Indy 500 2014

Opening Day/Grand Prix of Indianapolis Practice

May 7, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

Information about 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis activity Thursday, May 8, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

DAY: Opening Day/Grand Prix of Indianapolis Practice

SCHEDULE (all times local):

9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Public Gates Open
8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. IndyCar Experience
9:50 a.m. Road Course Track Ceremony – Pit Lane Yard of Bricks
10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Verizon IndyCar Series practice
11 a.m.11:45 a.m. USF2000 Practice
Noon-12:45 p.m. Pro Mazda Practice
1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Indy Lights Practice
2 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice
3 p.m.-3:30 p.m. USF 2000 Practice
3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Pro Mazda Practice
4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. Indy Lights Practice
5:30 p.m. Celebration of Automobiles Track Laps Begin

TICKETS: Free

HONORARY STARTERS:

1 p.m. Indy Lights Practice: Delta Dental Representative (TBA)
2 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series Practice: Rick Zivny, Wabash National

PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 9 a.m. (local time). Pedestrian gates open are Gates 1B, 1B.1, 2, 4, 6, 6A, 7 South, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 12.

STANDS OPEN: A Penthouse, B Penthouse, E Stand, E Penthouse, H Stand (As needed: Sec. 13-24), J Stand, North Vista Wheelchair (As needed: GA Sec. 21), Northwest Vista Deck, Paddock Wheelchair (As needed GA: Box 19-22), Paddock Penthouse (As needed GA: Box 10-20), South Terrace, South Vista (As needed GA: Sec. 1-5), South Vista Deck (As needed GA: Sec. 1-4), Southwest Vista Deck, Tower Terrace (As needed: Sec. 37 & 79), Tower Terrace Wheelchair, Pit Road Terrace, Wheelchair Accessible (Inside), Corner 5, Corner 7.

MUSEUM HOURS : 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for fans 6-15 years old, with children under 6 free. Gate admission to the Indianapolis 500 is not included in Museum admission and must be purchased separately.

2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Indy 500 Pep Rally, May 7th

May 5, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Verizon IndyCar Series will be holding a pep rally on Monument Circle in Downtown Indianapolis on May 7, 2014. Various Verizon IndyCar Series Drivers will gather to help the City of Indianapolis prepare for an action-packed, speed-filled month of May.

The Pep Rally will be held from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on the circle, in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Mayor Greg Ballard will be issuing a proclamation for “Checkered Flag Fridays” where residents are encouraged to wear black and white to show support for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis 500.

GUESTS:

Mayor Greg Ballard, City of Indianapolis
Leonard Hoops, Visit Indy. President and CEO
Doug Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President
Verizon IndyCar Series Drivers
Indy Girls

INDYCAR Roundup for April 29th

April 29, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

Kurt Busch Passes Indianapolis 500 Refresher Test

“Go out and have fun,” Andretti Autosport engineer Craig Hampson told Kurt Busch as he headed out on another run around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The former NASCAR champion heeded the advice on the 2.5-mile oval during a refresher program arranged in conjunction with his schedule that will get more hectic during May.

Busch, 35, will attempt to become the fourth driver to attempt the “double” — competing in the 98th Indianapolis 500 and the evening stock car race in Concord, N.C., on May 25.

John Andretti, Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart have each done it, with Stewart — co-owner of Busch’s No. 41 Sprint Cup car at Stewart Haas Racing — becoming the first in 2001 to complete all 1,000 miles.

“This attempt is something serious,” said Busch, who is scheduled to join other Indy 500 rookies May 5 at the Speedway for additional laps. “It’s an amazing challenge.”

Busch was off to a quick start learning the Honda-powered No. 26 Suretone car, recording a best of 220.844 mph on 66 total laps before rain brought an early end to the day which featured stiff headwind entering Turn 1 of the iconic oval,

“It really makes you think,” Busch said. “Overall, it was a good day just to settle in with the team and advance further than rookie orientation. It felt good to give feedback to the team from the car and have them explain things to me how we’re going to move forward. They continued to change downforce combinations on the car and it was just neat to feel all that and check it off the list.

“The last run we made was just about where they would unload for race trim.”

Because he tested last May on the oval last year in an Andretti Autosport car, Busch was required to complete the formal refresher program. In addition to demonstrating car control, placement and consistent driving pattern, the program consists of 30 laps that constitute the second and third phases of the Rookie Orientation Program at speed intervals based on track and weather conditions.

“Now that all the newness and moments of smiling and ‘this is Indy’ are wearing off, that’s when the serious hat goes on and we start to ramp up the program.”

Andretti Autosport’s James Hinchcliffe, who joined multiple other Verizon IndyCar Series drivers watching the first cars on the oval in 2014, said he expects Busch to be among the ‘500’ contenders.

