Fourteen IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will put in a day on the oval June 1, while 10 more will test June 3. Thirteen Firestone Indy Lights driver/car combinations will be on the track June 2.
Fans can watch testing each day (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) in Turns 1-2, and Milwaukee 225 promoters will host a watching party (food, drinks, apparel, ticket purchase) June 3 in the Turn 2 parking lot.
Both series return to the historic track after a year’s absence. Scott Dixon, who won the IZOD IndyCar Series race in 2009, will be among those getting re-acquainted with the flat racetrack on June 3.
The fifth-place finisher in the Indianapolis 500 on May 29 will be joined by Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate and reigning series champion Dario Franchitti; 500 Mile Race runner-up and Chase Rookie of the Year JR Hildebrand of National Guard Panther Racing; Graham Rahal, the third-place finisher in the ‘500’ and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Charlie Kimball; Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and series points leader Will Power; Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing’s Oriol Servia; and Ana Beatriz of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
“I’m looking forward to going back,” said Sarah Fisher Racing driver Ed Carpenter, who will be among the drivers testing June 1. “It’s a very challenging racetrack for drivers, engineers and teams, so there’s definitely a premium on getting a good balance on the car and a good setup. We’ll be working on that during the day.”
Also at the track June 1 will be Andretti Autosport drivers Danica Patrick, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Mike Conway; Vitor Meira of A.J. Foyt Racing; the KV Racing Technology-Lotus contingent of Indy 500 fourth-place finisher Tony Kanaan, Takuma Sato and E.J. Viso; Ed Carpenter of Sarah Fisher Racing; Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Justin Wilson and Beatriz; Simona de Silvestro of HVM Racing; James Jakes of Dale Coyne Racing; and Conquest Racing’s Sebastian Saavedra.
Firestone Indy Lights competitors getting in laps June 2 include Firestone Freedom 100 winner and series points leader Josef Newgarden, along with Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammates Esteban Guerrieri, Bryan Clauson and Victor Carbone. Team Moore Racing’s Victor Garcia and Gustavo Yacaman, Team Jensen’s David Ostella, Andretti Autosport’s Stefan Wilson, Bryan Herta Autosport’s Duarte Ferreira and O2 Racing’s Peter Dempsey also will be in cars.
ABC’s high-definition broadcast of the 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500 on May 29 delivered a 4.3 preliminary overnight rating in metered markets – up from 4.0 in 2010.
Viewership increases were realized in Chicago, Las Vegas, Tampa, Fla., Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, among others, of the 56 markets during the noon-3:30 p.m. (ET) race broadcast. ESPN on ABC’s one-hour pre-race show hosted by Brent Musburger — with a blend of compelling features and the sights and sounds of the pre-race ceremonies on Memorial Day weekend – also attracted strong viewership numbers.
It was the 47th consecutive year that ABC telecast the 500 Mile Race — one of the longest-running relationships between a sporting event and a network.
“All in all, the race was excellent with storylines throughout that kept the viewers’ and spectators’ attention,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. “We saw a significant television increase in the metered markets, and it’s important for us to keep our momentum moving upward to 2012. With the introduction new car, we think it’s a great storyline and we’re optimistic there are more good things to come.”
Dan Wheldon won the drama-filled race on the historic 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, overtaking the crippled car of rookie JR Hildebrand a few hundred yards from the start/finish line. Hildebrand’s car made right-side contact with the outside retaining wall exiting Turn 4 on the 200th and final lap, but he was able to slide across the “Yard of Bricks” to claim second place.
Wheldon, a resident of St. Petersburg, Fla., earned $2.56 million from the purse of $13.5 million. Hildebrand, of Sausalito, Calif., who was voted the Chase Rookie of the Year, received $1,064,895.
More excitement and drama is sure to come from the Firestone Twin 275s at Texas Motor Speedway on June 11, featuring two 125-lap races on the 1.5-mile oval with a one-hour break in between. VERSUS will broadcast both events starting at 8 p.m. (ET).
