May 28, 2007
by Connie Felix
McDreamy & McSteamy At Indy
Race fans in the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, were able to see Grey's Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane. Dempsey, part owner of Vision Racing will drive the 2007 Pace Car leading the field to the start of the 91st Indianapolis 500 mile race. Johnny Rutherford, three time Indianapolis 500 winner, will be diving during caution periods and Jim Haynes will serve as observer from the pace car.
When the rain came Saturday, Dempsey who was riding with Johnny Rutherford couldn't figure out how to lock the top of the convertible, seems he didn't get a debrief on that point.
The first lap Dempsey was let loose in the car he took friend and Grey's Anatomy co-star Eric Dane for a few laps. Going 140 down the backstretch, he realized it was really wet in turn 4, so had to get off of it quite quickly. "Eric got a little nervous," said Dempsey, "so I was quite pleased with that!"
Dempsey has been working the past three years on a racing themed movie, set in the American Le Mans Series. Currently they are fine tuning the project trying to make it entertaining for all and at the same time credible. They hope to get it completed by 2008.
National Anthem
Five members of the United States Armed Forces sang the National Anthem before the start of the 91st Indianapolis 500. The singers were: Senior Master Sergeant Angela Burns, U.S. Air Force; Petty Officer Lisa Williamson, U.S. Coast Guard; Staff Sergeant Colin Eaton, U.S. Army; Petty Officer J. David Sigmon, U.S. Navy and Sergeant Terri Kopetzki, U.S. Marine Corps.
Father and Son
Marco Andretti and Michael Andretti are the fourth father-son combination to race in the same Indianapolis 500. The other father-son duos were Mario and Michael Andretti, Mario and Jeff Andretti and Al Unser and Al Unser Jr.
Economaki Recipient of Award
The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) named Chris Economaki as the third annual recipient of the Bob Russo Founder's Award. The Association's most prestigious award is presented to a member who has worked diligently to further the organization in its goals to represent the media who cover the sport of motor racing thought-out the United States.
Economaki, born October 15,1920, has been busy at work at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May. While other media arrive with a laptop in hand, Economaki has a desk size typewriter from which he works.
Indy Rings For Everyone
Ken Keltner of Herff Jones presented special rings to all 33 drivers who qualified for the 91st Indianapolis 500 and also presented a ring to Patrick Dempsey, who will lead the field to the green flag in the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Pace Car. Pictures of the ring are not publicized, with the hope that they won't be duplicated. Herff Jones specialize in hand-crafted medals, pins, plaques, trophies, yearbooks and class rings.
2006 Awards - One Year Later
Saturday, 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. and Roger Penske, owner of Team Penske, each accepted a “Baby Borg” trophy from Bernd Matthes, president of Borg-Warner Transmission Systems, for being the winning driver and car owner at the 90th Indianapolis 500. The Baby Borg is a miniature replica of the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, which bears the bas-relief likeness, name and average speed of every Indianapolis 500 winner.
Roger Penske received his record 14th winning car owner’s ring from John Gamauf, president of Replacement Consumer Tire Sales, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire. Tim Cindric, president of Penske Performance Inc., also received a ring.
Donald Gurtner, president of the board of directors, Milk Promotion Services Of Indiana, presented a plaque with an American Dairy Association milk bottle to Sam Hornish for his victory in 2006 in the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations division of the Indy Racing League, presented Sam Hornish with his 2006 IndyCar Series championship ring.
Briscoe Promotes Anti-Virus
Ryan Briscoe, a native Australian, has been racing since age 11 – where he competed in his first Kart race in 1993. Ryan, a former Formula One test driver and Indy 500 rookie will be driving the No. 12 Symantec Norton 360 Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Luczo Dragon Racing in the 2007 Indy 500. He is well-known for his survival of a near-fatal crash at the Chicagoland Speedway in 2005, leaving him hospitalized and recovering through extensive physical therapy. Ryan is passionate about educating people about security and taking the necessary precautions to prevent disasters not only in racing but with online safety. Symantec Norton 360, is a one year protection for up to 3 household PCs at $59.95, a comprehensive, automated protection with proven PC Security & PC tune-up technologies PLUS new antiphishing and automated backup.
Oakley Demonstration Convincing
Al Unser Jr. and Scott Dixon, IndyCar drivers, came together with Oakley for a demonstration of the companies recently released Carbon X complete Line of base layer fire safety gear for motorsports drivers. The line includes everything from the Balaclava or head sock, undershirts and pants to the socks on the feet plus gloves and shoes. In a fire demonstration, the product did not burn when exposed to intense flame, because the actual fibers carbonized and then expanded eliminating any oxygen content within the fabric and keeping the material soft. The product is dark in color because of it's content and that can not be changed.
The Oakley sunglass demonstration and detailed manufacturing explanation would convince anyone that the $200. sunglasses are a necessity in lieu of an extravagance.
New IndyCar By 2011
According to Tony George, the CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and founder and CEO of the Indy Racing League, there will be a new IndyCar by 2011 it was announced Indy 500 weekend. To start the project off the California based Art Center College of Design has been asked to come up with a design for the IndyCar Series car of the future taking into account safety plus fan experiences, entertainment at the track to real time motion simulators and video games, not to mention something as basic as logo design. A big project to be completed and ready for final presentation by August 9, 2007.
May 2007 Lugar Energy Patriot
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) named Indianapolis Motor Speedway Chief Executive Officer Tony George as the May 2007 Lugar Energy Patriot for his leadership in the IndyCar Series decision to fuel its cars this season with 100 percent fuel grade ethanol. The award is part of an ongoing effort by Lugar to recognize members of the business community, professionals, scholars or students who demonstrate leadership and initiative in taking concrete action to reduce America's dependence on foreign energy sources.
Stars Spotted at Indy 500
The following personalities were spotted at the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Melissa Rivers - General Chuck Yeager (1st person to break sound barrier) - Apolo Anton Ohno (Olympic gold medalist & winner 'Dancing with the Stars' - Ian Ziering (Actor) - Mitch Daniels (Governor of Indiana) - Greg Oden (Center for 2007 NCAA runner up Ohio State Basketball) - Baron Davis (Guard, Golden State Warriors) - John Oates (Musician, Hall & Oates) - Mike Conley Jr. (Guard, 2007 NCAA runner up Ohio State) - Candice Michelle (WWE Diva, GoDaddy.com Girl) - Ray Liotta (Actor) - Tyler Christopher (Actor) - Alison Sweeney (Actress) - Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts Quarterback) - Chris "Lights Out" Lytle (Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor) - Ludacris (Actor, Musician) - Florence Henderson (Sang God Bless America, Actress) and David Letterman
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91st Indianapolis 500 Notebook
