
'.. Yes fine thank you', followed by me failing to properly pick up my (overly condensed by the way) glass of coke spilling it everywhere, over everything. Here's a racing related restaurant review, the 1911 Grill located at the new SI Karting indoor track owned by former driver and team owner, Sarah Fisher. I can happily recommend the pulled pork sandwich, and using a napkin to dry the glass beofre making an idiot of yourself.
So to today, Friday, I think, on track action picks ups with a few more practice sessions and qualifying for all four series racing this weekend. Qualifying for Indycar is late in the day, followed by the Indy Lights race one.
Early stirrings behind the scenes and in the garages are interrupted by the lucky souls taking two seater rides around the track, maybe, one day...
Time for a Chevy and Penkse press conference, talking about the history and the connection with Chevy and the speedway. Chevy choose who will drive the pace car, it was the obvious choice for them being 100th race and 50th for Team Penske, it took him one minute to confirm, then worked out how he could use it to his advantage! The strategist never sleeps...
So to today, Friday, I think, on track action picks ups with a few more practice sessions and qualifying for all four series racing this weekend. Qualifying for Indycar is late in the day, followed by the Indy Lights race one.
Early stirrings behind the scenes and in the garages are interrupted by the lucky souls taking two seater rides around the track, maybe, one day...
Time for a Chevy and Penkse press conference, talking about the history and the connection with Chevy and the speedway. Chevy choose who will drive the pace car, it was the obvious choice for them being 100th race and 50th for Team Penske, it took him one minute to confirm, then worked out how he could use it to his advantage! The strategist never sleeps...
Finally caught up with more people, namely this time the three from the IndySportcarPodcast, its available on iTunes and a multitude of other places and Frank, Missy and Jay will be recording some shows from the track this weekend. Now, there is an upcoming press conference at 1:30, something with a major announcement, I wonder.....
Indycar is to return to Watkins Glen on Labor Day weekend in September as a replacement for the doomed Boston GP event. The deal was struck out over two weeks, Michael Pintrup, track President of WGI challenged someone to beat that! Scott Dixon also at the press conference, also a three time winner at the track was happy with the return, saying he just loves the 'old school road courses', who doesn't Scott, who doesn't.
Onto qualifying and the fast six shoot out wasn't the top six as you may have expected, a good mix of teams and engines, from a British perspective we had Jack Hawksworth in with a shout of taking the pole, but no one in the end could stop Simon Pagenaud who set a new lap record on the road course. Simon's form this season has been irresistible, sumptuous and all the other words.In the end, with only one set of used reds, jack will start tomorrow in sixth, but he was really happy with the result.
Onto qualifying and the fast six shoot out wasn't the top six as you may have expected, a good mix of teams and engines, from a British perspective we had Jack Hawksworth in with a shout of taking the pole, but no one in the end could stop Simon Pagenaud who set a new lap record on the road course. Simon's form this season has been irresistible, sumptuous and all the other words.In the end, with only one set of used reds, jack will start tomorrow in sixth, but he was really happy with the result.
Quickly followed by the first Indy Lights race of the weekend. DuBrit Ed Jones started on pole and lead from the start being chased down by Dean Stoneman. Then there was a restart, then chaos ensued. Jones lost the lead, dropped to third, nearly fourth, but Urritia and Stoneman made mistakes and within a few corners was back in the lead, further back in the field we saw a huge amount of overtaking, and a few near misses. But to the chequered flag, Jones won, Urritia in second and Dean Stoneman in third, who despite the podium still felt frustrated, but with this race feels to be in a better position to progress in race two tomorrow. A pictures from the pitlane from race one.
And the winning driver at the crossing the Yard of Bricks
That wraps up today, tonight brings the festival on Main Street, tomorrow, more races from the Road to Indy, and the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, I'll have a few unique shots to share from the race from a 'lofty position'.