ABC will televise IZOD IndyCar Series races from the Milwaukee Mile (June 19), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Aug. 14) and the IZOD INDYCAR World Championships at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 16).
It’s an off weekend of competition for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, but teams are using June 1-3 to test at the Milwaukee Mile for the June 17-19 race weekend.
When ABC television’s Wide World of Sports first coined the phrase, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” some 40 years ago. You could almost hear the voice of the late Jim McKay, bellowing out that saying when two of motorsports biggest races of the year were lost because of driver error.
Think back to the last time in the history of motorsports when two young winless drivers in the same year have come so close to victory in the season’s biggest spectacles, but yet were unable to close the deal while millions of fans watched in amazement.
On one side of the spectrum you have a driver who is in his seventh season racing in NASCAR’s premiere series who has never won a Sprint Cup race, and on the other side a rookie driver who was making only his eighth start in the IZOD IndyCar Series, his fifth this season.
[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Roush-Fenway driver David Ragan, could feel the electricity running through his body as he waited patiently for the green flag to drop on the first of what would be two green-white-checkered finishes.
Ragan who led the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 twice for seven laps, would not be around for the last and final green-white-checkered restart. Instead fate would deal him a different hand, and ultimately take away any chances of him winning his first ever Sprint cup race in 147 career starts.
In the blink of an eye Ragan threw away his best opportunity at winning not only NASCAR’s biggest race of the season, but also the chance to become Roush-Fenway Racing’s second driver to ever win the 500 behind Matt Kenseth who went to victory in 2009.
Ragan, who was leading the race at the time took the green flag after a late race caution outside of eventual winner Trevor Bayne, and changed lanes before he reached the start/finish line. Unfortunately for Ragan, he violated section 10-2 of the Sprint Cup Series rule book with the move and was black-flagged.
Ragan would restart the race in the 15th position after serving his pass through penalty, and would eventually finish a disappointing 14th. “It was tough to swallow,” Ragan said after the race.
Ragan also added that, “Who knows what would have happened in that next lap? We had a top-five car and we didn’t finish in the top five, so that’s a bummer. We had a car that could’ve won the Daytona 500. We were sitting in position and just didn’t do it.”
Three months later and the racing gods would strike again, but this time it would involve a driver who was trying to make history as the second rookie to ever win the Indianapolis 500. In 2002 it was Helio Castroneves who became the first Indianapolis 500 rookie driver to win both rookie of the year honors, along with the race.
On the day of the centennial running of the Great American Race, rookie driver JR Hildebrand was only one corner away from matching Castroneves historical feat, and putting his name in the record books next to one of the series greatest drivers ever.
Hildebrand just like Ragan could almost feel the thrill of victory, and in a quick instant the agony of defeat slapped him with a dose of reality. Instead Hildebrand’s second place finish would go down as one of the sport’s most heartbreaking finishes, when he crashed on the last corner while leading the race.
Hildebrand was coming out of turn three and headed into four, when he came behind a slower car and decided to go around it and lost control when hit the marbles and crashed hard into the wall.
In that split second gone was the Borg-Warner trophy along with the customary drink of milk that every driver dreams of when the month of May comes around, and the only thing left were the remnants of what could have been the biggest motorsports story of the year.
“I caught him [Charlie Kimball] at just the wrong time,” said Hildebrand when talking about the crash after the race. Hildebrand also added that, “I went to the high side because I didn’t want to slow down too much, I got up in the marbles and that was it.”
Emotions play a huge role when a victory is on the line, but even more when it includes the biggest and most important race of the season. Along with the victory comes the respect from your fellow competitors, as well as the endorsements and the praise from the fans knowing that on that one special day you had what it took to be victorious.
Unfortunately for Ragan and Hildebrand, that special day turned into a day of disaster and disappointment. Ragan knew it all too well when he said, “I feel like I know the rules and understand ’em as good as anyone, but I just kind of let my emotions take over and I just didn’t make the right moves when it counted.”
40 years later and the phrase will be instilled in the minds of Ragan and Hildebrand, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,”
The diehard racing fans were treated well on Sunday with two, dramatic final lap passes. And when I say final lap, I actually mean passes coming out of the final turn.
In Indianapolis, it was an error that will surely have JR Hildebrand kicking himself for years to come. Hildebrand found himself a few inches out of the main grove in turn four while trying to pass a lapped car as he was leading. Hildebrand’s No. 4 National Guard car smashed into the outside wall, with Dan Wheldon charging from seconds back to pass Hildebrand’s crumbled car less than 600 feet from the start finish line.
Hildebrand finished second. Disappointing is an understatement.
In Charlotte, it was a case of coming up less than a half lap short of fuel.
[media-credit name=”Greg Author” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the crowd going nuts when he restarted at the head of the field in a green-white-checkered finish.
Kasey Kahne, who started on the outside of Earnhardt on the restart, ran out of gas, causing a major pileup as Earnhardt drove away to near certain victory.
Earnhardt, who, like Hildebrand, drove for the National Guard on Sunday, looked as though he was two laps away from breaking a 104 race winless streak.
Earnhardt led at the white flag, one lap away from the win. Earnhardt continued to lead on the backstretch.
Earnhardt ran out of gas.
As Earnhardt’s fuel tank finally emptied, Kevin Harvick, in his familiar “where the hell did he come from” fashion, sped by Earnhardt to take the checkers.
Earnhardt finished seventh.
And, for the second time that day, America and the world watched a driver lose two of the year’s biggest races on the final turn.
While a win for Earnhardt and Hildebrand would have seemed to be a perfect fit on Memorial Day weekend as they carried their National Guard colors. But it just wasn’t meant to be.
Still, more wins are sure to come for both drivers. And the nation’s heroes were able to see their drivers contend for a win on the world’s largest racing stages and they were treated to some of the best races either series has to offer.
[media-credit name=”LAT Photo USA” align=”alignleft” width=”260″] [/media-credit]Dan Wheldon celebrates his second Indy 500 victory on Sunday.Dan Wheldon took advantage of a mistake by rookie JR Hildebrand, who hit the wall coming out of the final turn while leading, to win the 100th annual Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
“I just felt a lot of relief. It’s an incredible feeling,” Wheldon said. “I never gave up.”
“It’s a fantastic achievement everybody at Bryan Herta Autosport,” Wheldon added in his emotional post-race interview in victory lane. “I love everything about Indianapolis – the tradition, the fans, the history.”
The Indy 500 was Wheldon’s first race of the season and the only race he is scheduled to run with Bryan Herta Autosport after the 2005 Indy 500 champion failed to secure a full-time ride this season. In fact, Wheldon was replaced by Hildebrand prior to the start of the season in the No. 4 National Guard car.
Hildebrand wrecked while attempting to maneuver around the lap car of Charlie Kimball.
“I caught him in the wrong piece of track,” Hildebrand said. “I got up in the marbles and that was it.”
[media-credit name=”LAT Photo USA” align=”alignright” width=”294″][/media-credit]The wrecked car of JR Hildebrand crosses the Indy 500 finish lineHe wound up finishing second in his damaged car, two seconds behind Wheldon. It was the California rookie’s first Indy 500.
Graham Rahal, Tony Kanaan and Orial Servia rounded out the top-five. Scott Dixon, Bertrand Baguette, Thomas Scheckter and Mario Andretti finished in positions 6-9. Danica Patrick, who was leading late in the race, finished tenth after pitting for fuel late in the race.
“It’s more and more depressing when I don’t win the race,” Patrick said. “But Dan Wheldon, he’s a great winner. And what a great story. He hasn’t run this year. … That’s really cool.”
The first 3/4 of the race made it appear that a Chip Ganassi Car would be the favorite to win the Indy 500, but other drivers took over the reigns in the final 1/4 of the race, with drivers such as Graham Rahal and Baguette took turns at the front.
Last year’s race winner Dario Franchitti was second with five laps to go, but had to stop for fuel and forfeit a chance to repeat after leading 51 laps. Dixon led 73 laps in the race, with lap 178 being the final lap his or Franchitti’s car was seen out front.
Danica Patrick took the lead on 179, and held until she came into pit for a splash of fuel on lap 189. Baguette picked up the lead until lap 197, when Hildebrand took the lead. Hildebrand held the lead for 1.75 laps, until the accident, when Wheldon took the race lead for the first and only time of the event.
Notes: The one lap led by race winner Wheldon is the least number of laps led by an eventual race winner of the Indy 500. … Wheldon is the 18th driver to win the Indy 500 multiple times. … This race was the first time since 1992 that all Penske cars finished outside of the top-ten. Will Power finished 14th as the highest finishing Penske driver. … This is the second time that a driver has lost first place on the final lap. Rookies have been the victim both times, Hildebrand this year and Marco Andretti in 2006.
IZOD IndyCar Series
100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500
INDIANAPOLIS – Results Sunday of the 2011 Indianapolis 500 IZOD IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (6) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
2. (12) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
3. (29) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
4. (22) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
5. (2) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
6. (3) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
7. (14) Bertrand Baguette, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
8. (21) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
9. (27) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
10. (25) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
11. (8) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
12. (9) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
13. (28) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
14. (5) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
15. (11) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
16. (19) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
17. (16) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
18. (7) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
19. (30) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
20. (31) Pippa Mann, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
21. (32) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
22. (17) John Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
23. (33) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
24. (15) Davey Hamilton, Dallara-Honda, 193, Running
25. (24) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 175, Running
26. (4) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 157, Contact
27. (26) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 157, Contact
28. (1) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 147, Contact
29. (13) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 99, Contact
30. (20) Jay Howard, Dallara-Honda, 60, Contact
31. (23) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 44, Handling
32. (18) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 27, Contact
33. (10) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 20, Contact
Race Statistics
Winners average speed: 170.265
Time of Race: 2:56:11.7267
Margin of victory: Under Caution
Cautions: 7 for 40
Lead changes: 23 among 10 drivers
Lap Leaders: Dixon 1-7, Tagliani 8-26, Dixon 27-33, Tagliani 34, Dixon 35-60, Franchitti 61, Carpenter 62-64, Franchitti 65-72, Dixon 73-98, Franchitti 99, Hildebrand 100-103, Franchitti 104-112, Servia 113-128, Franchitti 129-137, Hildebrand 138, Baguette 139-140, Franchitti 141-163, Servia 164-165, Rahal 166-171, Dixon 172-178, Patrick 179-188, Baguette 189-197, Hildebrand 198-199, Wheldon 200.
Point Standings: Power 194, Franchitti 178, Servia 150, Kanaan 135, Dixon 129, Rahal 120, Briscoe 117, Hildebrand 113, Tagliani 110, Mike Conway 102.
Crash In Final Turn of Last Lap Leaves Panther with Fourth-Straight Runner-Up Finish at Indy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – (May 29, 2011) – National Guard Panther Racing rookie driver JR Hildebrand led the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 on three different occasions and came within a few hundred yards of winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing before finishing in second position Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hildebrand had taken the lead of the race for the third time on Lap 198 and appeared poised to capture Panther’s first ‘500’ victory until the No. 4 car got into the marbles while trying to pass the lapped car of Charlie Kimball on the outside of Turn Four and hit the wall. Despite the damage the car rolled past the Yard of Bricks in second position behind race winner, and former Panther driver, Dan Wheldon.
The result marks the fourth consecutive runner-up finish for Panther Racing in the Indianapolis 500 with three different drivers; Vitor Meira (2008), Wheldon (2009-2010) and now Hildebrand (2011). The finish helps Hildebrand escalate eight positions in the IZOD IndyCar Series points standings to eighth position overall and puts some separation in the Rookie of the Year battle with James Hinchcliffe, as Hildebrand now leads the rookie chase by 33 points.
While running 11th on Lap 165 Hildebrand followed then-leader Dario Franchitti into the pits in hopes of stretching their fuel mileage. It was reminiscent of the Indianapolis 500 from a season ago when both Franchitti and Wheldon (then the Panther driver) were both desperately saving fuel in the final laps in hopes of the race before Mike Conway’s frightening crash concluded the race as the No. 4 car was quickly catching Franchitti. This season, as cars quickly began to peel into pit late, Hildebrand was able to catch an overtake Franchitti on Lap 196 for second position. Two laps later then-leader Bertrand Baguette had to pit for fuel and Hildebrand was at the lead of the field for the third time Sunday and threelaps from a victory at Indianapolis.
But as Hildebrand entered the final turn of the final lap he caught Kimball, a lap down, at an inopportune time at the center of Turn Four. Hildebrand attempted to pass Kimball on the outside but when his right-side tires got into the marbles, the No. 4 National Guard car quicklyshot towards the outside retaining wall and the 23-year-old made significant contact with the wall. He was able to keep the car straight but Wheldon wasable to pass before Hildebrand’s damaged car reached the Yard of Bricks.
Hildebrand led the race three separate times for a total of seven laps. The last, and only, time Panther has led at Indianapolis was in 2008 with Meira led 13 laps before finishing runner-up that year.
Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka driver Buddy Rice finish 18th in his first start with Panther in the team’s No. 44 entry. Rice, the 2004 Indy winner who was making a return to the field after a two-year hiatus, started in the seventh position but fell a lap down mid-way through the race after an ill-timed caution. Rice had been running well inside the Top Ten for a majority of the race after leading the team from his seventh-place starting position. The Fuzzy’s Vodka team had a caution flag thrown on track nearly immediately after both their second (Lap 60) and third (Lap 99) pit stops. The No. 44 team fell a lap down after its fourth stop of the day on Lap 137 and with Rice fighting a loose racecar the Fuzzy’s Vodka team was unable to make up significant ground.
In addition to Panther finishing runner-up in four straight races here, the team has finished inside the Top Ten in seven consecutive Indianapolis 500 Mile Races dating back to 2005.
JR Hildebrand, No. 4 National Guard Dallara Honda:
“I mean, this is not really about me at this point. You always show up to try to win. But for me, my disappointment is for the team and for the National Guard as our partner. It’s one of those things, as a driver, you never really know what you’re going to expect. We knew we had a fast racecar. We knew if the race came to us, we may be in a position to sort of finish top three, top five, wherever that might be, depending on how it panned out. But as a driver, I’m smart enough as a rookie to not expect, no matter what’s going to happen, I’m going to come to the Indianapolis 500 myfirst year and be in a position to win the race. As it turned out, we most certainly were. We were in a position that we should have won the race. So for me, it’s not so much that I’m pissed off or disappointed that my face isn’tgoing to go on the Borg-Warner. Just with this team, Panther Racing has finished second three years in a row now with the National Guard sponsorship, I felt like we had an incredible opportunity to get on a big stage for those guys. You know, like I said, it’s not really like a personal thing right now.
“Maybe down the road it will turn into a personal thing that I’ll just be pissed off at myself for not doing whatever. In the end, it’s really more about the people, for me at least, this team has worked so hard, it’s such an integral part of being here at Indianapolis and being successful at Indianapolis, that’s really where the sort of heartbreak is for me right now. I certainly wasn’t planning my victory speech. But being here on Memorial Day weekend, driving the National Guard car with so many servicemen and women out here for this weekend, it’s really a treat to be a part of that. It would have been an outstanding feat to be able to get up on the top step of the podium for them, as well.”
Buddy Rice, No. 44 Panther Racing Dallara Honda:
“The Fuzzy’s Vodka car was sensitive and we hadn’t had that all month. We kept getting caught out on the yellows and then we got the car loose and that didn’t help us and we got ourselves backed into a corner. On that side of things it’s a bit disappointing for our guys, but for Panther to still finish second and have a car out front was good for the National Guard car. Our car just got overly sensitive and we’re all disappointed but hopefully we’ll get another opportunity to run together and be able to do some more races together.
