"Blog Extra August 8, 2010"

When reading Jim Donnelly's collaboration with Don Miller (retired VP Penske Racing South), I wasn't expecting to find out much more than what he did with Penske and the full fendered cars.

The book ("Miller's Time A Lifetime at Speed, Coastal 181 Publishing http://www.coastal181.com/) opened a window into the life of someone who changed the way drivers in all of auto racing make money. For it was Miller, working with Roger Penske, who put together what today would be looked at as a tiny trailer with what at the time was called "trinkets and trash" and discovered a revenue stream that, today insures racing drivers in all series a comfortable income--that is, of course the souvenir trailer. Miller was a drag racer of some repute, but was an even more effective marketer and builder of relationships. His relationship with the Captain's long time PR whiz Dan Luginbuhl, and what those two men would do to get the job done, were crucial to the success of Penske Racing.

Miller and Donnelly didn't sugarcoat the incident at Talladega in 1974 which cost Miller's right leg, and left him with injuries that plagued him through the years. Those would have sidelined a less dedicated person.

The most interesting facet of this book is the relationship building; not just those with Roger Penske, the Goodyear tire people, sponsors, drivers, media and fans--it includes the relationship he built, and maintains with Pat, his wife of some 48 some years. Some were fruitful, others not so much.

The net proceeds from this book are pledged to help fight child abuse and neglect in the Carolinas, which is reason enough to buy it. The other is for the window that Miller and Donnelly opens into the world of big time stock car racing.

We'll also link to Coastal181 (who's published books with Ken Schrader and the racing equivalent of the Eveready Energizer Bunny, Kenny "Herman" Wallace) from our listener page. That link is http://bit.ly/pHP28 .

Now more comments.

If a person or organization has built a relationship on openness and candor, then it causes the parties in the relationship--be they customers, fans, employees, contractors or competitors--cognitive dissonance when the first party in the relationship backs away from the openness and candor, and begins to suppress that in the name of protecting the "brand" or "relationship" (Our Twitter page says we tweet for thinkers; we've always blogged that way, and encourage you to research cognitive dissonance). Hint: it concerns perception and reality and the differences between what you think, and what really is.

If a party to a relationship backs away from candor, or punishes it, it begs some questions:

1. 
   
   Can the relationship ever regain full trust?


2. 
   
   What is the other party hiding?


3. 
   
   Is the relationship mutually beneficial, or is the other party trying to exert unfair control over the other party, when confronted with a show of equal power?

Let me state for the record that NASCAR is a private organization, and can do or say anything they please that is legal--and will most likely continue to do so. Their past history shows that they like to have a "gotcha" sanction and vague hammer that they can hold over the independent contractors who drive and compete in their series (Rule 12-A actions detrimental to stock car racing, and the absolute lack of specificity in all but the construction of the cars that compete in its series).

One does not build trust for the long run by having "gotcha's" in a relationship, be it personal or business. When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, there were no vague clauses--just simple, measurable, definable rules on a tablet for all to see.

NASCAR--get back to being Moses, and not a Pharisee.

Comments are welcomed, and moderated for propriety, grammar and length. The best ones may be mentioned on a future "Race-Talk" program.

"A Movable (or Moving) Feast"

Dawn overlooking one of the general camping areas at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, pretty full in some spots, plenty of room in others. One item not on the dance card today is rain--which our friends at Watkins Glen are dealing with even as we post. No race track is pleasant when it rains. And NASCAR does not have the equipment and skill (with the exception of Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose, Robby Gordon, Boris Said, Max Papis) to put on a competitive race in the rain. IndyCars do.

Mid-Ohio has been pleasant all weekend once settled in. Sometime after 4 PM, we will learn how pleasant the 2.1 mile natural road course has been been to the IndyCar drivers, led by polesitter and point leader Ryan Briscoe of Penske Racing.

Temperatures are scheduled to be in the 90's around race time. So any "loaded for bear" cloudy setups will be saved, perhaps for later in the season.

We will Tweet during the race, and post up our usual winner's snapshot afterwards.

"Long Beach IndyCars--Something for Everyone"

On the bottom--Dario Franchitti, who like Gil deFerran yesterday, found his way to Victory Lane at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Franchitti, with the win for owner Chip Ganassi over polesitter Will Power, now takes the series point lead to Kansas. He was challenged by Danica Patrick, who started 22nd and thanks to race strategist and team owner Michael Andretti, picked her way through the full course cautions and made it to second, before a fade to a 4th place finish.

On the top--Will Power and Helio Castroneves of Team Penske chatting after a post race media availability. Power gave up the #3 to Castroneves this weekend, as he agreed to do, and will next be in Penske livery at the corner of 16th St. and Georgetown Road in late May for the Indianapolis 500, a race where Mr. Penske has a solid record of accomplishment. Helio started 8th, led some laps, but also shuffled back in the pack--he finished 7th.

We will be back at the track in Richmond for Sprint Cup qualifying on May 1, and the race on May 2.

"Will Power on Pole; Can He Win His Way to A Full Time Ride?"

Will Power (center, black driving suit), last year's winner, sits on the pole for Sunday's 35th edition of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. This is a big deal, since all he had to do is acclimate himself to a new engineer and team, after putting the #3 car driven now by Helio Castroneves in front in Friday practice. It's a big deal, but do-able since he drives for Roger Penske, and "The Captain" is one of a few owners in any form of auto racing with the acumen and resources to pull this off. Power knows the way to Victory Lane, since he won here last April. Dario Franchitti made his return to Long Beach in fine style, starting alongside Power in 2nd. Teammate Scott Dixon also in the top 6 in 6th...as are Justin Wilson (5th), EJ Viso (4th), and Raphael Matos (3rd). Helio Castroneves did not get to the Fast 6 but was in the Swift 12...he'll take his first green of 2009 from the 8th starting spot. Other notables: St. Petersburg winner Ryan Briscoe starts 10th; Tony Kanaan 11th, Marco Andretti 19th, Danica Patrick 22nd.

The rhetorical question I ask is this: If Power wins, and attracts the interest of an advertiser with sufficient willingness and authority to commit to a sponsorship (yes, even in these times sponsors are there--but they are harder to find), would the "Captain" reconsider?

"The Captain Wins Again in St. Pete; Briscoe Takes IndyCar Green-White-Checker"

Ryan Briscoe survived a challenge by Ryan Hunter-Reay in the last two laps, to notch his third career win, and owner Roger Penske's third win here on the temporary downtown 1.8 mile street circuit. Justin Wilson was the beneficiary of a first lap incident that punted polesitter Graham Rahal from the lead. Wilson led the most laps, but was caught by Roger Penske's strategy, which put Briscoe in the lead. Hunter-Reay was catching Briscoe, but thought better of a last lap banzai move in the late stages of a caution filled Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The green-white-checker evolved because the last green flag of the race flew on lap 99 (green). The next lap was the white flag lap (100) and then the checker was shown first to Briscoe.

The win is the Captain's 30th victory since Penske Racing joined the IndyCar Series.

We'll blog from the NY International Auto Show later this week...and don't be surprised if you see something about our 800th Road Test somewhere else.

Smoke, Super Tex, Newman and the Captain

• Tony Stewart will formally apply to NASCAR for the numbers 4 and 14 for his Stewart-Haas Racing Team entries in 2008. The number 14, if you remember, was displayed on the cars driven by racing legend A. J. Foyt in Indy style competition. What drew "Smoke" to Super Tex? " I saw him (A. J.) get out of a car during the Indy 500 one year to beat on his car with a hammer. He then climbed back in and went back on the racetrack. I thought 'That guy is nuts.' " AJ gave Stewart his first Indy Car test in 1995 before the Indy Racing League was founded by Anton H. "Tony" George. They spent some quality time together during that test, and from that experience Smoke and Super Tex became fast friends.


• Tony's #14 Impala SS will be co sponsored by Office Depot and Old Spice, who distributed small towels to the news conference attendees. Wags wondered if the towels would survive the Milka Duno toss test.


