TrackSide Online: Reader Supported IndyCar News

Some of the latest content you find here is only available to TSO subscribers. Twelve months of TrackSide Online costs just $22, and you can signup here.

Indy 500 Carb Day - Close

Posted on 5/24 • Full Article

After that amazing Lights finish, Carlos Munoz admitted that he had thought about lifting and letting Sage Karam into the lead - he did not think leading on the last lap was going to be the right plan.

He had to lift a little bit in the last corner to not hit Sage Karam - probably the exact wrong time to lift, but no other option at that point.

Munoz is still focused on the Lights championship and advancing up to INDYCAR - he actually didn't seem too upset about losing that close of a race.

It did tighten up the championship, as the three cars in front of him were all championship contenders. He has a 27 point lead over Peter Dempsey, 28 point lead over Gabby Chaves, and a 29 point lead over Sage Karam. Jack Hawksworth, who came into the race in second, is now fifth and 35 points behind Munoz.

Both Gabby Chaves and Sage Karam thought they were in the right place on the last lap - Karam had been hoping to be in second place, while Chaves had been saving his tires for the last lap the entire time. Chaves was not lifting on the last lap as he made matters three-wide, and he probably thought he was fine until he saw Dempsey coming up in his mirrors.

Karam - in the middle - could feel his car moving back and forth from the wind off the other two cars. He tried downshifting to fifth unsuccessfully, then saw Dempsey in his mirrors and said "Oh my gosh, I'm going to get third".

Karam and Chaves live in the same apartment complex, so Sage joked their neighbors would be kept awake by the sound of each of them crying themselves to sleep. Both were still frustrated to come so close and to lose.

Indianapolis 500 �Carb Day� Final Practice Report

Posted on 5/24 • Full Article

TrackSide Online Photos

Visit the TrackSide Online Photo Gallery...

INDYCAR News from around the Internet:

MILLER: Indy Needs To Become The Week Of May (May 18, 2013 07:13)
I know Mark Miles wants to bring back track records and innovation and most of us old-schoolers would love to see it. Those two things might entice a few thousand people more to return to 16th & Georgetown and, combined with a compacted schedule and prime time television, maybe we’d see a spike both places. But, from somebody who never thought a month was enough time for the Indy 500, it’s time to face the reality that people are too busy nowadays or don’t care like we used to about the Speedway. The fact remains it’s still the greatest spectacle in racing but those old days of practice and qualifying ain’t coming back and neither are the crowds. So cut your losses, ramp up the energy and make it the most exciting week of the year.

Roger Penske would like to rule forever, but who will eventually be the next Captain? - Autoweek (Feb 28, 2013 12:22)
“You don't plan for retirement. At least I'm not,” Penske said. “I'm planning to stay active both in my business and on the racing side as long as I'm healthy. “From a racing perspective, Tim Cindric is a partner of mine in the race teams. He's certainly developed leadership skills and I think has the authority and discipline, and I think from the standpoint of the rest of the people on the race team feel he is a great leader and would support him if I wasn't here now. “Obviously, the decision in the future, if I'm not here, that'll be a different discussion, but that's one we try not to have to prepare for at the moment. Things happen, but we have a good management structure with our companies, key leadership people who know the business and help build it, because you can't go by yourself. My experience on other boards of directors and how we set up for that, I think we're well-positioned. From a racing perspective, the guys you see today are the guys you'll see tomorrow. I just hope I can be a part of that for a long time.”

MILLER: Amateur Hour At 16th & Georgetown (Oct 27, 2012 06:59)
Nobody deserves this daily dose of National Enquirer treatment, especially someone who has worked as hard as Bernard. All this does is make IndyCar look like a second-rate organization that is out of control because there is no unity or communication between the series, home office and board of directors. And it’s not only damaging to current or potential sponsors, tracks and promoters, I’m sure it’s becoming a real concern to partners Honda, GM, IZOD and APEX Brazil. If you don’t think they’re all evaluating what in the hell is going on, I think you’d be mistaken.

