May 27, 2012 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval

I want to write about all the ways to see the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race action. This is the largest single day sporting event in the world; so I would love to tell you how to see it live. I would say that you should at least go to a few practice days in the start of May to get a feel for the drivers or teams to root for that five hundred mile race that would be going on later in the month. Now when I was a young man I loved opening day at the race track. I waited all year for that day alone. Seeing; the first race car on the racetrack. Hearing the driver’s names; over the public address system, and the new sponsors. Getting old friends together; on the fourth turn for a great cook out. This day is a great way to see the how good the drivers are going to be for the month. You can walk all over the inside of the race track to experience how these drivers handle the racetrack; or the racetrack handles the drivers. The best place on the racetrack to see the cars in full speed is the first turn. You can hear these loud cars hit the finish line; that still has a foot of the old bricks in place on the track (hints the name the Brickyard). That will make a popping noise, as the cars get to the first turn in full speed. The cars will whisk with speeds that you have never seen in your life. You cannot experience that kind of speed on TV at all. When you see this live it will move you like nothing else. The next place to feel the speeds that these cars are doing are off the second turn right on the outside wall. Now people; do not get kick out of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on your first day. Please ask a security person or someone that owns a suite on the second turn to see what I am talking about. Or find Johnny Parson, JR a former driver of twelve Indy 500, and Johnny will show you what I am talking about on the second turn. Qualifications days are very grand now; there is absolutely no room for error at all. Two days of excitement running through your mind of whom is going to make the race? Now I know the best spot on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s grounds for these two days. Grandstand B, or A on the outside before turn one. Or the top the suits behind the pits are great grand stand seats. South east vista, North West Vista. Inside the track over on the new family viewing hill is a very good view. Now when I was young the best place in the world to see the cars and divers was along the pit fence and get your autographs all day long. When you get a little older you want to see these cars hit the speeds on the most famous race track in the world. Walk around this great race track, and see where you would like to see these cars hit the speeds of amazing triumphs. Then focus on the tickets for the five hundred mile race itself. Now Indy does offer package deal with hotels, and ticket combos. If you want tickets for the race go to the Indy 500’s web site (http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com) and see what’s available first to see your options. The turns are golden. The suites are golden at a great price. Now if you’re on a budget get the infield passes for $20.00 apiece. When the thirty three cars line up on the track and come around for the pace lap, you will be screaming for joy no matter where you are on this track, and that is a fact. When the green flag drops; you will never forget that feeling as the cars come screaming back around that race track. I am telling you in an instant your life will change on all levels of your life. The thought of 400,000 some odd fans cheering at once and hundreds of millions of fans watching on television live. The roar of the thirty three engines screaming past you plus the sea of colors from all the fans is truly amazing in itself. You know at that point 199 more laps to go we will have a winner. I have been blessed in all of these wonderful actions during the month of May. If you ever sponsor one of these teams you will have a very different experience with me, even greater that what I have explained in this article. I will personally take you through the pits, and the garage area. Have dinner with a very great driver from the past and a current driver. You will be with the team down on the track; at all of the festivities before the five hundred mile race starts. I will explain all the fine point of the history of this grand race track. Plus; your clients will see the same thing you will. You will then get to see why so many people have enjoyed this major sporting event over the years. Now even a better bit of news! The sound of the turbo will be winding high pitch noise with the speeds this year! Get ready with your lunch box orders from your local Kroger’s Grocery store in Speedway, Indiana for May fans! Yes it is time to talk about Indy and the month of May!
Jim Gandolf

The 2012 IndyCar schedule is out!

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011) – A first-ever event in China and two venues that return after multi-year absences highlight the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule for 2012 announced today.

The 2012 season, which will feature the return of engine manufacturer competition and a new universal chassis produced by Dallara Automobili, kicks off Sunday, March 25, with the eighth Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The IZOD IndyCar Series again presents the most diverse schedule in motorsports with the challenges of races on temporary street circuits, permanent road courses, superspeedways and short ovals in four countries.

“To be crowned IZOD IndyCar Series champion, the driver must be able to master a diversified race schedule that truly challenges the best in the world,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. “The 2012 schedule offers our drivers and teams the test of conquering both ovals and road and street races. Adding to the diversity of the season, we’re excited with the launch of three engine manufacturers vying for the Manufacturers Trophy.”

