INDYCAR: Texas All Set to G-O!

In Ye Immortal words 'O P.T. Barnum, or was it 'Ol Uncle Bernaughty? Thee Show Must Go On!

In case You've been Hunkerin' down, Oh Never Mind! For those that Don't Know, this Saturday Nites' IndyCar Season Opener at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) has been move to Primetime Television viewing, on what Ye Elder Statesman 'O IndyCar Bloggers Denotes as Big NBC! Although the Days Television coverage is split between its two TV Networks, i.e.; NBC Sports & NBC.

According to my Zap2It' TV Guide, Qualifying presumably Airs at 2PM Pacific, followed by Half Hour Pre-Race and Post-Race Vignettes All on NBC Sports, (NBCSN) with the Race itself Airing on NBC from 5-7PM Pacific. But as Always, Check Your Local Listings!

Texas IndyCar Season Opener Moves to NBC

Meanwhile it's good news for the Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh Squad on the Driver Front, as Spanish Rookie Alex Palou has successfully returned Stateside to Texas, while (ECR) Ed Carpenter Racing is expecting Thar Niederlander'  Rookie Rinus VeeKay to also make the race, which interestingly Racer's Marshall Pruett notes is the last International Driver affected by possible Travel Ban issues.

Palou Clears Travel Hurdles Ahead of Texas IndyCar race

Hmm? That implies to Mwah that Carlin's got it's two Drivers already lined up, But is waiting for its turn in thou Spin Cycle of News-bytes'; Err Press Releases, Eh?

VeeKay en route to U.S. Ahead of Texas IndyCar race

Whilst on a trivial note, is it just Mwah? But I tend to recall that Yo Adrian! (Fernandez( ran the "Double Nickel" #55 during his Super Aguri IRL Days, which makes me wonder if Thars some nebulous tie to Palou & Co. choosing this number?

Naturally this sent me Down another Wabbithole', as 'Ol sir Paul *McCartney) once Crooned 'bout Fixin' A Hole to See Where It All Goes: Oh Never Mind!

Although I learned that it was actually Super Aguri Fernandez Racing originally running Roger Yasukawa in the Dreaded Indy Racing League Fulltime that first sported the number 55 in association with Adrian. As Mario "Boom-Boom!" Dominguez campaigned the No. 55 in CART's Final Season; Err Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford '03 season...

Then for '04, arguably Adrian's finest Open Wheel Racing season, when he netted three victories, albeit now competing Fulltime in the IRL; ACK! Once again in-conjunction with ex-Formula 1 Driver Aguri Suzuki's Super Aguri Fernandez Racing, Adrian drove the team's No. 5 G-Force/Honda entry with team-mate Kosuke Matsuura piloting the #55.

Although the Fernandez Racing Squad ran two cars in 2005, one for Scott Sharp and the other once again for Matsuura, for reasons unknown, Adrian was unable to secure Funding for himself and only contested that year's Indianapolis 500 in a Mo Nunn collabouration.

Adrian apparently Quit Open Wheel Racing in '07, and the last I recall of the #55 in Indy Cars I'm aware  of is when Aguri-san' (Suzuki) brought Matsuura to the Panther Racing team Wayback in 2007, remember them Y'all?

As All of this conjecture over the #55 and it's nebulous connection to Aguri Suzuki, Japan and Hondre' backed entries makes me wonder if there's some Honda connection I Don't know about? Or am i just grasping at Straws?

But it's Not All sunshine, Bunnies 'N Rainbows, as finally comes word of what seemed somewhat inevitable, with Carlin publicly confirming Tuesday that they'd be parking the team's No. 31 entry for Texas, citing lack of Funding. which means only 24 Entries will be contesting Indy Cars Season Opener Saturday Night.

And since Marshall notes that Conor Daly will be driving the team's lone #59 entry , which he's contracted to do for Carlin on All Ovals excluding Indianapolis, presumably Rinus VeeKay will indeed participate Saturday aboard the No. 21 ECR entry.

Carlin's No. 31 Chevy Parked for Texas Opener

Meanwhile continuing the Not So Rosy, Glitzy, Slap Happy News regarding the return of IndyCar's, Racer's Marshall Pruett also laments how we'll be losing an essential component in our Motorsports coverage with the loss of the Independent Photographers; OUCH!

PRUETT: Farewell to Your Favourite Photographers

INDYCAR: Widow writes Memoir to Cope with loss of Paul Dana

This story was sent to me by No Fenders 'Offical Photographer CARPETS', who recently spotted I-T in his local Fish-wrap, i.e.; Indianapolis Star Newspaper, which unfortunately longtime IndyCar "Insider" Curt Cavin has just departed! As hopefully the IndyStar won't be so short-sighted as to not find a comparable replacement for its IndyCar coverage; but I digress...

As I must confess, that even now, a decade after his death, I still know virtually anything 'bout Paul Dana, other than I do recall hearing 'bout his death that weekend of the '06 season opening Homestead I"RL race, where Dana was team-mates with Buddy "Hot Rod" Rice and Queen Danica Patrick at Booby Ruble's RLLR racing team, who pulled both entries from the race in honour of their fallen driver.

