http://www.tracksideonline.com A subscription news service that provides the latest news and information regarding the Indy Racing League. en-us Copyright © 2003-2005 TrackSide Online. All Rights Reserved 02-Jul-2009 joe@tracksideonline.com Far from "lost and insecure," you could find the Grammy Award-nominated band, The Fray, at Sarah Fisher Racing today, where Sarah Fisher gave the lead singer, Issac Slade, a tour of her headquarters and a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Denver-based lead vocalist of The Fray spent the day with Fisher while he was in Indianapolis in advance of his concert on the Lawn at White River State Park tonight at 7:00 p.m. with opener Jacks Mannequin. During Slade's visit at Fisher's race shop, he got to feel what it was like to sit in an IndyCar Series car, as well as test his skills on the teams Simcraft racing simulator, which simulates a real-life racecar driving experience complete with full motion. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15290 McDonald's driver Graham Rahal and teammate Robert Doornbos have been looking forward to this weekend's Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen since the start of the 2009 IndyCar Series season. The 11-turn, 3.4 mile permanent road course is the first of its kind on the 17-race schedule so far this season and both drivers are excited to get back on a road course for Round 9. "I would say that everyone on the entire team is looking forward to some road races," said Rahal, who is looking to carry momentum from his highest finish of the season to date of third last Saturday in Richmond where he became the first transition team driver to earn a podium on an oval. "We have momentum on our side and I think that over the next few races the opportunity for a win for our team is very high. We ought to be amongst the best on the road and street courses." http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15289 Dreyer and Reinbold Racing is eager to get back on a road course and continue their success at the famous Watkins Glen International Raceway. This will mark the team's fifth time to compete at the 3.37 mile circuit and who better to do it with than road racing pro, Mike Conway, who will pilot the No. 24 Dad's Root Beer machine and Milka Duno will get behind the wheel of the No. 23 CITGO car. The team feels extra prepared this weekend because they had the opportunity to test at Watkins Glen International Raceway the beginning of June with Mike Conway, Milka Duno and Tomas Scheckter. The trio had a very successful test. The famed road course has been good to DRR for the past three years. They have had one car in the top six in each of the last three races at the track. In 2006, Ryan Briscoe gave the team their first podium with a third place finish. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15288 The summer schedule is in full swing this weekend as Sam Schmidt Motorsports comes fresh from a 1-2-3-5 finish at the Iowa Speedway (the team's first podium sweep) to this weekend's road course event at the Watkins Glen International Raceway. Practice begins on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. EDT with a 45-minute session. Qualifying follows at 1:45 p.m. Final practice takes place on Saturday at 9 a.m., and the Firestone Indy Lights race starts that afternoon at 1. All on track-sessions can be viewed live via streaming video on indycar.com. The television broadcast of the Corning 100 airs on Monday, July 6, at 11 p.m. EDT on VERSUS. SPEED READ Sam Schmidt Motorsports looks to defend race win in Watkins Glen. Wade Cunningham and Ana Beatriz seek return visit to the Glen's podium. James Hinchcliffe, fresh off best oval finish, looks forward to first race on famed course. Gustavo Yacaman, youngest driver in series, looks for third top-five in a row. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15287 My name is Dave Reininger and I will be your Trackside Online host for this weekend’s racing at Watkins Glen. If you would like to contact me with questions I can be reached at roadtest@att.net. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15286 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15285 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15284 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15283 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15282 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15281 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15280 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15279 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15278 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15277 The following is an IMS Press Release: EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT CHANGES ANNOUNCED AT HULMAN and COMPANY, INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, June 30, 2009 – The Board of Directors of Hulman and Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced June 30 that a new management team comprised of veteran IMS executives W. Curtis Brighton and Jeffrey G. Belskus will head the Hulman-George companies effective July 1. Brighton, currently executive vice president and chief legal counsel, will become president and CEO of Hulman and Company. Belskus, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer for the companies, will become president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation. They will replace Tony George, who will no longer serve as president and chief executive officer of the Hulman-George companies but will remain a board member of the Hulman-George companies. "Our board had asked Tony to structure our executive staff to create efficiencies in our business structure and to concentrate his leadership efforts in the Indy Racing League," said Mari Hulman George, IMS chairman of the board. "He has decided that with the recent unification of open-wheel racing and the experienced management team IMS has cultivated over the years, now would be the time for him to concentrate on his team ownership of Vision Racing with his family and other personal business interests he and his family share. "Tony will remain on the Board of Directors of all of our companies, and he will continue to work with the entire board to advance the interests of all of companies. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15276 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15275 http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15274 KV Racing Technology driver Mario Moraes finished 16th today in the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Virginia. Moraes, who made his second appearance on the .75-mile Richmond short oval, qualified 19th. However, during final practice yesterday he had an incident that sent the #5 Azul - Votorantim - KV Racing Technology crew scurrying to affect repairs. After working late into Friday evening and part of Saturday the crew had the car ready for the 8:45 p.m. start. Moraes went down a couple of laps early in the contest when the yellow flags did not fall his way forcing him to pit under the green, always a problem on a short oval. However, the determined Brazilian showed his mettle and battled for the remainder of the race which featured virtually no passing. An aggressive race strategy, outstanding pit work by his crew and a solid drive by Moraes keep him in the contest and often running the same times as the leaders. Moraes picked up 14 points for his performance and remains 16th in the standings with 122 points, just 22 out of 11th place. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15273 The Suntrust Indy Challenge was filled with ups and downs for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing in Richmond, Virginia today. The team's drivers, Tomas Scheckter (No. 23 MonaVie) and Mike Conway (No. 24 Dreyer and Reinbold Racing), finished 11th and 18th respectively. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15272 Panther Racing driver Dan Wheldon captured the National Guard team's seventh consecutive Top Ten finish Saturday during an uneventful race at Richmond International Raceway. Wheldon, who started 13th, overcame two untimely caution flags to finish in 10th position. The result leaves the team in the sixth position in the IndyCar Series points standings, as the IndyCar Series will hit the road next weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway - the first in a string of non-oval events. http://www.tracksideonline.com/news/story.php?id=15271