IndyCar News

While their far more illustrious namesakes were struggling in the main Indy Racing League event this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, the next single-seater racing generation of the Luyendyk and Foyt clan's were continuing to build their reputations.

Buddy Rice, the latest rapid rookie at Red Bull Cheever Racing, led the opening day of practice for the Michigan Indy 400 as the Cheever team swept the top three spots on the speed chart.

As preparations continue for this weekend's Indy Racing League debut at Michigan International Speedway, no one is more excited about the event than a group of 25 youngsters from Mott Children's Hospital in Detroit.

With the resignation of David Bowes, who has held the post of Managing Director at Lola Cars for the past four years, Chairman Martin Birrane moved to put in place new management structure for the chassis design and manufacturing firm. Bowes' departure is effective the end of August.

A.J. Foyt IV topped the speed chart after both practice sessions for the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series on July 26 at Michigan International Speedway, recording a top lap of 39.8217 seconds, 180.806 mph.

In his debut Indy Racing League appearance, 2000 Toyota Atlantic Champion Buddy Rice sensationally topped the timesheets after the first day of practice for Sunday's Michigan Indy 400 as Eddie Cheever's Red Bull squad dominated proceedings.

The opening day of Indy Racing League action at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway was not blessed with fine weather but the rains held off long enough to allow the IRL contenders virtually a full practice session which saw Red Bull Team Cheever take an amazing 1-2-3.

Championship Indy Racing League team owner Ron Hemelgarn will return to the two-mile Michigan International Speedway with the Indy Racing League this weekend. The inaugural Michigan Indy 400 will mark Hemelgarn's first appearance at the historical oval in a decade.

Sports-car standout and U.S. F2000 veteran Ryan Hampton will make his Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series debut this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Hampton will drive the No. 34 Ryan Hampton/CGF Special Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone.

This season's return of the CART FedEx Championship Series to Denver received a boost on Thursday when long-time series partner Shell Oil announced that it would stand as the title sponsor of the 1 September event, to be known as the Shell Grand Prix of Denver.

In a surprise move, Barry Green has confirmed that he has reached an agreement to sell Team Green to a consortium comprising brother Kim, current driver Michael Andretti and business VP Kevin Savoree.

Two of the leading junior Canadian drivers - Jonathan Macri of P-1 Racing and Barber Dodge's Josh Beaulieu - spoke to CART ahead of this weekend's 'home' race in Vancouver, where both will be present in support the CART FedEx Championship on the Concorde Pacific Place street circuit.

Kelley Racing endured a tough build up to last weekend's Firestone Indy 200 in Nashville as they watched Al Unser Jr's personal problems brought directly into the public eye. The race itself was no less emotional.

Eddie Cheever broke into the top ten of the Indy Racing League point standings after finishing sixth in the Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. However once again Tomas Scheckter was denied a possible podium finish when he crashed, this time whilst trying to lap his teammate.

Britain's fastest ever motor race, the Rockingham 500 CART event, will be shown on BBC2 Grandstand on Sunday 15th September, the day after the race is run at Rockingham Motor Speedway, near Corby in Northamptonshire.

"I don't really know. Tomas (Scheckter) got up high. I don't know if he just got up high or if there was something on the racetrack. It just took off. It was like I hit a patch of ice. We didn't even have a chance. It's just really disappointing for the CURB Records team.

With Jason Preistley's Infiniti Pro Series driver-coach and spotter Tony Renna unexpectedly competing for Kelley Racing's IRL squad thanks to the enforced absence of Al Unser Jr, former Barber Dodge driver Sarah Senske will fill in as the former Beverly Hills 90210 actor's spotter this weekend at

"This is a very hard and challenging track, but this is a sport of challenges. I am happy because I had some anxiety about coming back and how the g-forces would affect me, and I answered some questions there. For sure, I need to get in better shape, and that will come with racing.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk will drive Treadway-Hubbard Racing's No. 55 Meijer / Coca-Cola G Force-Chevrolet in the July 28th Michigan Indy 400, the Indy Racing League's debut at Michigan International Speedway.

Robby McGehee, who finished fourth in last year's Indy Racing League event at Nashville Superspeedway driving for Cahill Racing, will miss Saturday's Firestone Indy 200 IRL race at that track due to the unexpected hospitalisation of Ray Parsons of Parsons Motorsports Marketing.

Indy Racing League driver Al Unser, Jr., driver of the Cortecosponsored No. 7 car for the Kelley Racing Team, will enter a treatment centre to deal with problems that came to light following an incident in Indianapolis last week that resulted in his arrest.

Well, basically the Formula Atlantic Series, if not the most, it's one of the most competitive years Atlantic has ever had. It's just as competitive as the British F3 or any of the other top competitive open-wheel series in the country, or in the world.

Despite recent claims to the contrary, officials of the bankrupt EuroSpeedway in Lausitz have confirmed that they have had to cancel this year's German 500, leaving the CART 'European Tour' with just one stop...Rockingham.

"The CURB Records team is excited to come to Nashville for the Firestone Indy 200. I'm hoping to continue and even improve upon my success here last year. It would be great for us to have our first win of the season in (team co-owner) Mike Curb's hometown.