“I think we’re going to be strong in the race and I think we’ve showed that the past couple of years,” said Hinchciffe, who drives the No. 27 United Fiber & Data car. “He has more professional races under his belt than the rest of the field combined with as many races as NASCAR runs and I’m sure he’s going to adapt pretty quickly.”

Jacques Villeneuve shakes off rust during refresher

Much has changed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the sport since 1995, when Jacques Villeneuve won the 79th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. But the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval remains the same — challenging and fun.

Villeneuve recorded 83 laps in the No. 5 Dollar General-sponsored car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with a best of 217.742 mph as part of his refresher test. The first practice session for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is May 11, with qualifications May 17-18.

“It took a while to get there. The first few laps were surprising because it felt like I was going fast and I looked and it was 180 (mph),” Villeneuve said. “I thought, ‘There’s still a long way to go,’ and then 190. And another 10 laps I started getting in the rhythm, and once you start going flat all around it becomes easy. I think your brain, your vision just needs to get used to driving at speed.”

In addition to demonstrating car control, placement and consistent driving pattern, the refresher program consists of 30 laps that constitute the second and third phases of the Rookie Orientation Program at speed intervals based on track and weather conditions.

“When I came here last time, I had already driven on ovals at high speed,” said Villeneuve, who was the 500 Rookie of the Year in 1994 when he finished second. “It felt crazy fast back then and it felt crazy fast today. We weren’t trimmed out yet, but there was no point with the (25 mph) wind and the track was very green. At the end, we even managed to work on the mechanical set-up of the car and that made it nicer. “Villeneuve went on to claim the 1995 season championship before moving to Formula One, where he won the 1997 World Championship and a total of 11 wins in 34 starts. He’s currently an F1 commentator as well as competing in World Rallycross.

If Villeneuve qualifies for the race, he’ll set a record for the biggest gap between starts held by Cy Marshall and Roland Free between 1930 and 1947. The race marked the 50th anniversary of track ownership by the Hulman-George family.

Sage Karam lands ride with Ganassi-DRR partnership

Sage Karam says being afforded the opportunity to compete in the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race “is a very big day for me.”

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams announced an agreement with the 2013 Indy Lights champion on a multi-year deal as a development driver, which will begin with the Indianapolis 500 through an alliance with Dreyer & Reinbold Kingdom Racing to drive in the No. 22 entry.

Karam, 19, of Nazareth, Pa., competed twice with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates this year in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races.

“I couldn’t be happier to join Chip Ganassi Racing’s Verizon IndyCar Series program,” said Karam, a high school senior. “It is honestly a dream come true for me and my racing career. I’ve been very fortunate to participate in a few IMSA races for Chip with the team, and I can’t wait for my first experience in the Indianapolis 500.”

Karam will participate in the Rookie Orientation Program on May 5 on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. The opening day of practice is May 11 — a day after the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the IMS road course — and qualifications are May 17-18. The race is May 25.

Karam won the 2010 USF2000 Championship and was rookie of the year in Star Mazda in 2011. He won the Star Mazda title the next year, and is the only driver to win races in each level of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder.

“Sage is a unique talent that we believe is a future star of the sport,” Ganassi said. “Even at a young age, he has been successful at every level that he has raced at. It is nice to see his poise and tenacity on the racetrack as I think that will translate well to his driving at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 500. He reminds me of the two other recent young drivers that we have in our program, Kyle Larson and Dylan Kwasniewski.”

Chip Ganassi Racing fields full-season Verizon IndyCar Series entries for reigning series champion Scott Dixon, 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan, 2012 Indy 500 pole sitter Ryan Briscoe and Charlie Kimball.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, which fielded Oriol Servia in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 (11th place), joined INDYCAR in 2000 and made immediate impact with Robbie Buhl winning the season-opening race at Walt Disney World Speedway from the 22nd starting position.

Klipsch will sponsor Newgarden’s No. 67 car

Klipsch Audio will be the primary sponsor on the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing entry driven by Josef Newgarden in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10.

Indianapolis-based Klipsch, a leading global manufacturer of premium speakers and headphones, has partnered with the Verizon IndyCar Series team since 2013 as an associate sponsor.

Klipsch will use Newgarden’s image on a full-size advertisement at the Indianapolis International Airport, creating increased exposure for the company’s premium products to fans flying to Central Indiana for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 98th Indianapolis 500.

SOURCE: INDYCAR

2014 Carb Day: Sammy Hagar & The Wabos and Sublime w/ Rome

March 18, 2014 by Naptown Buzz

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway today announced that Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Sammy Hagar and the reggae rock trio Sublime with Rome will headline the Coors Light Carb Day concert on Friday, May 23. The concert is set to deliver an exciting mix of rock, reggae, alternative rock and hip hop.

