Blog
July 25, 2016
On race day morning the Indy cars usually do a warmup session to make sure that all systems are working on the cars. This year at Road America it was raining in the morning for the warmup session. With the race weather predicted to be sunny and hot, nobody was going out for the warmup it seemed.
Then, I heard one Indy car spring to life and saw Sebastian Bourdais getting ready to go out! He was wearing some big wet weather boots until he got into his car. He had the track to himself for almost the whole session other than Graham Rahal going out for just one lap.
How much fun was he having?? I think a lot by the look on his face when he got out of the car. He was out there for probably about 10 laps and had the whole four mile track to himself. The sound of just one car and seeing the spray of water behind his car was awesome! In the photos you can see what a wet weather rain tire looks like. They move a lot of water! Normally, an Indy car runs slicks with no grooves at all. I have included a photo of Sebastian during the race and you can see the difference in the tires.
I also have included photos of Sebastian being introduced to the fans with Miss Wisconsin's help.
Also included here are photos of Mario Andretti and the lucky winner of the sweepstakes who got to ride in the two seater Indy car with him. A little height difference between the two men! Enter the sweepstakes at Honda.com and you might get to ride too!
Have a good week.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
July 18, 2016
Finally catching up with editing the photographs that I took on Saturday of the Indy car weekend at Road America! On that Saturday I only took 739 photos, so there are just a few to edit.
I don't want you all to see the bad stuff, and yes I shoot bad ones. So I go through every shot and check them out and get rid of the bad ones.
What you see here are just a few that I like and find interesting.
Marco Andretti's shoes are interesting in that you will see his initials sewn into them.
Helio, Graham Rahal and a few guys bouncing over the bumps in Canada Corner is something to witness, not just to see, but to hear their cars going over the bumps, because they come into the corner a little too fast. It's something! It also must hurt the bum bouncing on them like that! They are just inches off the ground and there is not much padding for the driver in his seat.
I have also included a couple photos of Zak Veach and James French from the Indy Lights cars that raced that weekend too. Zak has won just about everything this year and was on the pole. James French is our local boy from Sheboygan who usually races in an IMSA car but did the Indy Lights as a substitute driver for the weekend. It was a different environment for him. He is young and going to be good. Wish our local boy all the best in the future!
Enjoy a look from the roof of the media center by the start/finish line. It's a very cool view and you can see into the cars a bit.
Have a good week and please join me on Facebook if you haven't for more fun photos!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
July 11, 2016
I think it is time for me to digitally scan more of my Indy car photographs from the 1990's and early 2000's.
After the passing of Carl Haas recently, I went through my digital archived collection of Indy car races. Couldn't find a whole lot of pictures of Carl Haas and I know I have more of him with his cigar, which was never lit. At least I never saw it lit!
Carl Haas passed away a few weeks ago from complications from Alzheimers disease. Terrible disease that I know about all too well because my mother was diagnosed with it.
The Milwaukee Mile and Indy Car can thank Carl for so much work that he has done for both. Paul Newman was his partner and at his side most of the time at the races. Mario Andretti was his main driver for years and then Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell and Sebastian Bourdais came along.
When he brought Nigel Mansell over to Indy Car, fresh from a Formula 1 championship, people couldn't believe it!
Sebastian Bourdais won 4 consecutive championships with Carl and Paul. They were the team to be a part of because they were so good.
Newman Haas Racing is a team that is missed on the grid very much.
Enjoy a look at Carl, Paul and a few friends.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
