Edmonton Alberta CA - PT started the race on the Edmonton City Centre Airport circuit today in P15. By the end of the first lap he had moved up to P11. Paul continued to run solid and late in the race found himself running in the top 10. He went on to finish in P6, the biggest mover of any driver in the race.
Toronto CA - PT returned to his home stomping grounds today much to the delight of the Toronto fans. Starting the race from P24 Paul quickly moved up a number of spots during the first handful of laps. On lap 17 the race saw its first yellow flag and while the majority of the field pitted PT stayed out and took over the lead of the race. He then lead the next 14 laps which were plagued with more cautions. He finally pit on lap 35 and fueling issues saw a 17+ second stop. He returned to the racetrack in P20. He ran without incident through to lap 57 when he made his final stop. Unfortunately shortly after he over ran a turn slightly and the car stalled. While PT gestured urgently for the corner workers to get him re fired he saw the majority of the field file past him leaving him the first car 1 lap down. That would be where he finished running in P13. A very good overall gain in positions on a day when things looked even more promising for a better finish in front of the home town fans.
Watkins Glen NY - Today PT started the race in P12 on the outside of Row 6. Substituting for Indy injured Mike Conway Paul moved up 3 positions in the first few laps. At lap 30 and halfway through the race his team switched strategy and pitted under green coming back out at the tail end of the lead lap in P23. After a couple yellow flags and another round of pit stops PT would finish in P14. Consider this a good warm up for Toronto in 2 weeks.
PT TO VISIT YMCA IN DANVILLE, ILLINOIS
Danville, IL (May 27, 2010) – Just a few days removed from experiencing his greatest heartbreak, IndyCar driver Paul Tracy will be visiting the Danville Family YMCA in Danville, Illinois, on Friday, May 28th, at 11:30 AM (CDT) to sign autographs, take pictures and visit with the public. Danville is the hometown of Tracy’s business associate, Doug Barnette, who is a longtime financial supporter of the YMCA.
Tracy is regarded as one of the top racecar drivers in the world, but on Sunday he became the latest victim of Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he failed to qualify for the 2010 Indianapolis 500. Tracy joins a distinguished list of famous names who have missed qualifying for the world’s biggest race, including Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Jr., Bobby Rahal and Roger Penske, just to name a few.
Tracy, driver of the #15 GEICO car for KV Racing Technology, finished 9th in last year’s Indianapolis 500, marking his first return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2002 when a controversial ruling sent him home with a runner up finish. The Indy Racing League ruled that he passed Helio Castroneves under caution on the final lap of the race despite video evidence that would indicate otherwise.
Given the circumstances, most drivers in his situation would flee the city of Indianapolis after not qualifying for the 500, but the 2003 Champ Car Champion is honoring his commitment to make a return trip to Danville. Known for his colorful, outspoken personality, Tracy is a true gentleman and cares deeply about children, spending vast amounts of time with them when afforded the opportunity.
Danville Family YMCA executive director, John Alexander, met Tracy last year and is happy that Tracy has decided to visit the YMCA.
“Paul Tracy paid a visit to our Y last year with Doug (Barnette), and we are thrilled that Doug has arranged for Paul to make a formal visit this year. It’ll be fun listening to him talk to our members and share stories from his successful racing career. It’s not often that you get one of the top racecar drivers in the world to come by, so this is exciting for us, as well as the city of Danville.” He continued, “Doug has been a wonderful supporter of the Danville Family YMCA and is always looking for ways to promote the programs and values of our Y, so I’m glad we could get this coordinated.”
Tracy and Barnette have a close friendship that spans the last seven years and over that time Barnette has talked a lot about his hometown of Danville.
“I’m so excited that P.T. (Paul Tracy) is coming to Danville after all that he’s been through over the last few days.” Barnette said. “He truly enjoyed his visit here last year and I talk so much about this place that he now always asks about what’s going on here.” He continued, “This says everything about Paul Tracy. He is a first class guy and I’m proud to count him as one of my best friends. He is like family to me.”
Tracy echoed Barnette’s sentiments and looks forward to seeing the YMCA and visiting with the kids that will be on-hand.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Danville and seeing some familiar faces,” Tracy said. “I had a great time last year at Friendly Town, so this year it’ll be nice to see the YMCA and all of the things going on there. I know Doug is a great supporter of the Y and I’m sure he’ll be announcing a special donation of some sort. Doug and I are great friends and he has a big heart, which is why it was important for me to make this trip.”
Barnette, who donated $25,000 in 2007 to name the YMCA’s large gymnasium floor after his high school basketball coach, Gene Gourley, will be announcing a donation to replace all of the basketball rims and backboards in the building.
Joining Tracy will be children from local elementary schools, as well as local media. Additionally, the #13 GEICO NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racecar driven by Max Papis will be on display.
Tracy will be on-hand following the event to answer questions for the media.
For more information about Paul Tracy and the GEICO Indy 500 program, please visit www.geicogarage.com
PT BARELY MISSES GRID SPOT AT INDY
In what was a nail biting Bump Day at Indy, PT had secured a spot in the second to last row early on in the day. As the day progressed though a number of cars headed out on track to bump themselves into the field and toward the end of the day Paul found himself actually on the bump spot. Probably guessing he had more in the car the team withdrew PT's qualifying time to try and better his spot on the grid. After only his first lap it was evident that PT had his hands full with an ill handling race car. He could not find the speed to bump back into the field and the team waved off his attempt. PT was quickly wheeled back into line to hopefully get one more attempt. The clock was running down and Jay Howard was in front of PT in line and had the option of moving aside and keeping his earlier time which had him in the field or withdrawing his time and trying again. He chose the latter which ran out the clock leaving PT next to go when the session ending gun was fired. Ironically Jay Howard's decision to run again left him out of the race and bumped in a car that had been wadded up in a previous attempt. It also ironically ran out the clock on PT's hopes for a 2010 Indy.
PT P29 ON POLE DAY AT INDY
After a great drawing of the second starting spot for Pole Day at Indy things started getting tough from there. After pulling onto the track while temperatures were cool and fast, PT fired up and ready to get busy had to pull back off track without even taking the green flag. A gearbox problem had him finding the car in neutral when going for top gear. After waving off his first attempt Paul got right back in line for another attempt. After all other drivers had made their first run, PT got his second chance and put his car in the top 24 just barely with a speed of 223.856 MPH. Speaking to the effort of he and his teammates today Paul said,"the wheels fell off it today".
So now with cars making their second try at making the top 24 PT's teammate E.J. Viso went out on track and sped to to P17 bumping Paul out of the field of 24.
With just 10 minutes to go in the session PT hit the track again to try and bump himself back into the field. Unfortunately he could not find the speed to do so and will be back tomorrow on Bump Day.
LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL, PT READY TO LET LOOSE IN INDY
Las Vegas, NV (May 10, 2010) – It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a year since PT made his first return visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2002. While a questionable call by the race steward sent Tracy home with a broken heart in 2002, last year was a bit of a different story. In fact, if not for a Tony Kanaan crash where Tracy collected debris and sustained slight aero damage, he may have won the Indianapolis 500 for a second time, er, for the first time. He instead recorded a 9th place finish in the #15 GEICO car and just minutes after the race voiced his intentions to return to Indy in 2010 and put his name in the history books.
Teamed with his best friend and car owner Jimmy Vasser, the duo sat together on April 17th in Long Beach where they once again announced their intentions to chase the Borg-Warner Trophy with GEICO as their partner in 2010. Naturally, Tracy fans, and IndyCar fans in general, were both encouraged and energized by the news. Tracy’s aggressive, outspoken personality is what the IndyCar Series needs and with the Gecko by his side he is once again sure to garner the lion’s share of press coverage when he arrives in Indianapolis this week.
It would be inaccurate to assume that Tracy needs an Indy 500 win to justify his career, but it would certainly be good for his soul. He is, without question, one of the most successful drivers to wheel a racecar and has already claimed his place in history, so one would ask why Tracy is returning to Indy. Because he wants it. This has never been more evidenced than by his renewed commitment beginning in January when he reunited with his former personal trainer and embarked on a physical training regimen more fit for a boxer. But, rather than stepping into a boxing ring, he will be stepping into the most historic speedway in the world where he will do battle with 32 other drivers who share his dream. The difference being that Tracy is willing to put the work in and do things that most others are not willing to do to achieve the desired result. When Tracy arises before the sun does, most of his counterparts are still dreaming about winning the Indy 500 while Tracy is busy making it happen.
Tracy is also busy fulfilling his media obligations and his days and nights have been consumed with photo shoots, magazine stories, interviews and, last but not least, filming a reality show for SPEED. He manages his time just as well he manages his racecar. And, in the midst of the chaos, he never fails to perform his duties as a husband and father; a side of ‘PT’ that people, other than the few who are close to him, rarely get to see. As most everyone is aware, Tracy has few friends, but the few he has believe in him and support him and provide a venue for him to express himself and be comfortable. His circle is a small one, but it provides him the strength and confidence he needs to be successful.
Tracy is aggressive, outspoken and colorful, but he is also passionate, focused and driven. He is quite aware of what lies ahead at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, as the days pass, his relationship with inevitability grows considerably deeper. He has approached this year’s Indianapolis 500 with a blue-collar mentality and will most certainly have his work cut out for him when he strolls through Gasoline Alley on his way to opening day practice. However, Tracy also knows that Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a magical place and that anything can happen on that 2.5-mile oval. Thanks to GEICO and KV Racing Technology, he will get another shot at claiming what he believes is already his.
“It’s hard for me to really quantify what Indy means to me and how passionate I am about going there,” Tracy said. “It’s such a historic place, a place that has both made and broken careers, a place that has taken lives and that has given people a life. I’m so thankful for the opportunity that GEICO has given me to go back there and be a part of history. It also means a lot to be able to once again partner with my good friends Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven and the entire KV Racing team. We had a great year last year and I’m sure our effort this year will prove to be duplicative.”
In recent weeks, Tracy has often characterized himself as a caged animal with a big steak sitting in front of him. On Saturday, May 15th, when Indianapolis 500 practice gets underway, that animal will be unleashed and while Tracy often speaks in metaphors, the ‘steak’ should be scared nonetheless.
PT, GEICO, KV RACING TECHNOLOGY TEAM UP FOR ASSAULT ON 2010 INDIANAPOLIS 500
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 17, 2010) - - PT, 2002 Indianapolis 500 runner-up, will return to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway next month for KV Racing Technology, driving the No. 15 GEICO – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race set for Sunday, May 30, 2010.
Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, is one of the most successful drivers in the history of open-wheel racing with 31 career victories. The Canadian native will be sponsored by GEICO Insurance for the second consecutive year.
“It is exciting to have PT and GEICO Insurance back together with KV Racing Technology for this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. “Paul is one of the greatest and most exciting drivers in the sport’s history, while GEICO Insurance is a leader in its industry. I feel confident that Paul, with the support of GEICO Insurance, will provide KVRT with a very competitive entry in this year’s Indy 500.”
Tracy’s entry will be the fourth for KVRT in this year’s Indianapolis 500. Tracy will team rookie Takuma Sato in the No. 5 Lotus - KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, E.J. Viso in the No. 8 PSVDA – KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car and Mario Moraes in No. 5 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine. The 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race will be in 2011.
“We are excited to bring PT back to the world’s best auto race, the Indianapolis 500,” expressed Ted Ward, GEICO’s vice president of marketing. “We have a great combination with a legendary driver in Paul and a world class organization in KV Racing Technology. This alliance allows us to spread our message of safety on a much broader scale.”
Tracy, a fan favorite for nearly 20 years, has competed in six Indy 500 races including his second place finish to Helio Castroneves in the controversial 2002 event. Last year, Tracy drove the No. 15 GEICO – KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry to ninth. In addition to the Indy 500, he drove the Honda of Canada KVRT car at Toronto and Edmonton last year.
“It is great to go back to the Indianapolis 500 with GEICO and KV Racing Technology,” Tracy said. I want to thank Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser of KVRT and GEICO for the opportunity to return the world’s biggest auto race. I have won races and championships at the top level during my racing career, but what I am missing is a win at Indy. I feel I have some unfinished business at the Brickyard and, with the support of GEICO and an outstanding team like KV Racing Technology, I feel good about our chances at this year’s 500.”
Tracy has competed in 270 Indy car-type events during his career and has established himself as one of the top drivers in open-wheel racing. The resident of Las Vegas, Nev., is among the top-10 in almost every Champ Car career statistical category including wins, 31 (sixth all-time), poles, 25 (eighth all-time), and laps led, 4,231 (sixth all-time).
“It is tremendous to bring Paul back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again this year in the No. 15 GEICO - KVRT car,” said KVRT co-team owner Jimmy Vasser. “I also want to thank GEICO for supporting our efforts with Paul Paul was very competitive last year in the GEICO machine in his first Indy 500 in seven years. After last year’s return to the Speedway, we, at KVRT, believe Paul will be a contender for the win.”
PT TO ATTEND CANADIAN MOTORSPORTS EXPO
Toronto, Canada (January 22, 2010) Racing fans in attendance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Sunday, January 24, 2010 are in for a ‘thrill.’ PT, one of Canada’s most successful, entertaining and popular racers will be at the International Centre to sign autographs, chat with fans, and participate in ceremonies celebrating the official kick-off of Mosport International Raceway’s 50th Anniversary Season, in 2010.
