Winng Car at Indianpolis

I think this may be one of my favorite photos I've ever taken at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Carb Day - May 27th, 2011

IMS Museum & Hall of Fame

taken with my iPhone

what may be one of my favorite photos from the 2009 indy car season

IndyCar Series driver, Nelson Philippe posted this photo of himself with fellow driver and Sonoma accident survivor, Will Power, on his Twitter.

HIS CAPTION: Two crippled guys in Indy... Willy P and Nelly P...

In the accident both drivers suffered concussions. Will Power has two broken lumbar vertebrae and Nelson Philippe's left foot was fractured when the (oh this is painful to even write) brake pedal went into his foot. He also has a broken right leg.

friday candy

The Candy: Scott Dixon's INDY Downforce commercial.
Why this is sweet: Indy Downforce, the Indy Car Series fan club/forum/group/cult, has come out with some GREAT commercials this season. Below is one featuring The Iceman, Scott Dixon. This one is pretty hilarious. But I will say that my favorite is still the one with Dario Franchitti (which I've yet to find a video of online).

indy 500: row 1 milk chugging contest on jimmy fallon

The starting row of the 2009 Indy 500 - Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, and Dario Franchitti - were on the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon last night for a little milk chugging contest. The video can be seen on Helio Castroneves' website HERE.

indy car: thoughts on long beach qualifying

The second race of the 2009 Indy Car Series season will take place on the streets of Long Beach tomorrow. Qualifying was this afternoon. I’m still not sure how I feel about the Fast Six/”Knock-out Qualifying” method. Will Power (yes, that’s his real name) won the pole after moving from the No. 3 car to a new, third Team Penske Car, The Verizon No. 12. It’s a really sharp looking car. And so very Penske. I hope something will work out for Power to stay on with Penske past Kansas. But it was SO great to see Helio back in the No. 3 car today. He seemed so happy and was smiling non-stop; his dimples were like craters. I loved what he said to Jack Arute on learning he had been exonerated in his tax evasion charges.

“To be honest, I was, I was like just, uh, crying. You know I am a very emotional person. When I’m happy I’m crying. When I’m sad, I cry.” - Helio Castroneves

It’s that genuine personality that makes Helio my favorite driver. Unfortunately he spun and ended up with the rear of his car in the wall during qualifying at Long Beach. But he won the last time he raceed there, in 2001. Maybe there'll be a little bit of fence climbing tomorrow. I’m just glad to see him back.

Long Beach is an interesting course that should make racing very interesting. There are sharp hairpin turns and I'm sure even some of the best drivers will end up in the tires tomorrow.

Toyota of Long Beach
Sunday April 19
3:30 p.m. (Eastern) on VERSUS

helio freed

I guess I won't be needing those "FREE HELIO" t-shirts for Indy after all. Helio has been acquitted! I feel like dancing in the streets. And word on those streets is that Penske has a third car ready and waiting in Long Beach. I guess that means Will Power will be moved over to the No. 12 car so Helio can take his rightful place back in the No. 3. Oh, this season just got about 900 times better.

• IndyStar.com: Jury acquits Castroneves on tax charges
• MiamiHearld.com: Jury acquits Helio Castroneves, his sister and lawyer
• AP: Indy driver Castroneves acquitted in tax case

Photos by IndyCar.com and MiamiHearld.com

libere spiderman

So, Helio Castroneves’ tax evasion case is currently in court. I have been rather silent about this matter because I don’t even like to think about it. The thought of a 2009 Indy Car season without Helio hurts my heart. And, the thought of an Indy Car Series with no Helio… ever… again… never… never… again… I die.

Worst case scenario – Helio is found guilty and deported back to Brazil never to race (or, it has to be said, dance) in America again.

Jeff, of My Name Is IRL, has been providing updates on Helio’s case on his blog. Follow along at: My Name Is IRL. Just look for the "get out of jail, free" cards for trial related posts.

Meanwhile, I am preparing myself. Should this case drag out past the first several races of the season I am gearing up to print my own t-shirts for the Month of May. Just look for me near the corner of 16th & Georgetown between the turkey legs and a guy named "Bob".

go daddy logo included

I recently became acquainted with an adorable girl in my IndyCar Knits group on Ravelry. She posted some fantastic pictures of her Halloween costume and has given me permission to share them.

