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The TACH Report: IRL Says Bye-Bye to USAC, Herta Hot in Mid-Ohio Trials, New Motor from Mercedes-Benz

18 June 1997

It came as no surprise to anyone in the world of motorsports: the new Indy Racing League has dis-affiliated itself from U.S.A.C., The United States Auto Club, a racing organization comprised of some very nice, but very old men. USAC, which was actively involved with the formation of the IRL, has proved that they cannot officiate big time auto racing. This was very evident at the Indy 500, where USAC started the last lap of "the greatest spectacle in racing" with both yellow and green flags flying. Then they screwed up naming the winner of the Texas IRL race last week, and it took all night to determine that Arie Luyendyk won the thing by two laps over A.J. Foyt's two drivers. Foyt punched out Arie, and USAC said they will take no disciplinary action against the Texan, as they, USAC precipitated the fracas by naming the wrong winner. IRL boss Tony George will remain on USAC's board. His Grandfather, Tony Hulman was one of the founders of the open wheel racing sanctioning body, who's offices are on the grounds of the Indy speedway, a race they will no longer be involved with.

Brian Herta came away from a three day CART test session at the Mid Ohio race track with the nearest thing to a track record, outside of recognition for one. He turned a lap of 123.568 which was faster than Alex Zanardi's 122 mph set in 1996. The time cannot be official, however, unless it is registered during a race or race qualifying. Herta and company move to Portland, Oregon this weekend for the Budweiser/GI Joe 200. Scott Pruett has second fast time.

Mercedes Benz is building a new V6 motor which will power their new CLK320 coupe. The mill is 3.2 liter, 215 hp @5500 rpm and has an aluminum block and cylinders.

CART hot shoe Gil DeFerran says that his racing season is actually two seasons--one for oval racing and one for road racing. He had a third at Detroit and looks for a garrison finish for 1997 . . . maybe even a championship.

Keep your eye on Jeff Simmons in Formula Ford2000 racing. His brother Chris drives in Indy Lights, and Jeff, who graduates from Boston College in 1998, has his eye on Indy cars and Formula One participation. FF2000 races next at the new Pikes Peak Raceway, June 29.

In NASCAR, Geoff Bodine's racing days may be numbered, as he has lost 14 motors so far this year, and the QVC sponsorship money is running out. He has been working with former NHRA Pro Stock racing legend, Bob Glidden on prepping new Ford motors.

The July 13 British Grand Prix is a sell-out. Not a seat left at Silverstone.

Last weekend Indy car driver Mark Blundell subbed for Pac West driver Martin Brundel. Tongue-twister.

Received a catalog on some really neat new-wave tools from Powerhouse Products, Memphis, TN. Like a T-handle valve spring-removal tool that lets you do the job literally in minutes. They have a bunch of unique tool applications. Check them out at pat@powerhouseproducts.com.

PermTune Electronics, a site you can access via The Auto Channel, has moved to 111 N. Birmingham, Wylie, Texas. Like Powerhouse, they are a leading edge automotive high performance development company.

USAC may have goofed up the IRL results at Texas Motor Speedway, but General Manager of the venue Eddie Gossage says, "so what." The 128,000 paying customers loved it and we want the IRL back here.

Roger Penske does go first class. At his NASCAR race this weekend at the new Fontana, CA track infield, guests can have pizza delivered to their motor homes. Little kids will get coloring books and crayons, plus a plastic ID telling where they are seated. There will be 13 message boards around the track and 650 TV monitors.

Bridgestone Tire has developed a new rain tire for Formula One that they say is the greatest wet tire ever.

Arizona State University has completed a study that shows the four race dates at Phoenix International Raceway contribute $225 million in goods and services to Arizona.

Parnelli Jones is coming out with a new tire that will carry his name. It will be sold by Progressive Tire Custom Wheel company, Riverside, CA.

The grand old man of stock car racing, Herschel McGriff watched his son Herschel Jr win a stock car feature at Portland Speedway last week. And Dale Earnhardt saw his kid, Dale Jr test stockers Busch style at Watkins Glen as he readies for a NASCAR career. Dale Jr took the Bondurant course.

Mercedes-Benz has extended their sponsorship partnership with CART through the year 2000. Hal Whiteford, MB/VP said they have enjoyed a fond relationship with the race sanctioning body.

Canada is issuing Gilles Villinueve 45 cent postage stamps.

The SCCA Susqehannock Trail Pro Rally last week in Wellsboro, PA was won by Carl Merrill in a Ford Escort Cosworth. Usual winner Paul Choinere driving a Hyundai Tiburon was second.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway graciously thanked a lot of people via a full page/four color ad in a weekly racing newspaper: the fans in the bleachers, the people of Indiana, the sponsors and vendors. However they left out the fans world wide who kept returning to their TV sets in the hope of seeing a race, including many who probably took off from work to watch the race.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel