Indy 500

Carbone: I started in go karts. Did it for quite a few years. Then moved up to Formula cars and did a few races in Skip Barber then went straight to F2000. Two years in F2000 then straight to Indy Lights.

Brian: And for you JV?

Horto: I started also in go karts. I did a couple of years, and then I moved here to Indianapolis. In 2009, I did Formula BMW. And two years of Star Mazda.

Brian: What is the biggest difference you find between the Indy Lights car and the other cars you’ve driven?

Carbone: So far, it is the biggest and most powerful car I have driven. So that basically says it all. Everything is in a greater scale. Everytime you step up, it is kind of a new challenge for you and the level of professionals you work with as a team and stuff so every little bit counts… The competitiveness of the field as well.

Horto: First, the speed. The speed increases a lot. The engines are a lot more powerful so we have to be careful of the throttle and be a lot smoother. But then, it’s opposite of the breaking. The breaking we have to really work with the breaks and work a lot harder to really use the downforce. And the drivers around us have a lot more experience so it is harder to get a good result.

Brian: What is your ultimate racing dream?

Horto: Yeah, of course the Indy 500. And to just be a professional driver in the Izod IndyCar Series. That’s the biggest goal and dream.

Carbone: For me it’s quite the same. It’s Indianapolis. It’s a dream to come race here and to be part of the IndyCar Series one day.

Brian: Growing up, who were your favorite drivers to watch?

Carbone: My main guy that always was my hero was Ayrton Senna, but I didn’t have a chance to watch him race. Guys like Tony (Kanaan) and Helio (Castroneves) who always have been really successful here are guys that we always look up to.

Horto: Yeah, the same, Ayrton Senna, I was a kid when he died, but just watching his races and tapes and movies, I see that he was a very special guy and a very good driver. And today, again Helio & Tony and actually every driver that is able to get into IndyCar, if they get there they have been successful. So everyone that’s in IndyCar right now.

Brian: What are you going to be doing during the 500 this year?

Horto: I don’t know. Just sit on Pit Lane watching and trying to learn as much as I can from outside of the track.

Carbone: I kind of always watch it from the Pit Lane, but this time I want something different, so I’ll be out with the crowd.

Brian: We’ll be out in Turn 3 if you want to come hang out in the Snake Pit.

Carbone: I was there last year in Turn 3, it was quite fun. But this year I’ll be in the short chute between One and Two. It’s fun to mix with the crowd and see their reactions.

Mel: What are some of your favorite restaurants to go to in Indianapolis?

Carbone: We look up to the same drivers and stuff, and we kind of hang together. I could answer that. We go to a Japanese steakhouse, and this can be yours, too, right?

Horto: Of course, the Brazilian Steakhouse.

Brian: Fogo?

Horto: Yes, Fogo de Chao.

Brian: Are there really places like that in Brazil?

Horto: Yes, they are really expensive, so I used to go at least once, one time a month because we can’t spend much money. But, that is a good place.

Mel: Nice!

Carbone: It is actually quite similar to Brazil one.

Brian: It’s good!

Mel: That is good to know because that is always my question: How authentic are these restaurants really?

Carbone: No, Fogo de Chao is really, really, really, really similar. When you go there, I don’t think you will be able to notice any difference.

Mel: Question number two: Do you guys think firesuits will every be in style for the general public? (Silence) The big suit that you guys wear to get in the racecars?

Carbone: To wear in the street??? (giggles)

Mel: Yeah.

Carbone: Um, no. No!

Mel: No?

Carbone: No.

Horto: Maybe if it is too cold!

Mel: Right! That’s what I was saying to Brian. I was like, we could use this as a snowsuit in the winter.

Horto: It gets pretty cold here in the winter. That’s probably a good idea to wear the whole thing–helmet, underwear, that would help.

Mel: Do you think people would look at you weird if you wore that in Walmart or come up and ask for your autograph?

Horto: Yeah.

Mel: Both?