Whilst on a side note, Dana who brought the Ethanol brand not only to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing from Hemelgarn Racing, and ultimately the Indy Racing League. Would see Jeff Simmons taking over for him before being replaced by somebody named Ryan Hunter-Reay...

Alas, how can anybody who hasn't personally experienced the tragedy of losing a loved partner adequately describe their feelings of loss? Being even more devastating for Tonya Bergeson-Dana, who notes in her forthcoming book simply titled Crash, she was expecting to surprise her husband Paul about being pregnant upon his return home from Miami that fateful weekend.

With Bergeson-Dana's book intended to not only help resolve her grieving process, having found little information previously that helped her as a single parent, along with telling a lasting story for their son Conor about his late father's life.

As Tonya's managed to move on, and has successfully opened the Urban Chalkboard in Indianapolis, explaining it's simply like when the Children's museum meets Starbucks...

Memoir helps widow cope after IndyCar driver's death

INDY 500: A Familiar Name returns...

First off, have to admit that I missed the original memo 'Wayback on May 16, 2014 announcing USAC Sprint Car Stand-out Bryan Clauson's plans to return to Mother Speedway for his second Indy 500 "Rodeo" this May...

Bryan Clauson to compete in 2015 Indy 500

For longtime or Diehard Indy 500 Fans, the name Jonathan Byrd should be familiar to Yuhs, albeit probably capturing its most notoriety during the 1996 Indy Racing League season, when the famous Indiana Cafeteria owner co-sponsored "The Flying Dutchman's" racecar. When Arie Luyendyk wheeled Fred Tredway's Reynard 95i Ford Cosworth XB to the current fastest One and Four-lap qualifying speeds at the famed Brickyard. As ironically, Luyendyk's original Pole speed laps were disallowed after his racecar was discovered to be 7lbs under weight and hence, Arie needed to requalify the following day when he went faster than anybody in Speedway history!

Supposedly the powers to be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, would like to see IndyCar shatter  Luyendyk's benchmarks at next year's 100th running of the Memorial Day classic, ironically also the 20th anniversary of Arie's tremendous feat! Which the legendous' Dr. Who was The Flying Dutchman's engineer for.

Sayonara Dr. Who!

I had the good fortune of dining at the World's largest Cafeteria 'Wayback in 'Twenty-oh-Nine when attending my debutant Indy 500, as Indiana's own Danny Bridges, beat sports & racing scribe for the Indiana Recorder took Mwah to the famed restaurante in Greenwood, Indiana that May, prior to my admittance into IMS's media centre, which I labourisly scribbled 'bout in the largish' four-part tome titled;

Surviving Indy

Alas, whilst trying to find a little more about Messer Byrd, (the restaurateur, not the rocker...) whom died in 2009, I came across the IndyStar's story noting how the cafeteria portion of the restaurant has been shuttered...

Jonathan Byrd's last Sunday Supper

Meanwhile,  I'll confess that I've never really followed this local Greenwood legend's racing exploits, especially since they weren't particularly successful, albeit winning multiple Sprint Car titles with the late Rich Volger, as their Open Wheel Racing ledger attests, i.e.; two victories to date: 1996's Phoenix's Duralube 200, the second ever Indy Racing League event with Arie Luyendyk at the wheel; Hmm? That wasn't the year that 'Ol SuperTex (A.J. Foyt) gave Arie a "LUV-TAP" on duh Nose was I-T? Hooah! And then John Paul Jr's lone IRL victory at Texas Motor Speedway in '98, where the year prior Foyt had given Arie that shiner!

A.J. Foyt Bitchslaps Arie Luyendyk

Yet Jonathan Byrd's Racing (JBR) did sponsor "Gentleman John" for his "Double" feat in 1994, when John Andretti was the very first driver to successfully complete the arduous task of  racing at Indianapolis and 'RASSCAR's Charlotte World 600 on the very same day 21yrs ago!

Also, from the "Honor Roll" of JBR Alumni garnered from their official website, I notice that they sponsored the "Brothers Lazier," albeit in different years, whilst they partnered many well known IndyCar owners, including A.J. Foyt and Dick Simon amongst others.

As Dick Simon Racing (DSR) probably had its best year ever in 1993 when its fulltime drivers Raul "Boom-Boom, Brahma!" Bosel finished fourth ahead of team-mate Scott Brayton's Jonathan Byrd's racecar coming home P6 with some Dude named "superMario" (Andretti) being the meat filling in the DSR pie; Hooah!

JONATHAN BYRD RACING DRIVERS

1985-89 Rich Volgler, 1991 Gordon Johncock, 1991 Buddy Lazier, 1991-92 Stan Fox, 1993 Scott Brayton, 1994 John Andretti, 1995 Davy Jones, 1996 Arie Luyendyk, 1997-98 Mike Groff, 2001  Jaques Lazier and 2005 Buddy Lazier.

