AFTER HOSTING THE FORMULA-1 RACING PROGRAM for eight years, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway declined to renew the sanction for next year.

The primary cause of failing to get an agreement with the F-1 circuit was the amount of “sanctioning” money that was being asked for.  IRS president Tony George offered $15 million but there are national governments who desire a PR activity that are willing to pay $30 million to host one of the races.

The first race at Indy in 2000 drew 200,000 spectators in what is still the largest-ever box office for any F-1 event.  However, it leveled off to around 100, 000 shortly after.  That’s still large by F-1 standards, but enthusiasm in the U. S. is mostly lacking for it.

The arrogant and quixotic antics of the F-1 operators rubbed most Americans the wrong way.  Drivers and team officials refused to allow access to the American press for interviews.  In the 2002 race the leader, Michael Schumacher backed off on the homestretch and threw the win to his teammate Rubens Barrichello.  An openly-rigged finish just doesn’t sit well with Americans.

Another fiasco on the part of the circus troupe in 2005 pretty well eliminated any hope of expanding the fan base in this country.  Just minutes before the race began, tire manufacturer Michelin stated that their tires were not safe to use at the track.  After all 20 cars took the parade lap, the 14 that were shod with Michelins pulled into pit row and left only six cars remaining to stage a “race” for two hours.

The Indianapolis Star has the full STORY.

Firegeezer adds:  Speedway CEO Tony George made the usual mumblings about how there is hope that F-1 will return in the future, and the local economy benefited from them being here, etc., etc., etc.  But I don’t think you’ll be seeing the F-1 circuit running in the U. S. again for another 20 years.  And to that I say “Good riddance.  Don’t let the garage door hit you in the tail wing.”

THE CAR WAS BUILT IN FRANCE IN 1884 and still runs.  It’s a steamer with a top speed of 38 mph and is believed to be the car that won the first automobile race.

Read more about it HERE.

 
Ingle/AP photo

A DRAG-RACING CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL during a parade in Selmer, Tenn., and spun into a crowd of bystanders Saturday, killing four people and injuring up to 15, authorities said. The event, Cars for Kids, is a fund-raiser for children’s charities.

WMC photo

The racer attemped to do a “burn-out” on the parade route when the tires gained traction and the car propelled into a utility pole, then spun into the crowd.

It was a relatively narrow roadway, lined with spectators and an uneven road surface.  Firegeezer wonders:  Just what was he thinking?  We may never know….the driver is one of those in the hospital.

Alexander/WHBQ photo

The Memphis Commercial Appeal has the full story HERE.

Memphis channel 5 WMC-tv had FIVE VIDEOS HERE.

update:  The death toll has now (11 am EDT) been increased to 7.

update #2:  The Tennessee Highway Patrol has now revised the death toll downward to 6.
WMC -TV reports:  Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said six people were killed, including two 15-year-old girls and a 17-year-old girl. The accident injured 18 others, including a 5-year-old boy, who were taken to hospitals in Tennessee and Mississippi.

POPULAR MECHANICS HAS RUN ROAD TESTS on four “speed machines”……..the Dodge Viper SRT10, Porsche 911 Turbo, Chevy Corvette Z06 and the Audi R8.

The full test and results are here. 

AN IMAGINATIVE TRUCK DRIVER in Russia gathered some pieces of scrap metal, fired up his welders torch, and prowls the highways with this.  I’ll bet they pull over when he slips up behind a left-lane hogger.

 
Bill France, Jr.

BILL FRANCE, JR., WHO IS CREDITED WITH propelling the stock car racing sanctioning body into the big leagues of spectator sports events, passed away yesterday from complications associated with cancer.  After he took over the NASCAR firm from his father in 1972, he launched one of the most successful marketing campaigns known in modern times.

WFTV has a good full story with video here. 

Dario Franchitti holds the Borg-Warner trophy
Indianapolis Star photo

DESPITE HIS ITALIAN NAME, INDY 500 WINNER DARIO FRANCHITTI is a born and bred Scotsman.  His driver-hero is the late Jim Clark, another Scot who won the 500 in 1965.  Dario is as happy as can be and very proud to join Clark on the Borg-Warner trophy.  An excellent article about Dario and his day is here. 

