Autoblog

MotoGP 2010: Winds of change blow into the Brickyard [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Racing

The hype, the drama and one final chance to perform in front of the home town crowd made Indianapolis Motor Speedway a forum for several American riders to "leave it all out on the track " before MotoGP departed the U.S. for the remainder of the season. But with so much happening off the racetrack, when all the cast members were in place, who really had what it took to steal the spotlight? Make the jump to find out.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Winds of change blow into the Brickyard [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010: Winds of change blow into the Brickyard [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13-year old motorcycle racer killed during warm-up lap at Indy

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Racing

Tragic events unfolded at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend when Peter Lenz, 13, was killed after falling off of his motorcycle and being hit by another rider during a warm-up lap.

Ben Spies, who took second place during Sunday's MotoGP event, commented on the unfortunate events:

"I told myself before the race, I was riding my heart out for him today. I've lost a teammate in the past, my best friend. He was at an age at least he knew what he was doing; he obviously loved it. He knew how dangerous it could be."

Lenz was set to compete in a USGPRU series race, which is for riders ages 12 to 18 who would like to gain experience for higher-level competitions like MotoGP. This was the first fatality in the nine-year history of USGPRU. Our condolences go out to Lenz's family and friends.

[Source: The Indianapolis Star | Image: Facebook]

13-year old motorcycle racer killed during warm-up lap at Indy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Leno to serve as Grand Marshall at Indianapolis MotoGP

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Celebrities

Take note, MotoGP fans. The series' next stop will be right her in America at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As the second and final stop here in the United States, this will be the last time you'll be able to see the fastest motorcycles ridden by the most talented riders in the world for a while.

And we've just been made aware of yet another reason why you might want to make the pilgrimage down to Indy for the weekend's festivities. It seems that the Grand Marshall for the event will be none other than certified gearhead and comedian Jay Leno.

As part of his duties, Leno will be presenting the winner's trophy at the end of the race, but he apparently won't be taking any hot laps of his own. Says the comedian:

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the greatest spectator tracks in the world. Thankfully my R1 will stay in the Big Dog Garage as I plan to watch and cheer on our three Americans right from the pits.

[Source: Indianapolis Motor Speedway via Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Jay Leno to serve as Grand Marshall at Indianapolis MotoGP

Jay Leno to serve as Grand Marshall at Indianapolis MotoGP originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: A century of Indianapolis 500 entrants féted at Pebble

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Racing

Indianapolis 500 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 95th running of the Indianapolis 500 this May represented the 100th Anniversary of "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing." The unbroken streak halted a total of five years during our involvement with the two World Wars. It's hard to believe we've had this legendary race for that long, but the centennial was certainly deserving of recognition - and although perhaps a bit incongruous to some, it was celebrated in grand style at no less than the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. As America's premier race, why not have America's - and perhaps the world's - premier classic car event host the festivities?

A large class of past Indy winners and notable contenders gathered in Pebble Beach on Sunday. Take a look at our gallery and you will see most, if not all, of the entrants - many on rare special loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum:

1911 Marmon "Wasp"
1920 Peugeot 3 Litre
1928 Miller "Front Drive Special"
1934 Ringling & Henning "Wonder Bread Special"
1938 Maserati 8CTF "Boyle Valve Special"
1950 Kurtis "Cummins Diesel Special"
1953 Kurtis Kraft KK 500B "Bardahl Special" B
1961 Cooper T51 "Kimberly Cooper-Climax Special"
1961 Watson "Bowes Seal Fast Special"
1965 Lotus 38 "Powered by Ford"
1972 McLaren "Sunoco Special"

Some incredible cars with the strongest of pedigrees are in there, and the best part of this class was seeing how much things have changed while some things seem to stay the same despite the era. Take a look at the gallery below and see the evolution of Indy race cars over a century.

Gallery: Indianapolis 500 100th Anniversary at Pebble Beach

Monterey 2010: A century of Indianapolis 500 entrants féted at Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony George reportedly on board for new US Grand Prix, but not necessarily at Indy

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

If you can't bring America to Formula One, then they'll bring Formula One back to America. So while the USF1 effort may have tanked, reports are mounting over the return of the United States Grand Prix to the F1 calendar.

In the absence of the American round of the world championship, companies participating in the series - whether as sponsor, constructor or engine supplier - have been clamoring for a return to the largest automotive market in the world. Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly on board, working up a plan to place a race near New York City. But without the support of an American racing heavyweight - say, maybe...Tony George, for example - the project seemed doomed.

