By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

When the Indianapolis 500 goes right, it really goes right for the entire motor sports world.
The late-race three-driver shoot-out that had thousands on their feet at the end of the 99th running of the 500 was the positive boost the Verizon IndyCar Series needed.
 
Race day featured several crashes without any serious injuries, 37 lead changes, the fourth closest finish in history, albeit an unpredictable finish until the checkered flag waved in the bright Indiana sunshine, and a come-from-behind winner in Juan Pablo Montoya.

Overall, the day went right for Team Penske with its four drivers among the top 10, for Charlie Kimball who finished third and for fifth-place Graham Rahal, the top-finishing Honda-powered car.
The race went more right than wrong for co-team owner Sarah Fisher than it did for co-owner/driver Ed Carpenter, and it was a letdown for Ginny, Jonathan II and David Byrd as the trio revived the 500 legacy of the late Jonathan Byrd.

The Carpenter Fisher Hartman team posted two top 10 finishes with J.R. Hildebrand in eighth place and Josef Newgarden in ninth; Carpenter was involved in a Turn 1 crash with Oriol Servia.

Newgarden, in his fourth season with Fisher, posted his best finish in the 500, far better than 25th in 2012 as a rookie. “We were fairly solid,” he said. “We definitely battled the conditions trying to keep the car underneath us. We kept digging. We were in the mix, and that’s pretty cool to say.”

Dennis Reinbold, a Greenwood auto dealership owner, co-owns the No. 24 Robert Graham Special Chevrolet that was driven to 14th place by veteran Townsend Bell, who started 23rd. Bell moved into the top 10 midway during the race in the Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing entry. 

Bell encountered an ill-handling car as the track temperature heated up, and he had to dodge several late-race incidents. “Just wish we would have finished further up on the scoring pylon. We just were a little light in down force later in the race.”

Finishing his ninth 500, Bell said he was pleased that the car was among 22 cars running at the finish.
The Byrd family had a most disappointing day that began with the revival of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing team after a nine-year absence. Driver Bryan Clauson, a multiyear USAC sprint car champion, started 30th and came off Turn 4 too wide on the 61st lap and struck the wall with No. 88 entry co-owned by Byrd and KVSH Racing. He finished 31st. 

Montoya overcame an early incident with a damaged rear covering after being struck by Simona de Silvestro’s car. He pitted three extra times and was 30th when the green flag waved again on the 12th lap.
He is the 11th different driver to win for team owner Roger Penske, who has 16 Indy 500 wins. Ironically, Montoya won his first 500 with Penske rival Chip Ganassi in 2000.

He collected a $2.4 million winner’s prize from a $13.4 million purse at Monday’s victory dinner.
Montoya’s 15-year span between 500 wins is a record, and his two wins have come in only three starts. He raced in Formula One, sports car endurance and NASCAR Sprint Cup races during his absence from IndyCar racing.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Longtime Indianapolis 500 car owner Dennis Reinbold knows the routine.

For the past few years the Greenwood and Northside automotive dealership owner has partnered with established Verizon IndyCar Series teams to do a “one-off” race – the most prestigious motor sports event in the world – the Indianapolis 500.

Reinbold, the grandson of former 500 race car builder Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, admits that getting ready for the 99th running of the 500 has been the most challenging because of the new aero package.
“It’s been a challenge because we started out without any data at all,” Reinbold said. “We started from zero, so we had to work harder.”

Reinbold has partnered for the second year with Kingdom Racing for a joint entry, the No. 24 Robert Graham Special Dallara/Chevrolet with flamboyant driver Townsend Bell, whose designer caps are selling for $118 online.

The Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing team seemingly learned fast last week as qualifying day approached. Bell was among the fastest five drivers for two days and wound up with the week’s 12th- fastest lap of 229.381 mph on Friday.

The last single-car team effort to win the 500 came in 2011 when Dan Weldon put together his last-lap victory for team owner and former 500 driver Bryan Herta.
“We have been working right through out checklist of items with the engineering department and the mechanics,” said Reinbold, entering his 16th consecutive Indy 500 as an owner. “So far everything has been working well. We know we are the underdogs against the larger teams like Penske, Ganassi, Andretti and others. But we believe our program is solid.”

