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Notes from the 2009 IndyCar Race in Milwaukee

Notes taken during the ABC broadcast of the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 at the Milwaukee Mile on May 31, 2009.

I've got an informercial for a grass trimmer called the Workx GT leading me into the broadcast. Viewing not enhanced. pressdog beer of the race is Big Sky IPA (India Pale Ale), brewed by Big Sky Brewing Company, Missoula, Montana. pressdog gives it major thumbs up for that tangy, bitter IPA taste.

Arni Picks 'em at Milwaukee

Arni's back with some insider picks to get you juiced on race day. Check it:

No pressure! Team Owners Say They Like the Boss

This just in from IndyCar team owners -- they like the guy who writes them checks now and then.

Below is a real statement from IndyCar Series team owners distributed late Saturday. It's all fabulous, of course, but imagine yourself as a team owner and someone says "We're going to release a statement of support for Tony George. Do you want to sign it?"

How do you say no to that? "No, I'd like to be the only team not to sign it. I'm sure there wouldn't be public or private consequences for not signing."

In any event, if the changes contemplated come true, team owners will apparently be delighted since Tony will be focusing exclusively on the Indy Racing League.

Statement from IndyCar Series Team Owners: During the past week there have been many rumors and innuendos about our CEO Tony George. We, the IndyCar team owners, want to express our full support to Tony. As an innovator and leader of our sport, he continually strives to help and improve IndyCar racing, and for that we are exceptionally grateful.

Signed,

• AJ Foyt Racing
• Andretti Green Racing
• Dale Coyne Racing
• Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
• HVM Racing
• KV Racing Technology
• Luczo Dragon Racing
• Newman Haas Lanigan
• Panther Racing
• Target Chip Ganassi Racing
• Team 3G
• Team Penske

Just a Reminder of What Passing Looks Like

Props to Jeffy at MyNameIsIRL.com for making me aware of the video of highlights of the Firestone Indy Lights race below. I saw the video posted on his site, and was so fetched back to a time when IndyCars actually passed each other on the track, I had to post it on my site.

You remember two-wide? Yeah, come on, you can remember it. It's been a long time since we've seen it in IndyCar, but if you watch the video below it will come back to you. I wrote Kansas off as the wind playing hell with the cars. No wind at Indy. Just a street oval (220 mph parade). Please, please, let Milwaukee be different. Texas and Iowa will also be good tests to see if these cars can actually go two wide through corners any more. 

Note to IndyCar: fix your product before nobody a'tall wants to buy it. Check Jeff's excellent discussion of Overtaking-free Indycar here. Feast your eyes on this:

Cleveland Double Dip? Maybe!

Good stuff from the Cleveland Plain Dealer today on the possibility of a Cleveland oval/street double dip on the Burke Lakefront Airport site. RUSH over and read it NOW.

pressdog and Jeffy get Monster Air on Fastmachines.com

Chris and Josh wrap the Indy 500 by inviting me and blogger übermench Jeff Iannucci from MyNameIsIRL.com to represent. Get our take in the 500, Robin Miller and the cluster FBOMB at the top of IndyCar, some N-word, some F1 and even the amusing sports cars. (It's pronounced "La maaaaaaah".) And, of course, massive asthmatic breathing by yous truly.

Take a listen here.

Milwaukee Mile Goes Nuclear to Get Fans -- All You Can Eat Barbecue and Beer

Most likely still time to get to Milwaukee this weekend for the most excellent Mile and the best value in racing.

I super highly recommend seeing and IndyCar race on the Milwaukee Mile. It's a great combination of ovulation and street/roadish driving skill. PLUS, this year Paul Tracy will be in the (bull) ring! Elbows up!

We usually don't just print news releases without thorough vetting via Google, but when it comes to deals on racing, beer and barbecue, just call me a "lap dog for The Man."

Especially when you can get the race and the BBQ and the beer for $15 LESS than the cheapest seat to see the IndyCar race alone at many other tracks, like, say, for example, Iowa Speedway. That's a newsworthy value.

Thus represents the un-googled Milwaukee Mile news release ...

Sure, Blame the Rodent for N-word Ratings Plunge

Yet another reason to be like pdog and subscribe to USA Today ... for the second straight day the have something interesting to say about motor sports.

In today's edition, Fox Sports chairman David Hill refutes the idea that the use of the animated "Digger" (left) mascot is responsible for a 13% ratings plunge for fendered racing on Fox this year. 

Oreo Recaps the 2009 Indy 500

I agree with most (maybe all) of ESPN's John Oreovic's points in this post o ESPN.com.

Check it out HERE.

Bunnies and Rainbow Logos? Prepare for More Danica to N-word Swirl

It probably took about 15 minutes after the end of the 2009 Indy 500 Sunday for the questions to start coming in, all variations of: "Danica, are you going to (N-word)?" or "Danica, will this be your final Indy 500?"

USA Today has an article today: "Patrick tries to focus on racing: Talk of leap to (N-word) escalates as driver's IndyCar deal nears end."(Click the link to read, or be like the pdog and buy the actual paper.)

After Danica drove arguably her best Indy 500 yet, get ready to hear more and more swirl and speculation about whether Danica will jump ship to the racing series with the rainbow logo in 2010.