IndyCar confronts ‘defining moment’
The IndyCar Series is approaching a three-pronged fork in the road, and the path its leaders choose will have long-lasting implications for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500.
The IndyCar Series is approaching a three-pronged fork in the road, and the path its leaders choose will have long-lasting implications for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500.
IndyCar Series officials insist the open-wheel circuit is on the right track despite a drop in its television ratings, tepid attendance and persistent rumors that it will be sold and its CEO will be fired.
The Sports Business Journal is reporting that former Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George has assembled an investor group that includes race team owners Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Michael Andretti and Kevin Kalkhoven to buy the IndyCar Series.
Direct-to-consumer marketing of star drivers could be just what the series needs to boost interest, TV ratings.
For this Indy guy, there is nothing that says Indy—or Indiana—like the Indy 500.
A Speed.com report claims IndyCar founder Tony George and a handful of team owners are behind a charge to have Randy Bernard fired. Also listed were team owners John Barnes, Kevin Kalkhoven, Michael Andretti and his father, Mario.
Dario Franchitti landed $2,474,280 from an overall purse of $13,285,815 for Sunday's victory. The four-time series champion from Scotland became just the 10th driver to win IndyCar's signature event at least three times.
Fans sought shade under the grandstands and beneath umbrellas. Misting stations got a healthy workout. But Sunday's Indianapolis 500 won't go down in the record books as the hottest in the 101-year history of the race.
Dario Franchitti stamped his name in the record books by winning his third Indy 500 on Sunday, a day that started and ended as a tribute to Dan Wheldon, who won the race a year ago but was killed in an October crash in the IndyCar season finale.
Gearheads are sure to be excited over the new engine and chassis package at the Indianapolis 500 this year, but IMS and IndyCar Series officials hope the highly publicized changes will be enough to grab the attention of more casual fans and create an attendance and TV ratings boost.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is selling advertising along the world-famous, 103-year-old race course for the first time ever, a break with tradition that promises to boost its financial firepower as racetracks nationwide are struggling.
IBJ follows driver E.J. Viso and his team of engineers and mechanics during a sometimes-frustrating practice day at the Speedway.
The 26-year-old Venezuelan driver E.J. Viso hopes this year's Indy 500 will be his next step toward a breakout season, propelled by greater patience, a new race engineer and the tutelage of Jimmy Vasser.
Newgarden has been impressive through the first three races this season, and started on the front row of last week's race at Long Beach.
American Le Mans Series race director Beaux Barfield on Wednesday took the hot seat as the IndyCar Series' new chief race official.
After months of skirting speculation, Danica Patrick announced Thursday that she's leaving IndyCar in 2012 to run a full Nationwide schedule. She didn't rule out a return to open-wheel racing for the Indianapolis 500.
IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard is considering taking the open-wheel series to the Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis., for 2012. That race could replace the Milwaukee race, which Bernard said faces a 50-percent chance of being eliminated.
Rookie JR Hildebrand made the ultimate mistake with his very last turn of the wheel, crashing into the wall and sliding across the finish line.
While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway revels in its centennial this month and motorsports aficionados take a nostalgic look back, the next generation of heirs to the Hulman George fortune has its eyes firmly fixed on the future.
Consumers open wallets for drivers who aren’t front-runners this year.