After revised rules were announced for qualifying Sunday, Bell thought it would play in his favor. The team’s run turned out to be a mystery at 223.447 mph, which puts Bell in the middle of the ninth row.
 “Wide open. I have no idea what happened to our speed,” Bell said. “I’m incredibly frustrated to start that far back; just shocked, really.”

Reinbold had no explanation because most of Bell’s practice laps were with race day set-ups.
The No. 24 car has attracted much attention this year. The number design is identical to five-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon. The car was unveiled May 8 at the Speedway sitting next to the Pop Dreyer-built 1938 AAA Eastern Championship sprint car driven by Duke Nalon.

A photo montage of Gordon’s Brickyard 400 wins adorns the inside of the cockpit. Gordon is doing his version of The Double by driving the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car to start the 99th 500 and then flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway to race in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600.

“Coming back always stirs up the memories,” Reinbold said. “This place always holds some surprises.”
Bell’s best finish was fourth in 2009 with KV Racing Technology.
Reinbold’s 500 legacy dates back to 1927, when Dreyer served as a mechanic and crewman on a Duesenberg.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Driver Graham Rahal said he believes that co-team owner David Letterman will be around the Verizon IndyCar Series more than ever after stepping away from his late-night talk show.
“He’s turned a bit more attention to the race team, “Rahal said. “In particular, IndyCar racing, this track. This race is what Dave’s passionate about. I can tell you there are a couple of sponsor deals close to being done. He’s been very influential hosting people in his office in New York, which he hasn’t done before.”

Rahal’s father and the other co-owner of Rahal Letterman Racing, 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, was asked if it was more satisfying being a driver or a team owner.

“Being the driver, that’s by far the best seat in the house because you’re doing what you love – and especially here at Indianapolis,” he said. “It’s such a thrill to be a participant at the level of a driver being part of a history that is written every year.”

He admitted that being an owner is not as satisfying.
But how about having his son as a driver.

“There’s nothing I love more than watching him drive a race car and driving ours to make it better,” the family patriarch said. “It’s been really gratifying for me this year to see how well the boys (drivers Rahal and Oriol Serva) are doing.”

All-female team
Two-time Indy 500 driver Katherine Legge does not have a ride for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, but that’s not keeping her from looking to the future.

Legge, qualified for the 500 in 2012 and 2013, was announced May 14 as the driver of newly formed Grace Autosport, a team with a female initiative for next year’s 500. Legge emphasized that the team would likely partner with an existing one for the centennial event. 

“This takes some of the sting from not having a ride this year and gives me something to look forward to,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is open people’s minds. If a young girl wants to be an engineer or race car driver, there is a possibility and they can pursue that. I don’t think they even believe it’s an option at the moment.”

Legge continues to encourage young girls to seek careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). 

Lyn St. James, founder of Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, was on hand for the announcement. Since retiring as a driver after the 2000 race, St. James has championed women in racing.
“This is fabulous,” St. James said. “This is a bigger initative than ever before. The time is right.”

She reflected that her efforts may have been too early throughout the 1990s. 
“Women have always had big roles in racing, but it’s not clear to the fans and especially other women,” St. James said.

IMS schedule of events
Today – Racing experience and fan track laps (no track activity), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $10 gate admission, 6 and under free.

Thursday – Indy Lights practice and qualifying, 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m., followed by Vintage Car laps, free admission.
Friday – Coors Light Carb Day, 11 a.m.-3:10 p.m.; practice, 11 a.m.-noon; Indy Lights 100, 12:30 p.m.; pit stop challenge, 2-3:10 p.m.; concert, 3:20 p.m.; $30 admission, 12 and under free.
Saturday – Legends Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; driver autographs, 9-10 a.m.; public drivers meeting, tower terrace, 10:30 a.m.; 3 p.m., concert, 3 p.m.
Race day – gates open, 6 a.m.; parade of bands, 8 a.m.; driver introductions, 11:33 a.m., race at noon; tickets start at $40.

