Historic 27 IndyCar Series Entries Take The Green Flag
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IndyCar Series officials indicate there will allow as many as 27 starters for Sunday’s ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race on Sunday afternoon, June 1, making it one of the largest in the storied open wheel history at America’s Legendary Oval, dating back to 1903.
The move from capping the field at 26 entries at The Mile was based upon the rising increase in IndyCar Series teams competing full time in 2008. Will there be a Bump Day at The Mile?
On August 22, 1965, there were 26 cars in the Rex Mays 150 field that A.J. Foyt led to the green flag from the pole position in his front-engine upright dirt champ car. On another occasion there were 28 open wheel championship cars that took the green flag in a 200-lap race in which Michael Andretti beat Al Unser, Jr. to the checkered flag on June 2, 1996.
There were several occasions when more than 27 Indy cars were entered at The Mile, however, as was the case in the aforementioned August, 1965 event, 29 cars made a qualifying attempt and three cars sent home, classified as “too slow.”
Two more instances dot the record books, showcasing the sizeable fields in IndyCar Series racing. Thirty-five Indy cars were trackside at the track on June 4, 1967. Twenty-four cars started the race, with 11 non-qualifiers listed. Joe Leonard jumped from 4th to first to lead the first 42 laps, then Gordon Johncock took control to record the first of his two career Mile victories.
The most Indy cars to attempt a race at The Mile occurred on June 5, 1960 for the Rex Mays 100, in which Rodger Ward bested the 22 car field. An additional 25 entries were classified as “too slow” and were sent home, including Jim Rathmann - who won the previous week’s Indianapolis 500! Two other Indy 500 winners also didn’t make the cut; Jimmy Bryan and Troy Ruttman. Amazing.
Results of open wheel championship events are in a bound file and available for media use at the help desk in The Milwaukee Mile Milton Peck Media Center.
C’mon and Take A Free Ride….in an actual IndyCar Series Car This Wednesday!
This Wednesday, May 28 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT, race fans can take a free ride in an actual IndyCar Series car that’s been stretched to accommodate a second seat! Fans can take laps in the highly visible North parking lot, located on the speedway grounds between I-94 and The Milwaukee Mile.
Fans just have to show their Sunday, June 1, 2008 ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 race day ticket to ride around a temporary course.
This highly visible location should be easy to spot, with the large Indy Fan Experience and Mobile Mile interactive displays set-up next to the course. Fans can change a tire, race head-to-head on simulators and take in the brand new Indy Fan Experience. The rides and attractions are free.
Race tickets starting at $20 for Sunday will be available for purchase at the event, and at The Milwaukee Mile ticket office. Space is limited, and the opportunity to ride in a real Indy car is on a first-come, first-served basis as time allows.
Rick Mears Being Honored, Scored His First Win 30 Years Ago at The Mile
Milwaukee Mile fan favorite Rick Mears will be honored during ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series pre-race ceremonies on Sunday afternoon, in recognition of his stellar career and on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of “Rocket Rick’s” first career IndyCar Series race victory. It happened on June 18, 1978 in the Rex Mays 150 at The Milwaukee Mile.
The low-fuel light glowed brightly on his dash of the Californian’s Gould Charge Penske/Cosworth as he roared under the white flag. His Roger Penske-owned #7 Indy car sputtered across the finish line two seconds ahead of Johnny Rutherford to win the Rex Mays 150. Mears’ dramatic drive 30 years ago is chronicled, complete with photos in the souvenir event program.
A fact sheet highlighting Mears’ outstanding driving career and Mile accomplishments is available in The Milwaukee Mile Milton Peck Media Center. Pre-race ceremonies start Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Four Fast Laps = Hair-Raising Pole Qualifying Sessions on Saturday
Depending on which driver you ask, the new four-lap qualifying session in effect this Saturday at The Milwaukee Mile could well be the hairiest moment of their entire season.