Anyone who even remotely follows IndyCar racing will instantly recognize the name Tony George. As head of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he led the split that formed the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League, and then fostered its re-merger. He was also responsible for bringing the USGP to Indy. But he's since been ousted from leading both the league and the speedway, shutting down his own IRL team in the aftermath.

Now it appears George - recently spotted in Shanghai as Ecclestone's guest at the Chinese Grand Prix - could be integral to efforts to re-start the USGP. But it may not even be held at Indy, the iconic facility where he still owns part stake. With his strong ties in the American racing scene, George has the connections to make it happen anywhere, coast to coast. In fact reports suggest that we could see multiple F1 races taking place in the United States, with a potential return to the East Coast, West Coast races held decades ago. Sound ambitious? Most definitely. But as many races as are currently packed into the calendar, Bernie isn't showing any signs of slowing down - saying the series could accommodate as many as 25 in a year - and if anyone can make it happen, it's Tony George.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Carey Akin/CC2.0]

Tony George reportedly on board for new US Grand Prix, but not necessarily at Indy originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Grand Prix to return to Indy?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

During the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying that a return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was under consideration. Not so fast, say spokesmen for the speedway, who say that while the facility is interested in bringing the U.S. Grand Prix back, talks are not currently taking place.

Since the first "American Grand Prize" was held in 1908, the United States Grand Prix has been staged at a wide variety of locations across the country, including Savannah, Milwaukee, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Phoenix, to say nothing of the individual races in Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit and Dallas, or the years when the Indy 500 counted towards the Formula One World Championship. But in between, there have been huge gaps: the race was not held between 1917 and 1957, 1981-'88 or 1992-'99.

After eight races held at Indianapolis between 2000 and 2007 - including a dismal showing in 2005 when Michelin boycotted the event leaving six cars on the grid - the race has been off the calendar for the past three years running. Automakers still competing in the series (following the recent withdrawals of Honda, Toyota and BMW) have been clamoring for a return, as have American racing fans, among them a good portion of the Autoblog team.

[Source: ESPN]

U.S. Grand Prix to return to Indy? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony George retires from Indianapolis Speedway board, leaves the building for good

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Tony George, shepherd of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for two decades, has resigned from the Speedway board effective immediately. The move severed his final tie with the historic venue, after he resigned from his CEO position last summer. In a statement, the board chairman, who also happens to be his mother, said that they asked George to stay and are disappointed to see him go.

George oversaw massive changes in the raceway and the series' it hosts: the IndyCar split and reunion, NASCAR's arrival and Formula One's arrival and departure, and a large number of track renovations and changes. When he left the CEO job, the given reason was to spend more time with his family and his Vision racing team in the IZOD IndyCar Series. We have a feeling he won't be gone from the public eye for too long. Hat tip to Michael

[Source: GP Update | Image: Darrell Ingham/Getty]

Tony George retires from Indianapolis Speedway board, leaves the building for good originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor

Noah Joseph — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising

New beginnings demand new threads, and that's just what the reunited IndyCar Series has gained with the announcement that clothing label Izod has become the league's new title sponsor.

The deal, which runs through 2015, is reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $10 million per year. Renaming the racing league as the Izod IndyCar Series, it forms part of a broad sports sponsorship initiative by parent company Phillips-Van Heusen which recently secured naming rights to the New Jersey Nets arena and the NFL Pro Hall of Fame. Last year, Izod began making inroads into Indy racing by sponsoring driver Ryan Hunter-Reay while securing a deal to become the official clothier for the IRL and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Izod's partnership with the league marks the first time the open-wheel series has had a title sponsor since search engine Northern Light withdrew in 2001. The clothing label is planning an aggressive advertising campaign, which promises to help both parties increase their visibility, an element that IndyCar desperately needs in order to step out of NASCAR's shadow and back into prominence as a premier racing series. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: IZzod IndyCar Series]

Continue reading High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor

High Speed, High Fashion: Izod secures deal as IndyCar title sponsor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Indy chief Tony George reportedly resigns

Noah Joseph — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

It's the end of an era for open-wheel racing in America as Indy chief Tony George has stepped down from his post. The long-time president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, George was widely seen as the impetus for the 1996 split in Indy racing that created the Indy Racing League (IRL) and the rival Champ Car series (formerly known as CART), but he was also instrumental in fostering the merger of the two championships into the new IndyCar Series over which he's presided.