Carbone: At least if your house was on fire, you would be okay.

Mel: Yeah, you’d be ready. Okay, here is a question–if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you guys?

Carbone: I’m 19.

Horto: 21.

Mel: 21. Okay. So you’ve had some time to drive on the real streets. How many speeding tickets have you gotten?

Carbone: Yeah, I actually got one last week. But, overall, I’ve been okay. I think I got two, only.

Mel: Not bad!

Carbone: So that was my second one.

Mel: When you got your ticket were on the interstate or were you just on a regular street?

Carbone: Yeah, I was on 465 and coming to downtown and the speed changes from like 60
to 50 or something like that, and um, I don’t really know it kind of really well here so I just kept going and I saw some lights behind me.

Mel: What about you, J.V.?

Horto: Never got one.

Mel: Never?

Horto: I only, I got a warning one time because I didn’t stop completely at a stop sign, but that’s it.

Mel: Alright, last question. What is your favorite racing video game?

Carbone: Mario Kart, for sure. For sure! I think I have tons of millions of miles in that game. Since I was really really small, I remember playing and today think I am a professional about that!

Mel: Nice! What about you?

Horto: I think the same. I play a lot of that with my friends, and actually got in a fight one time because one was winning.

Mel: Are you really good at it?

Horto: It depends on what driver I get. I like the one that has his, what’s his name…

Mel: Which one?

Carbone: Toad.

Horto: Yeah. He has the huge head…

Mel: Toad?

Carbone: The white and red one.

Horto: The really small and really tiny one.

Mel: Oh, the mushroom guy?

Horto and Carbone: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Mel: Yeah, okay.

Brian: Then finally, guys, what do you want to tell the fans about the race coming up on Carb Day? Also, let us know how to get a hold of you guys–your website, Twitter, and Facebook.

Carbone: Just want to tell them to come to the race ‘cause I know that Carb Day there is going to be a big party over there. Um, I don’t get to see much though, and it is always a tight, tight packed race. In the IndyCar you don’t get that kind of racing, and for the guys who have come to the Speedway on Friday and have seen it, know what I’m talking about. So, it’s always good racing and good fun. If you want to know more about me, just go to my Twitter, it’s @victorcarbone13 and my website is victorcarbone.com.

Brian: We will get that linked. How about you, J.V.?

Horto: I just ask for everyone’s support. If they are not able to come here, just watch on TV and on the website. My Twitter is @JVHorto with H-o-r-t-o or Facebook fan page is all J.V. Horto and JVHorto.com.

Brian: Thanks for sitting down with us, guys.

Join Naptown Buzz for the American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day Wednesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway®

May 22, 2012 by Brian Groce

The American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day will take place this Wednesday, May 23 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway®. Cruise around the track, tour Pit Lane, check out the Pagoda, and cheer on Naptown Buzz in the Media Pit Stop Competition!

Admission to Community Day includes admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum®. Visitors who wish to cruise the 2.5-mile track need to enter Gate 10 off 30th Street in their vehicle. Tours of Pit Lane and the official timing and scoring area in the Pagoda are also available. Race fans can get autographs from their favorite Indianapolis 500® drivers, too.

Don’t miss the Media Pit Stop Competition at noon. Naptown Buzz will take on local radio and television affiliates to earn $5,000 for charity, compliments of American Family Insurance. Naptown Buzz is competing on behalf of School on Wheels. Since 2001, School on Wheels has been providing educational programming and advocacy for homeless children in Indianapolis.

New this year, full-size race car simulators are available in the Racing Zone. The 2012 Pace Car will be on display, as well as the IZOD IndyCar Series’ Dallara DW12. In the Kids Zone, there will be a race car inflatable obstacle course, remote control race track, a Princess Castle bounce house, and tours of an IU Health helicopter.