Jonathan Byrd's Racing Official website

Thus its GURR-REAT! That Jonathan Byrd's Racing resumes its rightful resumption of sponsoring Indy Cars at the hallowed Speedway this May, as I'll be sportin' my No. 20 Bryan Clauson T-Shirt at Mother Speedway over the race weekend...

GOOD LUCK BRYAN AND JBR!

More Bad News

Whale I suppose by now, Y’all have heard that Roger Penske has pulled the plug upon his pet project: The Raceway at Belle Isle, and therefore the 2009 IRL Labor Day event has been cancelled. This was due in large part to The Captain simply not wishing to spend anymore of his own money, along with the fact that various sponsors and race teams have departed, as Firestone has left as well as Audi and Porsche “Works” efforts from the race weekend’s supporting cast, the ALMS.

WRC teams withdraw
Adding a further blow to the global motor racing scene, comes news that both Suzuki and Subaru have decided to withdraw from the World Rally Championship and will cease their factory team’s competition immediately. This is a major blow for the WRC and now leaves only two Automobile manufacturers competing: Ford and Citroen.

And although Suzuki’s decision isn’t surprising, as they’ve generally been back markers, having only contested last season, Subaru’s whole motor sports image has long revolved around rallying, having won six WRC titles. So it will be a bitter pill for the WRC to swallow.

Will WRC’s loss be F1’s gain?
And with the departure of Subaru from rallying, whose ‘Works” efforts have long been overseen by David Richards Prodrive operation, is this a signal that Richards may be on the verge of buying the departing Honda F1 outfit? Recall that it was Richards who brought Honda its best season’s results by finishing runner-up to Ferrari in the Constructors championship in 2004, before ironically, current team boss Nick Frye sent Richards packing. So, who’ll have the last laugh? Although Richards could now have competition to buy the Brackley based squad from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and the Korean Auto manufacturer Hyundai?

Tony’s money maker

Don’t know why this caught my eye… As I tend to think of the IMS as NOT being technically savvy… Yet apparently a deal has been struck with Cha Cha… Nope, don’t fret. This AIN’T no smooshy tie-in with the Oxygen Channel, nor “le trio des femelles,” a.k.a. Princess, Milka and Sarah; Ooh lah lah, “Tres chaud, Mon Cherie!”

And it ain’t Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldohney either… Unless she’s found a white fire suit to saunter about Gasoline Alley…

No, Tony George is going’ somewhere… (Insert joke here?) Err, the Speedway is going’ High-tech as its just awarded another exclusive contract to Cha Cha, a Carmel, CA based internets start-up, which will provide official mobile answers services for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May. As you can now ask Cha Cha any IMS related questions via your cell phone.

Q) How many cars will show up on “Boomp” Day?
A) Search results; Sorry, there were NO ANSWERS found matching your query…

And the service will also feature text alerts, which apparently were tried out this past weekend…

BUZZ- BUZZ- BUZZ!!! Ernesto Jose Viso; “You’re entering the WRONG Pit Stall (YOU NIMROD!) Continue to proceed 1,000 Feet FARTHER!!!

To which Eddie Carpentier sent EJ the following; Get the F%%K OUT of MY Pit you smarmy Brazilian…

FLASH: Whoa, Big Fella! Ease up Mr. Edwardo, Mezs un Ruukie…

BUZZ- BUZZ- BUZZ!!! Car #20, this is Brian Barnhart. Report to my office IMMEDIATELY!

HMM? Wonder if this is how Larry Curry got the memo on his dismissal?

Briscoe lands Penske seat

With the recent announcement of Sam Hornish Jr. joining the swelling ranks of Open Wheelers defecting to RASSCAR. Penske has announced that Ryan Briscoe will indeed take over Hornish’s vacated Indy Car seat for 2008.

Briscoe originally cut his teeth in karting, before moving up to European single seaters. In 2002, Briscoe was hired as a Toyota F1 test driver and became the Friday third driver when Ricardo Zonta replaced Cristiano da Matta.

While rumoured to be in line for a Jordan Grand Prix drive for 2005, Briscoe joined Chip Ganassi’s IRL team instead. And struggling to come to grips with Oval tracks had a horrific crash at Chicagoland on September 11th, breaking both clavicles amongst other injuries.

With Briscoe’s ’05 season effectively over, along with Dan Wheldon becoming available for 2006. Briscoe was expendable, as Ganassi hired the reigning Indy Car champion from Andretti Green Racing.

Thus Briscoe spent the year seeking rides and returned to the Grand American series with Wayne Taylor Racing, along with four races for Dreyer & Reinbold. Briscoe scored a third place finish at Watkins Glen before filling in for the injured da Matta in the final two Champ Car races.

This year, Briscoe became a full time Penske American Le Mans Porsche Spyder pilot, finishing second in the LMP2 category with three wins and two poles. And it seemed obvious that Briscoe was being groomed for Hornish’s seat when he raced for Luczo Dragon Racing at Indy this May. As the team was effectively a Penske satellite operation, campaigning leased Penske equipment for team co-owner Jay Penske, with Briscoe qualifying seventh and finishing fifth…