By:
GABlogs
On:
9/2/2009 6:30 PM
Posted To: Grand-Am
Indianapolis … “The Racing Capital of the World.” Wednesday, nine Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 teams unloaded in the garage, preparing for Thursday’s special test.
Some were in awe of the 100-year-old facility. “This is C-O-O-L,” said GT championship leader Leh Ken, joined by his dad, McGrath. “I was walking out of the front straight, by the yard of bricks, and it was real exciting. Then I thought, wow, I’m going to get to drive it tomorrow.”
John Pew arrived extra early, to tour the Speedway museum. "This is like being at the Roman Coliseum for the first time,” Pew said. “This place has a lot of history.”
Others were a little more reserved. “Just another garage, just another pit lane,” Sylvain Tremblay said. “What is special is what happens tomorrow on the asphalt.”
Competitors will test the Speedway’s Formula One layout from 10 a.m. until noon. Then from 1-3 p.m., they’ll tackle the MotoGT circuit.
Five Daytona Prototypes (No. 01 Ganassi, No. 6 Shank, No. 10 SunTrust, No. 99 Spirit of Daytona and No. 99 GAINSCO) are on hand, joined by three GT teams (No. 57 Stevenson and TRG), with the No. 87 Farnbacher Loles transporter still en route.
In addition to many of the usual drivers, several car owners and crew chiefs will take a turn at the wheel tomorrow. But that’s not all. A number of special guests are expected – and a few of them will even get to drive. “Just look around this place,” said Michael Shank, making his second visit to the Speedway. “This has a whole different drive than other tracks. This is the place that hooked me. I’m just excited to be in the garage – let alone being on the track tomorrow.”
Michael Johnson has been at two Speedway events – the Indy 500 “the year Robbie McGehee, who grew up with me, was a rookie” and a Formula One race. He doesn’t remember who won either race.
“This is cool,” said Johnson, who might drive a lap in the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Pontiac. “Everybody wants to go to Indy.”
Andrew Deatherage came with the Speedsource team directly from Montreal – where he helped repair the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda, working in a shop on fabled Gasoline Alley. A former AMA pro motorcycle racer (he was once the top independent rider in the Daytona 200), he wished he could have attended Sunday’s MotoGP race.
“This is awesome,” Deatherage said. “This facility is unbelievable. Look at all the professionalism. It’s amazing even to test here.” First Rolex Series car on pit road – the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley. Both Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas were on hand Wednesday in the paddock. “I’ve been here once or twice before,” Pruett said with a smile.
Tomorrow will be a day of many more firsts at Indianapolis.