Tickets to the event are $10 day of, $8 until 7pm on May 22. Kids six and under are free. The mission of the 500 Festival is to advocate and celebrate the spirit, heritage and legacy of the Indianapolis 500®. Through social, cultural and educational events and programs, the 500 Festival enhances the quality of life for all citizens of our communities. American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day is made possible by American Family Insurance, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, KeyBank and Fox 59.

For more information on Community Day or other 500 Festival events and programs visit www.500festival.com.

Get to Know Indy Lights Driver Oliver Webb on Naptown Buzz #41

May 21, 2012 by Brian Groce

Oliver-Webb_JHH4397 — Photo by: Jim Haines

Listen to Naptown Buzz #41

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Brian: This is Brian from Naptown Buzz and we are here today with…

Webb: Oliver Webb.

Brian: What is your racing background?

Webb: Um, well, I started in go karts when I was about nine or ten years old, in the UK and then I won that championship, so I got picked up by BMW, the company, and went in to Formula BMW as a scholarship driver, and then kind of progressed up the European ladder which is kind of BMW, Formula Renault 2 Litre, Formula 3, where we finished in the championship, and then I went into world series last year. So we raced at some great tracks, all F1 tracks. With the F1 Monaco on the Sunday, which is really really really good fun, then moved over here, to Indy, to start kind of a career towards IndyCar.

Brian: So what do you find to be the biggest difference with the Indy Lights cars as opposed to the other cars you’ve driven?

Webb: Um, there’s definitely a lot of grunt in the engines, quite a big engine. In terms of arrows, a little bit less than what I’m used to from last year. A lot of times, you’re a little bit slower, but in terms of straight-line speed, and obviously ovals are completely new to me, as well, so being able to do just kind of under 200 miles an hour is uh, a real buzz that I’ve not really had before.

Brian: So do the ovals scare you at all at first, or is it something you get used to pretty quickly?

Webb: Um, I think scared is the wrong word. I think you definitely get used to it. It’s definitely daunting the first time you do it and it will take more than a whole day to get used to it especially when you start running in packs and you get to used kind of like, okay, this is normal to be 190 miles an hour, side by side. Yeah, it’s… It’s… There is a lot to learn, and I kind of underestimated how much there was to take on board. So, um, I’m still getting used to it, and I think I still always will. I’ll always be learning with this oval stuff.

Brian: Your ultimate goal then is to get up into the IZOD IndyCar Series and ultimately the 500?

Webb: Yeah, I think I would love to do IndyCar next year or the year after. I think the goal is to do it within the next two years, so, and to be here doing a full season, and not only the other street tracks, but here at the Indy 500.

Brian: Growing up, who were your favorite drivers?

Webb: Um, I’d say when I was really young, probably Ayrton Senna and obviously I think as I’ve grown up and kind of looked more over the whole world, I don’t really have one driver I look up towards. I get along well with Dario, and I think he has obviously done really well over here, so he is someone I look up to in terms of someone who has blended away from the European ladder to come over here and, um, pursue his, his dream and be at the top in IndyCar, whether it be F1 or IndyCar. He had the opportunity for both, so that is part of the reason I am over here.

Brian: During the 500, what are your plans?

Webb: During this 500? Um, well, I’ve been here for kind of pretty much every day since the cars have been going out, so I will be with the team um, on the pit wall, with the headset, listening in to what both Townsend Bell and Simon Pagenaud are saying, learning as much as I can from the feedback from them, and what the track’s like, and everything else. We had a test day just before they all kicked off so, we’ve been around, we’ve had our test day. We were fifth quickest so, it was a pretty good day. It was the first time, hey. Um, so we’ll keep learning throughout this week and a half, and then Thursday, Friday is our two days next week and then I can kind of relax a bit more, hopefully, with a trophy and then watch the Indy 500.

Brian: So do Simon and Townsend give you any tips on driving?

Webb: Yeah, I’ve just been in the debriefing room with Townsend so it is good to sit down and kind of talk to him kind of one on one as well as listening to what he debriefs with the engineers. Simon, his birthday is today actually, which I only just found out, so he is having a whale of a time, and just been setting some really quick laps. Yeah, it is great to learn off them.