Known as ‘The Thrill from West Hill,’ Tracy is the perfect headliner for the CME’s Mosport celebration. He cut his teeth at the legendary Canadian road course, earning his first-ever win in a racecar on the challenging 10-turn circuit that has played a prominent role in Canadian motorsports since first being opened in 1961.
Speaking about his upcoming appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, and paying homage to Mosport, PT said, “I’m looking forward to signing autographs at the Canadian Motorsports Expo. It’s always great when you get to go home and get up close and personal with the fans. I’m very excited and I’m sure it’s going to be a great time. Mosport was my home racetrack when I began racing cars. I had my first race and my first win in a racecar there, so I’m thrilled to be a part of kicking off their 50th anniversary celebration.”
CME President Glenn Butt is equally enthused about Tracy’s scheduled appearance. “When you think of successful Canadian racing stars and institutions, PT and Mosport International Raceway are near the top of the list. The two have a shared history, and having Paul take part in our celebration of Mosport’s 50th makes it all the more special.”
Responding to the news that PT will be participating in the Mosport Anniversary festivities at the CME, Myles Brandt (President & GM, Mosport International Raceway) said, “Mosport has been the home track to many of Canada’s top race drivers over the past five decades, and PT ranks as one of the greatest Canadian racers of all time. Everyone at Mosport knew he was something special when he won the Formula Ford title in 1985 and then scored a Can-Am victory here in 1986 to become the youngest Series race winner at age 17.” Brandt continued, “A proud Canadian, Paul has gone on to win many races and titles at circuits across North America and we’re proud that his career began at Mosport; Canada’s Home of Motorsports. I think it’s fitting that he’ll be joining our 50th Anniversary season launch at the Canadian Motorsport Expo in January.”
The Canadian Motorsports Expo is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs January 22 to 24 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga). The show is powered by Inside Track Motorsport News and supported by companies like Lucas Oil Canada, NASCAR Canada and Mosport International Raceway. In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike.
Well I guess we had a seventh or eighth place car all weekend, and we finished seventh. It wasn’t spectacular, it wasn’t a Thrilla for us, but it was okay.
The problem was understeer on the slow- and medium-speed corners. We got it to where we were good in the fast stuff, it was great on the brakes and on power-down – it was phenomenal coming out of the Keyhole corner. But the twisty stuff crippled our overall lap time, because it’s carrying momentum through there that you make up time at Mid-Ohio, and whenever I tried to roll more speed through there, we’d be pushing out wide and off-line, which ruins the sequence and picks up crap on the tires. So I had to over-slow it, and when you do that, although I could catch cars, passing them was a bitch, especially when you naturally have understeer anyway when you’re following another car.
But at least I didn’t make mistakes; some of the big-money players like Helio drove through the gravel traps, so they ended up getting beaten by the 40-year-old driving for hamburgers.
I hear they didn’t show me passing Viso, but it was quite a good maneuver – I drafted him, hit the push to pass (which feels like…well, nothing to be honest) and then outbraked him. What was more important, I gapped him on the next lap, so when we came in together for our first pitstop, it didn’t matter so much that ours was a bit slow. I came out right in front of him, and then although Matos beat us, I was able to get past him on cold tires and then kept him at bay for the whole race. Don’t know what happened to Viso after that.
I suppose Marco Andretti must have driven a strong race and clicked off some fast laps before his final pitstop, because he ended up ahead of us, which was a pisser. But he made his team’s tactics work, so I’ll give him credit. I was able to beat the second generation driver, Graham Rahal. He came out of the gravel trap right in front of me, and I was able to outbrake him at the end of the back straightaway. I was thinking he’d just fall away, because there seemed to be a bunch of parts flying off his car when I went past, but for the rest of the race he was all over me like a cheap suit, so I was working hard in the cockpit to keep a much faster car behind me for those last 20 laps.
Going back to the subject of push to pass: it’s okay, but it’s nothing that would get an ex-Champ Car driver excited. It’s worth 1mph, maybe 2, down the straightaway. The problem is, it gives you an extra 200 revs at the top but by then the motor has gone past its powerband anyhow. So at 9800rpm, this boost is worth 10hp, but at 10,500, it feels like around 3hp. It can help you get a little run on a guy, but it’s not like you’re going to do 6mph faster like in Champ Car.
I think KV Racing team was pleased with me and they got some good points which the No. 5 needed so I hope I moved Mario further up the pitlane, away from Conweasel – which, after Kentucky, is quite a good thing, I reckon. (Yeah, okay, so he shouldn’t have been released at that moment, I know.) But today I hear it was his car that put Danica in the gravel. He’ll get some bad rap for that, I’m sure. The weasel picked the wrong bird to mess with; that bird will peck his eyes out!
Just about to log off and send this to Malsher at RACER to check the spelling and grammar (he’s very bored without his website to play with, so he offered to do it for mine). But I see that the NASCAR race at The Glen got rained out. They don’t race the Cup cars in the wet, because they don’t have the tires for it. They did in the Nationwide races up in Canada, but apparently it was a disaster. I heard you could have won that race in a Hertz rental Toyota Prius.
Right, I have to catch my flight home. I’m hoping that won’t be the last time you see me in an IndyCar, but it probably will be for this year. But I’ll get back to the training in case there’s a late call-up again.
Respect to KV Racing, and again, good luck to Mario in his family’s bad time. Thanks for trusting me with your No. 5 car.
P.T.
KVRT’S PT FINISHES SEVENTH IN HONDA INDY 200
LEXINGTON, OH - - AUGUST 9, 2009 - - Round #13 2009 IndyCar Series season - - KV Racing Technology driver PT finished seventh today in the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Tracy, substituting for Mario Moraes whose father passed away on Wednesday, started 10th in the #5 Azul – Votorantim – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry. Driving a smart, patient race he moved into ninth place on lap two where he remained through his first pit stop. Taking advantage of other competitor’s mistakes, Tracy moved into seventh place on lap 42 where he remained until the end of the 85-lap contest.
“First of all I want to thank Mario (Moraes),” Paul said. “This was a good result and it is for him and his family. It was a good race for the Azul – Votorantim – KVRT team and I want to thank the team for all their hard work. The car wasn’t super quick and it wasn’t slow. It was just a good solid race and we earned solid points. Hopefully we moved the team up the pit lane a little bit.”
Tracy made his 12th appearance on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course today. It was his eighth career IndyCar start and sixth of the 2009 season, five of those coming with KVRT. Tracy has now finished in the top-10 nine times with five top-three showings including a win (2003) at Mid-Ohio. Today’s finish is his fifth career IndyCar top-10 showing including two top-five performances, a career high second at the 2002 Indy 500 and a fourth at Edmonton in 2008. Three of his five top-10 finishes have come this year with KVRT including consecutive top-10 finishes at Edmonton, season high sixth, and here at Mid-Ohio.
