2011 Baltimore Grand Prix

The Izod IndyCar Series Schedule features a street race at a new venue in Sao Paulo, Brazil as well as traditional venues including Indianapolis, Long Beach and St. Petersburg. 

ABC will offer high-definition broadcasts of five races in 2010 produced by ESPN, including the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 for the 46th consecutive season. ABC will air the season’s first domestically-run race on the Streets of St. Petersburg on March 28. The network will begin its month of May IZOD IndyCar Series coverage May 1 when it televises the series event at Kansas Speedway, the lead-in race to the Indianapolis 500. ABC finishes its 2010 coverage with the broadcasting of back-to-back events at Watkins Glen International and the Streets of Toronto in July.

VERSUS will televise the remaining 12 IZOD IndyCar Series events and will begin its in-depth and all-encompassing coverage with events from Sao Paulo, Brazil and Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama — two new events on the 2010 schedule. VERSUS’ live race coverage will continue following the Indianapolis 500 with the Texas Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway telecasts. VERSUS concludes its 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series coverage with the final seven races on the schedule, including the season finale, for the second consecutive year, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 2.

All 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series events on VERSUS will be produced and shown in high definition where available.

The IZOD IndyCar Series announced multi-year multimedia partnerships with ABC and VERSUS in August 2008. The 10-year partnership with VERSUS includes at least 12 live races per year, with each telecast featuring three hours of live race action with extended pre- and post-race coverage. VERSUS’ commitment to super-serve motorsports fans with the most coverage than ever before is also extended beyond the 12 live races with a one-hour preview show the day before each race that features qualification highlights and all of the relevant IZOD IndyCar Series stories of that weekend as well as in-depth coverage of the qualification events leading up to the Indianapolis 500.

The partnership with ABC is highlighted by the network’s continued coverage of the Indianapolis 500 through 2012 as part of a four-year rights agreement between the Indy Racing League and ABC. ABC will also broadcast four other races on the IndyCar Series schedule in each year of the agreement.

The complete 2010 IndyCar Series television broadcast schedule:
Date Location Venue Television

Sunday, March 14 Sao Paulo, Brazil 2.3-mile street course VERSUS

Sunday, March 28 Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. 1.8-mile street course ABC

Sunday, April 11 Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course VERSUS

Sunday, April 18 Streets of Long Beach, Calif. 1.968-mile street course VERSUS

Saturday, May 1 Kansas Speedway 1.5-mile oval ABC

Sunday, May 30 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval ABC

Saturday, June 5* Texas Motor Speedway 1.5-mile oval VERSUS

Sunday, June 20 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval VERSUS

Sunday, July 4 Watkins Glen International 3.4-mile road course ABC

Sunday, July 18 Streets of Toronto 1.721-mile street-course ABC

Sunday, July 25 Edmonton City Centre Airport 1.973-mile airport course VERSUS

Sunday, Aug. 8 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course VERSUS

Sunday, Aug. 22 Infineon Raceway 2.245-mile road course VERSUS

Saturday, Aug. 28* Chicagoland Speedway 1.5-mile oval VERSUS

Saturday, Sept. 4* Kentucky Speedway 1.5-mile oval VERSUS

Saturday, Sept. 18 Twin Ring Motegi 1.5-mile oval VERSUS

Saturday, Oct. 2* Homestead-Miami Speedway 1.5-mile oval VERSUS

* Denotes night race Schedule Subject to Change

Jonathon Summerton is a 21-year old US racing driver from Kissimmee, Florida that has set his sights on a Formula One auto racing championship.

Q: How did you first get involved in racing?

A: I started racing with RC cars and basically progressed from them up to Go-Karts as one of the guys I raced RC cars with knew the owner of the Go-Kart track so asked if I wanted to go with him one day to have some fun. So I did and it all started from there.

Q: How would you say racing has affected you growing up?

A: Actually I didn’t get started in racing young compared to most. I was one of the latest starters to date. I started when I was 14 so didn’t really effect me too much. I did have a lot of days off school but was able to graduate a year ahead of my class and graduate in the top 5% of the class I was with. I loved the challenge.

Q: What did it mean for you to become the youngest winner driver at the Brickyard?

A: It was a great feeling. I was very happy to know that I had achieved such a great award and well to be the youngest driver to win there is awesome.

Q: Where are you at this point in your career?

A: Well basically trying to find a ride for 2010. It is a constant battle in the motorsports world unless you have money it is very hard to get anywhere. Even F1 now are asking for money to drive in it. We will see where the sponsors take me next year.

