By Al Stilley
Editor

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) teams go into the new season with a new package that will keep them guessing early in the year. Series officials are throwing away the restrictor plate after the Daytona 500 Sunday (Fox, 2:30 p.m.) and replacing it with a tapered spacer to affect carburetor air flow to limit horsepower.

Cars will run with 550 horsepower at all tracks 1.33 miles and larger which includes the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Aero ducts also will create a wake to lessen “dirty air” that effects a trailing car at most larger tracks. At lesser size tracks, 750 horsepower will be available. The tapered spacer eliminates imperfections in restrictor plates that can lead to more slightly more or less horsepower. NASCAR officials are hopeful the new package, effective with the Feb. 24 race at Atlanta, produces closer racing.

Cindric’s rising star
Austin Cindric is looking forward to continuity this year. Last year, the son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric, split his NASCAR Xfinity Series between Penske and Roush Fenway teams. He raced for 12 different primary sponsors, five different crew chiefs and finished 10th in points. Cindric, 20, is rising fast, having raced in the 2017 ARCA Racing Series and 2018 Xfinity Series. His dad played basketball at Pike High School and RoseHulman Institute of Technology and has risen through the ranks with Penske. “Indianapolis is definitely his stomping grounds,” Austin said. “I’ve been to the Indy 500 every year since I was a little kid, so I’ve been able to follow his passion. I try to apply his passion to what I have for the sport.”

Musical chairs
Six NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series drivers are driving for new teams this season. They are: 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., from disbanded Furniture Row to Joe Gibbs; 2004 champion Kurt Busch, from Stewart-Haas to Chip Ganassi; Ryan Newman, from Richard Childress to Roush Fenway; Daniel Suarez, from Joe Gibbs to Stewart-Haas; Matt DiBenedetto, from Go Fas to Leavine Family; and Corey LaJoie, from Tri-Star to Go Fas. A.J. Allmendinger, Trevor Bayne and Reed Sorenson are among Cup drivers without rides this season. Popular Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray have no plans to race.

Planning ahead
Dates of NASCAR Monster Energy Cup races in the Midwest: June 9, Michigan International Speedway (MIS); June 30, Chicagoland Speedway; July 13, Kentucky Speedway; Aug. 11, MIS; Sept. 8, Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt vs. Gordon
One of NASCAR’s most heated on-track rivalries, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1, Thursday at 10 p.m. “Unrivaled: Earnhardt vs. Gordon” features the on-track rivalry between seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt and four-time champion Jeff Gordon. Each driver had a great impact upon NASCAR’s popularity. The 60-minute documentary also explores the two icons on and off the race track.

Best pre-season quote
During a pre-season media get-together at Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson was asked how he and new crew chief Kevin Mendering became better acquainted. Johnson simply replied, “A few cold beers help.’

By Al Stilley
Editor

Jeff Gordon’s two kids stole the show with the motorsports media after his induction earlier this month into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Gordon, who grew up in Pittsboro, brought daughter Ella and son Leo into the media room and they were asked about the honor bestowed upon their dad.

“It was very cool,” said Leo, 8, barely visible seated behind the table. “I’m very happy that I got to hug him after he gave his speech,” Ella, 11, said, “It was very amazing to see how much he’s accomplished. It was really cool to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

After their comments, their dad commented, “They handled that like pros.” Earlier, Ella, Leo and team owner Rick Hendrick presented the Indiana product with his Hall of Fame ring onstage at the Charlotte Convention Center. Gordon, Roger Penske, Jack Roush were the 2019 inductees along with the late Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison. Gordon and Penske were honored for their NASCAR achievements.

Gordon notched four NASCAR driving championships, 81 poles and 93 wins, including a record five Brickyard 400s. Penske drivers have won 114 Cup races and two Cup championships. He also built Auto Club Speedway in California and owned Michigan International Speedway.

They proudly looked back at their past that featured milestones in Hoosierland Gordon, now a motorsports announcer for Fox, recalled 1989 when he was hired in Indiana by USAC midget car owner Rollie Helmling. His USAC roots as a teen driver are legendary, winning 1990 USAC midget and 1991 Silver Crown championships.  His big break came when Hendrick witnessed his Busch Series triumph at Atlanta in March 1992.

“Timing is what got me here (Hall of Fame),” Gordon said. “All the hard work, seizing the moment in any good car that I had the opportunity to drive and hoping the right car owner would take a chance on me.” Penske added to the Indianapolis flavor with two Brickyard 400 wins and record 17 Indianapolis 500 wins.

His NASCAR championships were earned by Brad Keselowski in 2012 and Joey Logano last year. The Penske organization also claimed it 500th win in motorsports last year. Penske, a former driver who won a NASCAR road course race at Riverside, Calif., in 1963, tried to put his team ownership career in perspective.

“I’m always looking out the windshield; so, I’m looking for the next opportunity – it keeps you young and motivated,” Penske said. “But the history when it all piles up and you step back for a minute, it’s hard to believe. It has taken thousands of people in our organization and our partners are what you build on for that continuity. Human capital is our secret weapon.”

His motorsports roots began by watching the 1951 Indianapolis 500 with his father that launched his interest in cars.

“I was able to take the racing instincts that I had and put all that together to help the drivers who have raced for us and the superstars driving for us today,” Penske said. “We look at a driver as who you are and what we think we can do with you as a partner.”

​When asked about future goals, Penske replied that he would like to win more championships and the coveted 24 Hours of LeMans.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Mario Andretti discovered in 1969 what every Indianapolis 500 winner has learned. “Winning the Indy 500 changed my life,” Andretti said recently at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “It opened so many doors, creating immense opportunities. It was career-changing. If only Andy Granatelli could be here today to see that we’re still celebrating 50 years later. Because what happened in 1969 was just as important to him.”

Oddly, the Italian-born driver won in a back-up car, the No. 2 STP Hawk III Ford, one that was not planned on being raced at Indy. Team owner Granatelli and car builder Colin Chapman came to IMS with three four-wheel drive Lotus cars to be driven by Andretti, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt. However, two days before pole day, Andretti crashed due to a broken hub and the Lotus cars were withdrawn. Andretti persevered and qualified the Brawner-Hawk car for the middle of the front row between A.J. Foyt and Bobby Unser.

On race day, Andretti overcame a few car problems and led the final 95 laps.

“Crossing that finish line was just the greatest moment of my life,” Andretti recalled. “It was just amazing, just like the 900-pound gorilla was lifted off my shoulders. I figure from here on, it’s going to be easy to put half a dozen together.”

In one of the Speedway’s fateful twists, the 1969 classic was the only 500 that Andretti won. He is third in all-time laps led (556) and laps completed (3,040) in 29 starts. At 78, the popular 500 winner has many business interests, including Mario Andretti’s Driving Experience and Andretti wines.

Nationally and internationally, no driver has surpassed Andretti’s feats of winning: the Indianapolis 500, a Formula 1 championship, NASCAR’s Daytona 500, 24 hours at Daytona and 12 hours of Sebring, “The jewel obviously was the 500,’ Andretti said. IMS president Doug Boles said that Andretti’s 500 win was “one of the iconic moments in the history of the world’s greatest auto race.”

​Motorsports columnist Robin Miller, a Southport High School alumna, contends that Andretti has been “the Indianapolis 500’s best ambassador for six decades.” At a ceremony June 9 at IMS, a commemorative 50th anniversary logo of his 500 win was unveiled that depicts his winning wave and autograph. His likeness will be on IMS silver and bronze badges, the cover of the 500 official program and officially licensed Mario Andretti and IMS merchandise.