This was KVRT’s sixth top-10 finish of the season and the fourth time in four starts that the team has finished in the top-10 at Mid-Ohio (best showing a fourth by Will Power last year).
PT'S BLOG - SATURDAY
Hmmm…One of those so-so days, where we’re kind of okay with how it went, but not overjoyed. We wound up tenth, and I think we had the potential to get onto the fourth row in that last session. I think only four tenths would have put us into the Fast Six. We just had a little bit too much understeer in the car, and although we made some good gains with it during the day, you only needed to be a little bit off to be swimming in it. The grid is so tightly packed here. Actually, thinking about it, for a 2.2-mile course it’s very packed in the top half.
The KV Racing No.5 Azul/Votorantim car wasn’t bad, but we were just missing something extra, and I think that’s mainly down to track conditions. The grip levels had changed a lot since yesterday, because it rained a lot last night and this morning, and then once the track was dry, it still didn’t really pick up much grip, which was a bit of a surprise. For us we had slow- and medium-corner understeer, so you can only do so much once the front wheels aren’t properly obeying what you’re doing with the steering wheel.
However, we’ve got a plan in place for tomorrow. Typically, on race days, when we’ve put fuel in the car, the understeer has gotten worse, so we’re going to go radical in the morning warm-up, and try some things that will keep the car neutral at the start of the race.
Mid-Ohio is a great course, but there’s not many passing places under braking. It’s all about getting momentum out of corners and trying to draft alongside on the straights and stealing the track space that the other driver wants for his turn-in to the corner. It will be interesting to see how this push-to-pass works in those situations. It should be ideal, come to think on it.
But I’m going to have to make some moves at the start, I think, when the tires are cold. Traditionally, I used to get some good passes done on the outside of corners here.
You want to try and do the race on just two stops; it’s right on the edge of that two or three stop margin, and if we’re playing with the push-to-pass too much, it’s going to be hard to keep in that two-stop zone.
There are a couple of cars ahead that I don’t want to get stuck behind – I’m thinking Viso and Hunter-Reay – because I’ve got a feeling we’ll be stronger than them; our car’s good on used tires (yet again) and I don’t want to waste fuel getting past them. Or if we do, I want some yellows, not to put ourselves on an alternative strategy, but just to save fuel.
I’ve got to comment on Milka. She’s a disaster out there and it’s beyond even funny. Why do they give her a license? She’s what…seven seconds off me, so eight seconds off of Briscoe. That means Ryan’s gonna be lapping her every nine or ten laps if we’re green all the way! Why do they let her drive? Why does she want to embarrass herself so bad?
Other than that, there’s not a whole lot to report. Obviously everyone’s talking about Gil de Ferran’s new team, and I see he and Pagenaud just won the ALMS race. They’re obviously going to be a slick, well-run outfit right off the bat, and I’d be very interested in working there next year if Gil wanted me. For now, the hot rumor is Dixon moving there, and Mario Moraes going to AGR to team up with Tony Kanaan. Not sure why he’d want to do that, because he seems to have a good thing going here at KV. AGR look a little bit better this weekend, but they’ve had a bad year overall.
Well I wish I had that dilemma of different contracts being offered to me. Let’s see if what we do tomorrow can attract some interest.
P.T.
PT'S BLOG - FRIDAY
As anyone who’s been following my blogs on RACER.com knows, since Edmonton – when I left the track not really knowing if I had any drive for the rest of the races this year – I was going to the Bike Week in Sturgis, in South Dakota. I just assumed I had nothing. We had a terrible journey up there: it took us about 24 hours. I took my motorhome and I was in convoy with a buddy of mine who was in his motorhome. And only about three hours out of Vegas – I guess we were around St George, in Utah – I blew a tire on the trailer. Anyway, we got going again and then we stopped for the night. And then when we got going in the morning, my buddy blew a front tire, and we were about four hours waiting this time.
Anyway, we eventually got to Sturgis and got unloaded, and we had a great time there: we went on long rides, visited monuments up there. Pretty impressive. And on the Wednesday we went on a ride to Wyoming, to see Devil’s Tower, which is a major rock formation that has no landscaping on it: just a major piece of limestone that sticks straight out of the ground. Weird. And my phone was in my pocket but I’d been riding so it wasn’t until I stopped that I saw Jimmy Vasser had called three times. So I’m in the parking lot at Devil’s Tower and I called him back and he said, “Hey, where are you?” And I said, “Well I’m doing what I said I would. I’m on a bike ride up near Sturgis.” And he said, “We need you ready to get on a plane to Mid-Ohio, for if we need you. We’ll know something in the next couple of hours.”
Luckily we were about ready to leave Devil’s Tower, so we got back on the bikes and rode back to Sturgis, and when I got to the bus, Jimmy phoned again, and said: “Okay, we need you. Mario’s dad has just passed away and he would like you to drive his car.”
I mean first of all, I thought that’s terrible news for Mario, even though he knew it was coming. He’s only 20, and he’s lost his dad. That’s tragic. And then I was pleased he’d got over what happened in Edmonton. And then I’m thinking, “Holy s***! I’ve got to catch the 10am flight from Vegas next morning…”
So I told the group and they said, “No problem, we’re about ready too,” so we loaded up, and left Sturgis at about 3pm. Now keep in mind it took us about 24 hours to get up there, but that was with tire problems. Without them, I figured we could get back with about three hours to spare – shower, grab my gear, head for the airport. So we set the cruise control at 72mph and almost at the exact same spot as my friend had his tire blow on the way up, he blew the other front. Unbelievable. Stuck in the middle of freakin’ nowhere. I had to leave him obviously because of my flight, and he was understanding.
I got back on the gas, and I reckon we covered the distance in about 16 hours driving time and got home at around 7am.
It was tiring, sure, but now I’m pretty fired to be back at Mid-Ohio. Last time I raced here, I took pole and won. Obviously these circumstances aren’t ideal from any way you look at it. How I got this ride, when we got this ride, and the fact that I was pretty tired. Luckily with ALMS running here too, our session ran late on Friday and I was able to take a bit of a nap in the truck. But we were sixth quickest on black tires, the car feels good, and I’ve got a good feeling we can have a good race. Got to qualify in the Top 10 though, because it’s hard to pass round here.
PT SIXTH AFTER FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE FOR HONDA INDY 200
LEXINGTON, OH - - AUGUST 7, 2009 - - Round #13 2009 IndyCar Series season - - KV Racing Technology driver PT, substituting for Mario Moraes who remains in Brazil following the passing of his father, was sixth on the speed charts after the first day of practice for the Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Tracy, #5 Azul – Votorantim – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone, making his 12th appearance on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course and fifth for KVRT, posted a fast lap of 69.1094 seconds (117.622 mph) during the 90-minute practice.
“First of all, my heart goes out to the entire Moraes family for their loss. I want to thank Mario and KV Racing Technology for this opportunity. This is not the way any driver wants to get back in the car, but I am going to use this opportunity to dedicate the weekend to the Moraes family.
“I’m really happy with the way the day went for the Azul – Votorantim – KVRT team. I haven’t driven here since 2003, but the track came back to me right away and the team did a great job. I just hope Mario and his family are doing well. The entire team is here to do the best we can and hopefully get a great result this weekend for him and his family.”
Tracy will be contesting his eighth career IndyCar Series event, albeit over three seasons, and sixth of the 2009 season. In 11 previous starts at Mid-Ohio, he has finished in the top-five seven times including five podiums with one win and one pole. In five IndyCar starts this year, four with KVRT, he has two top-10 finishes including a season high sixth two weeks ago at Edmonton.
In two previous races, three starts, at Mid-Ohio KVRT has qualified in the top-10 once (eighth by Oriol Servia in 2008). They have finished in the top-10 all three times with two top-five showings and a best finish of fourth by Will Power in 2006. Last year, in its inaugural IndyCar season, the team had one of its best performances with Power placing fourth and Servia fifth.
Tomorrow will feature a practice from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. with qualifying scheduled for 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. The Honda Indy 200 will be broadcast live on Versus at 1:45 p.m. ET
PT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR MARIO MORAES AT HONDA INDY 200
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 7, 2009 -- Round #13, 2009 IndyCar Series season – Paulwill substitute for Mario Moraes, who remains in Brazil following the passing of his father, and drive the #5 Azul – Votorantim – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry this weekend at the Honda Indy 200, August 7-9, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
KVRT co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser said, “This is a very sad occasion and on behalf of the entire KV Racing Technology organization we extend our sympathy and condolences to Mario and his family. After lengthy internal discussions, and in consultation with Mario, we decided the best course of action was to have Paul, who has driven for the team and is familiar with our systems and personnel, step in and drive this weekend.”
Tracy said, “I want to thank KV Racing Technology and Mario for thinking of me during this unfortunate situation. It will be a privilege to drive the #5 Azul – Votorantim entry and I want to dedicate this weekend to achieving the best result possible in honor of Mario and the entire Moraes family.”
PT will be making his 270th career start, eighth in the IndyCar Series, sixth this season, fifth with KVRT and 12th at Mid-Ohio. In 11 previous starts at Mid-Ohio, Tracy has finished in the top-five seven times including five podiums, one win (2003) and one pole (2003). In five IndyCar starts this year, four with KVRT, he has two top-10 finishes including a season high sixth two weeks ago in Edmonton and a ninth at this year’s Indy 500, both with KVRT.
Moraes, a 20-year-old native of Brazil, and the second youngest driver in the series, is in his second IndyCar season and first with KVRT. Prior to this season Moraes had never qualified higher than 10th on any circuit and never higher than 20th on an oval. Since joining KVRT for the 2009 season, he has qualified in the top-seven in six of 10 events (Iowa and Kentucky qualifying cancelled), twice in the top-five, including a career high fourth in Watkins Glen and an oval career high fifth at Milwaukee, after earning just one top-10 qualifying spot last year. Moraes has earned career high finishes on six of the 12 tracks this season, had two top-10 showings (three all last season) and earned his career best oval finish placing ninth at Milwaukee. His IndyCar career best finish is seventh at Watkins Glen in 2008. Moraes is 17th in the championship standings with 181 points.
THE THRILL FROM WEST HILL CHARGES HARD BEFORE CRASHING OUT ON HOME TURF
PT returned to his home turf Toronto today and quickly showed why he has won this race twice in the past. After starting on the inside of Row 8 Paul quickly moved up to P8 within the first three laps. By lap 25 he has moved up to P4, lap 30 P2. He stayed up in front running positions until a pit stop on lap 57. A little problem with a rear wheel change saw a slower than desired stop and PT rejoined the race in P9. But after some pit stop cycles and a yellow flag on lap 63 PT saw himself in P3. However, when the track had gone yellow Franchitti had pitted and PT passed him while he was on that stop, but race stewards for some reason said Franchitti would not lose that spot and put him back on track ahead of Paul while still under the yellow. After a restart with PT battling Helio Castroneves for P2 the two tangled leaving PT's car fairly busted up against the wall and Castroneves retiring his car upon returning to pit road. Both racers (who have a little history...) called it a racing incident. As PT said in a post race interview "I guess that's why they call me The Thrill" PT finished P19.
For the race PT was wearing a special fire-suit that had signatures from fans and drivers alike which raised money for the charity Wounded Warriors, dedicated to helping Canadian Veterans of the Afghanistan war. The suit will be auctioned off to add to the contributions already gained through the signatures.
woundedwarriors.ca
PT'S DAY AT THE GLEN
In what believe it or not was actually the first race PT had ever run at historic Watkins Glen his day started well but ended too soon. Having started from P14 Paul made steady progress through the field and by the half way point of the race had run in the top ten. On Lap 31 however PT got loose in Turn 7 and saw his day ending prematurely with his Geico car parked backwards into the Armco. He later said that he had probably been overdriving the car a little trying to keep pace with some of the faster cars ahead. PT will be back to some very familiar racing ground though next Sunday when he returns to his home turf Toronto.
PT’S BUSY WEEK NETS A RIDE AND TECH ADVANCES
Las Vegas, NV (June 18, 2009) – Open-wheel star PT will once again be strapping into a racecar with GEICO as his partner. In his storied career, Tracy has never turned a lap at Watkins Glen International. That will all change when Tracy and his KV Racing Technology team arrive in upstate New York for the July 5th IndyCar race.
This spring found Tracy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with KV Racing preparing to re-visit racing’s past in the #15 GEICO car. Tracy recorded an Indianapolis 500 win in 2002 before a controversial ruling by the Indy Racing League sent him home with runner-up honors. Race officials ruled that Tracy passed Helio Castroneves under caution on the final lap of the race even though videotape would indicate otherwise. Tracy took the decision in stride, but vowed to never again step foot in Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Tracy did, once again, step foot in Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, but he focused only on winning. Tracy and his #15 GEICO car were on task to accomplish that feat until they collected debris from the crash of Tony Kanaan. With damage to the underside of his front wing, Tracy managed to drive the #15 GEICO car to a 9th place finish in the world’s biggest race, despite running as high as 4th during the event.
A longtime member of the GEICO Racing family, Tracy is looking forward to once again partnering with GEICO and taking the Gecko for a ride in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
“We had a great run at Indy and I appreciate GEICO’s continued support,” Tracy said. “We finished 9th in the Indianapolis 500 and I want to improve on that at The Glen. I have always enjoyed working with GEICO, so it is nice to have them partnered with my good friends at KV Racing. This will be fun.”
