Racing Notebook
Racing Notebook – Tuesday, January 28
PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Scott Dixon wins his 3rd Rolex watch, a recap of Kyle Busch’s Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as some NASCAR, IndyCar and Local Racing News are in today’s Racing Notebook:
SCOTT DIXON WINS THIRD ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
Five-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Scott Dixon is the 15th driver in Rolex 24 At Daytona history to win three overall victories in the twice-around-the-clock endurance event.
Dixon picked up his third Rolex watch this wekeend as one of the co-drivers in Wayne Taylor Racing’s winning No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R (pictured above). Only six drivers have won more.
Dixon, who drives the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series, claimed overall Rolex 24 victories in 2006 and 2015 with Chip Ganassi’s team, which did not field an entry this year.
“We had times during the race with adversity, but the team was able to rebound with strategy and the driver lineup just worked through it in a calm manner, which is hard to do,” said Dixon. “I’ve been a part of many 24-hour races in my career, but to come back from the many deficits we had in this race showed the absolute commitment from the team. I’m really proud to be a part of the team, and I have to thank Chip (Ganassi) for letting me join Wayne (Taylor), Max (Angelelli) and everyone at Konica Minolta. We’re Winners, that’s all that counts.”
Dixon went from Daytona to Australia to compete in the fames Bathurst 12-hour sports car race. Dixon will co-drive the No. 76 Aston Martin of R-Motorsport with Jake Dennis and Rick Kelly.
KYLE BUSCH IMPRESSES IN ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA DEBUT
Kyle Busch participated in his first Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race this past weekend, getting behind the wheel of AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.
Busch completed four driving stints encompassing more than 6-hours behind the wheel. Busch was fast enough to make up last on track and had the fastest lap in the car up until the last driver change.
“There was a lot going on and a lot to learn and kind of pick-up on and figure out,” said Busch. “Overall it was good. We had a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. Unfortunately we just got a little behind with a brake change, had some issues on the right-front caliper. I guess that got us a little farther back than we wanted to be.”
Busch’s team owner, 1996 IndyCar Champion Jimmy Vasser, was glad to have the defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion behind the wheel.
“A great team effort,” said Vasser, who drove for Chip Ganassi Racing from 1995-2000. “With the troubles we had, nobody gave up, everybody pitched in and speaking on Kyle, he impressed. I’m not sure why he impressed. He’s a NASCAR Champion. He’s won more NASCAR races in the modern day than anybody but it takes a lot of confidence and guts to jump into a discipline that he’d never really done before and he did it with ease. He was really, really impressive.”
KYLE KIRKWOOD JOINING ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Kyle Kirkwood, the 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires Champion is joining the Andretti Autosport Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team for the 2020 season. The rookie stand-out will drive the No. 28 car for the reigning championship team.
“We are very excited about the addition of Kyle to our Indy Lights program,” said Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman, Andretti Autosport. “We’ve followed Kyle’s career from when he started in 2018 with the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and have been impressed with his success in every race that led to his Indy Pro 2000 Championship last year. As a championship-caliber team, Kyle displays the desire and talent that we look for in our drivers and are excited to see him hit the track for the 2020 Indy Lights season.”
“I am ecstatic that I can now say I am competing in Indy Lights with Andretti Autosport this season,” said Kirkwood. “They have established a winning program in Indy Lights and we plan on carrying that reputation throughout 2020.”
Kirkwood will take to the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Indy Lights season opener March 13 – 15.
ARROW McLAREN SP PARTNERS WITH MISSION FOODS
Arrow McLaren SP and Mission Foods are teaming up in a multi-year partnership in the NTT IndyCar Series.
Mission, the leading manufacturer of the world’s best-selling tortillas, wraps, flatbreads and other food products, will be represented on the team firesuit and crewshirts and the nose, cockpit side, in-car camera view and tire ramp of the car. The Mission brand will also be carried by team drivers Oliver Askew’s and Pato O’Ward’s firesuits and helmets.
“We are very excited and proud to partner with the Arrow McLaren SP team in the NTT IndyCar series and continue our involvement with McLaren Racing,” said Juan Gonzalez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Foods. “Both brands have a tremendous commitment to quality and the partnership gives us a great opportunity to interact with our consumers in a fun and exciting environment.”
TICKETS ON SALE FOR “FGL FEST” AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Tickets are on sale now for FGL Fest, the exciting concert headlined by global music superstars Florida Georgia Line on Saturday, July 4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The concert takes place during the annual Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line race weekend, July 3-5 at IMS. Other artists in the star-studded lineup will be announced soon.
“FGL Fest” is one of the highlights of the exciting, revamped event on Fourth of July weekend.
Tickets are available at IMS.com or by calling the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700. General admission starts at $45, with Front Stage Concert Pit tickets $85 and VIP Concert tickets $195. All tickets include admission to all NASCAR action that day, including the historic inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series sponsored by Pennzoil on the IMS road course and NASCAR Cup Series practice. Buy tickets now, as prices will increase closer to the show.
GEORGE AND FEREE HONORED AT LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY BANQUET
Rod George and Ed Ferree are the newest members of the Lernerville Speedway Hall of Fame. Both were inducted into the HOF this past weekend at Lernerville’s award banquet.
George’s career featured 45-Sprint Car Feature wins along with 2-track Championships. Ferree scored over 20-Late Model wins and back-to-back Championships in 1985 and 1986.
Racing Notebook
Racing Notebook: Palou settles with McLaren; Franchitti’s back; Schumacher gets a sponsor; Gibbs vs Gabehart and more
Four-time NTT IndyCar Champion Alex Palou is now free and clear after settling with McLaren. Four time NTT IndyCar Champion Dario Franchitti gets back behind the wheel this weekend at St. Pete. Mick Schumacher and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing get a sponsor for St. Pete. Chris Gabehart says the Joe Gibbs Racing lawsuit against him is retribution for leaving the team as both sides are in court:
Alex Palou settles lawsuit with McLaren Racing
- Four time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou is putting his legal troubles behind him after reaching a settlement with McLaren after a UK Court ruled against him for signing and then backing out of a deal to drive for McLaren. Read the full story here.
Dario Franchitti is back behind the wheel
- Four time NTT IndyCar Series Champion and three time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti is racing competitively this weekend, 13-years after he was forced to retire due to multiple concussions and a violent crash at Houston in 2013. Franchitti will drive in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday racing a Tricon Garage Toyota sponsored by Dollar Tree. Seven time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson put the deal together for the Scot and will be his crew chief.
Mick Schumacher and RLL get St. Pete partner
- ENVE Composites is jumping aboard NTT IndyCar Series rookie Mick Schumacher and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for 2026. ENVE will be Schumacher’s primary sponsor for this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. ENVE will also join the team as a major associate sponsor in 2026.
Gibbs vs Gabehart court update
- A Federal Judge in North Carolina is giving attorneys for Joe Gibbs Racing and Chris Gabehart the weekend to work out an agreement on Gibbs restraining order against Gabehard joining Spire Motorsports. Gabehart responded to the lawsuit by saying the JGR Competition Director’s job was not as advertised and that the team forced him to be the crew chief for Ty Gibbs despite his objections. Gabehart also pulled back the curtain a bit saying the driver of the 54 car was not “held to the same meeting standards” as other drivers in the organization. Gabehart also said the lawsuit is not about proprietary information discovered by a third-party electronic forensics investigation, rather it’s about retribution for a former employee leaving. Spire Motorsports owner Dan Towriss told the Associated Press that Spire doesn’t have any JGR proprietary information.
Racing Notebook
Racing Notebook: Interstate Batteries becomes High Limit title sponsor; Armstrong quickest at Sebring; Brown wins Hart Memorial and more
Interstate Batteries joins High Limit
- Longtime motorsports partner Interstate Batteries is joining the High Limit Racing Series as title sponsor. Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing kicks off its multiyear partnership in the season-opening SugarBee® Blackjack Bash March 12-14 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. “Motorsports has always been a strong outlet for Interstate Batteries to connect with our customers, and High Limit Racing has quickly established itself,” said Lain Hancock, President and CEO, Interstate Batteries.
Indy 500 Veteran Krueger Dies at 74
- Phil Krueger, a veteran of two Indianapolis 500 starts, died Feb. 9 in Indianapolis. He was 74. A native of Milwaukee, Krueger competed in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1986 and 1988. His best finish was eighth in ’88, completing 196 laps in the No. 97 CNC Systems Sales March-Cosworth fielded by R. Kent Baker Racing. The performance in 1988 also earned talented mechanic and fabricator the ‘Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award’ for his work tuning the 2-year-old car into a solid qualifying spot and top-10 finish and guiding an all-new crew for the team.