2003 IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon said recently that one lap flat out around The Milwaukee Mile was challenging enough, much less four consecutive breath-holding circuits at over 170mph.
In true Indianapolis 500 tradition, The Milwaukee Mile and all oval tracks on this year’s IndyCar Series schedule will feature four-lap qualifying sessions, with the overall average speed of the qualifying run determining the line-up in both the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.
The fastest driver will establish a new track record, adding to the rich open wheel history at The Milwaukee Mile, where open wheel national championship races have been contested regularly since 1933.
On Saturday, May 31, pole qualifying for the Milwaukee 100 starts at 2:30 p.m. CT, with IndyCar Series Peak Motor Oil Pole Qualifying starting Saturday at 3:45 p.m CT.
ABC Supply Back For Four
Key Milwaukee Mile sponsor partner ABC Supply Co., Inc. is based 70 miles southwest of The Mile in Beloit, Wis. This is the fourth straight year the largest wholesale distributor of roofing in the United States has sponsored both A.J. Foyt Racing’s IndyCar Series team, and serves as the entitlement sponsor of this Sunday’s ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225.
On Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Largest Private Companies, the late Ken Hendricks and his wife Diane founded the company in 1982. In 26 years, ABC Supply has grown to over 6,000 associates at more than 350 locations in 45 states and the District of Columbia. ABC Supply is also one of the nation’s largest distributors of siding, windows and other select exterior building products with annual sales exceeding $3 billion. Learn more about this fascinating company at www.abcsupply.com.
Danica Patrick – Closest To Home
IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick was born in a Beloit, Wis. hospital and grew up four miles south of the Wisconsin border in Roscoe, Illinois, near Rockford.
The Mile is the closest venue to the Andretti Green Racing driver’s hometown. If tradition holds, there will be busloads heading northeast to The Mile on Sunday, full of Patrick’s extended family and fans intent on cheering her on in the grandstands.
Historic Sears Auto Center 150 Stock Car Race on Saturday
When speedway officials decided to move the Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 to Sunday to serve as a prelude to the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225, it was a short search to fill the bill.
The opportunity to welcome back Chicago-based Sears Auto Center and the national USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, it was a match. Sears had sponsored NASCAR events at The Mile in the 1990’s, and USAR visited The Mile once before, in 1997.
For the first time, USAR will bring together their North Division and South Division competitors to compete in-season, as the Hooters Pro Cup Series traditionally contests two separate series, bringing them together in a four race, post-season championship series to determine one national champion.
The Mile will be the largest track the prominent short track series will have competed on to date. The Sears Auto Center 150 follows the intense IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, with a scheduled 5:30 p.m. green flag.
Sign Here, Please – Times Two
The Indianapolis 500 winner and all the IndyCar Series stars will be signing autographs on the fan midway on race morning, Sunday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CT.
The Horticulture Building, directly behind the main grandstand, Turn One end, will be the location to get your favorite IndyCar Series driver’s autograph. Admission is free.
On Saturday, the stock car drivers competing in that afternoon’s Sears Auto Center 150 will participate in an autograph session in the infield near their garage area at 3:00 p.m. CT. Admission to the infield is free with a grandstand ticket.
Rex Mays Classic
From 1950 to 1953, two-time AAA National Driving Champion Rex Mays’ name has been linked with the June IndyCar Series race, due in large part to his heroic efforts on June 6, 1948, when he purposely spun his car to shield injured driver Duke Densmore. Mays tragically lost his life in an eerily similar accident in 1949 at a track in California.
The on-track Rex Mays Classic on Sunday will feature over a dozen vintage Indy cars, including the 1935 Miller Mays drove to the pole position at Indianapolis in 1935 and 1936, now owned by Dana Mecum, and the final Coyote chassis A.J. Foyt put on the front row in 1981 at Indianapolis. The popular, 1968 turbine-powered Lotus, restored in the dayglo red STP paint scheme as driven by Joe Leonard will also participate, among other timeless and historic classics.
A morning warm-up will get upwards these rolling treasures primed for an on-track session at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading into pre-race activities for the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225.
Cheap Tickets, Free Tickets
Reserved seat ticket prices to attend the full schedule of events on Sunday, June 1 at The Milwaukee Mile are available for as low as $20.
All Milwaukee Mile grandstand tickets on Saturday, May 31 are family-friendly priced at $15 General Admission for adults, kids 12 and under are free.
A one hour, rookies-only IndyCar Series practice session has been recently added to the on-track activites on Friday, May 30, which also includes an expected 50 stock cars practicing and qualifying for the Sears Auto Center 150. There is no beating this price: grandstand admission on Friday is free.
More details at www.milwaukeemile.com.
Dan vs. Danica
Target Chip Ganassi driver Dan Wheldon thought he held his line entering the first turn on Lap 89 during the 2007 running of the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225. Ask Danica Patrick her version, and it was totally different. In what has been a much-publicized and heated discussion instigated by Patrick soon after the drivers exited their Indy cars on pit road following the race. Cameras and all eyes in the grandstands were focused on the middle of pit road, as Patrick tugged Wheldon’s sleeve before explaining her version of a near-disaster while racing for a Top-10 position.
Wheldon and 2004 Milwaukee Mile race winner DarioFranchitti were racing hard for position when both were slowed momentarily exiting turn four,, allowing Patrick to get a strong run on both of them. Patrick passed Franchitti and was able to pull alongside Wheldon down the front straightaway on Lap 89. Franchitti pulled down to the inside setting up a three-wide situation approaching the first turn.
While Franchitti lifted, contact ensued with Wheldon entering the corner on the outside with Patrick on the inside. Patrick sliding sideways between turns one and two and made a brilliant save, but was forced to pit and lose a lap as her Andretti Green Racing team needed to replace a steering arm.
Patrick was able to make the lap up and sliced her way forward to wind up with an eighth place result, her second straight Top-10 Milwaukee Mile IndyCar Series effort. As a refresher, here’s what the drivers said about the pit road tussle after things calmed down:
“Dario (Franchitti) and Dan (Wheldon) got slowed up and I passed Dario and got alongside Dan,” Patrick stated. “I saw Dario pull to the inside and I heard ‘three-wide’ going into the corner so I held me line and Dan just turned down. He told me later he didn’t want to get in the marbles but that usually means you got passed. He just turned into me and I spun.”
“Danica was just being Danica,” Wheldon retorted when asked about the two driver’s post-race discussion of the incident. “"I think she had a run on Dario, and I think she thought she was alongside me. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't. As she got out of it, I don't know what happened. She spun or dropped to the back. She's a little disgruntled, but as (race chief steward) Brian Barnhart says, what goes around comes around. She nearly put me in the wall at Indianapolis, and I certainly have no problems with anyone else on the track. I've been in this business long enough to know when someone is there and when somebody is not."
The bell rings for what could be round two at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at The Milwaukee Mile.
Long Track, Short Track
Accomplished Olympic speed skater Ryan Leveille (pronounced Leh-vee-ay) will participate in two special events as an honored guest of The Milwaukee Mile on race weekend.
The 2006 Olympian will roller blade down the frontstretch during Monica Gill’s performance of the National Anthem during Saturday’s Sears Auto Center 150 pre-race ceremonies (approx. 5:30 p.m.), and he will be the Honorary Starter for the Milwaukee 100.
The Atlanta native and the U.S. team recently captured gold at the 2008 World Short Track Championships. Leveille is currently training to become the first Olympic speed skater to medal in both short and long track competition at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Among his medals earned in national and international competition, he captured a silver medal at the 2006 U.S. Long Track Championships in the grueling 10,000 meter distance and earned a bronze in the all-around competition.
A valid athletic comparison between Leveille and IndyCar Series drivers can be applied to the mental preparation, physical conditioning and discipline needed to adapt to a short track like The Milwaukee Mile after a month of long track competition in Indianapolis.