500 facts

• The field average for the 33 cars is 224.290 mph. The time difference between the fastest, Scott Dixon, and the slowest, Clauson, is 3.9749 seconds, the eighth-closest field.
• Five winners are in the lineup: Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014), Tony Kanaan (2013), Helio Castroneves (2001, ’02, ’09), Scott Dixon (2008) and Juan Pablo Montoya (2000). The record for most “500” winners in a race is 10 in 1992.
• Castroneves is the most experienced driver with 14 starts. A.J. Foyt owns the record with 35 consecutive starts.
• Dixon has led 350 career laps in the 500, more than any active driver. Castroneves (270 laps) and Kanaan (256) are next in line. The 500 is Kanaan’s 300th Verizon IndyCar Series start.
• Nineteen drivers in this year’s field have led a total of 1,540 laps. 
• There are two rookies in the field, Stefano Coletti and Gabby Chaves. Four drivers, Bryan Clauson, Conor Daly, Simona De Silvestro and James Jakes, did not start last year’s race.
• Alex Tagliani, 41, is the oldest driver in the field. The youngest is Sage Karam, 20.
(IMS Public Relations contributed to this article.)

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

The merry month of May could not have been worse for fans expecting to see qualifying speeds in excess of 230 mph Sunday, or for Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ed Carpenter’s airborne crash off Turn 2 Sunday morning was the third such incident in three days that involved three drivers who escaped without injuries. The accident prompted a gathering of IndyCar Series and track officials who decided that all cars would qualify with their race-day setups, meaning less turbocharger pressure and more downforce rather than with higher boost and less downforce.

For Sunday’s qualifications, which had been washed out Saturday, slower was indeed better. There would be no Fast Nine shootout or points awarded for the one-shot time trials.
Carpenter and the combined CFHR team came into the Speedway on a high note after fourth-year driver Josef Newgarden won his first Verizon IndyCar Series road course race in Alabama.

Then came the setbacks for the team.

First, Newgarden was involved in a first-lap crash May 9 in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and finished a lap down.
Second, Newgarden’s No. 21 Century 21 Dallara/Chevrolet slid in Turn 1 during practice for the Indy 500, made contact with the wall, became airborne and did a three-quarter roll. The 2011 Indy Lights champion was not injured and returned May 15 and posted his fastest lap of the week at 227.855 mph.

On the morning of May 17, teammate and co-team owner Carpenter slid in Turn 2, hit the wall, became airborne, struck the catch fence, slid on its side and came to a stop on the backstretch. 
Carpenter, totally dejected over the incident, was interviewed on the track’s public address system and said, “These cars are pretty unpredictable with all the changes; there are other things at play other than the aero kits.”

The lengthy meeting favored Carpenter and the CFHR team, which frantically tried to save the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet. Instead, the team prepped Carpenter’s back-up car. Five hours after his crash, Carpenter gamely qualified at 224.883 mph, 12th in the starting field.

 “When I was upside-down in the car I wasn’t sure if we would have a chance to qualify at all,” said Carpenter, who had sought his third straight 500 pole. “I’m thankful for the way the day turned out timingwise. Especially thankful for the entire CFHR team for thrashing and getting a car together that handled well and had a lot of speed.”

About 80 minutes later, Newgarden qualified for his fourth 500 at 225.187 mph, ninth on the grid. The CFHR crew had rebuilt Newgarden’s car Thursday. J.R. Hildebrand qualified the team’s third entry at 225.099 mph, 10th fastest.

“It’s been a long week for all of us,” Newgarden said. “We had to rebuild a brand-new car and get back up to speed. We have a good team. It’s all about adversity and how all three of our cars are solidly in the field.”
The front row consists of pole winner Scott Dixon, who also won the pole in 2008 and the race in 2007. He qualified the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet at 226.760 mph. Reigning series champion and Team Penske driver Will Power sits in the middle of the row with a speed of 226.350 mph, and teammate Simon Pagenaud is on the outside with a speed of 226.145 mph. 

