November 4, 2024

During the famous split of Indy Car we had Champ Car and the Indy Racing League both at the Milwaukee Mile in 2006. This is the IRL at the Milwaukee Mile on July 23, 2006 where Helio Castroneves won the pole position but was out of the race quickly in an accident.

Tony Kanaan won the race with Sam Hornish Jr. second and Tomas Schecter third. Young Danica Patrick finished fourth which was a good run for her.

The cars to my eye just were not as good looking as a Champ Car and didn't sound as good. Not as fast as a Champ Car either, I believe.

Take a look at the cars and see if you like them better than the Champ Cars in my last blog.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

October 21, 2024

Here is a look at some great old days of Indy Car racing when Champ Car AND the IRL both existed.  It was called "The Split" and friend Paul Zimmermann has written a good book on the whole mess. It was a mess that almost killed Indy Car. Thank you Tony George for almost destroying Indy Car racing.

The Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225 was the Champ Car race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 4, 2006 with Sebastien Bourdais in the pole position and winning the race. The late Justin Wilson took second and Nelson Philippe third.

Got to be friends with French driver Nelson Philippe who had a very sore neck during practice. I had some Bio Freeze in my truck that I use and I gave it to him to help calm his neck pain down a bit. It did, and he gave me his helmet visor for being nice!

Alexander Tagliani destroyed his car in practice right in front of me in turn 4 and was very lucky that he didn't get hurt at all. Alex was Will Power's teammate that year for Derrick Walker and Aussie Vineyards racing.

The Champ Car was a beautiful looking car and the Aussie Vineyards and McDonalds liveries are beautiful. Really a lot better looking than the IRL race car and faster I believe.

Justin Wilson led 61 laps, Katherine Legge 12 laps and A.J. Allmendinger led 7 laps.

Enjoy a look at some pretty cars and a mangled wreck of Alex Tagliani's car.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The Champ Car series at the Milwaukee Mile on June 4, 2006.

October 7, 2024

This blog is a bit special in that it's on a racing fundraiser for the American Cancer Society called DRIVE.  It was held at Road America on August 22.

Get your yearly checkup folks or I would have never known that I have bladder cancer. A routine urinalysis revealed microscopic blood in my urine and that's how I learned of my issue. I felt fine and had no idea.

I lost my right kidney last year and are dealing with the left kidney and more now.

I've photographed DRIVE for 5 years I believe, and it means more to me than ever since I've been diagnosed.

All the proceeds of the event went to the American Cancer Society which is great.

This year we brought on a new sponsor, EIG, Ellenbecker Investment Group and we thank them.

We provide lunch and instructors like professional driver Randy Pobst all for a great cause.

Checkout a few photos of some racers having fun. The weather that day was beautiful and the best in the 20 years the DRIVE has run.

Enjoy these photos of the day.

Thanks,

Rich