Marcus Armstrong quickest at Sebring
- Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong is atop the timing charts following two days of NTT IndyCar Series testing on the short course at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. Armstrong turned the quickest laps each session he was on-track leading Tuesday’s morning session with a fast-lap of 52.373-seconds, beating Monday afternoon’s quick lap of 52.847-seconds in the No. 66 Root Honda (above). Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood led Tuesday afternoon’s session at 52.479-seconds. Four-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou led Monday morning’s session with a fast lap of 52.626-seconds in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as the field was split into two groups for the open test.
Brown wins Clyde Hart Memorial
- Carson Brown, of New London, NC, led more than 160 laps to win the Twenty-seventh Clyde Hart Memorial for the ASA Super Late Models at New Smyrna Speedway. Brown, a development driver for Richard Childress Racing, gained the lead midway through the first stage and dominated the rest of the way after just sitting in third early saving his car for the right time to strike. He had a cushion of almost three and a half seconds when the checkers flew. Dawson Sutton and Tristian McKee rounded out the podium.
Take 5 Oil Change Named Presenting Sponsor of Pennzoil 250
- Take 5 Oil Change, a leading provider of fast, friendly and simple car maintenance, has been named the presenting sponsor of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change will take place Saturday, July 25 as part of Brickyard Weekend, which also includes the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 presented by PPG on Sunday, July 26 with additional practice and qualifying Friday, July 24.
SPEEDWAY, IN (May 23, 2025) – Barry Wanser of Chip Ganassi Racing and broadcast statistician Russ Thompson are joint winners of the Robin Miller Award, named after the legendary Indianapolis journalist who died in 2021.
The award honors “an unheralded individual who’s devoted a significant portion of their life to IndyCar racing while bringing unbridled passion and unrelenting work ethic to enrich the sport.”
Wanser (pictured above with Alex Palou) has certainly done that in his tenure at CGR, where he is a team manager and race strategist on the No. 10 DHL Honda, driven currently by three-time Champion Alex Palou. Wanser has worked with some of the best drivers that have ever strapped into one of CGR’s race cars including, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and now Palou.
“This is a true honor,” said Wanser. “A surprise. Robin was a close friend of mine. I’m honored to represent him in this award, and certainly the team. I prefer being a behind the scenes guy and not thrust into the spotlight, but being here today, being honored, being completely surprised… thank you.”
“Barry’s been one of these guys that’s been with us for over 20-years and he’s so much more to the team than just a team manager,” said team owner Chip Ganassi.
“Every team needs a leader and the 10-car is Barry,” Dario Franchitti, who drove the No. 10 from 2009 – 2013 winning 3-Championships and 2-Indianapolis 500’s, told RACER. “When you think about the lottery of the people you get to work with, the fact that I got to work with that guy as my strategist, as our team leader….I won the lottery there.”
“We started together working on Juan Montoya’s car,” said Ricky Davis, Crew Chief on the No. 10 Honda. “He’s got the intelligence, he knows racing, he understands it and he has the ability to deal with things that most people – their heads would probably explode.”
Thompson has been a statistician for 35-years and has provided the television broadcast talent the little nuggets of information that fans soak up during broadcasts.
“On behalf of myself and my family, this award just means everything to us, to think that all of you honor (Robin) once a year, these incredible people that are part of this fabulous race and this fabulous race track,” said Robin Miller’s sister Diane, who was on-hand for the award ceremony. “And this is Robin’s home. I mean, he might be sprinkled here a little bit, but he’s always here in spirit, and I know this week he’s really been here in spirit. I can’t think of two more deserving individuals to get this award.”
The first recipient of the award was Miller himself (2019), followed by Bob Jenkins (2021), Judy Dominick and the late T.E. McHale (2022), Ziggy Harkus (2023) and Anne Fornoro (2024).
Andretti Global quick on the streets of Long Beach
Herb Scott Memorial Cancelled
Wagaman Walks Away with Big Win at Williams Grove
Smith Holds off Dietz in Possee Thriller; Blair Blitzes Late Model Foes at Port Royal
Ryan Blaney charges to NASCAR Cup pole position at Bristol
Alex Palou wins the pole position for Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park
Ganassi 2026 Trading Cards to support PNC’s Grow Up Great partner DonorsChoose
Who can challenge Alex Palou at Barber Motorsports Park
Alex Palou and DHL Chip Ganassi Racing repeat at Barber Motorsports Park