The pole speed was the slowest since 2012, when Ryan Briscoe qualified at 226.484 mph. Carpenter’s pole speed last year was 231.067 mph.
The 99th Indianapolis 500 unfolds Sunday at 12:15 p.m. and no longer appears to be the grand experiment with new aero kits. The fastest five qualifiers were powered by Chevrolet with Justin Wilson, driving for Andretti Autosport, starting sixth with Honda power.

With speeds creeping closer to the 1996 one-lap qualifying record of 237.498 by Arie Luyendyk, series and race officials took a hard look at driver and spectator safety after finding no answers to why the cars involved in the accidents became airborne.
Publicly, most drivers agreed with the qualifying changes, although the Honda camp was miffed because none of its cars were involved in the accidents. Driver Graham Rahal said there was no proof that the Honda would behave the same way in a crash.

KVSH team founder Kevin Kalkhoven said, “The politically correct answer is there could have been more testing, and that would have made a difference. There is still an uncertainty about these body kits.”

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

There have been better days and there will be better races ahead for Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing (CFHR) driver Josef Newgarden than his experience Saturday in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

Newgarden started the race on the inside of row six that put him in the middle of a Turn 1 six-car melee. Two cars got together in front of him and he was gathered into the accordion.

The No. 67 Century 21 Chevrolet was hit from behind, but the car stalled so Newgarden had to wait for a restart. He went to pit lane where the crew replaced the rear wing.

Newgarden returned to the fray but wound up 20th, one lap down, as Will Power won the second annual Verizon IndyCar Series road course race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I just felt a big hit from behind and got turned around,” said Newgarden who dropped from fifth to only seventh in Verizon IndyCar Series points. “Then we were just trying to stay on the lead lap after that. We were sitting top-five in the championship and we have to get everything we can.”

Newgarden and CFHR co-owned by Sarah Fisher will have that opportunity again in his fourth Indianapolis 500 on May 24 against a talented field that includes six “500” champions, including reigning champion Ryan Hunter-Ray.

On the first official day of oval practice May 11 for the “500,” Newgarden was an impressive No. 10 on the speed chart with a lap of 224.193 miles per hour. Sage Karam, who finished among the top 10, last year for co-team owner Dennis Reinbold, topped the chart at 225.802 in a Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.

Townsend Bell, driving for Dreyer & Reinbold/Kingdom Racing, was 14th at 223.582mph.

Reinbold and Bell unveiled the No. 24 Robert Graham Special Chevrolet in a special ceremony May 8 that re-emphasized Reinbold’s racing roots. The car was staged with the 1938 AAA Eastern Championship sprint car built by Reinbold’s grandfather, “Pop” Dreyer.

Bryan Clauson, driving for KVSH/Jonathan Byrd’s Racing was 26th at 219.151mph during the May 11 session. Two-time “500” winner Al Unser Jr. is Bell’s spotter. Clauson’s driving coach is two-time “500” winner Arie Luyendyk.

Clauson’s effort marks the first time since 2005 that Jonathan Byrd’s Racing has had an entry in the “500.” Family patriarch Jonathan Byrd died Aug. 20, 2009 after suffering long-term effects from a stroke. He and wife Ginny founded Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria and Banquet Center in Greenwood.

Ginny and sons Jonathan II and David Byrd are the principles of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing.

Clauson is the 11th driver and 18th entrant to carry the Jonathan Byrd racing name.

Teams continued to work on the new Chevrolet and Honda aerodynamic packages May 12 as lap speeds picked up.

Three-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves topped 34 race cars on the track Tuesday with a fast lap of 227.514 mph. Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing’s Bell was No. 5 on the speed chart with a hot lap of 226.519 mph.

“I feel like we are in a window where we have a feel for what we might want on race day,” Bell said. “We are still learning. These are still early days and we are trying to understand all of the aero data.”

Practice continues through Friday (noon-6 p.m.) with two days of qualifying Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.,  qualifiers 1-9 advance to Fast 9, and Sunday, 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for round two qualifying, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. for Fast 9 qualifying, to determine the 33-car lineup for the 99th running of the “500.”

The schedule leading up to Race Day: May 18, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Verizon IndyCar Series practice; 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Indy Lights test session. May 21, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Indy Lights practice; 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., Indy Lights qualifying. May 22, 11 a.m., final IndyCar practice; 12:30 p.m., Indy Lights Freedom 100; 2 p.m., Tag Heuer Pit Stop Challenge; 3:30 p.m., concerts in Turn 4 begin. May 23, 10:30 a.m., public drivers meeting; 1 p.m. Legends Day concert; 3 p.m., concerts begin at Turn 4 infield stage.

Race Day schedule: May 24, 6 a.m., gates open; 7 a.m., Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite opens; 11:37 a.m., driver introductions; 11:59 a.m., National Anthem; 12:15 p.m., 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Eli Gold’s golden voice

Driving back Saturday night from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I turned on the radio in the van and the golden voice of Eli Gold informed listeners that the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway would restart in about an hour.

Even race sponsor SpongeBob SquarePants (yes, your read that correctly) would have been asleep when NASCAR’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway ended on Mother’s Day. (Jimmie Johnson won the race, his third of the season, which makes everything normal in NASCARland.)

No, I did not stay up to watch it; but Eli’s voice was ringing in my ears for good reason.

Gold’s voice is God-given for radio and TV broadcasts; just as Tom Carnegie’s voice was the gold-standard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Gold was an occasional mentor during my early years of writing locally and for Stock Car Racing magazine. He was always cordial and polite, but most of all a great story-teller especially of NASCAR drivers of decades gone by.

He has been the voice of almost every sport: NASCAR, NFL, University of Alabama football, Arena Football League, and ice hockey. We always chatted at NASCAR events at Lucas Oil Raceway (previously Indianapolis Raceway Park).

Gold has the longest running NASCAR national weekly radio show, “NASCAR Live” on MRN, which airs each Wednesday at 6 p.m., now in its 34th year.

He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

“The athletes are the Hall of Fame worthy guys,” Gold said. “I’m just the conduit between them and the fans. I get to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and sit at start/finish, or Daytona, or go to the greatest ball games and sit at the 50-yard line and do what I love to do and that’s describing live sporting events.”

Gold has called games of the Birmingham (Ala.) minor league hockey team that came to Indianapolis to play the Racers (yes, it was that long ago). The Birmingham team had a hockey player, Frank Beaton, who also raced late model stock cars at a NASCAR track in Birmingham.

He arranged for me to meet Beaton for dinner on the night before a Birmingham-Indy match-up on ice at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Beaton brought an awesome color photo that depicted him skating toward the camera, stopping and spraying ice with his stock car in the background.

I had planned on taking my son, Greg, to the ice hockey game and Beaton said to bring him into the locker room after the game.

We walked in; there may not be a locker room that matched the odor of sweat and blood. I introduced Greg to a somewhat bloodied and tired ice hockey player. I’ve forgotten who won the game but it didn’t matter.

We chatted but before we left he autographed his ice hockey stick and gave it to a smiling son. We then left the locker room; my son with the ice hockey stick and me with a racing story.

 ‘Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends’

The two-night combination of World of Outlaws winged sprints and USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars lived up to its title (“Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends” on May 8-9 before Mother’s Day.

Danny Schatz, whose car is owned by Tony Stewart-Curb-Agajanian Racing, had not won at Eldora Speedway in six years but pulled off double wins on the dirt track that Stewart owns.

Rain threatened the night’s event and it took lengthy track preparation for the races to happen. Schatz’ eight wins are tops in the series.

"To not have the wins at Eldora, we love to win at Eldora - to get two here this weekend is awesome," Schatz said. "The track was so good. It could carry so much speed … I don’t remember the last time you could run around that quick at Eldora in the whole feature."

Schatz, the series points leader, acknowledged the track workers in his post-race comments.

Pittsboro’s Joey Saldana, driving a winged sprint car owned by Kasey Kahne, was fourth May 9.

In USAC features at Eldora, Justin Grant pulled off a last-lap win in a duel against C.J. Leary with New Castle’s Tracy Hines third on May 9 with a six second margin over fourth place, with Hoosiers Dave Darland sixth and Jon Stanbrough seventh.

Justin Grant captured the opening night 30-lap feature with Stanbrough third, Hines fifth and Darland seventh.

USAC sprint car competitors are in action May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Gas City I-69 (Ind.) Speedway.

Indianapolis Speedrome

Exotic high-powered Figure-8 racing resumes May 16 with the inaugural spring autograph night at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

Drivers will be on the track available for autographs at 6 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. A 50-lap Figure-8 for World Figure-8 cars is the main event with Stocks, Roadrunners, Hornets and Indy Super Karts in action.

The 39th annual One-Hour Figure-8 championship will be the showcase event for the Night Before the 500 presented by Advance Auto Sales, May 24.

Out-of-town visitors in Indy for the Indianapolis 500 will now be able to see the event that was contested on Labor Day weekend to determine the Speedrome’s Figure-8 season champion.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

NASCAR

Indiana-bred five-time NASCAR Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon reminisced about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week after being named as the Pace Car driver for the 99th Indianapolis 500 May 24.

Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, is racing in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola later that day at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. He plans to fly into Indianapolis late May 23, make the rounds at the Speedway on Race Day morning, drive the 2015 Corvette Z06,  lead the 33-car field to the start of the 500, and then fly back to Charlotte.

“This is my version of the double,” Gordon said on the Yard of Bricks at the Speedway.

Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, has never raced in the Indianapolis 500. He has never attempted to race in the 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day and join John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch.

Never forgetting his open-wheel roots, Gordon holds the Speedway and its history in high regard.

“All I wanted to do was be a professional racecar driver and hoped that I got the chance to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As a kid I watched this race. I dreamt about it. I got to be here in 1983, watch Al Unser, Jr., as a rookie. I sat in the grandstands, but I got Rick Mears’ autograph. Those were my heroes.

“As I got older, I moved to Indiana. My first car was a Chevy. My second car was a Chevy.  Now I get to drive Chevrolets every weekend on the racetrack and win in a Chevy. To drive the Corvette here in Indianapolis is the ultimate. There's only one thing that was missing and that was the Indy 500. This is as close as I think I'm going to get, but this is pretty awesome. This is amazing to me. What an honor it is for me to be here. To come back here in May on race day at the Indy 500 and pace this field to the green in this amazing Z06 Corvette, I don't know how it gets any better than that.”

This will be the 13th time a Corvette has paced the 500 and the 26th time for a Chevrolet to lead the pack.

Sam Hornish Jr., the 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner, was among several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers on hand April 29 for an open test day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Hornish admitted that the longer he has been racing with NASCAR, he moves farther away from any thoughts of doing The Double, a feat that has been accomplished by John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch.

“For me, it’s tough to remember anything about IndyCar racing (because) my life has changed so much since then. I had been married for just two years and now we have kids. I remember growing up and coming here as a kid. It has all changed for the better. I still don’t feel like I’ve done what I want to accomplish on the stock car side. “

Hornish continued, “It's a lot easier not to run the 500 because I can turn the TV on and enjoy it. I’m still deeply fascinated by the Speedway and the Indy 500. Every time I think about the possibility to come back, something tells me it’s not the right time. I love the 500 just as much as I ever have. It’s a lot easier not carrying it with you for a full year, whether you did well or bad. I does eat you up just waiting for the next (500) to come around. I know how fortunate and lucky I was to have won it.”

Hornish recorded his first Top 10 finish of the season for team owner Richard Petty in the No. 9 Medallion Bank Ford at Talladega. Hornish is 28th in NASCAR Sprint Cup points.

"It was a really good day," said Hornish. “I felt like we were going to have more of an opportunity to get a top-five out of it or maybe to win, but some of the other guys up front made their move a little bit quicker than what I thought they were going to.”