The scenic Belle Isle park circuit will be the site of the recently announced Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Sunday, June 3. The IZOD IndyCar Series had competed at the Raceway at Belle Isle in 2007 and ’08. Also returning to the schedule is the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval in Fontana, Calif., for a race under the lights Saturday, Sept. 15. INDYCAR sanctioned four races at Auto Club Speedway between 2002 and ’05, while CART hosted events at the track from 1997 to 2002.

Night races also will be held at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 9, and the .875-mile Iowa Speedway on Saturday, June 23.

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, with Pole Day on Saturday, May 19.

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to Barber Motorsports Park for the third consecutive year on Sunday, April 1, and the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be held Sunday, April 15. Also, the series will compete on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the third time on Sunday, April 29, as the lead-in to Indianapolis 500 activities.

Back-to-back races in Canada highlight July – on the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronto on Sunday, July 8, and on the exciting City Centre Airport circuit in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday, July 22.

The permanent road courses of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sunday, Aug. 5) and Infineon Raceway (Sunday, Aug. 26) also retain their traditional dates. On Sunday, Sept. 2, the IZOD IndyCar Series will electrify the streets of downtown Baltimore for the second consecutive year.

“INDYCAR is excited about the confirmed races announced today,” said Bernard. “With the new car and engine manufacturer competition, we believe they will be tremendous events that will help INDYCAR grow.

“We are exploring adding additional events to the 2012 schedule. We’re in the process of confirming a 16th event, while also considering adding a 17th race to the calendar.”

In addition to the race schedule, the series’ annual preseason Open Test will be held at Sebring International Raceway on March 5-8.

The television lineup and event start times will be announced soon. Also, the 2012 Indy Lights schedule will be announced soon.


Date Track Venue
March 25 Streets of St. Petersburg 1.8-mile street course
April 1 Barber Motorsports Park 2.3-mile road course
April 15 Streets of Long Beach 1.968-mile street course
April 29 Streets of Sao Paulo 2.536-mile street course
May 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval
June 3 Raceway at Belle Isle Park 2.1-mile street course
June 9 Texas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval
June 23 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval
July 8 Streets of Toronto 1.755-mile street course
July 22 Edmonton City Centre Airport 1.973-mile airport course
Aug. 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course
Aug. 19 Streets of Qingdao, China 3.87-mile street course
Aug. 26 Infineon Raceway 2.303-mile road course
Sept. 2 Streets of Baltimore 2-mile street course
Sept. 15 Auto Club Speedway 2-mile oval

Schedule subject to change

Jared Marks is today testing at Daytona!

I was just sitting in a suite at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two years ago when my cell phone rang and; and who was calling? Some person I have not talked to in years. I will keep that person’s name out of this story. I was just sitting there and thinking of how nice of a day it was, then the phone call. I was being pitched on getting Jared Marks funding for racing. This guy that called me was going on and on about how great of a driver this young man Jared Marks could be. I was in a daze because so much was going on in my world at the time at Indy. I agreed to listen to this old friend about this new race car driver, called Jared Marks, later on that night for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants to eat at. Well I was so into what this old friend was saying about Jared Marks at dinner I had to see what was going on in Ohio. I left for Jared Marks home town of Napoleon, Ohio; which is just about three hours north east of Indianapolis, Indiana. From that point I met a young man that has the inter drive to be a great race car driver. His father is a major driving coach for Jared Marks. Tony Marks knew his sons talent, but was very serious in molding a great young man. Tony Marks is a talented driver himself, but with no reservations of giving up racing to get his son and daughter in the right direction on the race track. Tony looked me in the eye and said, “Jim, I am going to build a very serious racing organization around my two children. Jared will; be first as Rocket Rachel Marks is the next phase of this operation.” Now at this point I have been getting the right amount of capital for race teams for over twenty years, and I have heard everything under the sun about how these parents have the next great race car driver. Now I tell you that this was different. It was very quiet in my heart. I could hear the wind blowing across the private airport Napoleon, Ohio has as I stood in Tony Marks air plane hangar, IE Race shop! I prayed silently to the Lord to see what I was feeling. Since that minute we have put some great opportunity for that race team. Tony Marks and the whole crew at Tony Marks Racing has taught me so much about racing that I didn’t know about. I was speechless for days (can you believe that) when in Salem, Indiana last year Jared Marks did get a top 5 finish. I just had nothing to say. I was so proud of Jared Marks, and Tony Marks and the TMR crew. I was in a daze. The Lord has touched me with this great family, and or racing team. Jaques Lazier and I can’t wait to start this season in motor sports. I will let everyone know soon who the sponsors are for the 2012 ARCA season, and the 2012 IndyCar season for Jaques Lazier, and Tony Marks Racing. As for now; are you kidding Jared Marks is on the Daytona great race track and testing the TMR number 12!