The thrilling double bill concert featuring The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar and The Wabos and Sublime With Rome is free with a Coors Light Carb Day admission of $30. The concert will take place on the new Turn 4 Coors Light Stage in the IMS infield. Coors Light Carb Day tickets are available at www.ims.com/carbday.

“Coors Light Carb Day has become one of the most anticipated and busiest days of the year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “The day is the official kick-off of race weekend activities and the Coors Light Carb Day concert is the place where everyone celebrates the start of a holiday weekend, summer just around the corner, and the upcoming Indianapolis 500. Sammy Hagar and Sublime with Rome bring the kind of music and entertainment to the Coors Light Carb Day stage that race fans, and music lovers, are looking for to put race weekend into high gear.”

Sammy Hagar, also known as The Red Rocker, is a Grammy award-winning vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and musician, who in 2007 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen. From breaking into the industry with the seminal hard rock band Montrose to his multiplatinum solo career and his ride as the frontman of Van Halen, he’s set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written—with songs like “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Rock Candy,” “I’ll Fall in Love Again,” “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy,” “Finish What Ya Started” “Right Now” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.” Throughout his prolific 40-year-career, Hagar’s solo and group albums have globally amassed 25 Platinum certifications on sales surpassing 40 million.

In 2013, Hagar teamed with a seminal array of his legendary rock and country artist friends for his first-ever rock collaborations album, “Sammy Hagar and Friends.” The album scored Hagar the 11^thBillboard Top 25 album of his career and featured rock collaborations with Kid Rock, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn), Neal Schon (Journey, HSAS), Chad Smith, (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot), Michael Anthony (Chickenfoot, Van Halen), Joe Satriani (Chickenfoot), Bill Church & Denny Carmassi (Montrose), The Wabos and more on an epic collection of 10 new songs and unexpected covers.

In 2009, Hagar formed the supergroup Chickenfoot with bassist Michael Anthony (ex–Van Halen), guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). The band’s self-titled debut album was certified gold and their subsequent tours were lauded by both fans and critics. In 2011, with the release of his critically acclaimed autobiography, “Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock,” he became a No. 1 New York Times Best Selling Author. Hagar is also a successful restaurateur and pioneer in the now popular celebrity spirit trend.

Formed in 1988 by bass player Eric Wilson and front man Bradley Nowell in Long Beach, Calif., Sublime delivers an irresistible blend of ska, reggae, punk, surf rock and hip hop. Over the course of its three albums – 1992’s double-platinum “40oz. to Freedon,” 1994’s gold “Robbin’ the Hood,” and 1996’s six-time platinum self-titled major-label debut – the band has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide. Nowell died of a heroin overdose two months prior to the release of “Sublime,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top 200, sold six million copies and spawned such hits as “What I Got,” “Santeria” and “Wrong Way,” which remain radio staples across the country. Profoundly affected by Nowell’s death, Wilson never considered performing the group’s music live without his partner until he met Rome Ramirez, a then 23-year-old gifted songwriter and musician.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rome was introduced to Sublime’s music by his uncle, and credits the band with inspiring him to first pick up a guitar and learn to play at age 11. Rome began singing and writing songs as a teenager and was playing solo gigs around the Bay Area when he met Wilson while the two were recording at the same studio.

An instant friendship and musical bond was formed and their first big show as Sublime with Rome came in October 2009 at Cypress Hill’s annual Smokeout Festival. A sold-out tour in March 2010 followed with spontaneous sing-alongs and mosh pits at every stop. That fall, Sublime with Rome entered the studio to begin recording their debut album.

The result was “Yours Truly,” released in the summer of 2011. The album, produced by Paul Leary, both picks up where Sublime left off and builds on what they’ve accomplished, thanks to the fresh infusion of energy from Rome, who brought in lyrics, melodies and chords he’d written over the past few years. Songs like first single “Panic” (a top-five modern rock hit), “Take It Or Leave,” and “You Better Listen” are reminiscent of vintage Sublime, while songs like “Lover’s Rock” and “Murdera” pick up on the reggae dancehall style the band had begun exploring in 1996. “Paper Cuts” has a distinct punk flavor, while “PCH” and “Spun” have more of a rock-pop feel.

Joined by celebrated drummer and longtime friend Josh Freese, Sublime with Rome tours the world in treating fans to both new songs as well as Sublime favorites that many never had a chance to previously hear live.

The Coors Light Carb Day Concert featuring The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar and The Wabos and Sublime With Rome will be the finale of an action-packed day at IMS. Also scheduled are the final practice for the 33 starters in the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the Indy Lights Freedom 100 race and the popular Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.

The 2014 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for noon (ET) Sunday, May 25.