Requests to interview this outgoing Olympian, who is excited to meet fans and drivers alike, can be placed through The Mile’s Milton Peck Media Center help desk.
Cars, Cars, Cars
At least 27 IndyCar Series teams expected, plus a possible 27 Firestone Indy Lights teams and 50 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series cars equals one busy weekend. Since January, Mile officials have been in regular contact with Indy Racing League and USAR officials about logistics, planning and execution of three full days of on-track activity.
To schedule an interview with a Mile or sanctioning body representative about what it takes to host three series on one weekend inside a one-mile oval, ask at The Milwaukee Mile Milton Peck Media Center help desk to arrange.
Helio Qualifies Well, Eyeing Redemption
Last June, Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves appeared to be destined to finally win an IndyCar Series race at The Milwaukee Mile. While leading 25 laps shy of the finish, his dayglo red and white Indy car was sent into a wild spin coming off of Turn Four, and ended his race with his car nosed into the frontstretch wall.
"I had the race won," said Castroneves dejectedly after placing 16th. "It's a shame that something so odd happened there at the end. The car just started spinning when my rear wing broke.”
The talented Brazilian has captured the last two IndyCar Series pole positions at The Milwaukee Mile, and started second in 2005 next to his teammate and eventual race winner Sam Hornish.
Castroneves, the “Dancing With The Stars” champion first made headlines by finishing second in the Alumax Aluminum-backed entry in his Mile debut in 1998, then followed it up a year later by shocking the field by winning the pole position in the single car team fielded by Hogan Racing.
Three-In-A-Row For Kanaan A Record?
Andretti Green Racing driver Tony Kanaan could be on pace to tie a record for consecutive IndyCar Series victories at America’s Legendary Oval. He has won the last two ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 events at The Mile, and is coming off a 2nd place finish at Kansas Speedway in April, his fourth straight Top-10 finish this season.
One of the IndyCar Series’ most colorful and talented drivers, Tom Sneva has the record streak of three straight. He lapped the field in the Tony Bettenhausen 200 on August 1, 1982, beat Al Unser in the Rex Mays 150 on June 12, 1983, and edged out Rick Mears and Al Unser, Jr. for the win on June 3, 1984.
Footnote: Sneva preceeded his string with a win in September of 1981 and a third place showing in June of ‘82. Then, in his bid to make it four in a row, he finished 2nd to Mario Andretti in June of ’85, and added a runner-up finish to Michael Andretti the following race at The Mile in June, 1986.
The all-time string of consecutive race victories at The Milwaukee Mile belongs to 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones, who won eight consecutive USAC Stock Car races between August 11, 1963 and September 20, 1964. He also won back-to-back IndyCar Series races at The Milwaukee Mile during that span.
Mile’s Fan Midway Reconfigured To Ease Congestion, Ensure Fan Safety
To ensure the safety of their loyal fans, and in the interest to ease congestion, Milwaukee Mile officials have worked with the West Allis Fire Department and officials to map out a flow that frees up what has been a crowding issue at certain locations on our Grandstand Avenue, the road that runs directly behind the grandstand seating.
Some vendor displays have been strategically placed within the fan midway on the fairgrounds, and there will be three main entry gates in place on Grandstand Avenue.
Large Milwaukee 100 Field Includes Wisconsin Drivers
The Milwaukee 100 Firestone Indy Lights field is shaping up to rival the car count of the IndyCar Series, with 27 cars entered in this weekend’s Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The brightest future stars will shine at The Mile in America’s top open-wheel development series, including three Wisconsin drivers the crowd will cheer for.
Oconomowoc native Bobby Wilson will be making his third start at The Mile, and first with the newly-formed Team E. The 2003 Stars of Karting National Champion skyrocketed through developmental open wheel series, scoring his first Indy Lights victory in June, 2005 at Watkins Glen, and scored an impressive Indy Lights victory on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A 6th place finish at The Mile is his best thus far. Wilson will have a sizeable cheering section, as he grew up just 35 miles west of America’s Legendary Oval.
