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Kurt Busch

Rookies Pass 2014 Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program

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Kurt Busch gets buckled in for Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- Photo by: Chris Owens
Kurt Busch gets buckled in for Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Photo by: Chris Owens

Carlos Huertas eventually agreed with team owner Dale Coyne that the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race isn’t one to pass up.

“I was a bit unsure because I never did it before and because I had a late start to the season I couldn’t prepare for the ovals well,” said the 22-year-old Verizon IndyCar Series rookie from Colombia. “This race is different because you get a lot of practice, which helped in the decision. If I’m well-prepared, I’m ready to do it.”

Huertas participated May 5 in the formal Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He totaled 77 laps.

Other full-season Verizon Indy Car Series drivers Jack Hawksworth (Bryan Herta Autosport) and Mikhail Aleshin (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports) were joined by Martin Plowman (A.J. Foyt Racing) and 2013 Indy Lights champion Sage Karam (Dreyer & Reinbold Kingdom Racing) on the 2.5-mile oval.

“Being on the oval is weird to start with because everything is so different,” said Huertas, who noted that a decision about competing in the other five oval races will be made after the ‘500.’ “I think the speed was OK. I was just working on the lines and understanding what to do. I think everything is very new, but I think I did OK.”

The program is designed to provide the first-year competitors an opportunity to get acquainted with their cars and the racetrack through three speed phases set by INDYCAR — 10 laps at 200-205 mph, 15 laps at 205-210 mph and 15 laps at 210-plus mph. Driver stewards also monitored car control, placement and a consistent driving pattern.

“It was actually harder for me to go slower (in Phase 1) because you had to lift and I don’t like to lift,” said Aleshin, who also will compete in his first oval race in the No. 7 SMP Racing car. “This is so important and it’s all set now for working with the car in practice for the Indy 500. This will be the first oval race in my career and how awesome is it that it will be the Indy 500?”

All but Karam, whose car developed a mechanical issue that prevented the 19-year-old from Nazareth, Pa., from completing all three phases, completed the program. Per Indianapolis 500 rules, Karam will be allowed to finish the third phase on the first day of practice May 11.

Additionally, NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, who completed his refresher course on the oval April 29 in an Andretti Autosport car, recorded 114 laps and went through some rudimentary pit stops with the No. 26 car crew.

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. He won the latter in 2010. 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. A day earlier, Busch was involved in a multi-car crash in the stock car race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Cars will be on the racetrack for the opening of practice about 18 hours after the checkered flag flies for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the reconfigured road course. Qualifications are May 17-18.

Source: INDYCAR

INDYCAR Roundup for April 29th

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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

Kurt Busch Completes Indianapolis 500 Rookie Test

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INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, May 9, 2013 – NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch completed the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program during a test Thursday, May 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, reaching a top speed of 218.210 mph in an Andretti Autosport car.

But Busch is still taking a cautious approach toward any thoughts of participating in “The Double” of racing in the 97th Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26.

“I need to get more comfortable in the Indy car because on a day like today, I’m white-knuckle, my hands were tense and firm, and that was only after 10 laps,” Busch said. “And so then it started to settle in.

“So there’s the mental side of it, there’s the physical side, there’s the sponsorship side that has to come together, and right now with Kyle Moyer (general manager, Andretti Autosport) looking sideways at Michael, Michael wants to do it, but they’ve already got five cars committed to trying to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 this year.

“To crawl, then walk, and then walk and then run, I think the proper thing is to go out and experience this car at another oval track and get into a race and experience what the buffeting is and the movement of the car when all the downforce changes.”

Busch completed the Rookie Orientation Program in which all drivers must participate to compete in Indianapolis 500 practice and qualifying, under the supervision of INDYCAR officials. Busch fulfilled all three phases of the program: 10 laps at 200-205 mph, 15 laps at 205-209 mph and 15 laps at 210-plus mph.

Las Vegas native Busch totaled 83 laps on the day in the No. 1 DHL Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone that reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will drive in the Indianapolis 500. Andretti Autosport team owner and Indianapolis 500 legend Michael Andretti and Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe, a winner of two of this season’s four races, assisted Busch during the test.

“Today was an ideal day,” Busch said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better as a rookie to come to Indy and have the track prepped the way it was and have the perfect weather conditions.”

Busch entered into the test knowing that driving into Turn 1 at IMS in an open-wheel Indy car would provide different challenges from what he’s experienced  in a Sprint Cup stock car while driving in the Crown Royal presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.

“Today, that was the biggest transition,” Busch said. “When you want to step into the real world, that’s to hold it wide open, and when you do that, your brain says, ‘Wait a minute, you’re not supposed to do that because in the stock car how heavy it is and the lack of downforce.’ So when I did hold it wide open, I was off on my line, actually apexed too early, had a little extra wheel input on exit, and it changed the game. But then once I left it on the floor, the car started to come back to me and the pace started to slow down in my mind, even though the pace kept getting quicker with lap time.”

Andretti was thrilled with Busch’s performance.

“Well, I think it was good for us,” Andretti said. “We got our first laps in May, so that’s always nice. We wanted to do it in the proper way, and we wanted to do it in the proper way mostly for Kurt. We wanted him to have a real experience. We wanted to make some changes that he could feel and start to understand a little bit more about what to expect with the car in different conditions and different setups. I think we were able to achieve that.

“I would say the day went as good as we could have expected. Kurt did exactly what I thought he was going to do. He just drove exactly the way we wanted him to do it. He gave great feedback, right on pace, built up to it nice and steady, didn’t do anything stupid, which we knew he wouldn’t, and it was a really good day.”

SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway ♦ Photo by: Chris Owens

Interesting Entry List For The Indiana 250

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The entry list for the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana 250 on Saturday, July 28, features an interesting mix of drivers.

A handful of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars will race in the 100-lap event, including 2011 Brickyard 400 winner Paul Menard, 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne.

Also included are two female drivers, 2005 Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick and Johanna Long (photo above)*.

Two Indianapolis 500 veterans are entered, Patrick and 2006 winner Sam Hornish Jr.

Other interesting entries include action sports superstar Travis Pastrana and Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of 1995 Brickyard 400 winner Dale Earnhardt.

The Indiana 250 starts at 4:50 p.m. Saturday.

*Funny side note. While I was out at IMS back in March to meet with Stéphan Grégoire, Johanna Long happened to be there as well while they put up the flags. I snapped a few photos since I was there already. The next thing I know, they think I am there to interview Johanna (understandable of course), but I had no clue who she was…that always makes for an awkward interview, right? So that didn’t occur, but I made sure I was informed as soon as I got back to my office. So who knows, maybe we’ll catch up with her now that I do know who she is.