Throwing this one there  to all the first time viewers be they in the UK or elsewhere in the world, if this was the first time you had watched Indycar, or the Indianapolis 500 what did you think? Why did you tune in? What did you make of the racing? The officiating, the safety aspects, anything to do with the on track product, the floor is yours...

Not too bothered by the TV coverage, UK in particular because this was a one off and not like the rest of the season, which is pretty good, check it out (cough.. cough) next Saturday and Sunday from 8:30pm both days on BT Sport.

Teaming up with Downforce Radio, we are looking at finding the Top Ten British Indianapolis 500 Drivers from the very start.Since 1911, 32 British drivers have competed in the Indianapolis 500.

To qualify in our survey, they must meet the following standards -

• Born in the United Kingdom, or raced under the GBR nationality
• Won the Indianapolis 500, or
• Rookie of the Year, or
• Had a top five finish, or
• Entered three or more races

So we have whittled the selection down to 19 drivers to chose from. All you have to do is pick three drivers, in no particular order and nominate them in the entry form at the end of the list.

Henry Banks (6 x Starts, BF 6th)
Jim Clark (5 x Starts, 1 x Win)
Mike Conway (3 x Starts, BF 18th)
Jim Crawford (8 x Starts, BF 6th)
Dario Franchitti (10 x Starts, 3 x Wins)
Graham Hill (3 x Starts, 1 x Win)
David Hobbs (4 x Starts, BF 5th)
Hughie Hughes (2 x Starts, BF 2nd)
James Jakes (3 x Starts, BF 15th)
Alex Lloyd (4 x Starts, BF 4th)
Pippa Mann (4 x Starts, BF 20th)
Darren Manning (4 x Starts, BF 9th)
Nigel Mansell (2 x Starts, BF 3rd)
Dario Resta (3 x Starts, 1 x Win)
George Robson (3 x Starts, 1 x Win)
​Jackie Stewart (2 x Starts, ROTY)
​Jeff Ward (7 x Starts, BF 2nd)
Dan Wheldon (9 x Starts, 2 x Wins)
​Justin Wilson (8 x Starts, BF 5th)

Some of you, well a lot in all fairness, completed a survey about how Indycar is covered in the UK on our TV screens recently. All the responses were sent off to BT.

I am pleased to say that you were listened too, and you may have, at very short notice, seen that the St Petersburg Indy Lights race was aired on Saturday evening. The Phoenix Indy Lights race will be on Friday afternoon at 4pm on BT ESPN.

There were many thoughts and suggestions sent in from you about TV coverage and they are being considered, adding Indy Lights was an easy one to 'tick off the to do list'. I'm hoping the next one will happen in time for Long Beach (17th April at @ 21:30, BT Sport 2), this is one I think you will like!

Thanks to Nick from BT for asking for our opinions, and you for sending them in, 27 pages later... great to see some steps forward for Indycar fans this side.

Some months ago, last summer If memory serves me correctly, Andy contacted me about a book he was working on, I had an idea about what was happening but to see it finally all come together is brilliant, congratulations to you all, the hard work will be worth it. You can follow news about the book on Facebook and Twitter. Details about pre-order will be forthcoming - ​lionheartbook.com

As the 2016 IndyCar season gets under way here in his adopted hometown, news comes of a stunning new book paying tribute to the still greatly missed Dan Wheldon.
​
Written and produced by Andy Hallbery and Jeff Olson, “Lionheart – Remembering Dan Wheldon” is a high-quality, visually stunning 216-page book chronicling Dan’s remarkable story, as told by the people who knew him best: his family, friends, teammates, crew members and fellow competitors.

Covering his career from karting all the way to being two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion, the book is full of stories and memories, some funny, some touching but all truly captivating. Featuring contributions from legendary names within the IndyCar Series and beyond, including lifelong friend and teammate Dario Franchitti, Formula One champion and childhood karting rival Jenson Button, NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, and many more from across the motorsport world.

Proudly carrying on Dan’s legacy, this coffee-table book will be available to pre-order soon, priced at $74.99 (app £52) and is fully supported by his family. A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit two charities close the British driver’s heart – the Alzheimer’s Association and the DCW Foundation, created to continue the wide-reaching charitable work which Wheldon started.

