Sprint Cup
As the frozen winds of February blow across the tundra of Indiana, it’s hard to believe that the Daytona 500 will be run in two weeks and the 2015 automobile racing season will begin in the United States. Actually the first Daytona race was the 24 Hour Rolex endurance race run on January 24-25 and won by the Chip Ganassi team for a record sixth time. Driving a Ford powered Eco Boost Riley Prototype for Target/Ganassi were NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson and Indy Car drivers Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. Dixon drove the final 3 hours to secure the win. McMurray joined Mario Andretti and A. J. Foyt as the only men to win both the Daytona 500 and the 24 Hour Daytona Endurance Race.
As to the 2015 Sprint Cup series coming up, the headline news is that Jeff Gordon has announced that the 2015 series will be his last as a full time driver. So this season will be a sort of farewell tour for Gordon — but perhaps not ending his personal involvement with the series, because he has not definitely ruled out competing in some of the higher profile events in the future although not in the Cup chase. The biggest news for the Sprint Cup series is that, after an eleven year absence, the Southern 500 at the Darlington Speedway is returning to the schedule and traditional Labor Day venue. Long-time fans have never forgiven NASCAR for dropping the historic race in the first place so Darlington’s return to the circuit will be cause for much rejoicing among traditionalists. NBC Sports rejoined the broadcasting team after a six year absence. The FOX Network will continue to broadcast the first half of the season and NBC Sports will televise the second half. The Crown Royal Brickyard 400 at IMS will be run for the 22nd time on July 26.
Indy Car
The first race for the open-wheel racers in the Verizon IndyCar Series will be at St. Petersburg, Florida on March 29. The Firestone Grand Prix will be run on a temporary street course as will three other events. The Itaipava Brazillia 300 GP was to be held on March 9 but was canceled due to financial reasons for the Brazilian organizers. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be on April 19. The Long Beach race has become second in popularity only to the Indy 500. Angie’s List has taken up the sponsorship of the Indianapolis Grand Prix which will be run on the IMS road course on May 9. Last year’s inaugural event was a hit and a good opening to the month of May festivities. The 99th Indianapolis 500 will be run on May 24. The a cappella singing group Straight No Chaser, composed of graduates from Indiana University, will take Jim Nabors’ place in singing “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Al Unser Sr. will be the Legends Day honoree.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay returns with Andretti Racing and will seek to make it two in a row. Verizon Series champ Scott Dixon is once again with Target/Ganassi Racing and wants a second Indy 500 victory to add to his victory list. Looking for his fourth Borg-Warner trophy, Helio Castroneves will be driving for team Penske for his 15th season.
Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing have merged and will now be called CFH Racing. Josef Newgarden will be the lead driver and Carpenter will compete only on the oval tracks. Italian-born rookie Luca Fillppi will compete at Indy and on the road courses for the team.
Talented French driver Simon Pagenaud has left Schmidt Peterson Racing to join Penske Racing. Pagenaud won the GP of Indianapolis last year and then the second leg of the Grand Prix of Houston. Canadian James Hinchcliffe, formerly of Andretti Autosports, will replace Pagenaud at Schmidt Peterson.
Losing his National Guard sponsorship cost Ryan Brisco his ride with Ganassi racing. He has been replaced by Charlie Kimball and is currently seeking a ride. Mike Conway, the Brit who won both the Toyota Long Beach GP and Honda GP of Toronto for Ed Carpenter, is currently also without a ride. Conway does not race the oval tacks but is a top road course driver.
Local cafeteria owner Jonathan Byrd will once again field a team with hometown driver and local favorite Bryan Clauson behind the wheel. Clauson competed in the 2012 Indy 500 for Sarah Fisher and finished 30th. KV Racing Technology will be working with the Byrd team instead of fielding its own team.
British driver Jack Hawksworth, who drove as a rookie for Bryan Herta Racing, will join A. J. Foyt Enterprises, driving the number 41 Honda. Japanese driver Takuma Sato will continue his association with Foyt Racing.
The 2014 Indy 500 sixth place finisher and rookie of the year Kurt Busch apparently will not be competing at Indianapolis in the 500 this year. Busch drove for Andretti Autosport last year but no announcement has been made about the 2015 race.
There will be lots more activity as the racing season gets underway and May will be here sooner then you think but, as always, it will be good to hear the engines roar and the tires squeal. Remember the 2015 Indianapolis 500 will be the 99th running! Lets hope 2015 is an exciting, competitive, and SAFE Year for American motorsports.
snicewanger@yahoo.com