Blog
June 27, 2022
On the weekend of June 12 at Road America, the Vintage Indy Reserve cars came to run the track with the Indy Cars along with the Indy Lights, PRO2000 and USF2000 racing cars.
This blog features photos of all the cars except the current Indy Cars. That will be the next blog because I have a lot of material and photos of all the groups from the weekend.
Vintage Indy Reserve cars are our roots of Indy Car racing. These cars have been beautifully and meticulously restored to their original condition. They are all beautiful cars.
Everyone has a favorite but I have several favorites.
The Dan Gurney Eagle driven by Chip Mead years ago and the STP Lotus jet powered cars are amazing. The wedge shaped STP Lotus is powered by a jet engine and fueled by kerosene. The exhaust heat you will see here is pretty cool, along with it's wedge shape and pink color. It was a very revolutionary car and the sound it makes it just a whoosh as it goes by.
Al Unser Jr. and his wife Norma drive the Mini Cooper pace car for the Vintage Indy Reserve cars. It really is a parade and not a race with these cars for a half hour session. After one lap Al Unser Jr. gets out of the way and lets the cars stretch their legs.
I've also included the "Road To Indy" cars that help drivers learn and gain experience to get to the Indy Car, eventually and hopefully. PRO2000, USF2000 and Indy Lights are the path they take to get to an Indy Car. It's not the only way to get there because we have Formula 1 drivers and others but it's a good stepping stone.
Great to see Rob Radman sitting in a Vintage Reserve car and Matthew Brabham back in an Indy Lights car racing!
Enjoy the photos and wear your sunscreen folks when out enjoying the summer racing fun.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
June 12, 2022
Been a few busy weeks with the Indy 500 and the SCCA Wisconsin Grand Prix at the Milwaukee Mile that was on May 13 through the 15th.
Then, up to Road America for the Road America Karting Club races. The kart racing will be another blog soon to show you a future superstar!
Here are the "break in" photos with my new Sony A9ll camera. It is an amazing camera.
These are some pictures of the SCCA folks at the Milwaukee Mile infield course to start off the year in racing. Never seen the infield course actually used until this event. Nice track and setup for SCCA club racers to enjoy.
Just a note that my heart broke for Scott Dixon in the Indy 500. He was my pick. He had that race won if it weren't for a pit speed violation...
I'll be editing Road America Indy Car photos for the next blog as you read this.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Blog #400!!-1996 CART Miller Genuine Draft 200 Indy Car race at the Milwaukee Mile
May 30, 2022
On June 2,1996, the CART Indy Cars came to the Milwaukee Mile. This was the good old days when the race was traditionally the weekend following the Indy 500.
That particular race had a bunch of caution flags, but it was really a race between Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy who had the pole position. They finished that way and were followed by Emerson Fittipaldi and Greg Moore.
This was at the time when Michael Andretti basically owned the race wins at the Milwaukee Mile for several years. This 1996 race was no exception with Mario Andretti being an awesome father and mentor.
It was a nice 80 degree day but windy I recall which probably didn't help driver Parker Johnstone. He spun on the first lap and then crashed with 5 laps to go!
In 1996 Jimmy Vasser would become the series champion and Alex Zanardi was the rookie of the year.
Enjoy a look at that day and my 400th blog!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann