Memorial Day weekend in the United States is many things–primarily, it is set aside so that we might remember those men and women who died serving the nation. And, yes, I will have a post on Monday to address that.
But another thing Memorial Day is famous for is the racing action from around the world. This is one of the few weekends where you can find me on the couch in front of the TV watching motor racing events.
First of the day is a stop in Monte Carlo to watch the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. The race there is steeped in history, from the time it first ran, to the early Formula One days. Drivers like Juan Fangio and Graham Hill would go on to win the race multiple times. One chap, Paul Hawkins, would wind up in the harbor after a shunt put him off course. The event was recreated on film for the James Garner movie "Grand Prix". Auto racing fans, if you have never seen this movie, you must–no excuses! (And "Le Mans" is also a must-see, as is "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby", as it does a better job of showcasing NASCAR than "Days of Thunder" ever hoped to!) The circuit in Monte Carlo is one of the tightest and twistiest on the Grand Prix schedule, so tight that were it to present to the FIA to host a race as a new facility, it would probably not be sanctioned. The fountain hairpin, the tunnel, the straight next to the harbor–all of these add an element of beauty to the race.
Next up is the Indianapolis 500. This year is the 100th Anniversary of the first long race held at the Speedway (but not the 100th Indy 500–there were no races in 1917, 1918, and from 1942-1945 due to the World Wars. Since 1996, the race has been a shadow of what it once was due to the split between the factions of North American open-wheel racing. 1996 saw the debut of Tony George's Indy Racing League, a racing series he started that saw cost control as their primary goal. Before that, Indy was a place where innovation shined. Smokey Yunick developed two memorable cars for the Indy 500: The Reverse Torque Special, a Watson powered by an Offenhauser engine he reworked to rotate in the opposite direction; and the Hurst Floor Shifter Special (or The Capsule Car), a car designed where the driver sat offset in a small driver's pod. In 1962, Smokey added a wing on the car to provide extra downforce to keep the car planted to the track. The wing was initially banned by the sanctioning body (USAC), but was later allowed.
This year, like last year, will see four women start the race. Unlike last year, I believe that all four have a shot at winning–even of they are long shots to do so. Also, there is a female team owner in Sarah Fisher–and I believe were she not pregnant, she'd be racing, too. In a way, she is–the racing team that bears her name hired Ed Carpenter–Tony George's stepson) to drive, and Ed is quite a good driver in his own right. The girls in the race include media darling Danica Patrick, driving the ever-present Go Daddy car; second year starters Ana Beatriz and Simona De Silvestro, and rookie Pippa Mann. Danica didn't qualify until the second day, but starts 26th. Simona, who burned her hands during a practice crash, will start her backup car 24th, Pippa starts 31st, and Ana starts 32nd.
And, then comes the longest race on the NASCAR calendar, the Coca-Cola 600. This race separates the manly men form the men–a car that lasts 500 miles may not last those last 100. Starting in the afternoon, the track changes as the day moves into evening, and then into darkness. Crew Chiefs and drivers need to be one step ahead on the set-up of the cars, and they need to make the right changes to keep pace with the changing track. The race is demanding–many drivers wind up dehydrated after this one's over.
Of course, I do miss the day when drivers could "Do the Double"–qualify for and run the Indy 500 that morning, hop a jet for Charlotte and suit up to run the Coke 600. When the races were held on different days, it made the task easier. Drivers who have done the double include Bobby and Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Lee Roy Yarbrough, John Andretti, Tony Stewart, and Robby Gordon. John, Tony, and Robby all did it in the "modern" era when the races were held on the same day. Tony Stewart is the only one of them to complete all 1,100 miles of racing on the same day, he did this in 2001. A start time change to the Indy 500 prevented drivers from doing the double for a few years, but this year, the Indy 500 start time was moved back, making it possible again to run both races, should one choose to do so. No drivers will attempt it this year, but who know if someone will step forward next year…
And, of course, the next big motorsports event–at least for me–will be in a few weeks (11/12 June), when the ACO hosts the 79th 24 Heures du Mans at le Circuit de la Sarthe. I'm sure I'll have something to post about that as the time nears, so stay tuned.
Be good to one another. I bid you Peace.