Brian: Now, we have our Twitter and Facebook followers submitted some questions. So, I understand you are recently living here in Indy. So what are your favorite restaurants so far?

Webb: Um, I’ve been down to Broad Ripple, and I quite like, there’s a sushi place I think, Naked Tchopstix, I’ve been there. I really like that place. The places I can’t really afford, like St. Elmo’s is quite nice. I’ve been there once, but I think I am going to have to save up for the next year so I can go back. But, um, I’d say, yeah, Broad Ripple Naked Tchopstix is probably my favorite.

Brian: Second question: Do you think firesuits will ever be in style for the general public?

Webb: Probably not. You can get away with maybe wearing one, wearing one inside the track if it is good enough, but maybe not to the general public.

Brian: On the ovals, do you ever want to go the opposite way so you can turn right?

Webb: Yeah. Yeah. I think, especially with the IndyCar guys, ‘cause they do so many laps. I mean, there have been 8 and a half thousand laps done already, um, just, just by today, so I think, um, it’s always an urge to go the other way.

Brian: Do you have any speeding tickets?

Webb: Um, not in a America! So, no, not yet.

Brian: Last question. What is your favorite racing video game?

Webb: Favorite racing video game… Um, I’d probably say the new F1 game on the PlayStation at the moment. I’m currently working in England and Europe with a consult company, I can’t say, but it’s a pretty big one, making a new racing game with them. So, I’ve never been involved with something like that. So, that’s something, I’ve just come back from England a week ago and I was doing two weeks with that consult company developing a game there. So it’s really interesting being behind the scenes and kind of, training the developers in to how a car really should feel.

Brian: That’s cool. Do you have anything else you want to tell the fans about the race, the season, the series? And then also, let us know to get a hold of you–Facebook, Twitter, your website…

Webb: Um, well, to get a hold of me on Twitter, I’m @oliverjameswebb, all lower case. Basically my full name with no spaces. Um, Facebook, if you just type in Oliver Webb, there will be one fan page and my page there. And my website is oliwebbracing.com or oliverwebbracing.com. In terms of the season, we pretty much do every single race except for one that the IndyCars do now for the rest of the season and hopefully, we can get some good results on the ovals as well as the street courses like I’m used to.

Brian: Thanks for talking to us today.

Webb: All right, thank you.

Meet Team Penske on May 22, 2012 at Verizon Wireless Plainfield

May 21, 2012 by Naptown Buzz

MEET THE DRIVERS

Make a pit stop at the Verizon Wireless Plainfield store Tuesday, May 22, and meet Will Power, Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves. Get a signed photo card or have a piece of your IndyCar memorabilia autographed by three of the top IndyCar drivers in the world.

Driver appearance from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Verizon Wireless Communications Store
313 Metropolis Mile
Plainfield, IN 46168
317-838-7143

EXPERIENCE SPEED STANDING STILL

You’ve seen the cars tear around the track at 230 mph, now experience one standing still.

Stop by Verizon Wireless to see our IndyCar up close, snap pictures to share with your friends on Facebook, check out authentic Verizon racing gear and test your skills on our racing simulator.

IndyCar at store from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

RSVP ON FACEBOOK AND SET UP A REMINDER TO ATTEND

Christopher DeHarde Interview on Naptown Buzz #40

May 21, 2012 by Brian Groce

On this episode of Naptown Buzz, your source for all things Indy, Mel interviews Christopher DeHarde in the Social Media Garage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2012 Indianapolis 500 Bump Day In Pictures

May 20, 2012 by Brian Groce

Here are some of our best shots from Bump Day for the 2012 Indianapolis 500.

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Stephen Simpson Interview on Naptown Buzz #39

May 20, 2012 by Brian Groce

On this episode of Naptown Buzz, your source for all things Indy, Mel interviews Stephen Simpson at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.