“(On working with JR Hildebrand this month) JR’s great. Americans just don’t get top flight jobs and he’s gotten an opportunity to drive for a top team and he’s making the most of it. Obviously he hasn’t got all the results he wanted but that’s just going to come with time andexperience and just getting used to everything. He’ll continue to get used to the team and they’ll continue to get used to him. He’s got a bright future and he’s just got to stick it out and there are always some tough rides on the roller coaster. But working together’s been great. He’s receptive and wants to learn, and he’s definitely not afraid to stand on the gas – that’s for sure. You can see that at a place like this and he’s done a great job all month long.”
John Barnes, Panther Racing Managing Partner& CEO:
“We have to hold our heads up high. JR put us in a position to win. He was told the fuel we needed to finish was almost impossible, and he did it. I couldn’t be prouder of him today. He did a helluva job today and I can tell you what – I’m so proud of that kid for the way he’s driven that racecar and how he represents the National Guard. He’s got nothing to be upset about or ashamed of. I know there are a lot of Soldiers around the world watching this race and I hope they enjoyed the show we put on today. We’re in the entertainment business, and the people that are over in Iraq or Afghanistan risking their lives for our freedom, that’s what we concentrate on.”
May 29, 2011. (Toronto, ON) Sun Peaks, British Columbia racer Jason White open the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season in the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger this past weekend at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ontario. White had a fast race car but due to a mechanical issue wasn’t rewarded with the finish he expected.
During the afternoon practice session on the tricky half mile oval White worked with the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger team to improve the performance of the car. “We weren’t quite as fast during the practice as I’d hope” stated White. “I got a little tip from another driver about braking heading into the corners and it really helped me, it definitely made a difference in qualifying” he added.
White would start the 200 lap event from the eleventh position and quickly noticed he had a good race car. “The #21 A & W Dodge Challenger felt really fast” said an excited Jason White. “I wasn’t pushing the car at all and had no problem keeping up with the pace the leaders were setting” he added.
Fortunes quickly turned however for the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger team as smoke was spotted from underneath the car. Acting quickly White headed for pit road and the attention of the crew. “It took the team a few laps to determine exactly what the problem was but it was a loose oil line fitting” explained White.
The #21 A & W Dodge Challenger Crew made repairs as quickly as possible and returned Jason to the battle. “The car was just as good as it was prior to the oil line problem” said White. “We were a bunch of laps down so I was very considerate of getting out of the way of the leaders, but I kept showing them the A & W hood of the car to let them know how fast we were and they’ll be seeing a lot of it this year” he stated.
White would take the checkered flag in the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger and claim fifteenth position. “It’s frustrating to know how good the car was a little thing set us back, but the silver lining is that we have got a great race car and really good race team and I can’t wait to get this car back out on the track in a couple weeks” said White.
Jason White and the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger team will return to action this weekend, June 4 & 5 at Circuit ICAR near Montreal, Quebec. “We had some very good tests on road courses during the pre season so we’re all excited to get settled into our second home in Quebec, the “aloft” Montreal airport hotel, and to race on this new track” said White.
Race fans will have even more opportunity to follow Jason White and the #21 A & W Dodge Challenger team this season. Check out the all new team website at http://www.jasonwhiteracing.comwww.jasonwhiteracing.com and be sure to follow Jason on twitter for the latest updates @racinjasonwhite The 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will consist of twelve events from coast to coast in Canada. Al races will be broadcast once again this season on TSN. Fans should check local listings for times in their area.
KENNINGTON OPENS YEAR WITH TOP FIVE IN THE CASTROL DODGE
May 29, 2011. DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team began their defense of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Championship this past weekend at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ontario. Kennington had a typically fast car but got tagged by other drivers on two separate occasions but still managed to bring home a top five finish.