Q: How do you feel about your chances as the first American American Formula 1 Champion since Mario Andretti in 1978?

A: I feel my chances are good. When I get the opportunity to do F1 I will be sure to achieve my goal as I am determined to do this and do it for everyone who has supported me and been there for me in my career.

Q: What are your main goals for racing, long term and short term?

A: My short-term goal is to win the Championship I go into next year or be in Formula 1. My long-term goal would have to be to be the next American F1 Champion since Mario Andretti.

Q: Although you are rumored to be the next Formula 1 driver, have you considered Indy Car at all?

A: I have and given the opportunity I would love to do it. I am trying to secure a ride in the Indy 500 for this coming year. I just need to find the sponsors who want to be involved.

Q: What will it take for you to make it to Formula 1?

A: Hard work and determination. I just have to stay focused and with the support of press and with the support of fans I will get there.

Q: What will it take for you to make it to Indy Car?

A: Same as F1 determination and hard work. I need also to get a foot in the door at Indy and that would also help out.

Q: Can you tell us about the trip you are currently on?

A: I am over in England and Portugal where I am testing the F2 car at the Algarve circuit and then I am in England where I am going to meet a couple of teams in different levels of motorsport in Europe and catch up with some friends and family.

Q: How is it going and what’s next for you?

A:  We will see I am testing on Sat. so I will be sure to update you guys on how that goes.

Q: What is your favorite thing about racing?

A: I would have to say the adrenaline rush and the thrill of excitement I get from entertaining the fans and beating other competitors.

Q: Outside of racing what do you like do to do with your time?

A: I love to wakeboard, Jet Ski, workout, hang out with friends and family, and just go to the beach.

Q: Can you tell about your involvement with the Give Kids the World charity?

A: Give Kids the World is a great Charity that I support strongly with all my heart and am constantly volunteering there and being a spokesperson for them. It is such an amazing place that gives children who have life threatening illnesses their last wish and hopefully the happiness and enjoyment will be big enough to help cure them or give them a dream come true.

Q: What’s something people don’t know about you?

A: Well I don’t know a lot of stuff is published about me and my personal side but I must say…most people wouldn’t guess it but I love brownies and I was a straight A’s student at school.

http://www.jonathansummerton.com/

http://twitter.com/jsummerton

The Indy Racing League recently announced the launch of a new program  younger drivers that they now call the “Road to Indy”.  The program seeks to designate a path for young drivers to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.  The program establishes a series of “minor league” circuits including the Fireston Indy Lights, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda.

Drivers from each of the affiliated series will have the opportunity to progress to the next level through participation in programs put together by each series or the Indy Racing League, which will sanction USF2000 National Championship races.

This developmental ladder will offer guidance to career-minded drivers, who are unsure of how exactly to get to Indy.  It will allow the best new talent to build their motor sport careers, leading this crop of talented drivers to Indy.

“In creating the ‘Road to Indy,’ we are trying to bridge the gap between the premier open-wheel racing divisions and the entry level open-wheel series by creating a clear career path for aspiring racing drivers,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for the Indy Racing League, which sanctions the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.

“With the ‘Road to Indy,’ a driver has the opportunity to hone his professional racing skills at an early stage of his or her career and has a chance to build upon those skills in a professional environment while driving similar-style, open-wheel racing vehicles on similar tracks at every step.”

This program looks like it will be beneficial on all sides.  Young drivers will have more guidance to reach their goals as well as hone their talent.  IndyCar will be raising a generation of new talent from the start garnering the sport more attention and fans.  “Road to Indy” looks like it may have the power to better the sport as a whole raising it to new levels of competition.

Thursday night we held our first happy hour at Mothers Grille in Federal Hill.  Thanks to Mothers and Dave Rather for hosting the event, having dollar off Maker’s Mark specials, and extending happy hour as well as everyone in attendance for coming out.  The turnout was great and it was exciting to meet so many people interested in the Grand Prix. 

We received input and advice about BRD’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages which we have taken into consideration and are acting upon.  We are going to work hard on spreading the word and reaching out to the people of Baltimore.  We also encourage the fans to help spread the news about the Baltimore Grand Prix.  Tell your friends and family—tell everyone.  Grand Prix races are not just for race fans.  At the Baltimore Grand Prix there will be something for everyone to enjoy not just “gear-heads”.

