Jimmy Vasser is best known for winning the 1996 CART championship and for winning eight races for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. But before Vasser drove for Chip Ganassi and became the Jimmy Vasser we know today, he drove three years for the late Jim Hayhoe who also served as his mentor in CART. Prior to that, Vasser drove two full years for John Della Penna in the Toyota Atlantic Championship.
A Somewhat Overlooked Loss
Posted in IndyCar on October 2, 2019 by OilpressureDon’t Take Everything at Face Value
Posted in IndyCar on September 30, 2019 by Oilpressure
Normally, I don’t buy into conspiracy theories. I pretty much take things at face value. I believe that man landed on the moon in July of 1969; I’ve always thought that there was only one shooter in the JFK assassination and I think that the twin-towers were taken down by terrorists flying commercial airliners into buildings – and not some inside job by the US Government. Heck, I never once even questioned the existence of Santa Claus until some kid from down the street set me straight when I was seven years old. Even then, I didn’t believe him until we ran into the kitchen and confronted my mother about it. But when I saw the glare she gave him, I knew the truth. OK…so I was proven wrong on St. Nick, but most of the time I don’t try to read between the lines.
The Key Piece of the Puzzle
Posted in IndyCar on September 27, 2019 by Oilpressure
Last Sunday Dave Furst, of WRTV-6, in Indianapolis sent out a tweet before Sunday’s race saying that Tony Kanaan had reached a verbal handshake agreement to drive the entire 2020 season for AJ Foyt Enterprises. Furst ended his tweet emphasizing that nothing had been signed.
The Real Deal
Posted in IndyCar on September 25, 2019 by Oilpressure
Every year during the NTT IndyCar Series season finale, there is always a race inside of a race. Sure there is the race up front to see who wins the race, but once the checkered-flag flies – all of our attention is diverted to crowning the series champion and the race-winner is something of an afterthought.
Random Thoughts on Laguna Seca
Posted in IndyCar on September 23, 2019 by Oilpressure
Another NTT IndyCar Series season is in the books, but it didn’t go out with a whimper…or did it? Josef Newgarden did his best to keep things suspenseful, before clinching his second series championship in three seasons. We knew going in that if he finished fourth or better, the championship was his. He qualified fourth, but seldom ran fourth or better like he needed to.
Laguna Seca Preview
Posted in IndyCar on September 20, 2019 by Oilpressure
For the first time in over a decade, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will be the site of US Open Wheel racing when the NTT IndyCar Series presents the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. CART raced at Laguna Seca in 1983, with Teo Fabi continuing his magical rookie season that year, in which he won four races and the pole for the Indianapolis 500.
Drivers Living With the Tag of Infamy
Posted in IndyCar on September 18, 2019 by Oilpressure
Being a sports fan can be unfair at times. For all the joy and drama it brings to us, it can also be brutal. It’s even more so for the participants. An athlete can do everything the right way over a lifetime, yet have one ten-second moment define their entire career.
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