Die Vorbereitungen für das diesjährige Indy500 laufen bereits das ganze Jahr. Aber nun werden die Aktivitäten immer geschäftiger, es kommen Deals zusammen für Fahrer und Teams. Jede einzelne Pressemeldung habe ich gar nicht veröffentlicht, weil mir das einfach zuviel wurde.
Deshalb vielleicht jetzt ein paar Zeilen über Fahrer und Teams, die am Indy500 teilnehmen werden aber nicht zu den regulären Fahrern der Saison gehören:
Bruno Junqueira wird im Team FAZZT bei Alex Tagliani ein Auto bereit gestellt bekommen. Damit gibt Tagliani Bruno die Gelegenheit zurück an den Indy500 teilzunehmen. Bruno Junqueira hatte letztes Jahr auf den "letzten Buchsenknopp" am Bump Day sein Auto für das Indy500 qualifiziert, übergab es dann aber Tagliani, der sein Auto zuvor gecrasht hatte und somit nicht hätte teilnehmen können. Ich glaube, dass es für Alex ein tolles Gefühl sein muss, sich auf diese Weise bei Bruno zu bedanken. Bruno`s Auto wird die Nummer 33 tragen.
Release der IRL vom 30.03.2010:
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Junqueira joins FAZZT Race Team for Indianapolis:
Alex Tagliani didn't forget Bruno Junqueira's gracious act at last year's Indianapolis 500, and the Brazilian driver will compete for a starting berth this May in a second FAZZT Race Team car.
Junqueira qualified a Conquest Racing car on Bump Day in the 30th position. But he stepped out of the entry for Tagliani, who had failed to make the field because of a crash in qualifications.
"Because we have enough sponsorship to run a second car at Indianapolis, we felt it important to give that chance to Bruno," said Tagliani, who is competing full time in the IZOD IndyCar Series with the first-year FAZZT Race Team. "Last year, with Bruno as the second driver in the team I was at, he let his spot in the field go after I had a mishap in qualifying. And it turned out, I had a pretty good race at the Indy 500 so it is nice way to say thank you to Bruno for what he did for me last year."
Tagliani started 33rd and finished 11th, earning Chase Rookie of the Year honors. In two IZOD IndyCar Series races this season, he has finished sixth (St. Petersburg) and 19th (Brazil, started second but was involved in contact early).
Junqueira, a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, started from the pole at Indy in 2002 and has led 52 laps.
"I am thrilled with the opportunity to compete for the FAZZT Race Team at the Indianapolis 500," said Junqueira, who has competed in the race five times and will drive the No. 33 entry. "The team will give me the resources and support to compete in a car that has the capabilities of winning at the Indianapolis 500. To win at Indianapolis has always been a dream of mine.
"I've had some very competitive opportunities at Indianapolis and in each year I've led laps and scored two top-five finishes at the Speedway. I hope that in 2010 I am able to complete my dream of a win at Indianapolis since I have been so close in the past."
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John Andretti, der Cousin von Michael Andretti, wird seinen 11. Indy500 Start haben. Möglich macht das der Zusammenschluss von Rennlegende Richard Petty und Andretti Autosport. Beide machen es möglich, dass John Andretti den Wagen #43 beim diesjährigen Indy500 fahren wird.
aus dem Release vom 31.03.2010:
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RICHARD PETTY, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT JOIN FORCES WITH WINDOW WORLD, JOHN ANDRETTI FOR INDIANAPOLIS 500 EFFORT
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – Andretti Autosport announced March 31 it will work in a joint effort with racing legend Richard Petty and Window World, Inc., to field a fifth IZOD IndyCar Series entry for veteran driver John Andretti, first at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 1 and then in the 2010 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30.
After his debut run at Kansas, Andretti will attempt to make his 11th Indianapolis 500 start behind the wheel of the No. 43 Team Window World car. A successful qualifying attempt for Andretti on Saturday, May 22 or Sunday, May 23 will deepen the Andretti family legacy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he drives for the team owned by his cousin, Michael.
Window World, the nation’s largest replacement window company, will enjoy its second-consecutive Indy 500 as primary sponsor of the No. 43. Window World and Petty first teamed together with the No. 43 driven by John Andretti for last year’s Indy 500. The car once again will feature Petty’s traditional “Petty Blue” and Day-Glo Red” color scheme made famous by “The King” during his unparalleled career.
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Ed Carpenter: dadurch dass Tony George sein Team Vision Racing praktisch zugeschlossen hat, ist Ed Carpenter ohne Cockpit. Aber für das Indy500 wird TG mit seinem Team Vision Racing zusammen mit Panther Racing arbeiten. Ed Carpenter ist bekannt dafür, sehr gut in Ovalen zu sein, auf Rundkursen dagegen hat er ein Problem , wie gesagt beim Indy500 wird er nicht schlecht aussehen, Ovale kann er, er wird wie letztes Jahr die #20 fahren.