The race will be a three-day festival in the Inner Harbor including concerts, charity runs, and go-kart races to name a few.  Celebrities like Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, and Ashley Judd will be going out and around downtown Baltimore all weekend.  We hope that the Grand Prix will become a staple in Baltimore entertainment, like the Preakness, Fell’s Point Fun Festival, and the Lacrosse Championships.

We are now negotiating the contract necessary for the event with the Baltimore Grand Prix Working Group appointed by Mayor Dixon.  If we get our target date of Labor Day, the hotels and restaurants will be filled during a weekend when most people leave the city. 

Just look at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which has run for 26 years.  The annual event is a point of pride for the city—a must-attend event for those interested in speed, music and an overall good time.  “I’m quite proud of what we have created in Long Beach,” said Chris Pook, who launched the event in 1975. “What we have here is more than a race. It’s a cultural event.”

Thursday’s  happy hour was a great way for BRD’s to interact with the Baltimore community.  Hopefully we will only build on it for the future, gaining more and more momentum.  So for all of you out there who want this race to happen keep up the support and continue giving us feedback…we appreciate all your efforts!

If you haven’t already check out these links to our social media sites:

http://twitter.com/BaltimoreGP

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baltimore-MD/Baltimore-Racing-Initiative/166206526986

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111137933039

and a link to our volunteer application for those interested:

http://www.baltimoreracingdevelopment.com/volunteer.html

Formerly known as the Andretti Green Racing team, Andretti Autosport headed by Michael Andretti is undergoing more than just a name change.  Andretti is now the sole owner of the team that won three Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championships and two Indianapolis 500 Mile Races. 

Some hope this takeover will smooth out the kinks in a team that has seen ups and downs over the past few years.  This year was the first time since 2003 that the team failed to win a race.  With Andretti as sole owner and the team restructuring complete the team will look ahead to the 2010 racing season.

2008 one-time winner and 2009 fifth-place points holder Danica Patrick will remain with the team for another three years but she has lost her Motorola sponsorship, relying now on primary funding from GoDaddy.com.

Along with this announcement, Patrick also fielded questions about her interest in NASCAR racing, which has been speculated about since her fourth place finish in the Indy 500 five years ago.  At the time she wasn’t interested but times have changed.

Patrick, who became the first female driver to lead the Indy 500 in 2005 has begun expressing interest.  “As I said, I’ve made no mystery that I’m curious about Nascar and I would like to do it,” she said. “As a driver, if I had the chance to be able to run in both series and try it and challenge myself, I would like to do that.” 

“I also support her if she wants to try it,” Andretti said of her interest in stock cars, “because first and foremost, she is a racecar driver, and I’ve been there. You always want to challenge yourself.” 

“But the goal will be we’ll have to work the programs to make sure that the IndyCar is still her main focus because still the main goal is to win Indianapolis and the championship with Danica,” he added.

In addition to Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick, we also expect to see Marco Andretti back with his father’s team. There are hopes for a fourth IndyCar Series driver in 2010.  2010 will be an interesting year for Andretti Autosport and we will see how Michael Andretti steers his team.

Although it may not be my idea of a traditional Thanksgiving, the Turkey Night Grand Prix is an annual race of midget cars traditionally held every Thanksgiving night since 1934.  It’s an important race in the midget car series, often attracting drivers from other fields of racing including NASCAR and Indy. 

The event included United States Auto Club National,Western Midgets races, and national Sprint Car races as an audience for 5,000 cheered at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.   Bryan Clauson won the 69th running of the Lucas Oil Turkey Night Grand Prix.  His teammate Levi Roberts followed, finishing second in front of 5,000 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

Clauson passed Josh Wise in Turn 3 on the 41st lap and held the lead to win his 11th USAC race this season.  The 20-year-old from Noblesville, Ind. raced in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series last year.   Roberts, from Broomfield, Colo., passed Wise for second place with 21 laps to go in the 98-lap race.  In only his third national points race, Roberts won “rookie of the race.”

Midget cars are very small racecars with a high power-to-weight ratio that typically use four-cylinder engines.  The term “midget” only refers to the car size as they fit average-sized drivers.

Many IndyCar and NASCAR drivers have used midget car racing as a stepping stone to more high profile divisions.  Drivers like Tony Stewart, Sarah Fisher, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman have all participated in Midget car races. Typically held on weeknights the events allow for more famous drivers to fit the races into their schedules because they don’t conflict with more high-profile races.