Tracy is one of the most colorful, charismatic racers in the business. He is also becoming one of the most technologically advanced. Along with securing a ride for Watkins Glen this week, Tracy also entered the world of Twitter. Good friend Jimmy Vasser persuaded him to give it a shot and just a few days later it seems to be more of a blessing than a curse. Tracy has shared photos of his family at the river water skiing, along with personal notes about his training regimen.
“Twitter has been great because it’s allowed me to connect directly with my fans and share personal information with them,” Tracy said. “It’s cool because they know what I’m doing all the time and it gives them a sense of what I do to train and also how important my family is to me. When you see @paultracy3 on Twitter, it’s really me. I do my own Twitter because it’s more authentic and I think people like hearing directly from me.”
The Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen is on July 5th at Watkins Glen International in New York. The race will be broadcast live on ABC at 1:00 PM (ET).
PT & TK’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE
Indianapolis, IN (May 27, 2009) – Ever wonder what your favorite racecar driver does after recording a Top 10 in the Indianapolis 500? Maybe hop on a Lear 60 and go home to relax, or shoot down to the Caribbean for a few days to celebrate his success? In most cases, you would likely be correct, unless of course you are talking about PT, who is certainly the most colorful, unpredictable racecar driver in the business.
If you were driving down the highway yesterday and looked over and thought you saw PT driving a bus; you did.
Twenty-four hours removed from driving his GEICO/KV Racing Technology car to a 9th place finish in the biggest race in the world, he began yet another race, in a much bigger vehicle. PT would grab his close friend, racing legend Tommy Kendall, and somehow talk him into embarking on a trip that would cover 1,871-miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Tracy’s front door in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tracy proposed that the two of them drive his bus back to Las Vegas themselves. The crazy thing is that Kendall agreed! Also, please keep in mind that Tracy actually has a motor home driver, who Kendall has affectionately nicknamed ‘Chuckles’.
Nicknamed the ‘GEICO/Thrilla Express’, the trip would begin with ‘Chuckles’ behind the wheel in what Kendall would refer to as a, “demon stint that got us 11 hours up the road.” Tracy, whose nickname is the ‘Thrill from West Hill’ had slightly modified his nickname over the course of the Indy 500 weekend to the ‘Thrilla from da Hilla’. Combining his newly modified nickname with his Indianapolis 500 sponsor GEICO, the trio hit the highway just after the Indy 500 banquet.
Things would roll smoothly until the 2003 Champ Car champion was behind the wheel of the 45’ motor home in the middle of Texas when the tag axle tire blew out early Tuesday morning. Exhibiting his superior driving ability, Tracy was able to keep control of the vehicle while at the same time negotiating his Milwaukee deal with A.J. Foyt. In what would seem to be a reality show type setting, two of racing’s best, Tracy and Kendall, would find themselves stranded in the middle of Texas. They soon wandered into a local tire dealership where Tracy posed with a life-size cardboard stand-up of Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon.
Faced with a four hour wait for the replacement tire, Tracy and Kendall unlatched Tracy’s Monster truck from the back of the bus and headed off on an adventure that found Tracy purchasing a 1964 Lincoln with suicide doors. The downtime also provided Tracy with the opportunity to complete his deal with A.J. Foyt, resulting in the bus being re-named the ‘ABC Roofing Supply/GEICO Thrilla Express’.
“It’s been fun since we left Indy after the banquet and Tommy (Kendall) has kept everyone updated on Facebook,” Tracy said. “I had my buddies here, so why not? I got the deal put together with A.J. (Foyt) to sub for Vitor Meira this week in Milwaukee and I also bought a ’64 Lincoln with suicide doors, so I would say it’s been a pretty productive trip.”
While the three-man crew would re-take to our nation’s highways four hours after sustaining the flat tire, their trip would take the checkered flag in Phoenix on Wednesday morning. With a new one-race IndyCar deal in place to run Milwaukee this weekend, it was necessary that Tracy abandon the trip and board a flight back to the Midwest.
Leave it to PT to drive his own bus from Indianapolis to Las Vegas and along the way buy a 1964 Lincoln and find a job driving in the IndyCar series.
Tracy is nothing if not exciting and the IndyCar Series will surely benefit from his return this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile, where Tracy has recorded four wins.
PT DAZZLES CROWD IN RETURN TO INDY
Indianapolis, IN (May 25, 2009) – In 2002, PT passed Helio Castroneves on the final lap to win the Indianapolis 500. Or so he thought. The Indy Racing League would later rule that Tracy passed the Penske driver under caution, despite videotape evidence that indicated otherwise. At the time, Tracy vowed to never return to the venue that stole his joy. He then went on to notch the 2003 Champ Car championship.
Time heals all wounds. Seven years later, Tracy returned. And so did the fans that love him and support him. Referred to as the Grateful Dead of auto racing due to his cult-like fan following, Tracy was on the world’s biggest stage in Indianapolis on Sunday and he did not fail to please.
Undeniably the most colorful, recognized racer in the world, GEICO Driver PT has garnered the lion share of the media exposure this month, including features in the USA Today, while also being featured on the cover of the upcoming RACER magazine. However, on race day he would be met by a formidable foe when GEICO’s caveman arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A fan-favorite, the caveman paraded around the speedway at Tracy’s side and even accompanied him to driver introductions before later showing up on the starting grid carrying Tracy’s helmet.
Slated to start in the 13th position, on the inside of row five, Tracy vowed to remain patient and focus on ‘being there at the end’. For the 2003 Champ Car champion, patience is not one of his virtues.
When the green flag was displayed at the most prestigious race in the world, over 200 countries and over 400 million households watched Tracy move the GEICO car from 13th to the 9th position on the opening lap before a yellow flag was displayed at the conclusion of Lap 1. While Tracy’s KV Racing Technology teammate, Mario Moraes, collided with Marco Andretti to cause the opening caution, Tracy would fare much better.
The ‘Thrill from West Hill’ settled in and ran comfortably in the Top 10 while battling understeer. On Lap 98, Tony Kanaan found the wall in a hard crash that sent debris spilling across the racing surface. Tracy’s #15 GEICO car would collect some of the debris, causing damage to the underside of his front wing.
By Lap 141, Tracy and the #15 GEICO car had moved into the 4th position, eyeing Helio Castroneves, who was running 2nd. While Tracy smelled blood in the water, the damage to his front wing would prevail, as Tracy would lose ground and quickly find himself in the 11th position. As the race began to wind down, the #15 GEICO car would return to the Top 10 and remain there until the checkered flag was displayed and Tracy recorded his second best finish at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Tracy’s 9th place finish on Sunday gives way only to his controversial runner-up finish to Helio Castroneves in 2002.
