Indy Racer Len Sutton Dies
Len Sutton, who raced in the Indianapolis 500, died at home Monday morning of complications from cancer. He was 81. Sutton had 43 career top-10 finishes. He started racing at Portland International Raceway in 1946. He won the 1950, '54 and '55 Oregon Midget Racing Association titles and 1954 and '55 Northwest midget championships. Sutton first raced in the Indianapolis 500 field in 1958. In seven trips to Indy, his best finish was runner-up finish to teammate Roger Ward in 1962.
"I remember as a kid, seeing him in 1956, 1957, when he came to the East Coast. For some reason or another, I was always impressed with his demeanor," friend and fellow driver Mario Andretti told The Oregonian newspaper. "There was just something about him. And later on, when I got to know him, I always had a special feeling for him. he was truly, truly one of the gentlemen of our sports."
He retired from driving in 1965, but he remained active in the vintage racing community. He is survived by his wife, Anita, and two daughters. Funeral services were pending.(oregonlive.com)
Danica Patrick Joins XM Satellite Radio
Danica Patrick is the latest racing superstar to join the on-air team at XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s number-one satellite radio company with more than seven million subscribers. The IndyCar Series driver is now officially a member of the Andretti Green Racing (AGR) team, the winningest team in Indy Racing League (IRL) history. Patrick will co-host the exclusive XM Radio show “The Andretti Green Racing Hour” with AGR teammates Mario Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta, and Tony Kanaan, as well as AGR co-owner and IndyCar racing legend Michael Andretti. The weekly, one-hour show debuts spring 2007 on the sports talk radio channel XM Sports Nation (XM Channel 143). XM is also the exclusive home for radio shows hosted by NASCAR 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and NASCAR megastar Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
“I am thrilled to become part of both the Andretti Green Racing and XM Satellite Radio teams,” said Patrick. “‘The Andretti Green Racing Hour’ promises to be much more than a racing show, featuring the team’s experiences both on the track and off. My experiences as the newest member of AGR are guaranteed to be interesting.”
Winner of the Rookie of The Year trophy at her first Indianapolis 500 in 2005, Patrick has become an international sensation, appearing everywhere from the covers of Sports Illustrated and TV Guide to the new music video for Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got,” which features Patrick racing alongside Earnhardt and Jay-Z in Monaco.
“Danica is one of the most popular competitors in sports today,” said Eric Logan, executive vice president, programming, XM Satellite Radio. “XM is the exclusive home of racing’s biggest stars, and we’re proud to welcome Danica to the family.”
Meijer To Sponsor Patrick
Meijer will continue its sponsorship of Danica Patrick as she moves to Andretti Green Racing for the 2007 IndyCar Series season. The Midwest-based retail and grocery chain announced it will serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 7 Team Motorola Honda-powered Dallara driven by Patrick. It is the second consecutive year that Meijer, a longtime IndyCar Series sponsor, will be on the car of the 2005 Bombardier Rookie of the Year for the full season.
"We're proud to welcome Meijer to our team for the 2007 IndyCar Series season," said Michael Andretti, who co-owns Andretti Green Racing with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. "Meijer has 176 stores throughout the Midwest, and the IndyCar Series schedule puts our cars in some of Meijer's most important markets. We hope to get them into victory lane in 2007."
Bourdais Nominated For SPEED Award
With another amazing chapter added to his story of triumph in the Champ Car World Series, Sebastien Bourdais has been nominated for the Inaugural SPEED Performer of the Year Award. The six nominees for the award were chosen by a panel of esteemed motorsports media including SPEED on-air personalities Bob Varsha, Dave Despain, Tommy Kendall, Ralph Sheheen and Dorsey Schroeder, along with SPEEDtv.com columnists Robin Miller and Tom Jensen. During 2006 Bourdais not only tied Ted Horn's record of three consecutive Champ Car titles, but he also led the series in wins (7), poles (7), podium finishes (11), and laps led (522).The Frenchman showed early in the season that he would be the favorite for the title as he went out and captured four consecutive wins to start the season.
