April 11, 2016

Racing season has begun with practice laps being run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

Nascar doesn't count with me, and yes, we have had a few Indy car races, but this year we have the 100th running of the Indy 500!

Here are some old photos from the late 1980's and 1990 with some different forms of real racing!

Check out Rick Mears, Emerson Fittipaldi, Geoff Brabham, Bill Seebold and a few other folks way back when and get ready for the 100th Indy 500. All of these guys were the best in their race craft.

Who are you picking for the winner if the Indy 500? It's early yet but I'm going with Scott Dixon.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Some different racing styles to look at to get us going this year!

October 5, 2015

One of my favorite race car drivers is Sebastian Bourdais.  Since his beginning days in Champ Car, I have enjoyed watching him drive and win a lot of races.

I have also enjoyed his famous fights with Paul Tracy years ago in Champ Car, which made for even more enjoyable racing!

After winning some championships in Champ Car, Sebastian went to Formula 1. He should have stayed here in America because the Formula 1 experience didn't work out so well.

It is good to see him racing again in an Indy Car where he belongs. Sebastian also has been doing well in sports car racing winning some nice races.

It has been his second year in the IRL cars and he gets more comfortable and better with each race. A championship wasn't all that far away this past year. Maybe next year he will win the IRL championship and I hope he does.

Enjoy a look at Seabass this past year in Milwaukee.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

September 28, 2015

Today, Monday September 28, 2015 will go down in history for James Hinchcliffe! It will be the return to the cockpit of his racing car and doing laps at Elkhart Lake!!!

Since James had his horrific crash during practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he has waited for this day. When he woke up from his big accident in the hospital, the first thing he asked about was when can he could get back into his race car! He is a racer and that is all he thinks about.

The second of two testing days is today at Elkhart Lake and it is not open to the public. Too bad I can't see that big smile on his face after a few laps at Elkhart Lake.

I wish him well and I'm sure he will be a little sore tonight after testing day but he will be a happy racer again. The mayor of Hinchtown is back!

Enjoy a look back at James at the Milwaukee Mile in 2014.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Sebastian Bourdais at the Milwaukee Mile in 2015.

James Hinchcliffe at the Milwaukee Mile in 2014.

September 14, 2015

My last blog was on Scott Dixon, our new IRL champion. Everyone, as I said then, was looking at Graham Rahal or Juan Montoya to win the championship.

This photo blog is about Graham Rahal and his career milestones so far.  I start with photos from 2004, when he was in Formula BMW at Elkhart Lake. Then, 2007 at Elkhart Lake when he was in his first year, his rookie year of Champ Car. That had to be a big jump because Champ Car then had sooo much horsepower! Then a few photos of this year 2015 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Graham had a lot of help through the years, and one of his mentors and supporters was Paul Newman, who ran Newman Haas Racing with Carl Haas. Paul did so much for the sport that I must mention him and include a few photos from 2007 and 2008.

Enjoy a look at Graham and hopefully next year will be his year!

Please join me on Facebook at Rich Zimmermann Photography if you haven't already and please note that limited edition, certified, gallery style, 8 1/2 X 11's are on sale this week for $50.00 plus shipping!!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

September 7, 2015

The biggest surprise of the Indy Racing League this year has to be that Scott Dixon is the 2015 champion!

Everyone was looking at Juan Montoya or Graham Rahal or Helio Castroneves to win the championship.

Meanwhile, Scott Dixon was quietly saving fuel, winning a few races and he becomes the champ!

Congrats to Scott and here are a few photos of Scott from 2005 to 2014.

Happy Labor Day and have a nice week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

August 30, 2015

Today, is Sunday, August 30, my birthday and I should be happy. I am happy but I'm saddened because of Justin Wilson's passing.  I am a huge Indy Car race fan and photographer and I have photographed Justin Wilson for years.

He passed away last week after an accident during the Indy Car race in Pennsylvania at the Pocono race track. Sage Karam crashed and the nose cone of his car became airborne and landed on Justin's head. Justin never regained consciousness and passed away on Tuesday.  His organs were donated and I heard that he saved six lives.

Justin Wilson was the nicest guy on pit lane.  He was one of three drivers of the Driver's Committee and would help anyone he could. Everyone liked him and I mean everyone.

Through the years of photographing drivers, I have traded my photos for their helmet visors for my collection at home. After I have their visor, I trade photos for their gloves, if possible. I have Justin's visor and a pair of his gloves from Milwaukee's race in 2007. During today's final race of the season at Sonoma Raceway, I think I will get those gloves out and look at them.

Attached here are photos of Justin through the years driving Champ Cars, IRL cars and having fun with Tony Kanaan on pit lane in Milwaukee. One photo that I really like is of his steering wheel from 2012.  One of his guys put "Badass Wilson" on the top of it!

Miss you Badass Wilson, and I will soon frame those gloves and display them in my race room.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Justin Wilson, racing in Champ Car and the IRL.