Bone marrow drive to honor Michael Wanser | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com (Oct 24, 2012 08:02)
What: "Iron Man" Blood and Bone Marrow Drive, in honor of Michael Wanser. When: Noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 at Marsh supermarket, 5 Boone Village, Zionsville. Contact: You can schedule an appointment at www.DonorPoint.org. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pages/ Iron-Man-Mike-and-Wanser-Family-prayer- page/287795161249737.

IndyCar isn't for sale - but maybe it should be - NASCAR News | FOX Sports on MSN (Oct 22, 2012 15:00)
No, IndyCar should not be sold to founder Tony George, who cited the conflict of interest in his recent attempt to reacquire the series in his Friday resignation from the Hulman & Co. board of directors. But if there is a buyer out there willing to step in and put an end to the drama and put the focus instead on growth, stability and IndyCar's strong on-track product, then by all means, open the bidding. Wasn't it just five weeks ago that Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American to win the IndyCar title since 2006? And Chevrolet wrapped up the manufacturer championship in its first year back in the series after a six-year absence? That capped a season that saw the debut of IndyCar's first new car in nine years, eight different on-track winners, parity down the grid and a thrilling Indianapolis 500. It was one of the most exciting IndyCar seasons in history, and some might even argue the racing is the best on-track product in any current motorsports series. Why isn't anyone talking about any of that? Because every single bit of it has been overshadowed again and again by off-track nonsense. Something has got to give in IndyCar. Now. Before it's too late for the series to ever get any solid footing in this country again.

IndyCar reps coming to Pocono Raceway press conference Monday | PoconoRecord.com (Sep 28, 2012 16:21)
Pocono Raceway has scheduled a press conference Monday morning to release a major announcement concerning the Pocono 2013 schedule. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard will on hand, as well as 1969 Indianapolis 500 champion Mario Andretti and Ed Carpenter, winner of 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season finale, Ed Carpenter. Earlier this month, the raceway announced it was in negotiations to bring IndyCar back to the track. It wouldn't be a first for Pocono. It held 19 IndyCar races from 1971 until 1989, when it dropped it for financial reasons. An IndyCar race would open up an entirely new customer base for Pocono Raceway, according to Pleban. The racetrack features NASCAR racing now. He said no physical changes would need to be made to the track or any of its facilities to host the race.

Chris Economaki Dies At Age 91 | National Speed Sport News (Sep 28, 2012 09:13)
The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism has died. Chris Economaki, who began selling single copies of National Speed Sport News at age 14 and eventually became the publication’s editor, a position he held for 60 years, died early this morning at age 91.

INDYCAR: Series Outlines Possible Technical, Rules Changes For 2013 (Sep 10, 2012 21:18)
By the time the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Season kicks off, the Dallara DW12 will have undergone more testing miles than any Indy car in recent history. Its aerodynamic specification has seen numerous changes, and along with a few tweaks to the rest of the package, more could be on the way as the series heads into next season. In our most recent interview, Will Phillips, INDYCAR’s VP of Technology, touched on some of where the series intends to develop the DW12 for 2013, and outlined a few of the policies and procedures related to the car that are up for review.

California Dreamin’ – Indycar impressions | The Buxton Blog (Aug 28, 2012 21:00)
The simple fact is, Indycar works. It works because it is fun. It works because it understands how racing should be and what the fans should get for the price of their ticket. I have come away a convert. Many were the times I spoke with lifers in the Indycar paddock who were thrilled with the way the season was going. To many of them, Indycar is headed along a path that will see it return to the golden age of the early 90s. And I believe them. Just like the first time I saw an F1 car in the flesh, like the first GP2 test I attended, like the first time I stood trackside at Monaco, my weekend in Sonoma made my heart sing. I’ll be honest, my weekend in California saw me fall a little bit in love… all over again.

Danica Patrick ousted by James Hinchcliffe on GoDaddy.com home page | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com (Jul 10, 2012 07:59)
Hinch has made the home page. IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has knocked NASCAR star Danica Patrick off of the GoDaddy.com home page. The 25-year-old Canadian replaced Patrick at Andretti Autosport this season following her full-time move to NASCAR.