Photo410 says:
Just as I thought, Kasey Kahne did real well at Charlotte last night in the Busch race.  Let’s see if he can repeat.  I still think the Hendrick cars are going to be tough to beat.  But I’ll be sticking by Kyle Petty & Dale Jr.  I’m really loyal to Kyle and Petty Enterprises.   As far as Indy goes, I’d love to see Sarah Fisher win, or an Andretti or Foyt.

Firegeezer says:
Down at Charlotte I’m going to say that this is the time for Ryan Newman to take it all.  He has the pole and he loves the track.  Others to bet on are Kurt Busch, Dale Jr., and Tony Stewart.  But if you get good odds, take Jimmie Johnson.

Indianapolis is a no-brainer:  Castroneves should take it.  He’s on the pole, has a 500 win to draw on, and the best racing team in the world behind him.  If he doesn’t finish, though….I’d watch for Sam Hornish, Jr., Dan Wheldon, or Michael Andretti.  Of the three gals, I think Danica Patrick will do the best with an 8th place finish.

Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup here.
Indy 500 starting lineup here.

NOTED RACE-CAR OWNER ROGER PENSKE has achieved what people don’t even dream about.  He has cars on the pole positions for both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 today.

While Penske has had commanding success at Indy and is the favorite to take today’s race, he is considered  a real long-shot in Charlotte.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, three women drivers will be starting in a major auto race.  All of them are long-experienced racers and two of them have the ability to be contenders at the finish.

Danica Patrick

DANICA PATRICK, age 25 of Roscoe, Illinois.  First woman to lead the 500 (in 2005) and tied the IRL record for most poles (three) in a season by a rookie that same year. Best finish in IRL is a fourth on four occasions, including her first 500. Joined Andretti Green Racing in the offseason.

Sarah Fisher

SARAH FISHER, age 26 from Commercial Point, Ohio.  First woman to win a pole in the league; holds best finish in a race by a woman (second at Homestead, Fla., in 2002). One of the most popular drivers in IRL history. Taking her sixth shot at the Indy 500; her average finish is 28th.

Milka Duno

MILKA DUNO, age 35 from Caracas, Venezuela.   Sports car veteran who has won four Grand American Series races and finished second in this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona (highest-finishing woman in race history). She has limited open-wheel and oval-track experience. She is driving for SAMAX, her sports car team, which is at Indy for the first time.  As a newcomer to ovals and a Speedway rookie, her goal will be to finish as many laps as possible and not worry about position.  You have to have IMS experience to build upon in order to be successful here.

THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR SPEEDWAY, INDIANA calls for a good chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon.  The forecasters are saying that it won’t be a rainy day, but just spordic showers popping up here and there.  Starting the race two hours later this year (it moved from 11 am to 1 pm) makes it even more likely to be affected by the late afternoon precipitation.

Photo410 says:

THIS WEEKEND IS ONE OF NASCAR’S biggest race weeks.  The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the circuit.  I have been to Lowe’s many times myself and have seats for the October race.  I’ve been going there regularly since 1976.

This should be an exciting race.  Ryan “Rocket” Newman is on the pole and my two favorite drivers, Kyle Petty and Dale, Jr., both qualified for the race…..Kyle at 36th and Dale way up front in 4th.  The full starting lineup is here.

The Lowe’s speedway is a 1.5 mile high-banked D-oval and turns good times, especially in the cooler evening hours.  It’s actually north of Charlotte in Concord, N.C.  It’s the hub of NASCAR.  All the major race shops are located nearby and soon the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be built there.  Nearby Lake Norman is where most drivers live and even more shops are located in Mooresville, just up the road a bit.

For this race, Ryan Newman should do well….he always runs good here.  Other favorites are Dale, Jr., Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.  All of the Dodges seem to run well here, too.  Kurt Bush as well as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are doing well, too.

That’s it for now.  I hope you all get to watch the race this weekend.  If you ever get the chance, this is definitely the track to attend.
Photo410