Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy headlines
1. Pocono race gets extended to 500 miles
2. Dixon, Wilson nominated for Autosport Awards
3. Competition continues after season’s end
4. Boy Scouts do a good deed
1. Pocono race gets extended to 500 miles: INDYCAR fans in the northeast will get more racing on July 4 weekend.
Pocono Raceway announced its IndyCar Series event will be called the Pocono INDYCAR 500 fueled by Sunoco, and add 100 miles (50 laps) to the series’ return to the “Tricky Triangle.”
“I’m very excited about these changes for 2014,” said Brandon Igdalsky, Pocono Raceway President and CEO. “After last year’s IndyCar Series race, droves of open-wheel fans immediately took to our social media channels, sent emails, called us to let us know they wanted more.
“The fans spoke, we listened and we made some changes. The one thing not changing next season, however, will be the ticket prices to see these great, competitive events!”
The historic return of Indy car racing to Pocono Raceway in 2013 started with Pennsylvania-native Marco Andretti breaking the track qualifying record and saw a race featuring daring passes, average lap speeds surpassing 196 miles per hour and a late-race strategy which paid off in victory.
2013 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon won the long anticipated 400-mile race and kicked off a mid-season reawaking, which eventually led to his third championship.
“I think this is really exciting for Pocono, the drivers and all the Indy car fans out there,” Dixon said. “It will certainly change the race strategy at Pocono next year, for sure. This year’s race was highly competitive and the addition of 100 miles is going to make it even better.”
It also means that the three Fuzzy’s Triple Crown races – Indianapolis 500, Pocono INDYCAR 500 and MAVTV 500 – will all be the traditional 500-mile races.
Any driver who wins all three races – a feat only accomplished by Al Unser in 1978 – will earn a $1 million bonus from Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka. A driver who wins two of the three will receive a $250,000 bonus.
“I’ve also been a huge fan of the (Fuzzy’s) Triple Crown races,” Dixon said. “And we now have a more defined title with three 500-mile events with history and prestige on the line.”
2. Dixon, Wilson nominated for Autosport Awards: Scott Dixon and Justin Wilson are among the nominees for an Autosport Award in 2013.
Dixon is nominated in the International Racing Driver of the Year category. Wilson is among the nominees for British Competition Driver of the Year.
“It’s such an honor to be nominated, but looking at the other nominees, it could be tough to win the vote,” Dixon said. “I’ve never been to the Autosport Awards, so I’m hoping that I will be able to go over and attend.”
3. Competition continues after season’s end: Just because the 2013 INDYCAR season has ended doesn’t mean drivers can’t feed their competitive fire.
Tony Kanaan, who concluded the IZOD IndyCar Series season Oct. 19 with a third-place finish in the 500-mile MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway in California, will compete in another endurance event Oct. 27 when the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion will consecutively swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles in the City Bikes IROMAN 70.3 Miami.
Kanaan has been participating in IRONMAN events the past few years, including the world championships in Hawaii. It’s the fourth straight year he’s competed in his hometown’s 70.3 event.
“Miami is the best city in the whole world,” said Kanaan during an interview for the IRONMAN 70.3 Miami Press Conference. “I live in Miami. I could live anywhere; but nowhere compares to the weather, the people, the party or just relaxing by the beach. IRONMAN 70.3 Miami adds so much life to the city.”
Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda champion Scott Hargrove, a Team Canada Scholarship driver, will compete in the 42nd Formula Ford Festival this weekend at Brands Hatch in England.
Joey Bickers and Jake Eidson, Team USA Scholarship winners, also will drive.
The following weekend at Silverstone is the 13th Walter Hayes Trophy race in which Freedom 100 winner Peter Dempsey will compete. Last year, Team USA Scholarship driver Tristan Nunez won the Grand Final. All competitors race Formula Ford 1600 cars.
Ryan Briscoe, who competed in seven IZOD IndyCar Series races this past season, will compete in the V8 Supercars Armor All Gold Coast 600 this weekend in Surfers Paradise, Australia.
The Sydney native, who won the last Indy car race on the circuit in 2008, will co-drive with Russell Ingall in the final round of the Pirtek Enduro Cup. They teamed to finish 17th in the Oct. 13 Bathurst 1000.
4. Boy Scouts do a good deed: The Boy Scouts of America have created a “Get Well, Justin” blog on which you can send a message to the IZOD IndyCar Series driver, who is recuperating and rehabilitating at home from injuries suffered in the MAVTV 500 on Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway.
“It has been amazing, several of the drivers came and visited me in the hospital and everyone has called, tweeted, or texted me just saying ‘get well fast’. It has been a little overwhelming,” Wilson said. “I’d like to respond to everyone, but I think it would be impossible! I am grateful for the support, and it is really encouraging for me.”