• Still no word on the second driver at Stewart-Haas Racing--it's down to a short list of three and 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman is likely on that list.


• A controversy between Rusty Wallace and Newman concerning Newman's departure from Penske Racing South reared its head when Wallace stated in a Brickyard news conference that Penske let Newman go. Newman said that was not the case; the decision was more his than Roger's, and that their goals didn't align...that lack of alignment was, in Newman's words, "for that reason alone--we decided not to continue after 2008."


• In the first of two Sprint Cup practice sessions, Elliott Sadler was quick. In the second, past Brickyard winner Jimmie Johnson (you did remember that he is the defending Sprint Cup Champion?) set the fast time.

That's it for us on practice...we'll blog some pole stuff tomorrow.

The "Captain" Gets A Double

Ryan Briscoe used a classic Roger Penske pit strategy to get out in front of trouble, and win the Honda Indy 200 here at Mid-Ohio. Roger brought Briscoe in for tires early...and timed it right so the cautions fell Briscoe's way--that, and a fast Honda V8 is the story. Polesitter and teammate Helio Castroneves was a distant second...but considering his competition for the title(pointleader Scott Dixon) finished third...it was a good points day for the team. Briscoe is 5th in points after this, his 2nd IndyCar victory in 31 career starts. With Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas' win in yesterday's American LeMans Series LMP 2 class, this marks the 19th time that Penske Racing has pulled off a double victory, and the fourth time they've won two races at the same track. The 1-2 finish in the IndyCar race is Penske's 8th in the IndyCars and 35th in open wheel history (includes CART and Champ Car).

The Top 5 in IndyCar points:

Dixon 455

Castroneves 397

Kanaan 365

Wheldon 364

Briscoe 296

The IndyCars finish their "six pack" with their first Canadian appearance in Edmonton...I'll bet everyone will look forward to the week off on August 1-3...maybe tempers (are you listening Milka and Danica) will get a chance to cool down.

We'll rejoin you next weekend from the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road in Speedway, Indiana next week, for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Helio On Pole

Penske Racing is looking for an IndyCar and ALMS double here at Mid-Ohio. Helio Castroneves knows about winning here...he won Champ Car races here in 2000 and 2001. Helio won the pole...third of 2008 and second in a row. Teammate Ryan Briscoe made it an all-Penske front row. Point leader Scott Dixon starts an "uncharacteristic" 6th...but shed no tears--Dixon has won the last two IndyCar races here and is looking for his 3rd consecutive win here.

Of the 34 times that Helio has started on the pole (Champ Car and IndyCar) he's won 9 of them--a record six IndyCar series wins from the pole. Out of 109 IndyCar series races- Castroneves has started on the front row 44 times and in the top 5 in 73 races. What is it that the Captain, Roger Penske, says? Effort equals results.

We'll update you with the ALMS results shortly...some scary times in the pits for our polesitting car...more to come.

Post Race Richmond...TK adapts and overcomes

Tony Kanaan got back into the IndyCar Championship mix with a dominating win at Richmond--anytime a driver leads 164 of 300 laps, that can be described as dominance. His childhood pal Helio Castroneves didn't do badly...Roger Penske's lead IndyCar pilot drove from an uncharacteristic 18th place starting position to second place on the podium...good results for both.

Series point leader Scott Dixon looked as though he'd finish fourth (where he started after getting shuffled on some pitstops). His Ganassi Racing teammate Dan Wheldon was running third...but his car hiccuped on the last lap...Dixon snuck by for 3rd...and maintains a comfortable lead in the points as the series comes to our back yard--the Watkins Glen International Road Course--next weekend. It will be the third of six races in a row...Dixon won there in 2007.

That's where we'll blog from next weekend.

You might want to bookmark this site for more takes on the 141 count Grant v. NASCAR complaint.

