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ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway

August 23, 2018 by ponycargirl 1 Comment

After the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, five drivers had solid chances for the 2018 championship: four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champions Scott Dixon leading in points with Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Ryan Hunter-Reay in chase. Before the tenth lap of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono, a shocking shunt on Turn 2 sent rookie Robert Wickens flying into the fence with only the car’s tub landing back on the track, bringing out the red flag and ending the race for the five drivers involved, including Hunter-Reay. Wickens was airlifted to hospital after Takuma Sato, Pietro Fittipaldi, Hunter-Reay, and Schmidt Peterson Motorsport team mate James Hinchcliffe were evaluated by medical staff and cleared.

How to even write about the race after that? Its importance pales in comparison to the health of the 29 year old driver hanging in the balance. At the time of publishing, Wickens has undergone spinal surgery, placing titanium rods and screws to stabilize a thoracic spinal fracture. Other injuries include a pulmonary contusion and fractures to his lower legs and right arm. 

Pennsylvania has been getting a lot of rain. So much rain, in fact, there have been destructive floods in the Pocono region. The rain didn’t spare INDYCAR the weekend; a light drizzle started at the end of afternoon qualifications. Verizon Team Penske Chevy driver Will Power’s qualifying run averaged 219.511 mph winning him his 53rd career INDYCAR pole, tying with A.J. Foyt for second and picking up a bonus point for being the fastest on the track. Then came a downpour, and the last practice was cancelled. Crucial in hindsight, perhaps, as Pocono isn’t called the Tricky Triangle for nothing; the 2.5 mile track’s three turns are modeled after turns at other famous tracks paired with long straightaways. Turn 2’s 9 degree banking after Indianapolis Motor Speedway is said to be the fastest. INDYCAR has been back at the family-friendly Pocono Raceway since 2013 after a 23-year absence, and at the start of the ABC Supply 500 weekend the series announced they will be back for 2019.

More overnight showers left the track wet and the paddocks plagued with puddles. The morning of race day, all that could be heard was the track blowers drying the track, but the tarmac finally dried and was approved for racing. All of Team Penske took the front row – Will Power had pole with Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud and Wickens rounding out the first three rows on the starting grid. Prior to driver introductions, spectators were treated to a parade of classic race cars. Country singer Lee Greenwood took the stage to sing the national anthem, the grid was cleared, and everyone waited for the drivers to start their engines. 

As the safety car peeled off into the pits for the green flag, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Spencer Pigot in the 21 car and Graham Rahal’s #15 RLL Racing turned each other around at the back of the pack – and the first yellow flag of the day. After racing resumed, Alexander Rossi passed Will Power to take the lead.

Under Lap 8’s red flag, the cars headed to the pits, and drivers were allowed to leave the cars. There was an instant pall over the Tricky Triangle, punctuated by the occasional roar of an engine revving to keep the cars ready to race. The track crew removed debris and repaired an entire section of the catch fence, while other drivers on the ground were interviewed and the crowd was updated when more news was released on the driver’s conditions. After nearly two hours, the track was once again ready for racing, though unapproved work on their cars during the red flag got drivers Graham Rahal and Spencer Pigot each a two-lap penalty.

For the remaining 192 laps, there seemed to be a concerted effort by all drivers to keep the rest of the race free of further incident. Will Power passed Rossi and briefly took the lead in leap 137, but Rossi passed him again and maintained the lead for the rest of the race. Power took the second spot on the podium, and Scott Dixon worked his way up to third from 13th on the grid.

Going into Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, Missouri, there are now only 29 points between leader Scott Dixon and ABC Supply 500 winner Alexander Rossi. Newgarden is 36 points behind Rossi with 464 season points, and Power is in fourth with 449 points. 

Will Power in qualifying
Mario Andretti and Dick Vermeil

the track
Rossi wins


Will Power
Pitting during race
Takuma Sato

WP leaving pits
Last practice cancelled

Starting grid

Fan



Marco Andretti
Dark clouds over Turn 3


The race resumes after nearly 2-hour red flag
Scott Dixon


Double seater rides
Putting car to bed for the night

Simon Pagenaud

Waiting

Mario Andretti

Safety car as race restarts
What Turn 4?

Tony Kanaan


Scott Dixon


Rossi wins

Rossi on podium
Handing champagne to the team
Champagne spray

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IMPA Test Days at Split Rock resort rocked by explosion

October 1, 2010 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

Split Rock's indoor water park while under construction in 2008

This week is the International Motor Press Association’s Test Days in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. The first day centers around the old ski hill at the Split Rock Resort, while day 2 takes place at Pocono Raceway. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend this year, this being the first one I’ve missed since joining IMPA 4 years ago. On second thought, maybe I picked a good year to miss.

At 7:30 this morning, a gas leak in the Split Rock Resort sports complex caused an explosion that leveled the sports complex. The building is separate from the main lodge, being joined by a tunnel. It contains contained tennis courts, bowling alleys, an arcade and a mini golf course. Due to the early hour, there were no guests in the building. One employee who was on site sustained minor injuries.

In past years, my kids have spent part of their day in that building while I was out testing cars.

While Test Days wrapped up yesterday afternoon, many IMPA members stay at Split Rock on the final evening before making the trek home. Our man Tom Williams and friend of The Garage, Crash Corrigan are at Test Days. We are waiting to hear a report from them and will keep you up to date as soon as we get word from them.

Once they get home, we may actually have some stories about cars!