Check this out, she made a Danica costume…down to the sponsorship logos. How cute is she?

As a point of reference, here's the real deal...

And here's NickiCarmen as Danica Patrick...

She also sells some of fiber work and jewelry on Etsy under the name CarmenBee.

thank you, mr. newman

Understandably, when most people think of Paul Newman they think of one of the greatest actors of our time. They think of Cool Hand Luke or Butch Cassidy. Or they think of popcorn, spaghetti sauce, or a McDonald's salad.

But I tend to think of the track. I think of how glad I am that he was able to see both Newman/Haas/Lanigan drivers, Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson, get wins in a reunified open-wheel series this year.

The Indy Car Series has produced a beautiful tribute to a great friend of racing.

monday mash-up

I saw this truck on my way to work this morning. I saw it and immediately was sad. I still can't believe Vitor Meira won't be with Panther Racing next season. Here's hoping for a return to Rahal Letterman Racing or maybe a move to Luzco Dragon. I always thought Vitor represented the National Guard with such class and high regard. My Bare Escentuals 10 piece Fall Platinum set arrived today - the fourth in an auto-delivery program from QVC. Yay!I LOVE the eye shadow colors. They are stunning. I can't wait to use them. The set also includes Feather Light Mineral Veil, which is one of my favorite Bare Escentuals products.

vote early, vote often, vote vitor

Vote here in the Indy Car Series Fan Awards.

One of my favorite moments of the entire season? This pass for the lead by Vitor Meira at the Indy 500 where I was sitting in the apex going into Turn 1. This means the cars were coming towards us when this pass occurred. It happened so fast my brain couldn't catch up with what I had just seen. It was one of the things that made the 2008 Indy 500 one of the best and most competitive I have been to.

are you watching the showdown at chicago right now?

September 7

3:30 pm ET

caption?

let me count the ways...

Helio Castorneves on Up to Speed.

I think Helio gives the best answer to the oft asked Up to Speed question, “If you were not a racecar driver, what would you be…?”. I especially enjoyed the Cyrano de Bergerac like story of Helio and Tony Kanaan chasing girls as young teenaged racecar drivers in Brazil.

indy car: mid-ohio

IndyCar.com
Sunday, July 20
1:30 pm ET

ABC
Pole Winner: Helio Castroneves
Starting Grid
Last year's winner: Scott Dixon

indy car: nashville firestone indy 200

IndyCar.com

Saturday, July 12

8:00 pm EST

ESPN

Pole Sitter: Helio Castroneves

I'll be sitting in section 128 in the row 117 (see above: the second green box from the right). Watch and make me smile!

indy car: watkins glen grand prix

IndyCar.com

Sunday, July 6th
3:30 pm EST on ABC

Distance: 60 laps/204 miles

2007 Winner: Scott Dixon
Pole Sitter: Ryan Briscoe
Starting Grid

hello moto. hello danica.

Visit motodanica.com and register to win a trip to the Indy Car Grand Prix of Sonoma. Registration ends June 30, 2008 at 11:59:59 PM EST.

While you're there check out a couple of the "At Home With Danica" videos. They're pretty funny and Danica is a better actress than I expected her to be.

indy car: sun trust indy challenge at richmond

IndyCar.com
Saturday, June 28
8:00 pm EST
on ESPN

Distance: 300 laps/225 miles

Pole Sitter: Tony Kanaan

Starting grid

Indy Car Series, IRL, Helio Castorneves, Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Graham Rahal, Andretti, Coomer, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Nationwide, Sprint Cup, race car, motorsports

just for fun...

I just had a conversation with Johnny G. about the 2009 IndyCar Series. I made a few predictions on where some drivers will end up next season. Just for fun I thought I'd share them. A few of these I could really see happening. Others are just long-shots.

1) Briscoe is out at Team Penske. Scott Dixon takes his place.
2) TK leaves AGR and ends up at Target Ganassi with his buddy Dan Wheldon.
3) Scheckter will be in a car at Andretti-Green.
4) Danica will be driving for Jay Penske's Luczo Dragon Racing.