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Trackside Welcomes the Young Prince, Mike Shank, Brant James, Perhaps Kanaan

"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.

Listen for a recap of the kick off to the 2012 racing season -- the Rolex 24 from Daytona -- and the latest from the IndyCar test at Sebring, which includes F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello. Brant James of SI.com is at the test and will offer his insight. Tony Kanaan is also tentatively scheduled after finishing testing today with his long-time friend, Barrichello.

Other guests include (the Young Prince) Marco Andretti, who drove an IndyCar and a Grand Am DP car on Saturday. And Michael Shank, whose team won the 24 at Daytona and is trying to finalize a deal with Paul Tracy for a farewell season in IndyCar.

Questions and comments are welcome at [email protected] or via Twitter at @KevinLee23.

A podcast will be available at www.1070TheFan.com/Trackside or via iTunes.

Chitwood, Pemberton and His Excellency Mr. France Speak -- the Transcript

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.

Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt Talk Rolex 24 -- The Transcript

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?

Roll (Har) with the Big Dogs at Celebrity Stars and Strikes Feb. 2

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.

The Details:

Ford Goes Nuclear in NASCAR with 2013 Fusion

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.

Time to Blow up "Merit-Based" Coverage

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 Rocks with J. Andretti, IndyCar Pres., Two-Seater King & Oreo

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 [email protected] or via Twitter at @KevinLee23. 

A podcast will be available at www.1070TheFan.com/Trackside or via iTunes

Yes, Yes, YES IndyCar ... MORE OF THIS

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.

 

Shannon McIntosh Scores Tag Heuer Deal

(Click above image to enlarge)

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.

On Danica Patrick, the Indy 500 and the X Chromosome

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.