pressdog.com

pressdog's Unified 2006 Open-Wheel Year in Review

Ah, 2006. A colorful year for both the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series. Although they remain technically separate series, pressdog joins ESPN in sort of ignoring that technicality and presenting the one, the unified, Year End Representation:

Best Finishes -- The last-lap, turn-four pass of Marco Andretti by the freakishly charging Sam Hornish in the Indy 500 (right). A real "No (rhymes with "trucking") Way!" moment. Over in Champ Car, give the nod to Sebastien Bourdais (rumor: "Bourdais" is French for "bitchslapper") chasing down Justin "World's Tallest Open-Wheel Driver" Wilson in the season finale in Mexico City.

Johnson and Tracy to Form Golf Cart Stunt Team

Note: Much of this is made up, except the stuff about Joie Chitwood and his most excellent thrill show.

NASCAR points champion Jimmie Johnson and Champ Car World Series veteran Paul Tracy will soon form a touring troupe that features stunt driving with golf carts, according to several sources.

The revelation came days after Johnson admitted he was ``horsing around'' on top of a moving golf cart when he fell off and broke his left wrist. Johnson's injury comes on the heels of Tracy's mysterious injury in Las Vegas on Nov. 4 which was initially reported as golf-cart related (later the story changed to ATV stunt driving). In early November, sources told pressdog that Tracy's accident was part of his preparations to jump the Snake River in a modified golf cart.

Andretti Indy Run Appeals to "Older White Guy's With More Money than Sense"

Yep, this is mostly made up.

Michael Andretti's desire to return to the Indy 500 is part of a marketing strategy designed to appeal to "middle-aged white guys with bails of cash," according to league insiders.

Others insisted that a thinning field of legitimate Indy 500 contenders were "starting to shift the odds in Michael's favor."

The speculation came days after the Indianapolis Star actually reported that Andretti (left) would like to return to the Indianapolis 500 for his 16th try.

After leading on lap 197 of the 2005 running before eventual race winner Sam Hornish Jr. blew by him en route to a dramatic final-lap pass for the win, Andretti once again has the bug.

The Iceman Proposeth

Alerted by the ever-vigalent Jeff at My Name is IRL, Scott "The Iceman" Dixon cracks many smiles as he proposes to his Welsh girlfriend. The bride-to-be gets the all-important public thumbs up from Dixon's mum. Video here.

pressdog raises a pint of New Zealand's Steinlager and gives a howl of congratulations for the Iceman.

(Photo Dana Garrett, Indy Racing League)

Jeff Olson Represents on Iowa-ness

Fellow Iowan Jeff Olson, now of Indy and RACER Mag, posted a most excellent Q&A on our beloved corn state. Jeff mentions the most excellent Iowa Speedway (right). His article is so good I wish I had written it. Damn you, Jeff Olson! It's just too good.

Check it: The IRL's Field of Dreams.

Grief Counselors Dispatched to Rahal Letterman Racing

Note: Everything below is made up.

A team of grief counselors descended on Rahal Letterman Racing in Hilliard, Ohio, Friday to help a team struggling to cope with the departure of Danica Patrick.

"It's just a very difficult time right now," said one teary PR operative. "It's like the phone service is on the blink or something. The phones just went dead at midnight Nov. 30."