The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge was near the top of the time sheets all during afternoon practice and Kennington would claim the fourth starting spot. “All the guys did a great job preparing the car and we were good right away” said Kennington. “We were able to try a couple of changes during practice and see how they might work during the race” he added.
As the 200 lap feature event began Kennington took the initial laps cautiously and settle into a comfortable pace. The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge got stronger as the race proceeded to the quarter mark and Kennington would take his first race lead of the season on lap 47 an claim the bonus points for leading a lap. “Everything was going according to plan early on” said the driver. “We got out front to get some bonus points and didn’t want to do anything too aggressive that early so I gave up the lead to a faster car” he explained.
After a green flag run of more than 100 laps the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge finally was able to stop for fuel and tires and once all stops cycled through Kennington found himself near the front of the field and late in the race was in position to claim if not the win then a top result. “Things got pretty aggressive at the end” said Kennington. “We got bumped by the #7 car and that set us back a bit” he stated.
As a result of losing several positions from the first incident, Kennington found himself back in more traffic and was again the victim. “That first knock put us back in tighter traffic and I got hit again, this time by the #19 car said Kennington.
The second bump while frustrating only fueled Kennington to push in the final few laps to gain as many positions back as he could. The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge would cross the finish line and claim a fifth place finish, a great accomplishment with so few laps remaining to make up spots. “We didn’t have the fastest car tonight and that’s why I let the #22 go earlier” stated Kennington. “It’s unfortunate we got bumped around a bit, but we did finish fifth which is one place better than we did last year at this race, and we lead some laps for bonus points. All in all things worked out okay” he summarized.
DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team return to action this coming weekend, June 4 & 5 at Circuit ICAR near Montreal, Quebec. Once again this year fans will be able to watch all twelve races on TSN. Check local listings for times.
May 29, 2011. The 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire season opener took place this past weekend at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ontario. The driver that drew plenty of attention was New Liskeard, Ontario’s Steve Mathews. The #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford was fast right from the start of practice and Mathews continues to impress every time he takes to the race track.
The #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford was the car everyone was chasing during practice and Mathews showed great speed and maturity. He ran plenty of laps to get comfortable in the seat but didn’t abuse the car. “It felt so good to get behind the wheel of the car for the first time this season” said Mathews. “I just knew we’d run well and couldn’t wait to get started.
Mathews backed up his notable practice speeds by qualifying the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford third for the 200 lap feature event. Mathews wouldn’t remain in third position for very long. Right after an early caution period the race was restarted and Mathews powered his way to the front of the field and took over the race lead on lap eleven.
Maintaining a comfortable pace Mathews had no difficulty staying at the front of the field. “I wasn’t pushing the car at all” said Mathews. “I was setting the pace and it felt great to get out and lead some laps early on” he added.
During a long green flag run and the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford would relinquish the lead and the half mile track that batters brakes would also hamper Mathews. “Because we went green for over 100 laps the brakes were heating up and I just didn’t have a chance to get them cooled down” explained the driver. “That put us back a bit in traffic and it got a little messy after that” he added.
Instead of being out front and in control of circumstances, Mathews and the #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford was back in the field and would become tangled with another competitor. The contact would knock the alignment of the front end out and eliminate any chance of Mathews regaining the lead.
Steve Mathews would continue to fight for every position the rest of the way. #15 Mathews Motorsports Ford would finish the race in tenth position. “It’s a bit frustrating and I’m not in the best of moods right now talking about it” said Mathews after the race. “But I guess to be fastest in practice, qualify third and lead a lot of laps is positive. I know we’ll be just as strong at the next oval race at Delaware, I run really well at that track. First though we’re going to race at Circuit ICAR. Our team built a new road course car this winter and we’re looking forward to that event” he stated.
Steve Mathews and Mathews Motorsports will participate in the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series which features twelve events from coast to coast in Canada. All races can be seen on TSN. You can follow the progress of Steve Mathews by logging onto the new website www.stevemathews.ca
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