Chicago Sun-Times

Franchitti, Castroneves thirst for the legacy of four Indy 500 wins

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:41:57 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — For all the stories about heartbreak at the Brickyard, two drivers will have an opportunity to race into history at the 97th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti each will be gunning for his fourth 500 victory. In a century of racing, only three drivers — A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears — have reached that pinnacle. And all three are legends. ‘‘I dream every night about it,’’ Castroneves said. ‘‘But there are so many other drivers that are thinking they want to get their first. I’m not thinking about the result. I’m thinking …

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:12:00 -0500

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Fallen TV cable at Charlotte NASCAR event injures 10 fans

Sun, 26 May 2013 22:00:05 -0500

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Motor Speedway said 10 fans were injured Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 and three of them were taken to the hospital after a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell from the grandstands and landed on the track surface. According to CMS spokeswoman Danielle Frye the three people taken to the hospital had “minor injuries that are not life threatening.” CMS said in a statement earlier that seven people were treated with “minor cuts and scrapes” on site and released. Fox Sports announcer Chris Myers apologized to fans and drivers on air …

Tony Kanaan wins Indianapolis 500 on 12th attempt

Sun, 26 May 2013 15:04:27 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Kanaan, whose Brickyard career had been marked by disappointment, finally broke through on Sunday, when he won the 97th Indianapolis 500. Kanaan had notched six top 10 finishes in his previous 11 starts, and had led the most laps among active drivers with an Indy 500 win. Rookie Carlos Munoz was second. Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third. “This is it, man. I made it,” Kanaan said. “We were known for not winning and now we’re known for winning.” It was one of the most competitive 500-mile races the Brickyard has seen. With 50 laps to go, there already …

Graham Rahal earns racing stripes before driving for pop Bobby

Sat, 25 May 2013 02:07:46 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — Unlike Chicago politicians who think government is their family business, Bobby Rahal thinks the next generation should earn its spurs — even in a family business. When his son, Graham, showed a passion for auto racing, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner wanted him to go drive for others. So Graham began a journey that included stints with Newman/Haas/Lanigan and Target/Ganassi. He experienced the high of becoming the youngest IndyCar race-winner when he took the checkered flag at St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2008. He also knew the low of 2010, when he scrambled to drive for four teams after …

Fuzzy Zoeller on Sergio-Tiger feud: ‘who cares?’

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:23:20 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — It has been quite a week for Fuzzy Zoeller. First, Ed Carpenter puts the car sponsored by Fuzzy’s Premium Vodka on the pole for the 97th Indianapolis 500. Then Sergio Garcia makes a remark about Tiger Woods and fried chicken, a comment similar to the one that got Zoeller in trouble in 1997. ‘‘You’ve got two players in a [sparring] match,’’ Zoeller said Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ‘‘Who cares? It’s sports. There’s going to be feuds here this week. Some, you’ll hear about. Some, you won’t.’’ Unlike Zoeller’s indiscretion, which was a gaffe unto itself, Garcia’s comment …

One-man gang Ed Carpenter nails down Indy 500 pole

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:40:37 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis 500 is a Memorial Day tradition. But Ed Carpenter made a declaration of independents on Saturday when he captured the pole for this year’s race. By holding off the Andretti and Penske juggernauts in a nine-car shootout, Carpenter, who operates his own one-car team, struck a blow for the little guy. “This is awesome,’’ Carpenter said. “It’s bigger than our wins. It’s huge for the team. It’s definitely a landmark day. “But I want to make sure we keep our focus. I hope this is part one of a really magical month. We’re here for race …

Andretti drivers get on the gas during rain-shortened Fast Friday

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:17:38 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS — Bolstered by the 40-50 mph boost in horsepower they were given for Fast Friday, Indianapolis 500 racers got down to the business of dialing in their cars for qualifying for Pole Day on Saturday. As expected, speeds increased by 4-5 mph. It also wasn’t surprising that Andretti Autosport drivers continued to set the pace at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Andretti teammates E.J. Viso (229.537 mph), Marco Andretti (228.754) and rookie Carlos Munoz (228.520) were the fastest before a nasty thunderstorm shut down practice early. Munoz (225.163) and Andretti (225.100) had been the fastest before Friday, while Viso (224.221) …

Call before Dick Trickle’s death warned ‘there would be a dead body’

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:26:00 -0500

CONCORD, N.C. — There is that lasting image of Dick Trickle in the Winston 500 lighting up a cigarette while driving his stock car with his knees during a caution lap. He places the cigarette through a hole he carved in his helmet for a quick toke and exhales. The green flag hits and out the window goes the cigarette butt and back to racing goes Trickle. “Dick always had a cigarette lighter in his car,” said fellow NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine. Trickle was unique driver with a unique name that found cult-like status before his death Thursday. Trickle, whose …

NASCAR: As Chase action opens in Joliet, Toyota’s chances look good

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 06:41:11 -0500

Is NASCAR nation ready for a Sprint Cup champion affiliated with a foreign automaker? ‘‘I think they need to be,’’ Martin Truex Jr. said, ‘‘because there is a pretty good chance of it happening this year.’’ Truex is one of three Toyota drivers in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which opens with the GEICO 400 on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. Truex’s teammate at Michael Waltrip Racing, Clint Bowyer, and points leader Denny Hamlin all drive Toyotas. The trio gives the Japanese automaker its strongest chance of having a championship driver for the first time since Toyota …

Danica Patrick lifts Daytona 500 TV ratings

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:06:01 -0500

NEW YORK — With Danica Patrick starting from the pole, the Daytona 500’s television ratings were much higher than last year’s. Sunday afternoon’s race earned a 9.9 rating and 22 share on Fox, the network said Tuesday. That’s up 24 percent from 2012, when rain pushed the event to a Monday night. It was the highest rating since 2008. Jimmie Johnson won the race while Patrick was eighth, the best finish by a woman at the Daytona 500. The race had plenty of buildup: Patrick making history as the first woman to start a Sprint Cup race from the pole, …

Johnson wins second Daytona 500; Patrick finishes 8th

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:08:07 -0500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jimmie Johnson has won his second Daytona 500, racing past defending NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski on the final restart, while Danica Patrick finished eighth.

At least 33 fans injured after massive car wreck at Nationwide race in Daytona

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:03:03 -0500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — At least 33 fans were injured Saturday during a NASCAR race when a car flew into the fence at Daytona International Speedway, hurling a tire and large pieces of debris into the stands. The accident happened on the last lap of the second-tier Nationwide Series event on the eve of Sunday’s Daytona 500, which officials said would go on as scheduled. The crash began as the field approached the checkered flag and leader Regan Smith attempted to block Brad Keselowski to preserve the win. That triggered a chain reaction, and rookie Kyle Larson hit the cars …

Debris from fiery crash at NASCAR race injures at least 30 fans

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:00:51 -0500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A last-lap accident during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway sent rookie Kyle Larson’s car sailing into the fence that separates the track from the seats, and large chunks of Larson’s car landed in the grandstands. The car itself had its entire front end sheared off, with a piece of burning engine wedged through a gaping hole in the fence.

Danica Patrick admits to relationship with fellow driver

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:08:28 -0500

Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. confirmed Friday they are in a romantic relationship while preparing to race each other at 200 mph every week for Sprint Cup rookie of the year. Patrick and her Stewart-Haas Racing team didn’t respond immediately to requests for comment. Spokesman David Higdon told USA TODAY Sports NASCAR had recently learned of the coupling, reported by the Associated Press. “This relationship in no way violates any rules or regulations of the sport, so we have zero concerns, particularly since we’re talking about two fiercely competitive individuals who both want to win NASCAR races and be …

Jeff Gordon defends NASCAR fight with Clint Bowyer

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:27:51 -0500

Jeff Gordon was fed up with Clint Bowyer and decided the final laps of Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway was a good time to take out a season’s worth of frustration. Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer’s No. 15 Toyota late in the AdvoCare 500, a move that ruined both cars and led to a melee between the teams in the garage and Bowyer to say that Gordon’s action “makes us look like a bunch of (idiots).” NASCAR met with both drivers after Sunday’s race in a Sprint Cup Series hauler guarded by five sheriff’s officers at one point. …