Dan’s wife Susie Wheldon said of the project, “I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody involved for their dedication to creating this book, and to everyone who contributed, too. The response has been truly incredible. It shows just how many people’s lives Dan touched, and is a wonderful legacy for our two boys, Sebastian and Oliver.”

To be published in May during the 100th Indy 500 celebrations, the book promises to be a ‘must-have’ for any race fan.

A couple years ago the producers at BT Sport asked about the UK coverage of Indycar. Well, BT Sport would like to know your views again. Given this is an important year for Indycar, they would like to get it right for fans in the watching UK. They would love to hear your thoughts, be open, honest and importantly make suggestions on any subject (which if twitter proves anything, you can be!).

Share your thoughts on full pre race, UK studio, UK commentary, number of (acceptable number of) commercial breaks, side-by-side coverage, red button, continuous race coverage and so on...

All feedback and suggestions are gratefully appreciated.

When the chequered flag flew and the 2015 season came to a close, I did not have as many grey hairs in my beard as I do now, it's been that long! So by way of preview of what we have as a website on offer for the coming season... Here's something New...

By chance last August I was driving to work listening to the overnight show presented by Russell Hargreaves, It was the morning after Pocono, and we still awaited news on Justin Wilson. The newsreader was discussing what happened with Russell and it was, albeit tragic why, good to hear something so sensitive being discussed with a proper knowledge, sensitivity and understanding of motorsport and the US racing scene. One thing led to another and I appeared on his show the following weekend in paying tribute to Justin, as a person and career. We remained in touch and I am pleased to say that through various points throughout the season, and particularly during the Month of May, I will be on Russell's new show on talkSPORT 2 discussing Indycar as they look to expand their sports coverage away from mainly football including more US sports. More details as and when. 

Something Old...

Now into our fourth season, our fantasy league has grown even more popular with 73 participants, with nearly 20 rookies joining in for the first time, we will have a prize for whoever comes out on top in that battle too (last year was a brick from IMS, a sponge brick...). We have people playing from all over the UK, USA, Europe and the Middle East. To the left are just a small selection of the prizes on offer to the winners, and well one for last place, a Milka Duno shirt. Thanks to Robin who does all the maths and spreadsheet stuff. Entries are now closed but if you are interested in signing up for next season let me know and we can add you to the list. A total of £36 will be donated to the Wilson Children's Fund from all the entry fees.

​Something Borrowed...

Borrowed in the sense Andersen Promotions have made it available! You will be able to catch all the on track, and some off track action from the Mazda Road to Indy, including USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights with live streaming. Times and coverage can be found on the MRTI Live page of this website. A huge thank you to Dan Andersen and his team who have made coverage of the MRTI so accessible, considering in the past we have had next to nothing.

Finally something Blue (and Red)

This website has been up for nearly four years and it was time to change, out with the DW12 and in with Turn One. Thanks to Tom who know doubt shook his head profusely as my attempts using paint to describe what I was looking for and pathetic technical terms! A much cleaner, fresh look ahead of the 2016 season.

Roll on St Peterburg this weekend, BT ESPN at 4:30pm, it can't come soon enough!

​Adrian

SPECTACULAR entertainment for all the family can be enjoyed at Rockingham this Bank Holiday Monday (August 31) when the Northamptonshire venue holds Cars & Stripes, its first ever all-American auto festival.

With NFL-style cheerleaders, a marching band, and live music, Cars & Stripes will be staged with all the razzmatazz of an American sporting spectacle.

The colourful event will feature dazzling static displays and track parades of American muscle cars, IndyCar and NASCAR racers, customised trucks, hot rods, custom cars and custom bikes.

There will be an Xtreme Stunt Show with trials, cycle and motorbike; a breathtaking aerial show by the Pitts Special biplanes of the Wildcat Aerobatics formation display team; plus three 45-minute bouts from the big stars of Extreme American Wrestling.

American-themed fast food outlets and trade stands; and a KidZone with fun fair rides, a disco dome, face painting, Rocky Racers soft play area, and a mini cinema showing Disney films. Right outside the KidZone will be two stars of the Cars and Cars 2 movies, Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater.