The former IndyCar star has a new crew chief, Kevin Manion who prepped Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winning cars in 2010 for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Manion replaces Drew Bickensderfer who goes to a different assignment with Petty. Manion has five Sprint Cup wins and 15 NASCAR Xfinity wins. He begins his duties at Kansas Speedway.

Everything is right in NASCARland

All is right with NASCAR in the aftermath of the Geico 500.

Forget about the single-file finish and that no driver even challenged the front-runner on the last lap Sunday because Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race in front of thousands of admirers.

Winning a few days after his late father’s birthday, the third-generation driver added to the family legacy May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The milestones reached there are significant to NASCARNation and JRNation: 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup win for father (76 wins) and son (24 wins); win No. 6 at Talladega for Dale Junior (his first there since 2004) where his dad won 10 races; and Dale Jr. is the eighth driver to qualify provisionally for The Chase.

“I feel like the fans want to see us up front,” he said. “They love to see us win the race, but they want to see us lead every lap. They get excited when we take the lead. They’re happy when we’re up front. They want us up front every lap. I mean, I feel that.”

The emotions flowed freely as Dale Jr. explained the family legacy that may have led to his aggressive style that was recognized by his competitors, especially teammate and Geico 500 pole winner Gordon.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. was driving super-aggressive. You knew that he wanted to win this race badly,” Gordon said. “You certainly know all his fans are enjoying this show here. They love seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. win this race.”

The Sprint Cup Series moves to the Kansas Speedway for a Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. (FOX Sports One). Joey Logano is the defending event winner.

Indiana’s own Ryan Newman, driving the No. 8 Rescue Ranch Silverado, will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race May 8 at Kansas Speedway. Newman, a fulltime Sprint Cup competitor, has not raced trucks in almost two years. He won at Atlanta in 2008 and was third on the Eldora Speedway dirt in 2013.

INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDROME

The historic one-fifth mile oval track is now known as the Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Speedrome following a marketing and advertisement agreement for the current season at the famed track at Kitley Avenue and Brookville Road.

Speedrome managing partner Larry Curry and Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Campus president Todd Clark made the joint announcement.

The sponsorship is a good fit for Lincoln Tech because it offers training in automotive technology, mechanics and service management. The Indianapolis campus also offers training in collision repair, diesel technology, manufacturing and electronics.

The next event is a 50-lap Figure-8 for World Figure-8 cars May 9 with racing for Roadrunners, Hornets and Jr. Faskarts. Racing starts at 7 p.m.

Austin Tunny seeks his second straight win after capturing the Ed Bishop Memorial 75-lap Figure-8 May 2. The top-five included runner-up Doug Greig, Jesse Tunny, Jacob Garrigus and Larry Hahn.

Feature winners were Brian Carter, Roadrunners; Don VanValkenburg III, Hornets; Brad Kares, Indy Superkarts; Brandon DeBrakeleer, Legends.

INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS

Not to be left out of the mix of motorsports events in Indy, the Indiana State Fairgrounds will be active, too.

The schedule:
May 12-17: Dana Mecum’s 28th Original Spring Classic with 2,000 classic and collector cars on the auction block. Admission is $25 at the door.

May 21: USAC Hoosier Hundred dirt track race. General admission is $14 for advance purchase or $17 at the gate.

July 11: Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand Nationals, part of the American Motorcycle Association’s Pro racing series, with speeds over 120 mph on the one-mile dirt track. Opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. General admission is $21 and reserved seating is available.

Sept. 18-20: 34th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals with more than 4,500 trucks, jeeps and 4x4s.  Tickets are available online at a discounted price of $17 and $20 at the game for adults; children (3-12) are $10.