“I came here to win, so the result wasn’t what we were looking for, but we did finish 9th in Indy, so I’m happy for GEICO and the KV Racing Technology team,” Tracy said. “I had a great month here and I cannot thank Jimmy Vasser (team owner), Kevin Kalkhoven (team owner) and GEICO enough for giving me the opportunity to come back here. I’ve enjoyed my time here at IMS and look forward to hopefully returning next year.”
Tracy is a fierce competitor who is, at times, out-spoken and direct. He is also one of the top racecar drivers in the world, and in his historic return to the track that once broke his heart, Tracy’s tenacity and love of his sport were on display. What the fans witnessed of Tracy over the last month is special and it is something they will not soon forget.
PT is his own man and because of it he often finds himself in solitude. While he did not win the race this weekend, he overcame his past to return to the most sacred place in motorsports to give the fans something they have been in search of: a driver who is fiercely passionate without compromise and will, regardless of opinions or commentary, lay it all out there in an effort to be the best.
KV RACING TECHNOLOGY TO FIELD CAR FOR PT AT CANADIAN RACES
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 20, 2009 - KV Racing Technology will field a car for open-wheel superstar PT at the two Canadian races on the 2009 IndyCar Series schedule.
Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, is one of the most successful and exciting drivers in the history of open-wheel racing. The a native of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, will compete at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 12 and the Rexall Edmonton Indy on July 26.
"I am pleased to announce that PT will be joining KV Racing Technology for the two Canadian races," said KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "Paul is one of the greatest and most exciting drivers in the history of the sport and has shown here at Indianapolis that he still has what it takes to be competitive. We look forward to having him drive for KVRT in front of his countrymen."
Tracy will contest this weekend's Indianapolis 500 with KV Racing Technology. He qualified the #15 GEICO -- KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine 13th and will start on the inside of Row #5. Tracy will team with Mario Moraes, #5 KV Racing Technology -- Votorantim Honda/Dallara/Firestone, in a two-car effort for KVRT at the two Canadian events.
"I want to thank Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for the opportunity to continue my career and race in my home country," Tracy said. "I feel very fortunate to be able to race in front of my hometown fans with a very competitive team. KVRT has shown that it can compete with the top teams in the series and I am confident that we will have strong performances at both the Canadian races."
Tracy, who's talent and determination have made him a fan favorite, will be contesting his 17th race in Toronto and fifth in Edmonton. In 16 previous starts on the streets of Toronto he has finished in the top-10 a total of 11 times with eight top-five showings, five podium performances, two wins (1993 and 2003) and one pole. He has made four starts on the airport runway street circuit in Edmonton, three times in Champ Car and once, last year, in an IndyCar, finishing in the top-five all four times with a best showing of third in 2005 at the inaugural Edmonton race. Tracy will be making his fourth and fifth IndyCar starts. His previous IndyCar events were the 2002 Indy 500, placed second, the 2008 Edmonton race, placed fourth, and this year's Indy 500.
During a span of 18 seasons, Tracy has crafted a career that has established him as one of the top drivers ever to step into the cockpit of an open-wheel car. The resident of Las Vegas, Nevada is among the top-10 in almost every Champ Car career statistical category including wins, 31 (tied for seventh all-time), poles, 25 (ninth all-time), and laps led, 4,238 (sixth all-time). He has 75 career podium performances, 102 top-five finishes and 141 top-10 showings in 264 starts (262 in Champ Car and two in IndyCar -- tied for seventh all-time). In the 15 seasons in which Tracy has competed in over 80% of the races, he has finished in the top-10 in the championship standings 10 times including eight times in the top-five, four in the top-three and captured the championship in 2003.
KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser said, "I am very excited that KVRT is going to be able to give Paul the opportunity to continue his career especially at the Canadian races. Paul is a tremendous talent and he has shown us here at Indy that he still have the competitive fire to be successful on the race track. I just think it is fantastic that his fans, especially those in Canada, will get the opportunity to see "The Thrill from Westhill" again."
PT TAKING A TRIP TO ‘FRIENDLY TOWN’
Danville, IL (May 14, 2009) – Just a few days prior to taking the track for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Indy 500 driver Paul will take a break and visit with students at ‘Friendly Town’ in Danville, Illinois. The 2003 Champ Car champion will travel seventy-five miles from Indianapolis to make a May 19th visit at 9:00 AM (CT) at the Friendly Town facility.
Established in 1970, Friendly Town is a safety education program for all children in Vermilion County (IL), ages four through nine. The classroom and practical instruction are under the supervision of trained police officers. The objective of the Friendly Town program is to aid the child in coping with safety problems encountered daily in every community.
Known for his colorful, outspoken personality, Tracy is a true gentleman. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he cares deeply about children and will spend vast amounts of time taking photos and signing autographs for them.
Tracy, driver of the #15 GEICO car for KV Racing Technology, is making his first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2002 when a controversial ruling sent him home with a runner up finish. The Indy Racing League ruled that he passed Helio Castroneves under caution on the final lap of the race despite video evidence that would indicate otherwise.
Tracy’s long-time friend and business associate, Doug Barnette, is a Danville resident and has spent a lot of time talking with Tracy about the days that he spent growing up in Vermilion County.
“These guys think I have a rock star lifestyle, so I always do my best to help them understand that I’m just a hometown boy who still lives in the city where I grew up,” Barnette said. “I began funding Friendly Town three years ago and it has been fun to watch what’s going on over there. I am excited that Paul wants to come see where I grew up and, at the same time, bring attention to a very worth-while program; a program that I participated in when I was a child.”
Tracy, whose off-track demeanor betrays his on-track aggressive driving style, has a schedule that is riddled with interviews, photo shoots, media productions and physical training. While time is tight, he is happy to make time to visit Danville.
“I’m looking forward to getting over there and seeing what Friendly Town is all about,” Tracy said. “Over the years, Doug has told me a lot about Danville, so it’ll be nice to finally visit and get a better understanding of what I’ve heard.”
Joining Tracy will be Danville Mayor, Scott Eisenhauer, along with children from local elementary schools.
For more information about PT and the GEICO Indy 500 program, please visit www.geicogarage.com
PT TO START P13 @ INDY
After being bumped in and out of the field on the first day of qualifying for the 500 PT came back strong on day two. He was second fastest of all drivers on day two recording an average speed faster than some had on day one.PT's first qualifying run had him right near the top of the fast drivers at that time, but as more drivers made their attempts Paul was bumped down a few spots in the order. Feeling confident in his ability to better his time he went back out for a second attempt and sure enough bettered his first time. Paul will start the 500 on the inside of Row 5 in P13.