Jake Slotten of Kimberly, Wis. was tearing around the Angell Park Speedway dirt track in a midget car last summer and is running a limited, oval-only schedule for Michael Crawford Motorsports. Sunday’s Milwaukee 100 will be Slotten’s Mile debut.
AFS/Andretti Green Racing driver And Arie Luyendyk, Jr. lived with his family in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield, Wis. from the ages of 2 until 8. While he may not admit then-seven year-old Arie, Jr. was the hit of the paddock at The Mile when he was dressed in Dutch Boy costume. He was a dead ringer for the boy on Dutch Boy Paints labels. In 1989, the company was a team co-sponsor along with Wisconsin-based Provimi Veal.
Fan Midway - Quite An Experience
A newly-expanded fan midway will offer a host of selections and activites for race fans from morning until the checkered flag. Here are some of the highlights:
Bacardi Pit presented by Leff’s Lucky Town
Live music on Sunday, June 1 race day, exclusive atmosphere open to the public with a private VIP area at the Amphitheater stage area. Bacardi Pit passes are awarded at Leff’s Lucky Town, 7208 W. State St. in Wauwatosa, every Saturday night in May leading up to the race. The Bacardi Pit presented by Leff’s Lucky Town will be in full swing on every major Milwaukee Mile race day this summer.
An all-new Indy Fan Experience with racing simulators, giveaways, high-energy presentation of IndyCar Series racing, a walk-thru display featuring the Indy Racing League championship trophy, a SAFER Barrier and other IndyCar Series innovations. There will also be special offers for Downforce members, IndyCar Series’ official fan club.
Free, all-driver IndyCar Series autograph session Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. CT in the Horticulture Building located behind the Turn One end of the main grandstands.
Official Milwaukee Mile merchandise, with souvenir event programs, a new Antigua line of men’s and women’s apparel, limited edition event t-shirts and other novelties
The Mobile Mile display allows you to change a tire against the clock and race a friend in the side-by-side racing simulator at no cost
A rock wall and other experiential assets will be housed inside the National Guard display in support of Panther Racing’s sponsorship with the National Guard/Delphi team.
Sony PlayStation Experience – free demonstrations of all the new PlayStation gaming systems and games
The U.S. Army rifle and pistol beam hit simulator and lasershot interactive system
IndyCar Series official merchandise area is an expansive 80’x 90’ shopping experience
Coca-Cola product sampling
Vintage Indy Cars on display promoting the Miller Club Meet July 11 & 12 at The Mile
Classic Car Show with Loser’s Car Club
Hooters girls at the Hooters tent, in support of the Sears Auto Center 150
Racing merchandise vendors straight from Indianapolis and throughout the country
Food & Beverage selections from a variety of some of Milwaukee’s favorite restaurants, including Leff’s Lucky Town, Slim McGinn’s, Millie’s Famous Italian Sausage, and El Vagabond, with beverage selections including beer, Coca-Cola and maragaritas
New for 2008 is Saz’s Victory Club, which enhances the race day experience for one to 100 guests sharing in the fun in what has been moved to the Saz’s Pavilion, two blocks in to the fairgrounds from the tunnel entrance. Saz’s gourmet food selections, unlimited beverages, 400-level race tickets, pit & paddock passes and more are included in this very enticing, hassle-free package. Single and group packages are available through The Milwaukee Mile ticket office at (414) 453-8277. Saz’s…the Finest.
New for 2008 is The Mile’s Club 4 “all you can eat” section, where for one price fans receive a race ticket and all the brats, burgers, hot dogs, soda and beer they care to consume before and during the race. Club 4 discounts start with groups as small as 10 or more. Terrace Section ZZ. Affordably priced at $35 for Saturday, May 31, just $50 for Sunday, June 1 race day. Call The Milwaukee Mile ticket office at (414) 453-8277.