More Than A FEW Reasons TO Bookmark this Blog:

The racing people have no manners :-)...part of the racing scenery changed dramatically after this week's edition of Race-Talk was produced, and while I drove out to Indianapolis:

• H. A. "Humpy" Wheeler is out as day to day boss at Lowe's Motor Speedway...he reportedly clashed with O. Bruton Smith, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and uber-boss. The announcement of his retirement was as sudden as any we've seen. Without his vision, competence, wisdom and good humor (you may thank Humpy for unleashing Robosaurus on NASCAR Nation), NASCAR style racing would still be a regional staple and sometime national curiosity. Conventional wisdom has Marcus Smith (Bruton's son) taking up the mantle of Lowe's leadership.
• Kentucky Speedway has been acquired by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. There are implications with the anti trust suit appeal, and the possibility of awarding a Sprint Cup date from some other track in the SMI galaxy (which has been ruled out by Jerry Gappens of New Hampshire, and Ed Clark of Atlanta), or, as garage area wags speculate...from the purchase of an independent track. Indianapolis is not included in that talk...Pocono or Dover come to mind in that scenario.
• Some of the most important attributes of a race driver include the ability to give good feedback to the team so changes to the car can be made quickly enough to go faster, and good judgement in situations. Penske Racing's Tim Cindric says the American LeMans Series brings that out in a driver--that's where Ryan Briscoe ran in 2007...and American Patrick Long runs in the second Porsche Spyder LMP2 car. Cindric confirms my assertion that the ALMS is the most technologically advanced series that runs in North America, even including Formula One.
• Tom Wurtz, Penske Racing's Team Manager for the 14 time Indy 500 winning Penske Racing Squad agrees. The three word explanation for Roger's success in racing: "Attention to Detail".
• The Carb Day final practice started, and was rain delayed...with Dan Wheldon running almost 224 miles an hour before practice was halted. The skies are brightening ever so slightly...the practice still on hold.

Greetings from St. Pete with Snapshots

Top--one of the fuel tanks in the pits for the American LeMans Series race here. This particular type of racing fuel is related to E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) which is becoming more available at pumps near you. Cellulosic ethanol is made from wood, which if you think about it, makes a lot of sense...because the pressure to use corn stocks to make ethanol could be lessened. The Corvettes and Aston Martins will run on the cellulosic ethanol blend this weekend.

Second--one of the aforementioned Corvettes getting ready to practice before qualifying later today.

Third--The overall winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring for the "Captain", Roger Penske. This car is driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas.

Bottom--the #7 Motorola Dallara Honda driven by Danica Patrick getting the thrice-over by the Andretti Green Racing team after practice. Justin Wilson (yep-one of those former Champ Car drivers who are now IndyCar series drivers) was the fastest in the first practice, clocking in at 102.014 miles an hour. Twenty six cars practiced. Patrick's car turned only 23 laps, with a best speed of 99.121 miles an hour.

Please remember that practice makes perfect...but in racing..it doesn't count until the green flag flies.

Busch, Tryson Dominate Pennsylvania 500; Andretti-Green 1-2 sweep in MIS crashfest

The Captain (Roger Penske) had the best day of all at Pocono...Kurt Busch gained points on Dale Earnhardt Jr by leading 175 of 200 laps at Pocono for his first race win since March 2006, and second win on the tricky 2.5 mile tri-oval. Busch beat his rival for the "transfer slot" for the Chase for the Championship, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.It was also the first Penske Racing win for new crew chief Pat Tryson. Busch (left) and Tryson (right) talked for a half hour after their Victory Lane duties were completed.

His IndyCar series drivers weren't so fortunate at Michigan--Tony Kanaan nipped Marco Andretti by .05 of a second to win the last IRL race at the 2 mile Michigan oval. Sam Hornish was credited with 9th place but wasn't running at the end. Last year's winner, Helio Castroneves, touched wheels with Vitor Meira and both crashed out on lap 58.

Busch tells us they get inspiration from having Tim Cindric (Penske Racing President) across the hall from their garage at Mooresville...and the fact that Penske Racing is one of the world's most successful road race operations is not lost on either Busch or Tryson. That said, both are on the way to Road Atlanta to test their Car of Tomorrow piece, which will run next weekend at Watkins Glen.

Though we're keeping a low profile...we'll keep our ear to the ground.

Pocono Spring 2007

The pit picture is that of the Nextel Cup pointleader, Jeff Gordon. Not a lot of room behind pit wall; even less on pit road itself...so it is no wonder Kurt Busch was whacked 100 points for getting close to a crewman at Dover...the other half of Team Penske, Ryan Newman, has his 3rd straight pole...and would like nothing better than to complete a Penske Racing IRL/NASCAR double...

This was a busy pit on Sunday, when the boss of that pit, Steve Letarte, made a call that put Gordon on a different strategy for fuel and tires (good thing, since the brakes were a bit flaky and that upset the balance of the car) and that put him in the lead...just enough to hold off Newman for the win on lap 106 of a 200 lap race...when the skies opened up as only they can over the Pocono Raceway.

Would you rather be lucky than good? Gordon now has enough points over Matt Kenseth in the Nextel Cup Championship, that he can take off with no real worries.

Pre-Race Musings from the Soggy Brickyard

Milka Duno (above) says she's ready to start her first Indianapolis 500. Milka starts 29th. The last starter is rookie Phil Giebler.

Musings:

• Penske Racing can never be counted out. They are masters of showing one facet, and concentrating on another to get one of their drivers up front...see 2006, when Sam Hornish won. By the way, 2 time 500 winner Helio Castroneves starts from the pole.
• Ganassi Racing is another contender, with IndyCar Series point leader Dan Wheldon, and Scott Dixon (who is one of my best Indy Car drivers who haven't won the 500)
• Andretti-Green has two sentimental favorites named Andretti (Michael, who has come so close in past years and says he'll hang up the helmet after Sunday and son Marco, who came so close in 2006). They have a dark horse in Tony Kanaan (another of the best drivers who haven't won Indy).
• My dark horse sentimental picks would be, in order, Sarah Fisher and John Andretti.
• I think, however, that Penske and Helio pick up another "Baby Borg" for winning the 500.

Posted at 11:58 am local time

Carburetion Day Snapshots/91st Indianapolis 500

Top--AJ Foyt giving guidance and motivation to his crew during the Carb Day run. AJ has 2 cars entered..the #14 of Darren Manning and the #50 of two time Indy winner, Al Unser, Jr.

Center--Al Unser, Jr. getting ready for the Carb Day run...he shook down the #50 (numbered in honor of Foyt's 50th year in the sport) with a fast lap of 217.158 miles per hour.

Bottom--Roger Penske looks over the telemetry while polesitter Helio Castroneves shakes down the pole winning car for the last time. The two time Indy 500 winner was 4th on the practice chart with a speed of 223.527 miles per hour.

Top Five Speeds on Carburetion Day:

1. Tony Kanaan/#11--225.467
2. Dario Franchitti/#27--223.807
3. Michael Andretti/#39--223.575
4. Helio Castroneves/#3--223.527
5. Jaques Lazier/#21--223.468

Other Past Champs:

• Sam Hornish, Jr./#6--222.981 7th Fastest
• Dan Wheldon/#10--222.199 13th Fastest
• Buddy Rice/#15--221.161 17th Fastest
• Buddy Lazier/#99--218.149 30th Fastest
• Al Unser, Jr.--/#50--217.158 31st Fastest

The Ladies:

• Danica Patrick/#7--222.862 8th Fastest
• Sarah Fisher/#5--218.173 29th Fastest
• Milka Duno/#23--211.658 33rd Fastest

Pit Crew Competition Results to follow.

Updated at 1:36 pm local.

Penske Racing and Helio Castroneves' crew win the Pit Crew Competition over his teammate Sam Hornish, Jr. Couple that with Ryan Newman's Pole at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and it's been a good 24 hours for Team Penske. See you Sunday.

Updated at 7:36 pm local

Race Day--April 1, St. Pete.