Source

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Video review: 2010 BMW Z4

November 24, 2009 by Gary Grant 5 Comments

z4 tom

The boys have outdone themselves this time. Tom Williams and Scott Simmons spent a good part of an afternoon traipsing around the Poconos in BMW’s wonderful Z4. The resulting video is nothing short of spectacular except those darned Americans keep calling it a Zee4! Come on people, get it right! Zed!

Video after the break
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A tragic loss at Talledega: Pit Road Commitment Cone

November 3, 2009 by Gary Grant 6 Comments

cone2

Jay Busbee at From The Marbles has reported that every driver’s friend, Pit Road Commitment Cone, has passed as a result of an off track incident. Cone was guarding his post when Kurt Busch left the racing surface and mowed down the Talledega employee, who has been on the job for years.

Busbee reports:
Cone had served faithfully at the track for many years, and was a visible and reliable presence at the superspeedway. “I don’t know anybody who didn’t respect Cone,” a visibly shaken Jimmie Johnson said afterward. Other drivers echoed the sentiment; Cone’s word was law around Talladega, but he was evenhanded. So to speak.

As one who has caused the demise of many of Cone’s distant relatives, my heart goes out to his family.

The graphic video following the break may not be safe for work.

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Getting wet in the 2010 Kia Soul

October 27, 2009 by Gary Grant 1 Comment

Anyone who has known me for a while knows that my taste in cars can be best described as somewhat eclectic. Why else would I decide we should do a wet track day video of the Kia Soul. Funky and fun it is. Fast is ain’t. Really though, the rain at Pocono had been coming down really hard and the whole team was getting fed up with feeling like a bag of soggy buns. We needed a nice warm, dry spot to perk us up a bit and some kind soul had left the Soul running. With the defrosters on full. It was just what the doctor ordered, so we thought we’d shoot a bit of video from the inside.

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Angry Kitty: 2010 Jaguar XK-R

October 19, 2009 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

Next up in our series of videos from the 2009 IMPA Test Days in the Pocono Mountains, we let the 2010 Jaguar XK-R out of the cage. There is little more to say other than this is one serious cat.

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Mitsubishi Evo X MR: Have your cake and eat it too

October 12, 2009 by Gary Grant 6 Comments

evo mr

During our recent travels to the Poconos for the IMPA Test Days, Tom and Scott got out on the road in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MR and, well, tested. It turns out that Tom knows a thing or two about the Evo and looks a damn sight better than I do on camera! See what Mr. Williams thinks of Mitsu’s quick shifting four door after the break,
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Challenger SRT8: Did I mention that it was Orange?

November 30, 2008 by Gary Grant 4 Comments

Leading up to the 2008 IMPA Test Days at Pocono Raceway, we had compiled a short list of must drives. Top spot on that list was held by none other than the Dodge Challenger SRT8. Few cars have created so much buzz in recent years and few cars have stirred the memories of so many. Getting behind the wheel and looking around, the car truly does feel like a bit of a time warp. The low roof and the cut of the C-pillar truly feel like the Challenger of old. I couldn’t wait to take it out on the track.

Oh yeah, having just spun the Viper, I managed to behave myself and keep the pumpkin on the pavement!

Video after the break
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Lotus Exige S: more track porn

November 8, 2008 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

I don’t think there are many gearheads who don’t truly get the mystique of the Lotus name. The heritage behind the marque comes from years of racing success and innovation. The modern cars are nothing short of spectacular, combining lightweight construction that would do Colin Chapman proud with modern Toyota drivetrains which are infinitely tuneable and absolutely bulletproof. Oh yeah, they look killer too!

Now, I’ll let our video guru, Scott Simmons take up the story:

As the creator of the Garage Blog videos I had to indulge myself by creating a little piece of car porn. The Lotus Elise and Exige are two of my favorite cars. Brian Shepherd of Lotus Cars USA brought a yellow Exige S to the 2008 IMPA test days. At the end of the event I was able to hop in the car and take the last lap of the day around the track with Brian at the wheel. We didn’t have time to mic up for on track commentary but the lap around was one of the best of the day. The Exige S is one helluva car. Thanks Brian!


Lotus Exige S at IMPA 08 from Scott Simmons on Vimeo.

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2009 Cadillac XLR: Cruising The Poconos

November 2, 2008 by Gary Grant 7 Comments

I have an uncle that has always driven the gold chain wearing, boss mobile. First there was the automatic Supra, followed up by a Cadillac Allante. Somewhere along the way, he picked up a new T-bird. Amazingly, he never found his way into an automatic Vette. While in The Poconos, a few months back we had a chance to spend some time with the 2009 Cadillac XLR. This thing may just be my uncle`s ultimate ride.

The sharp edged hardtop convertible looks great and has all sorts of electronic trickery. Doors with no handles, electrically powered everything and luxurious leather clad interior ensures that the aging super dude will have more toys than the other guys at the club. Hopefully the club offers storage for his clubs though, as the XLR doesn’t offer storage for much more than that box of domes he keeps around for his mistress. We managed to squeeze a camera bag (sans domers) in the trunk and that was about it.

The 320 horsepower Northstar V8 sounds great and propels the XLR along quite nicely. The automatic tranny is a nice unit, but why oh why is there no 6 speed? Yeah, yeah, we know; the segment demographic is more interested in elevating their status rather than the actual driving experience.

Enough from me, check out our newest video after the break.
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