Never Mind!

 

Like countless stories stuck upon Ye Driftwood here upon thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville Mateys! This one’s been high-centered quite awhile…

 

As prior to Christmas, 2021, former Florentine F1 Spotter Jeannie “innocently” asked me if there had ever been a Cuban Grand Prix? To which I said I don’t think so? Even though I vaguely knew that El Maestro’, aka Juan Manuel Fangio had been Kidnapped in Cuba. Being held captive briefly in 1958 during the Castro revolution…

 

Thus try as I might briefly before Christmas, I couldn’t find anything confirming that an actual, honest to goodness Formula 1 Grand Prix had ever been held in Cuba! For which perhaps some of you are way ahead of me, Ci?

 

As little did I know I was being “teased” over my awesome Christmas presents that year, when Jeannie & Jonathan, and Beverlee gave me an awesome assortment of eight vintage racing magnets, which proudly adorn my “Icebox’s” (refrigerator) side. And naturally, one of them is for the Gran Primio de Cuba!

 

Since indeed, there would be a total of three Cuban Grands Prix held between 1957-60, with the first two back-to-back being run on the streets of Havana! While the third and final event was held on a military base in 1960.

 

As the Bitchin’ magnet  denotes the Gran Primio de Cuba being a 500km race held on February 25th. For which amazingly, I just found the following 2007 story commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the inaugural Cuban Grand Prix below. Although be aware that it’s obviously dated now, since All of the Star names have passed away, i.e.; Fangio, Phil Hill, Carrol Shelby, etc.

 

Whilst the author also notes that the official poster was printed with the wrong date upon it! Since February 25, 1957 was a Monday and the race was most definitely held upon Sunday, February 24, 1957 instead! Meaning my reproduction magnet also contains this mistake upon it…

 

As it’s a fairly long article, but full of vintage photographs of the various racing drivers participating, along with some of the race circuit’s surroundings, and worth a read.

 

Havana-May 1950-Nov 1960: Gran Premio de Cuba - 1957 (havana5060.blogspot.com)

 

As the author notes that the races two main protagonists were Juan Manuel Fangio driving a Maserati 300S vs. Alfonso de Portago behind the wheel of a Ferrari 860 Monza! Hmm, why do I recognize the latter’s name? Oh yeah, because I’ve previously pointed Y’all to my No fenders story about the man who died during the 1957 Mille Miglia, recently portrayed in Michael Mann’s excellent movie Ferrari. Which fortuitously I got to see the final showing here in Bumfiddle’ Florence Wayback in mid-February!

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2017/05/de-portago-who-lost-formula-1-bobsledder.html

 

Interestingly, the 860 Monza was one of a multitude of Ferrari Monza Sports Cars built between 1953-57, with reportedly only three 860’s being built. Culminating with a triumphant 1-2 finish in the 1956 12 Hours of Sebring. Where Fangio and Eugenio Castellotti won ahead of Ferrari teammates Luigi Musso and Harry Schell. Although interestingly, the Monza models were fitted with inline four cylinder engines vs. la Scuderia’s then traditional twelve cylinder lumps’. 

 

As noted above, other Big Name racers included the likes of Phil Hill, Eugenio Castellotti, Carrol Shelby and apparently a rather snobbish Stirling Moss! With Fangio winning after De Portago retired with a blown engine on lap-68.

 

The ’58 race was filled with much Hijinxs. Most notably the Kidnapping of Fangio in order to draw Attenzione to Castro’s revolution. Although the Five-times F1 World Champion went unharmed and was returned to the Cuban Embassy following the conclusion of the race.

 

Reportedly the second race drew some 200,000-plus spectators and was another Ferrari v Maserati scrum. With such notable drivers as Hill, Moss, Shelby, Wolfgang von Trips, Masten Gregory, Jo bonnier, Harry Schell and Bruce Kessler participating. Whilst Maurice Trintignant was drafted in as Fangio’s replacement.

 

Yet a local driver in a Ferrari spun on an oil patch and crashed into the crowd lining the streets, killing six spectators! With the race being Red-flagged and ultimately completed on lap-6! With Stirling Moss being declared the winner, driving a Ferrari 4.1-litre V-12 335 S racecar ahead of Masten Gregory.

 

Gregory initially planned to protest the outcome. Before Moss convinced Him to pool the first place ($10,000) and second place ($7,500) prize money and split it evenly. And Hightail it out of Cuba before a revolution erupted!

 

Ironically, the 335 S is the very model that De Portago crashed and dide-in during the ’57 Mille Miglia…

 

While Y’all can read about that and more of the second race in the Sports Car Digest articled titled The infamous 1958 Cuban Grand Prix…

 

The ’59 event was cancelled due to Castro’s revolution being in it’s final stages, before the event returned to be run upon support roads at a military Airfield. As Stirling Moss won again, this time driving a privateer Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage ahead of Pedro Rodriguez in a Ferrari and Masten Gregory in a Porsche 718 Spyder.

 

As Bruce Kessler appears to be the only Yank’ living who participated in thosewild street races in Havana! And is a most colourful Chap’. Who just so happened to be Pals with the late Lance Reventlow, and reportedly is the last living person to see James Dean alive…

 

As All three of these Sports Car races featured many of the days top Formula 1 drivers, it was a much different era back then. When F1 drivers were not only allowed to dabble in other events, they were expected to do so driving for their respective marques!

 

Thus as Y’all can “See”, the words Grand Prix have been ridiculously overused for any and All motor races! A practice that IndyCar continues doing today! Like is it really the Grand Prix of Alabama? Not to mention its newest edition, the Grand Prix of Arlington.

 

Since when I hear the words Grand Prix, I immediately think of formula 1, not Indy Cars, MotoGP or Sports Cars, Oh Never Mind!

 

Photograph c/o J&J Images