A transcript of the statemens frmo Daytona track president Joie Chitwood, NASCAR VP of Competition Robin Pemberton and The Boss, Brian France.
Transcript courtesy of NASCAR.com PR
KERRY THARP: We are just 31 days until the 54th running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, and here to talk about that spectacular event, along with the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which gets underway this weekend, please welcome the president of Daytona International Speedway, Joie Chitwood.
A little something-something for the Rolex 24 & Mario and AJ fans. A transcript of an interview with Mario and AJ. Not sure when this happened, but recnetly. Provided by NASCAR PR. Enjoy ...
An Interview With A.J. FOYT and MARIO ANDRETTI
Transcript courtesy of NASCAR.com PR.
J.J. O'MALLEY: Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry for the brief delay, and welcome to this GRAND-AM teleconference as we get ready for the most anticipated road race in North American sports car history, the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Today we visit with two of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. A.J. Foyt is a four-time Indy 500 winner, a Daytona 500 winner, two-time Rolex 24 winner, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, and he's also grand marshal for this historic 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Mario Andretti will be joining us later in the call.
A.J., 50 years ago you competed in the inaugural race in a Pontiac Tempest at Daytona and you led the very first lap. What were your thoughts back then and how has the event progressed to what it is today?
If you're hip to hang out with some of race car drivers and other glitterati during Super Bowl Week, better check into the Celebrity Stars and Strikes Bowling Bash set for Feb. 2.
The event is hosted by Nashville Recording Artist Michelle Murray and benefits the Starbright Foundation & Indy Family Foundation which is championed by the most excellent Heather Carpenter, wife of pressdog fav Ed Carpenter. The Indy Family Foundation helps families of people connected to racing who are in need due to illness, job loss, etc. etc.
Ford Motors went full rich yesterday by introducing the 2013 Ford Fusion NASCAR (above). The new car is a dramatic departure from the NASCAR "Car of Tomorrow" introduced a few years ago. Back then, NASCAR went for essentially one body style of car that was customized into an ersatz Ford, Chevy, Dodge or Toyota using grill and headlight stickers.
There's an age-old debate that crosses over in some degree to journalism, PR, entertainment and show business: Do you tell the story you want to tell, or tell the story that needs to be told?
It's not just semantics, but philosophy. As a former real, paper-and-ink newspaper journalist of some success, the answer really all depends on your approach and mindset. You can go into a situation with a preconception of what "the story" is, or you can go into a situation wondering "what is the story?"and follow it wherever it takes you, no matter who bitches about it.
Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee" airs tonight from 7-9 eastern on 1070 The Fan (WFNI-AM) in Indianapolis and via the internet at www.1070TheFan.com.
Guests include the new IndyCar Commercial Division President, Marc Koretzky. Plus, Scott Jasek of the Indy Racing Experience (The IndyCar 2-seater group) details the IndyCar presence at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis and the latest on the new building in Speedway they will share with Dallara. John Andretti will talk about his return to this weekend's Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the opportunity to team with his son, Jarett. And ESPN.com writer John Oreovicz, who attended last week's Sebring test, will share his reporting on the new car and other developments.
Questions and comments are welcome before 2pm at Kevin@1070TheFan.com or via Twitter at @KevinLee23.
O.M.G. A video. From IndyCar corporate ... That's FUNNY.
Not over produced or edited within a centimeter of its life.
Not fawning all over Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske and/or sundry Andrettis.
Not weeping about the beauty of the 1984 Indy 500. Not fondly recalling the Offy. NOT WAXING NOSTALGIC ABOUT THE MORMON WASP.
Not over thought, over wrought, over analyzed, over edited and spayed and neuterd by the corporate "approval process" that bristles with "business purposes" fixation.
Not trying to force in the latest storylines or discussion points. Just two funny guys freestylin' as if -- incredbly! -- the fate of the entire world does NOT depend on what they are doing here. Are you shitting me? IndyCar did this? Seriously? The comic stylings of James Hinchcliffe and Josef Newgarden, who did not ONCE grovel about a sponsor or insist a driver is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!! at Mike King decibel levels.
... And the sky opened up, and a host of angels appeared to IndyCar fans, and they said, 'lo, be not afraid, for I bring you glad tidings of great humour (British angels!)' Insert Hallelujah chorus here.
Finally, a worthy comedic successor to Arni the Indy Insider insurgent YouTube genius of the past. Please, please, please IndyCar, do more of this. Whoever was on the production/direction team that did this, immediately tell them "do more of that" -- and then stay the F out of their way. Let 'em go. Rock and roll. Turn and burn.
This is the kind of natural, entertaining humor that's not self-conscious or forced that IndyCar needs in abundance. Witness the wonderment ... DARE YOU NOT TO LAUGH.
Woman of pressdog® Shannon McIntosh has scored a major, high-schwerve watch deal. Very very cool. News release below.
TAG HEUER'S REBELS CAMPAIGN TO FEATURE SHANNON MCINTOSH Rising American Athlete Featured alongside Hollywood Actor In New Campaign
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (Jan. 23, 2012) - Avant-garde Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer announced today the "Time for Rebels" exhibition which is in alignment with the launch of a new TAG Heuer collection and is set to feature rising American racer Shannon McIntosh and an A-list Hollywood actor.
Big Twitter Rash broke out today (Jan. 23) as many and sundry media types reported LIVE from a press tour event at Stewart-Haas Racing that featured Danica Patrick saying she will NOT participate in the 2012 Indy 500.
Weekend packages for all races at Iowa Speedway -- including the USAC/Indy Lights/IZOD IndyCar race weekend June 22 & 23 -- went on sale today, Jan. 23. Get your tickets HERE. I'm already in for two at the top o' the stands. Single-race tickets go on sale Feb. 6.
Given the endangered species nature of ovals in IndyCar ... and the fact that the last four IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway were stunning ... I hope (and pray) that IndyCar fans will sell out all 35,000 (ish) permanent seats at least.
Check below for my advice on remarkably cheap hotels in the area ...
