All posts by Frank Santoroski

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer With the Texas Motor Speedway celebrating its 20th anniversary, there is good reason to reflect on the great racing that the venerable 1.5 mile oval has given us over the years. In looking back, I often wonder about the one race that wasn’t held. The 2001 Firestone Firehawk 600 for the CART Series. When the Texas Motor Speedway was still under construction, track manager and promoter, Eddie Gossage, had a vision that would see the new race track host all of the major American racingRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer Emerson Fittipaldi has a racing résumé that has given him a solid place in Motor Racing history. Having won Formula One Championships in 1972 and 1974, he embarked on a second racing career in the CART series.  Racing during the heyday of American open-wheeled racing, Fittipaldi earned two Indianapolis 500 victories and the 1989 season title. After hanging up his helmet in 1996, Fittipaldi began a series of successful business ventures in his native Brazil, including clothing lines,  real estate development, digital media, sales, servicesRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer The Verizon IndyCar Series ran their second event on the schedule, and the first oval event of the year last night. Target Chip Ganassi driver, Scott Dixon, won the race in a dominating fashion leading the final 155 laps at Phoenix International Raceway. Allow me to share some observations of what we witnessed on Saturday Night. 1 ) The Aero Package isn’t quite right    As a few drivers and team owners predicted, the racing became largely processional with the cars becoming strung out. DriversRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer Earlier this evening, the Verizon IndyCar Series made its much-anticipated return to Phoenix International Raceway. When all was said and done, it was Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon standing tall in victory lane at the Diamond Desert West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix. “It was tough, definitely one of the toughest races on these short ovals.” said Dixon, a four-time series champion, “The car was super-fast. I think we had the best car out there on strategies and pit stops.” Dixon was followed to theRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer AVONDALE, AZ. April 2, 2016 – Heading into tonight’s Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix, Honda teams are left scratching their heads as Chevrolet-powered cars swept the first ten grid positions led by Penske Racing’s Helio Castroneves. After completing a two-day test in February, all the Verizon IndyCar Series teams reported that track conditions were remarkably different upon returning to the 1.022 mile oval.  The track had hosted the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the interim and, despite a power-washing of the surface, quiteRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer Andretti Autosport put the rumors to rest when they confirmed that Townsend Bell will be joining the team’s effort at the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Bell will be driving the No. 29 car in a fifth entry with the team that has three Indianapolis 500 wins to their credit. The Andretti team utilizes the Honda powerplant and aero package.  Sponsorship has not been announced, although the Robert Graham fashion company, a sponsor of Bell’s in the past, willRead More

August 29, 1921 – December 23, 1990 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee When Wendell Oliver Scott, of Danville, VA, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015, it marked the end of a long journey by the Scott family to see the driver given the respect that he deserved for his accomplishments. Unfortunately, the moment came 25 years too late for Scott himself to see it. When I was young, I had seen the film Greased Lightning. In fact, I watched it several times because HBO wouldRead More

By April Furst, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS: April 1, 2016- One of the best-kept secrets in motor racing is now out of the bag as KVSH Racing announced early this morning that NASCAR regular Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving a second entry for the team at the historic 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. The car will be powered by Chevrolet and sponsored by Kick Start. Earnhardt will run his familiar number 88 on the IndyCar. In running the Memorial Day double that includes racing at Indianapolis and Charlotte onRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer The Verizon IndyCar Series will make its return this weekend to the Valley of the Sun for the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix. About the Race The race will be the second race of the sixteen-race schedule for the Verizon IndyCar Series. It will be the first oval track event of the season, in a schedule that compromises five oval races. IndyCars will be returning to the iconic track for the first time since 2005. Staged as a a Saturday Night event, theRead More

By Frank Santoroski, Staff Writer A word to the wise, if you haven’t purchased your tickets for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, get your order in soon. As reported in the Indianapolis Star, tickets are moving at a brisk rate, and Speedway officials are optimistic that the event will see the first sell-out crowd since the pre-split era. Reserved ticket sales have already surpassed the mark set last year, with more than two months remaining before the event. The numbers will not top the crowd in 1995 dueRead More