The Circus Comes to Nap-Town
Written by Allan Brewer · June 30, 2006
The first of three practice sessions leading to qualifying for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix commences today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Fernando Alonso attempts to put last year’s Michelin tire debacle further into the history books as he prepares to tackle a course on which he has never completed a full race and pace his championship-leading Team Renault around the fast, then slow, course at the legendary Speedway.
“At the beginning of the season, I said that I need a podium at Monaco, Indianapolis and Canada because they are the only three trophies I didn’t have at all the circuits. I did Monaco and Canada, so it’s still Indianapolis to get on the podium.” Alonso said Thursday. “I think Monaco, Monza and Indianapolis are the most famous circuits in the world, and to win at any of those circuits is something special for any racing driver.”
Speaking to the technical difficulties of the unusual Speedway layout, which encompasses nearly one-half of the famous nine-degree banked oval into the F1 circuit, he said “”It’s difficult, to (compare to) any circuit. It has different parts of the circuit, one (infield) quite slow and not so grippy, difficult to get braking points and see the line, improving as we get more rubber down. And the second part (long straightaway), really quick, especially with the V8, maybe 12 or 13 seconds full throttle, very difficult for the engine. I don’t think you can compare it to any other , it is impossible.”
Michelin Tire continued its efforts to make amends with F1’s American fans by making Alonso and a stream of its team drivers available to the public for live television question and answer sessions from a great crowd assembled on the Pagoda Plaza from morning to late afternoon.
Alonso downplayed concerns about the French tire manufacturer’s ability to put a satisfactory compound and construction onto the track for this year’s USGP.
“Monday or Tuesday we knew the tires we’re using for the race, compounds, contractions and new developments in the tire. And Indianapolis is normal again; we know what we’re bringing here, and have 100 percent confidence. I think we know the problem from last year, Michelin knows the problem, and last year will be completely forgotten.”
Apparently fans of the Indianapolis race agree with him, as a crowd of ten to twenty thousand enthusiastic patrons filed through long lines on a bright pleasant Indiana day for the annual “Pit WalkAbout” and waited patiently for autographs from their F1 heroes.
When asked about the encouraging turnout for a non track-related-activity event on a weekday, Alonso replied that he was not surprised and his experience thusfar indicated to him that this year’s event will be a success. “Yesterday in the hotel there were people waiting for us there, nothing unusual. And today, we see how they feel and enjoy Formula One, so I don’t think we see any negative side coming from last year. I think the people are looking forward to Sunday, and to see a good show, which we’ll put on the track for them, for sure.”
SpeedTV’s hosts Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchettte and Peter Windsor entertained the crowd during breaks between the driver’s appearances on the Coca-Cola Stage at the southeast corner of the huge plaza as the Speedway’s big-screen monitors broadcast a closed-circuit loop to the fans who could not get close to the platform.
Joking with the crowd, Varsha remarked (when asked about NASCAR’s dominance of the television racing market) “It’s great to see those cars here at the Speedway. Here they come…and there they go (looking down at his watch and pausing for a long time)…and here they come again.” as the crowd cheered his deadpan mock of the stock car series.
SpeedTV will broadcast the Formula 1 practice live today from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning at 11AM EDT.
2006 USGP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 2006 United States Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, July 2. Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday, while online orders can be made at any time. A three-day “Season Pass” for the event is only $60. The pass is good for admission to IMS for all three days of on-track activity, Friday, June 30-Sunday, July 2. All seating Friday and Saturday is general admission, and the pass provides general admission access to the Viewing Mounds, Infield, First Turn Terrace, South Terrace and Tower Terrace (Sections 39-77) on Sunday, July 2. Reserved seats for Race Day, Sunday, July 2, start at $75.
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