Jim Gandolf

Where are the fans of motorsports?

Racing has changed for everyone!

This world of racing has changed in every aspect of the game. Just because a major racing series is coming to town, doesn’t mean that the stands are going to be full of fans. That used to be the case many years ago. Well let me think, maybe 10 years ago, these major racing series might of gotten away with that; while local tracks have gain the respect of the crowds. The major racing series have not. The major racing series have focused only on national sponsors for their event and forgot about the supporting local business that a short track had gain full speed ahead. Yes where the local consumer shops or appears once a week like a grocery store, or gas stations, even drug stores. These places are the new heart beat of America in promotions. The consumer has no choice but to visit every week in these great locally own stores. Radio and TV is just not enough anymore in today’s times. You can hear how a major racing series explain how the economy is the reason why the ticket sales are down. That is just a phase to the public, I am sorry fans we have lost touch with you one more time again (Is what they are really saying to you). These major racing series have only focused on the challenge of getting a national brand to support this race and the series will say, "man we have something here." Look this is nowhere in the truth, of the sponsorship game at all. Ask me why I know this? Well I know this because I see that the stands are empty. They have been empty for years. National brands do not sell tickets. They do pay for TV time. Yes they might move a few thousand tickets for that race. A national racing series might say this to me, “Jim it is really up to the promoters to promote the race, and generate the ticket sales. We only bring the drivers and the race teams.” Yes they do have a factual statement there in what they would say. The promoters and race track owners pay a sanctioning fee to have the right to that particular race. Well; fans of motorsports; why would you come to a race that has no other incentive but just to watch a race? Fans; I know your very intelligent and can watch this race right in your living room on your flat screen TV, with all the fixings that you want right from your grocery store. Now no traffic, drunken fools, people screaming that they are the best fan of a certain driver you just can’t stand. Oh, my Lord I forgot to tell you about the parking nightmare. Now wait a minute; I want you to experience all of this wonderful action that I am explaining once or twice in your life time. Their is nothing in the world like the start of the Indy 500 with 33 cars coming down the main straight a way. These track owners have had a whole year to plan for this event. You think that these promoters would get a car dealer involved in giving away a free car to one of these diehard fans by just showing up in a contest all year. Or do you think for one lucky fan by filling out a form as these fans come in the gate might get there name drawled out of a hat box and wins $50,000.00. Seeing the fans name; on the jumbo tram live at the event, tied in with some sort of excitement. Fans winning the best deal yet; free pit passes by just coming to the race. I mean just the fans that come to the race. Fans can win by just coming to the race itself. What has happened to that kind of contest period? ( I know Indy is giving a car away this year, but where are the rest of the race track promotions from other races?) What happened to the local companies that want to support these fans and these local companies want to be known as a supporter of this grand race. Look no one will call these companies because racing has lost its focus on taking care of the fans. These race track owners have hired the new employee to tackle this action. It is called the college intern that might have been to a race with their dad or grandfather. Even worse than that a promotions department that had been told you have to focus on national accounts and leave the local accounts alone. When will the fans have had enough? Hello race track promoter’s families are spending more money on the local move house than you’re event? It is just easier watching that race on TV than going to your race. You have lost the atmosphere of great fan experience on all levels. The fans need something to get them out of the chair in the living room, and onto the race track. Yes race tracks throughout America that holds a national event will get the diehard fans that love to travel. Now the awakening comes now. The local people will come if you have something to offer them. The support of the local owned businesses; and the customers that these business owners have. These customers visit that business every week. Yes, hello; promoters of the racing world these small business owners do have a co-op advertising budget. Plus these co-op groups have very large advertising budgets. Plan your attack on the community with the big bang of a circus show. Get everyone involved, and now we will see the stands get full of wonderful supportive fans. Why do I care? I do love this sport, and feel it slipping away to people that don’t know how to relate to the people buying the tickets. Somehow these racing venues have forgotten about the local fans. I am not mad at anyone, I just want to state what I have seen over the last few years.

By;Jim Gandolf