PT TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE PAST
Las Vegas, NV (April 30, 2009) – In less than a week, 2003 Champ Car champion PT will return to the scene of heartbreak. Seven years removed from a decision that sent him home without the Borg-Warner Trophy, Tracy will arrive in Indianapolis to look his past in the eye and conquer it.
Thanks to GEICO and KV Racing Technology, Tracy will get another shot at claiming what he believes is his; an Indy 500 win.
Long Beach marked the venue for his announcement on April 17th, which seems appropriate given his history there. Tracy cruised the paddock area as if he were at home. But why shouldn’t he? He raced there for eighteen consecutive years and notched his first CART win at Long Beach in 1993. He recorded four total wins (1993, 2000, 2003 and 2004) at the seaside circuit and counts it as one of his favorite venues.
Tracy’s return to Indy is historic, as he vowed to never again step foot in the legendary speedway after the 2002 outcome. He is aggressive, out-spoken and often times colorful, but one cannot comprehend his internal drive. Indy is special to ‘PT’ and he was even going to drive his own motorhome from his residence in Las Vegas to Indianapolis Motor Speedway before being convinced otherwise.
Aside from the necessary training to prepare him physically for the race, Tracy’s days have been riddled with interviews, photo shoots and media productions. Tracy departed on a red-eye flight in Las Vegas on Sunday night that arrived in Washington, DC, at 7:00 AM on Monday morning. He participated in a photo shoot and video production for GEICO before returning to the airport and traveling back to Las Vegas on a 5:30 PM flight.
The remainder of Tracy’s week has been filled with teleconferences, more photo shoots and interviews, including a shoot with RACER magazine, for which he will be keeping a daily blog, at his Las Vegas home. Capping off his week will be an appearance on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain on May 3rd at 9:00 PM (ET).
Tracy is nothing if not focused and amid the chaos he has found peace on his bike and in his physical training regimen. It also helps that his close friend Jimmy Vasser is co-owner of KV Racing Technology and is there to offer him support above and beyond the race track. At one-point fierce competitors, Tracy and Vasser have always maintained a close friendship, along with GEICO’s NASCAR driver Max Papis. Busy with his own NASCAR schedule during the month of May, Papis has said that he will be on-hand in Indy to offer support to his friend/teammate.
If ever there were a time when the stars were aligned, it would be now. Friends and supporters surround Tracy, and with GEICO and KV Racing Technology backing his effort he is going to have the opportunity to do great things in the month of May.
“Indy is important to me because I feel like I won the race in 2002, but a decision was made otherwise,” Tracy said. “I look around my home and it’s the one trophy that has escaped me, so I am looking forward to returning to the 500 and taking another shot at it. People close to me know my passion for the history of racing and it’s no secret that the Indy 500 is the biggest race in the world, so a win for me, GEICO and KV Racing is our goal.”
Tracy walks and talks with resounding confidence, but deep down inside there is a fire burning. He is a champion. He is tops in nearly every category. But there is still one more thing out there and it awaits him in Speedway, Indiana.
Watch this video and decide for yourself who won the 2002 Indianapolis 500
Long Beach, CA (April 17, 2009) – A year ago, open wheel star PT was suffering through an awkward departure from Forsythe Racing that left the racing world scratching their heads. Oh, how things change in twelve months.
After enjoying his freedom and racing everything from trucks in the desert to trucks in NASCAR’s Truck Series, Tracy has decided that it’s time to return to the place that stole his joy.
In just a few weeks, PT will re-visit the atmosphere that saw him depart Indianapolis with a 2nd place finish in 2002. KV Racing Technology will field the #15 entry for the Indianapolis 500 and GEICO will provide primary sponsorship, with the ‘gecko’ adorning several areas of the race car.
Tracy recorded an Indianapolis 500 win in 2002 before a controversial ruling by the Indy Racing League sent him home with runner-up honors. Race officials ruled that Tracy passed Helio Castroneves under caution on the final lap of the race even though videotape would indicate otherwise. Tracy took the decision in stride, but vowed to never again step foot in Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A year later, in 2003, Tracy joined Forsythe Racing in the Champ Car World Series and became the first driver in thirty-two years to win the first three races of a season. After recording seven wins and six poles, he notched the series championship and rebounded from the pain he felt in Indy a year earlier.
Tracy has been a member of the GEICO Racing family since driving the GEICO NASCAR entry in Mexico City in the spring of 2006 for Biagi Bros. Racing. The 2003 Champ Car Champion was also featured on geicogarage.com alongside close friend and current GEICO NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and former open wheel standout Max Papis in 2008.
“We’re pleased to be able to accompany PT on his return trip to the Indianapolis 500,” expressed Ted Ward, GEICO’s vice president of marketing. “Having a relationship with two world class drivers such as PT and Max Papis, as well as KV Racing Technology, allows us to spread our message of safety on a much broader scale and we are excited about the opportunity.”
Regarded as one of the top race car drivers in the world, Tracy is one of the most cerebral wheelmen in the business and he possesses unparalleled passion and enthusiasm. His return to Indianapolis is much anticipated and could quite possibly be auto racing’s story of the year.
KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser said, “I think I can speak for everyone at KVRT when I say that running PT at the Indy 500 is very exciting. I also want to thank GEICO for supporting our efforts. Even though Paul hasn’t been in an open-wheel car much the last year, having raced against him and knowing his ability, I am sure he will get up to speed immediately.”
Tracy’s colorful personality and aggressive style is what has earned him the nickname ‘The Thrill from West Hill’, and makes him one of the most globally recognized racers in the business.
“This is a great opportunity and I can’t thank GEICO and KV Racing enough for stepping up and making it happen,” Tracy said. “Jimmy (Vasser, team owner), Kevin (Kalkhoven, team owner) and I are close friends and I have long been associated with GEICO, so it is exciting to have it all come together. It’s also a nice association to be teammates for a month with Max Papis who drives GEICO’s Cup car. Max is one of my closest friends, so I am sure he will join me in Indy at one point during the month.”
He continued, “Indianapolis is a special place and I look forward to returning and taking a run at getting a win and putting my name in the history books. I’ve committed my life to racing and a win at Indy is something that is very important to me. The past is the past and I’ll go to IMS focused on the present putting forth my best effort for GEICO and KV Racing.”
Tracy is nothing if not versatile and he will get up to speed quickly. In July 2008, he hopped in a car for Vision Racing in Edmonton’s IndyCar race and turned in a 4th place finish despite having been out of a car since Long Beach in April.
In May, Tracy will have plenty of practice time and he will also have support from one of the Indy Racing League’s top teams in KV Racing Technology, so stay tuned. One thing is for certain: When PT is involved it will be nothing short of exciting.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 15 million vehicles. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, please visit www.geico.com .
photos by Fiona Hewitson