Catch-up from the ALMS race: Alan McNish & Rinaldo Capello kept the Audi R10 TDi win streak alive with the overall win at St. Petersburg. The duo fought back from a stop-and-go penalty and put the 12 cylinder diesel powered car in Victory Lane. Penske Racing won the LeMans Prototype 2 class with Saacha Maassen and Ryan Briscoe.

More to come, plus some pictures, later.

Helio Castroneves (top) won from the pole and beat Scott Dixon by 6/10ths of a second to win his 2nd consecutive Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "Spiderman" climbed the fence after notching his 18th career win in Indy Style cars. Castroneves led 95 laps, but had to nurse a balky gearbox...and fight off charges from Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Marco Andretti. Of Penske Racing's 133 wins in Indy style cars, 51 have been on street/permanent road courses. Don't cry for Dixon; his 2 consecutive second place finishes put him in the IndyCar series point lead with 80.

That's it for this weekend; next week we'll join you from "Glitter Gulch"--downtown Las Vegas--for the Champ Car World Series season opener.

Paul Kaminski

04/01/2007

Saturday, 3/31/2007, from St. Petersburg

Dan Wheldon crashed his car in practice for IndyCar qualifying later this afternoon...it's the second hard whack he has taken in successive weeks. Wheldon's OK, not so the car. Dario Franchitti hit in Turn 8...he's also OK.

The GT American LeMans series cars are louder than the LeMans, Sebring and 2006 LeMans Prototype 1 championship winning 12 cylinder Audi R10 TDi diesel powered LMP1 car. No diesel clatter, smoke or anything like the stereotypical truck diesel from the tailpipe of either Audi.

We'll add a picture or two from our travels later on.

Paul Kaminski

11:34 am

Add Tony Kanaan to the crashers...he was the fastest IndyCar qualifier, crashed in the Fast Six session to decide the pole. Kanaan's time was scratched because he brought out the yellow; defending winner Helio Castroneves from Team Penske (above, after post qualifying news conference) sets a track record of 105.052 miles an hour to win the pole. Marco Andretti starts 2nd.

3:44 pm

Pictures from the Pit & Paddock at St. Petersburg's Honda Indy Grand Prix and Acura Sports Car Challenge

Top--The Andretti-Green Racing Acura ARX-01a (LeMans Prototype 2 winner at Sebring) driven by Bryan Herta, and Marino Franchitti (Dario's brother). The car will start 5th in Saturday's American LeMans Series street debut for 2007. Penske Racing's Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard start their Porsche RS Spyder on the pole (102.794 miles per hour).

Middle--The Audi R10 TDi diesel (LeMans Prototype 1 winner at Sebring), driven by Rinaldo Capello, Alan McNish and the ace of LeMans (24 Hours), 4 time winner Tom Kristensen. The car will start 3rd overall (102.184 miles per hour). McNish qualified the car, but crashed during qualifying.

Bottom--Tony Kanaan's 7-11 Dallara Honda after the first practice session.

IndyCar Top 2 in Combined Qualifying--Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan were 1-2. The 2 time Indy 500 winner clocked in with a 105.192 mile per hour lap; Kanaan a tick slower at 105.043 mph.

That's it for Friday; Saturday is pole day for the IndyCars and race day for the American Le Mans cars.

Paul Kaminski

3/30/2007

Indy Cars at the "World Center of Racing (tm)"

We don't get excited about testing. 2 time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was second fastest to his Brazilian friend, Tony Kanaan in the first day of road course testing at Daytona International Speedway. "Spiderman" says the 5th through 8th turns on this are rather bumpy...not unlike the temporary road/street course in St. Petersburg, FL.

Danica Patrick still wants that first win so badly, she can just about taste it. And she has not yet fallen victim to the "merry pranksters" at Andretti-Green Racing.

Sarah Fisher returns to the Dreyer & Reinbold team for the ovals in 2007--her teammate is 2004 Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice.

Helio has a full slate of parties in Miami...he says he'll rent a couch to Tim Cindric (Penske Racing Boss) for the Super Bowl weekend.

Paul Kaminski

1/31/2007