Of interest:

USAC: The national sprint car series joins the World of Outlaws for the first time in the “Mother of all Sprint Car Weekends,” May 8-9 at Eldora Speedway. Each series competes both nights in a first for racing. Indiana’s Dave Darland seeks his 100th national USAC victory which would place him in a class with A.J. Foyt, Rich Vogler and Mel Kenyon. Defending Silver Crown champ Kody Swanson led from start to finish in the 100-lap Hemelgarn Racing Super Fitness “Rollie Beale Classic” May 1 at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway. Swanson has nine career wins. Swanson was trailed by runner-up Jacob Wilson, third place A.J. Fike and fourth, Jerry Coons, Jr., driving for team owner Gene Nolan. New Castle’s Tracy Hines was ninth.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Christopher Bell notched his second career World of Outlaws feature win May 2 in the Spring Classic in Pevely, Mo. Bell finished ahead of runner-up Jason Sides and third-place Joey Saldana of Brownsburg. Saldana earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger award by improving 15 positions from the start. Noblesville’s Bryan Clauson was 14th. Danny Schatz, who races for team owner Tony Stewart, leads in series points. 

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

The husband-and-wife team of Andy O’Gara and Sarah Fisher are expanding their motor sports-related business with plans for a karting facility and a restaurant/bar on Main Street in Speedway.

Speedway Indoor Karting and the 1911 Grill (1911 represents the year of the first Indianapolis 500) will be located a few blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing, an outgrowth of Sarah Fisher Racing, which was founded in 2008 by Fisher and O’Gara’s father, John. John O’Gara and his wife, Jeannie, own O’Gara’s Pub on Main Street in Beech Grove. Fisher’s grandparents owned a kart track in Richwood, Ohio. 

The 1911 Grill will feature family dining plus multiple bars and entertainment areas. The restaurant and track will be structured for corporate and hospitality events.
Plans call for different ability levels, including a competitive league for junior karters. The grand opening will be in April 2016 in time to celebrate the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

On hand for the announcement of the endeavor were Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Speedway Redevelopment Commission President Vince Noblet and Town Council President David Lindsey.
“I congratulate Sarah and Andy for their vision and tenacity to translate a personal passion for auto racing into a successful business venture,” said Ellspermann. 

Fisher and O’Gara, who reside in Franklin Township with their two children, said they expect to have 35 to 40 employees. 

New cars on track
CFHR had two new Dallara Chevrolet IndyCars at the Speedway for tests Sunday in preparation for the 99th Indianapolis 500. 
Driver-owner Ed Carpenter was among the top 10 on the speed chart with a lap of 225.257 mph. Josef Newgarden, who is in his fourth season with Fisher, went 223.834 mph, 17th fastest among 28 cars on the track.

CFHR returns to the track for road course practice Thursday and qualifications Friday for the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis at 3:50 p.m. Saturday.
Practice resumes at 3 p.m. Monday for the Indy 500.
Two more teams with Southside connections were on the track Sunday.

The No. 24 Dallara Chevrolet entered by co-team owner Dennis Reinbold, a Greenwood auto dealership owner, was driven on 19 shakedown laps by veteran Davey Hamilton. Reinbold’s assigned driver, Townsend Bell, was competing in a road course race.
The Byrd family of Greenwood is back at the Speedway. Jennie, Jonathan II and David Byrd are continuing the legacy of the late Jonathan Byrd. Driver Bryan Clauson was on the track for a few laps in the No. 88 Dallara Chevrolet with a speed of 218.485 mph.

Fast laps by drivers utilizing new aero packages were recorded by Juan Pablo Montoya, 226.772 mph, with Chevrolet power and Marco Andretti, 226.268 mph, with Honda power. 

Skillmans top in class
The Skillman drag racing clan was the fastest in the Super Stock classes in their 2012 Ford Mustangs during the three-day NHRA North Central/Ray Skillman Auto Group Spectacle of Speed at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Ray Skillman topped FSS/B class with a run of 8.108 seconds; Bill Skillman took FSS/D class with an elapsed time of 8.886 seconds; and Drew Skillman won FSS/D class in 8.906 seconds.

Ray Skillman was the fourth-fastest qualifier in Competition Eliminator with a run of 8.284 seconds in a 2006 Ford Cobalt. He reached the second round before being eliminated by No. 10 qualifier and eventual champion Todd Franz. 
Ryan Dillman of the Southside captured the Super Street eliminator title with a run of 10.921 seconds (128.47 mph) against Tennessean Blake Richardson.
(Note: Grand Solutions Communications contributed to this article.)