Other nominees for the award include: Fernando Alonso (Formula One), Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Nicky Hayden (MotoGP), Sam Hornish Jr. (IRL) and Tony Schumacher (NHRA). The winner will be announced as part of the one-hour SPEED Performance Awards television special presented by BF Goodrich, slated to air February 8, 2007 at 8:00 pm Eastern time.
The SPEED Performer of the Year will receive The Mario Andretti trophy, which was created by renowned sculptor Elie Hazak and was given to the top vote-getter for the Champ Car All-Star team from 1999-2001. The trophy depicts many of the highlights of Andretti's career including his 1967 Daytona 500 win, his 1978 F1 title and his four Champ Car titles.
In addition to the SPEED Performer of the Year, the February special also will feature the winners of nine fan-voted SPEED Performance Awards, which feature several unforgettable moments during the 2006 Champ Car campaign. Voting for these awards is open on SPEEDtv.com until Dec. 8.
FOX Will Air US Grand Prix
The 2007 United States Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, June 17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is one of four Formula One events that will be broadcast nationally next year on FOX Sports. FOX Sports and SPEED will team up to televise all 17 races on the 2007 F1 schedule, with the United States and Canadian Grands Prix live on FOX. The French and British Grands Prix also will be broadcast on FOX.
SPEED will broadcast the remaining 13 races live and continue to provide live coverage of practice and qualifying from every race, including USGP practice and qualifying Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16. The on-air team for both networks will consist of SPEED's popular lineup: Bob Varsha, lead broadcaster; Indianapolis 500 veteran and former F1 driver David Hobbs, analysis; former F1 mechanic Steve Matchett, analysis; and F1 journalist Peter Windsor, pit and starting grid reporting.
"I think this is a huge development for Formula One and its development in the United States," Varsha said. "It's huge for Indianapolis, as well. To now have the World Championship of motorsports live on network TV from Indianapolis is tremendous. It gives me an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of announcing an event from Indianapolis on network television. I'm getting chills as I speak about it, and I think I speak for David, Steve and Peter, as the event holds a special place for us because it's at Indianapolis. It's special because it's on home soil, with an American driver."
The agreement between FOX Sports, SPEED and Formula One Management runs through the 2009 season.
Moreno Makes Champ Car History in China
Roberto Moreno made history today in China as he took the 2007 Panoz DP01 on track at Zhuhai International Circuit, marking the first time a Champ Car has run in China.
Moreno was in Zhuhai with an envoy of Champ Car representatives as officials from the City of Zhuhai, Zhuhai International Circuit and Champ Car announced the 2007 Champ Car China Grand Prix to a collection of local and national Chinese media.
“It was very important to everyone in China that we bring our 2007 Panoz DP01 to the Zhuhai Circuit to demonstrate the excitement of Champ Car,” said Champ Car President Steve Johnson. “It has been a very beneficial trip for us because we were able to meet with city and track officials as well as starting a media campaign for the Champ Car China Grand Prix. China is a wonderful country and I’m really looking forward to returning here for the race in May.”
More than 150 local and national media attended the press conference at Zhuhai International Circuit, which included demonstration laps by Moreno. The Brazilian wowed the media by setting a new track record on his first lap and continuing to lower the mark setting the record at 83.619 seconds. “I think there is going to be a very exciting race here in May,” said Moreno. The track has really fast straights and three very slow corners with wide braking zones. There will be plenty of places to pass and the facility is excellent shape. I hope I get a chance to race here.”
A full fleet of 2007 DP01’s will cross the Pacific Ocean in May for the inaugural Champ Car China Grand Prix for Round Four of the Champ Car World Series. The series schedule begins on the streets of Las Vegas on April 8 for Las Vegas Grand Prix followed the next week by the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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