"the Shaker Rig"

Thirty-five qualifiers for thirty-three positions in the Indianapolis 500 field. Tradition.

That tradition has varied over time to suit policy and changing fortunes, but tradition, it remains.

A young journalist for USA Today and the Indianapolis Star wrote today that limiting the 2018 Indy 500 field to 33 cars is “tradition is standing in the way of logic”.

His argument is that the financial stake necessary to run Indianapolis - approximately $1 million per car, according to team owner Chip Ganassi - is a huge financial stake that a team bumped from the field would have a hard time recovering from.

What stands in the way? Tradition.

TRACKS: Racing the Sun
A book review: TRACKS: Racing the Sun by Sandro Martini– Martini's book is a historical novel taking place in grand prix and sports car racing of the late 30s through the post-war years. The book could almost be subtitled: A Window on Racing's Golden Years.

(BRAKES press release) On Saturday, July 27th, a special kind of “doubleheader” will take place at CMC-NorthEast Stadium in Kannapolis, NC, thanks to the combined efforts of the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Class “A” Minor League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe).  With the purchase of a $6.00 regular admission ticket, the Intimidators will donate 50% of the ticket price to B.R.A.K.E.S., the non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization based in Charlotte, NC which offers their free, Teen Pro-Active Driving Course to young drivers between the ages of 15 and 19.

Will TMS Be The Next Oval Cut By INDYCAR?

The bigger challenge is the future of the Texas Motor Speedway with INDYCAR. There have been newer voices within the series that have expressed a desire to see more road racing and less oval racing in the series, labeling 1.5-mile tracks as “NASCAR tracks”, and hence, dangerous.

Eddie Gossage came under flak for responding quickly to the implication that the so-called "NASCAR ovals" - his in particular, due to the placement of catch fence posts - was dangerous, pointing out (quite rightly) that Texas had hosted 23 very successful Indy Racing League and INDYCAR events since 1997.

Gossage seems to have sensed a change in the prevailing winds from Indianapolis and is unlikely to pay the hefty sanction fee Randy Bernard will ask of him.

B.R.A.K.E.S. Relocating to Concord

GANASSI NAMED ECONOMAKI CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

DESERT CENTER, CA -RIS- I have seen many racetracks in my years. From the tiny Speedrome on Indianapolis' east side to Laguna Seca on the California coast. Not counting drag strips or tracks that I stumbled on when they were not racing I come up with about 39. This year I added a new and very different track to my list. Chuckwalla Raceway.