First off I would like to thank all of you who visit my site on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. But over recent weeks I have experienced some difficulties with my site, so I decided to make a change before the season begins to avoid major technical difficulties. My new web address is 16thAndGeorgetown.blogspot.com or to make it a little easier just 16thAndGeorgetown.com
Thanks again, and I look forward to covering the 2009 Indycar season
Although rumored a couple days ago, today Bryan Herta announced that he has purchased Playa del racing. At last check Playa del had 1 Firestone Indy Lights Dallara and two Indycar Panoz chassis. However I believe that the only track that the Panoz’s are sanctioned to run at is Indy. Bryan Herta Racing will run his Indy Lights team out of the Vision racing garages, where he coincidentally was hired on mid season as a drivers coach after being fired from the AGR ALMS program.
What do Bobby Rahal, Mark Donohue, Arie Luyendyk, and Buddy Rice all have in common? …..They have all won both the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. The 2004 Indy Champ with teamates Antonio Garcia, Darren Law and David Donohue (son of Mark) beat out 51 other cars for the overall Rolex 24 Hours Championship. With a rough last couple seasons, the rumored Rubicon/Pacific Coast driver has earned his way onto one of the most prestige lists in racing.
Others Who have won the 24 Hours Of Daytona & Indy 500
I would like to thank PK the Communications Manager at IMS for the heads up on these great Centennial Era Moments videos. There will be many more to come in the future.
A.J. Foyt
Rick Mears
Juan Montoya
Mario Andretti
Gordon Johncock
Speed TV reports that Sebastian Bourdais is set to sign with Toro Rosso and forgo the rumored NHL vacancy. The move would leave the seat open to Robert Doornbos who has been long rumored to sign for 09′.
Former F1 test driver, Mike Conway has been confirmed to drive one of Dreyer & Reinbold’s Dallara’s in 09′. Conway who tested last year with Panther will get his first seat time with D&R on Feb. 24 & 25 at Homestead Miami Speedway for Indycar’s first open test in 2009.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to race in the U.S. with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the IndyCar Series,” Conway said. “I’ll be visiting a lot of new tracks for the first time, especially oval tracks, but I’m very much looking forward to the challenge.”
The addition of Conway leaves in question the Indycar careers of Buddy Rice, Milka Duno and Townsend Bell. Although Rice has been previously rumored to be a virtual lock to pilot the D&R Dad’s Root Beer sponsored Dallara in 09′ nothing has been confirmed, but Mike King and Kevin Lee report that D&R may have severed ties with the veteran. I still expect Dreyer & Reinbold to announce a second car in the near future to be driven by Rice, Duno and/or Bell.
The Indy 500 and Month Of May are no exception to the worldwide economic slowdown, and to help fight the cost IMS has cut back on its Month of May activities.
Glass Half Empty: Rookie orientation and Indy Lights Practice will come on Tuesday (5th) and Wednesday (6th) in 09′ apposed to the previous Sunday and Monday as it has been the past couple years. The next Monday and Tuesday will have no track activity as it has been the last couple years but this year there will be an added day of Wednesday with the cars in the garages.
Glass Half Full: All in all I count a total of 3 days being lost to the cut back, which isn’t terrible considering the economic times. The good news is that they are sticking with the 4 day, 2 weekend schedule, plus there will be an added hot air balloon race at the beginning of the month to commemorate the first ever race at IMS. My question is if IMS will cut back the price of Bronze Badges? ….I doubt it
On the heals of a huge last couple days of announcement and speculation, Versus has announced there 09 broadcast team. As yours truely reported several weeks ago Bob Jenkins will anchor the in booth team with Jon Beekhuis and Dreyer & Reinbold owner/08′ Indy Lights broadcaster Robbie Buhl.
Jack Arute will head up the pit reporters for both the Versus and ABC broadcasts this season. Working alongside will be Robbie Floyd & Lindy Thackston, Floyd has put time in with NBC, Fox Sports, ESPN and SPEED.
The somewhat unexpected choice of the group was Lindy Thackston, a Jacksonville Fl. area reporter and has done some ALMS work as well. But after a little research Thackston has deeper roots in Indiana and the Indy 500 then expected. She was raised in the Indianapolis area and graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette where she got her first on-air work. While going to Purdue Lindy was named the Indianapolis 500 princess in 2001
The 09′ Indy Lights broadcast crew will be announced shortly, but Kevin Lee says that he is “a part if it”
Lindy Thackston Demo
Jon Beekhuis Demo
Sarah Fisher will keep Dollar General on board for a 4 race schedule in 09′ with races in Indy, Kansas, Chicagoland and Kentucky. Sarah is still in contract negotations to add 2 more races in 09′
16th and Georgetown 