The highlight of the day’s track action will be the inaugural Rockingham 100 - two heats and a final over 100 laps of the UK’s only high-speed banked oval circuit by race-bred pickup trucks.

In addition to spectating, visitors to Rockingham will also be able to take part. There will be opportunities to ride shotgun around the high-speed Oval track in a NASCAR stock car racer, and to drive or ride in American muscle cars on Rockingham’s Lake Circuit.

Sizzling R&B band The Revolutionaires will kick-off the Cars & Stripes festival on Sunday evening (August 30) with a gig at Rockingham in a US-style barn. There will also be a mechanical rodeo competition on Sunday evening, when there will be camping facilities on site for those wishing to stay overnight.

Gates open at Rockingham on Monday at 9am. Adult tickets can be bought on the day for £23; children aged 15 and under go free. More information can be found at www.cars-and-stripes.co.uk

Two IndyCars, one a Penske and the other a Reynard, will be appearing at Cars & Stripes.

The 1991 Penske PC-20 CART IndyCar (shown here) is the same type of car that won that year’s Indianapolis 500, in the hands of Rick Mears, and the very same car that Mears took to victory in the Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway. Mears also put the PC-20 on pole at Indianapolis, at an average lap speed of 224.113mph. His Penske Racing team-mate, three-time F1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi, took the PC-20 to another victory that year at Detroit.

Designed by Englishman Nigel Bennett and powered by a Chevrolet 265A V8 turbo engine designed by British engineering company Ilmor, the PC-20 pumps out more than 800 horsepower and can reach a downforce/drag-limited 235 mph.

It was the very similar Penske PC-21, powered by an Ilmor-Chevrolet 265B engine, which three-time F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna tested at Firebird Raceway in Arizona in December 1992, at a time when he was unsure whether or not to continue in F1. Whereas F1 cars of the time had normally-aspirated engines, semi-automatic transmissions and carbon brakes, the heavier IndyCars had turbo power, a traditional transmission with a clutch pedal, and iron brakes.

The Arciero Wells Reynard 98i-Toyota was raced throughout the 1998 ChampCar season by American-domiciled Italian Max Papis, who is Emerson Fittipaldi’s son-in-law. “Mad Max” scored three victories and 11 podium finishes during his Champ Car career.

Every month I get a few search terms that lead to this site about the Indy 500, it's now getting busier for 2016. My most recent guide is from when I last went in 2012, so a little out of date and need of bulking up!

This is where I am asking for a little help, particularly from Indianapolis based residents who can help me put together a a better guide with a lot more recommendations both at and away from the track. If you can help with some suggestions below that would be hugely appreciate by myself and those who are coming over next year. Not all boxes are relevant so feel free to leave them blank

Plain and simple this one. Pick who you think will be the winner of the 2015 Indianapolis 500 and win an Indycar / Indy 500 T-Shirt and Prize pack. I have varying style and sizes so the winner will be able to pick!

Complete the form below to enter.

The competition is open world wide and entries close once 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your engines' is called! Only one entry per person.

In the event, the winner not being picked, the driver who is first picked finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc will collect the prize. In the event of a tie, closest to the tie breaker question wins.

Some news on the upcoming race shortly but first up, the GP of St Petersburg had the highest rating on UK TV for a non Indy 500 race since the switch from Sky Sports in 2013. The average was 19k, with a peak of 37k, considering the race had less than 5k last year, this represents some huge growth for Indycar in the UK.

So onto the next race and the first visit to NOLA for the GP of Louisiana, will be on BT Sport Extra at 8pm, their 'Red Button' channel. On the three main channels they have live WTA Tennis, NBA Basketball, Moto GP and Serie A Football, all of which get higher ratings and ones they paid a lot more for! The coverage is also available on the Online Player for those registered to use the service.

For those who can't watch live, the red button channel can not be recorded, but the race is repeated on ESPN a number of times throughout the week, this first being Monday 13th April at 4pm.

UK TV times for the upcoming races - 

Sunday 12 April: Grand Prix of Lousiana (BT Sport Extra, 8pm)
Sunday 19 April: Grand Prix of Long Beach (BT Sport 2, 9pm)
Sunday 26 April: Grand Prix of Alabama (ESPN, 8pm)

You can keep up with the latest UK TV details HERE and on the BT Sport website.