During his nearly two-decade tenure as the head of the famous race track, George also brought NASCAR, Formula One and MotoGP to the speedway for the first time, vastly expanding the calendar of events at the iconic venue. However, elements within the Hulman-George company that controls the business were concerned with the amount of resources their chief executive put into the reintegrated IndyCar Series and recently asked him to reorganize the company, but Tony evidently decided to step down instead. He'll be focusing his energies on the Vision Racing team which he fields in the series, while the job he vacates will be split into two: CFO Jeffrey G Belskus will take the reins at the speedway, while chief legal counsel W Curtis Brighton will oversee the operation of the series.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty]

BREAKING: Indy chief Tony George reportedly resigns originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indy's legendary Speedway Motel closes

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:12:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Lifestyle

The Brickyard Crossing Inn came to be known as the Speedway Motel, and back when it was built 45 years ago, there wasn't another hotel in sight. Now there are 30,000 hotel rooms in the vicinity -- many of them much, much newer -- and it's been decided by the powers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that the Speedway Motel just doesn't have a place in the modern world. After a year of deliberations, they concluded that bringing the establishment up to modern standards would simply cost too much, so the hotel has been closed and its fifteen workers sent home for good. Our guess is that turning it into a museum where Paul Newman's Winning was filmed, Jeff Gordon ate pizza to celebrate his 1994 win at the Brickyard 400, and a number of unmentionables happened simply wasn't compelling enough. The building will be razed in a few months (sparing the pub, restaurant, and pro shop), and nothing new, as yet, is planned.

[Source: Motor Trend | Photo: MotelPostcards.com]

Indy's legendary Speedway Motel closes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indy seeks return of U.S. Grand Prix for 2009

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Earnings/Financials

American fans of Formula One, take heart: Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George is pushing to bring the U.S. Grand Prix back to Indy for 2009.

The race was taken off the calendar after George and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone failed to come to a financial agreement, but while other sites have been touted as alternative venues for the American round of grand prix racing, the speedway remains the only one ready to host without the need for any further modifications. All George needs at this point is the cash, and he's enlisted the services of local marcom firm Just Marketing to find a title sponsor for the race that would help raise the funds to secure the event for next year's calendar.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Indy seeks return of U.S. Grand Prix for 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indianapolis loses F1, gains MotoGP in 2008!

John Neff — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:09:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

By now most have heard that F1 will not hold a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2008, meaning that the fate of F1 in the U.S. is in question. Don't shed a tear for Indy, though, as it's just been announced that MotoGP will bring the new Red Bull indianapolis GP to the Brickyard on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Incredibly, this will be the first time in almost 100 years that motorcycles have raced at Indy. The last time was August 14th, 1909, according to Indy.

For the event, Indy is constructing a new 16-turn, 2.601-mile motorcycle road course on which riders will travel counter-clockwise, which is rare for a road course event at Indy. The event organizers promise lots of passing and side-by-side racing, as well. Like any big motorsport event, the Red Bull Indianapolis GP will be a three-day affair with supporting races and qualifying that begin on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.

Together with the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix that's held at Laguna Seca, MotoGP now hosts two big races in the U.S. The current defending champion, Nicky Hayden, is also from the U.S., Owensboro, KY to be specific, so MotoGP's arrival at Indy is both appropriate for the motorsport and extremely exciting. While losing F1's USGP was a hit to Indianapolis, the storied track has recovered nicely with the announcement of MotoGP's pending arrival, and we'll be eager to see how it goes.

Thanks for the tip, Thor!

[Source: IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com]

Indianapolis loses F1, gains MotoGP in 2008! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT, phone home: Vertu releases two more race track phones

Chris Tutor — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:54:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc.

Back in April we told you about Vertu's Racetrack Legends series of mobile phones. At that time only Monza and Silverstone were available. But now filthy rich fans of LeMans and Indianapolis can chat on phones more expensive than a 10-year-old Miata. Made by Nokia, the $6,000+ phone is made of carbon-fiber-like leather, and an alloy called LiquidMetal laser-etched with a map of the namesake racetrack. Only 1,000 of each of six tracks will be produced.

But if you must talk on the phone while in the car, do the safe, courteous thing and pit.

[Source: www.sybarites.org]

GT, phone home: Vertu releases two more race track phones originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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