Blog
May 18, 2026
As we prepare for the 2026 Indy 500 let's take a look back at the Miller Lite 225 at the Milwaukee Mile in 1999.
Helio Castroneves won the pole position but crashed out early and Paul Tracy got the win.
This period was during the split of CART and the IRL so no Indy 500 for the CART racers.
It was very unfortunate as we had so many great racers in CART like Greg Moore, Michael Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves, Max Papis, Bryan Herta and more.
The cars were fast and beautiful with the Max Papis car looking beautiful for the Miller Lite Team. It was probably the prettiest car there.
Greg Moore had become a bit of a friend the past few years and he loved to fish like me. We talked and were going to try to go musky fishing on Pewaukee Lake which is close to the Mile when they came back in 2000.
That was not to be as Greg tragically died at the final race of the year at California Speedway. Gonzalo Rodriguez also passed during qualifying the day before. It was a very sad weekend in California.
Helio Castroneves would take Greg Moore's future seat at Team Penske and we would never see Greg's full potential.
This was also the last year of Dan Gurney AAR Eagles in CART with Alex Barron running at Milwaukee in a beautiful Eagle. Plus, Al Unser Jr. would depart from Team Penske at years end.
Take a look back at some beautiful cars at the Milwaukee Mile when it still had the old grandstand.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
May 4, 2026
Here we are with my 500th blog and it should be a happy one but life has it's own path.
Racer and friend, Alex Zanardi, passed away last Friday night after a great racing career that ended tragically.
Alex came to America and the CART series and became rookie of the year in 1995 with Chip Ganassi Racing. He earned 2 championships in 1997 and 1998.
He is most famous for "The Pass" on Bryan Herta in 1996 at Laguna Seca in the Corkscrew turns. That move is now banned in racing but Alex was the first to do it. He was also the first to do celebration donuts with his car and tires after a win. That is done by every race winner these days.
I got to know Alex and his crew through the years and witnessed some fun times. In my race room here I have a signed visor of his, one of my photos of him, (thanks Eddie) and a Barilla hat in addition to his book.
The funniest incident I saw was when Alex went into the Port a Potti in pit lane at the Milwaukee Mile during practice. His teammate ,Jimmy Vasser, locked/barricaded him in for a while so he couldn't get out! It was all in fun and everyone laughed including Alex. That was the kind of man Alex was.
A good friend told me of a go kart race for the March of Dimes held at the Milwaukee Mile indoors. As friend Tony says, he out did everyone, not in speed but thrills. As part of the event they had a qualifying white board mounted on an easel that had a chain supporting a leg.
Alex began his run by doing three plus donuts in the pit area and then headed for the track driving under the easel just missing the chain! Tony said he was the best Chairman they ever had.
Even after Alex lost his legs in an accident in Germany in 2001 he came back to racing as a Paralympic Champion in the Olympics in London in 2012 handcycling.
Max Papis was Alex's friend since they were 12 years old and Alex is the Godfather of Max and Tatiana's children, Matteo and Marco.
He is a true athlete and hero to me.
Rest in Peace my friend. Love to his family.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
April 20, 2026
Just a little blog taking us back to Road America on July 11, 1999 for the Texaco Havoline 200.
Michael Andretti had the pole position and his teammate Christian Fittipaldi won the race. It was Christian's only win in Indy Car and sadly Greg Moore's last visit to Road America. He was tragically killed in Fontana, California at the last race of the season.
Greg Moore was set to go to Team Penske in 2000 but after the accident Helio Castroneves got the seat and the rest is history. Who knows how many championships or Indy 500 wins Greg could have gotten.
Enjoy a look at some beautiful cars that had a lot of horsepower.
Getting ready for chemotherapy #21 on Wednesday. We hope it is the last one.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
