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Changes rule Indy Car seene Chip Ganassi knew coming into the 1994 Indy Car season that he had a winning combination on hand. What he didn't expect was how quickly that combination would become successful. "We knew what we were looking for coming into the season," Ganassi admits. "What has surprised us was how quickly things fell into placer&nd how quickly \ we've been able to succeed." The veteran Indy Car owner J;ias been a leader in exploring new car combinations ancl new avenues of success. He made a bold move last season when he announced he PHOTO BY RON McQUEENEY would be <%pr*1 ' 520 V switching froni a long-term relationship with Lola to spearhead a move toward a Reynard chassis. ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ Throw\into the mix a Fqrcl/Cosworth engine ancl a highly competitive driver like Michael Andretti, ancl it's easy to understand why Ganassi is leading a new wave of Indy Car success. That new wave will present itself May 29 for the 78th running of the Indianapolis 500. "When you look at where we were once year ago, ancl then to come out and say we would be switching to Reynard, sure it was a risky move," Ganassi said. "At'that point we didn't even know who our driver would be, but we've been lucky enough to bring in the right people, ancl it's been a big success." \ That success started with the first race of the season, when Andretti was able to fight inclement weather ancl a series of challenges to win the FAI Australian Indy Car Grand Prix. He had placed his Reynard/Ford in the first row for that race and\was one of six drivers racing the new Reynard chassis to qualify in the top 11. "I gliess you could safely say there's a new look to the sport this season," Ganassi said. "I think this will be the most competitive Indy Car season ever. I know I've never been this excited." The Reynard chassis is one of severaknew looks that will be on display this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to the Ganassi- Andretti combination, other successful drivers ^ making the switch to the Reynard include Jimmy Vasser, Jacques Villeneuve ancl Andretti teammate Maurico Gugelmin. All those drivers have a Reynard-Ford/Cosworth combination while Teo Fabi and Andrian Fernandez have Reynard-lllmor V8/D combinations. Development of the Reynard was aided by Bruce Ashmore, who was instrumental in designing the highly-successful Lola chassis, but switched to Reynard last season. Continued on page 77C By Tom Hayes NASCAR set to invade Indy Bill Elliott owns the two fastest laps ever turned in by a NASCAR driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And the veteran NASCAR champion understands the significance of both laps. "Anything you do at Indy takes on a lot of historical significance," Elliott said after turning a top speed of 167.467 miles per hour during a two-day NASCAR trial test in Indianapolis in August of '93, "Running like this lets you leave this place feeling pretty good," Elliott hopes to bring that good feeling back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this August when he and his fellow NASCAR drivers invade the Speedway for the first-ever NASCAR race on the famous 2-1/2-mile oval. Dubbed the Brickyard 400, the race is set for August 6. Practice will be held two days prior to that. The race will end more than two years of planning and will mark the first-ever non-lndy Car race to be held at the Speedway, a facility that has traditionally been used only for the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500. "I never thought I'd have a chance to run at Indianapolis," said Elliott, who turned a fast lap of 168.767 during a 1992 NASCAR test at the Speedway. "This place is so special and I always thought it would be reserved for Indy cars. I'm just glad we get the chance to race there and I hope we put on a good show." Tickets for the Brickyard 400 sold out in less than a month, and, while no official numbers were released, Speedway officials have indicated that they received enough orders to fill up the Speedway seats more than four times. That's enough to get the NASCAR drivers even more excited. "This place is just awesome," said NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Ind. "I've driven around here before in a tour bus and my pickup truck, but that's nothing like racing here. I can't wait till August." Gordon and Elliott will join famous NASCAR names like Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Mark Martin at the Speedway in August. Indy greats like Al Unser Jr., John Andretti and Gary Bettenhausen also hope to take the green flag for the Brickyard 400. "It takes a little longer to get down the straightaways, but when you get into the corners you're going to have your hands full," Andretti said of the difference between racing Indy cars and NASCAR cars at the Speedway. "The car (NASCAR) wants to slide so much more in the corners. That's the biggest difference I've noticed." That ancl speed. While Elliott's 168 plus is far below the track record of 232.482 set in 1992 by Roberto Guerreo, none of the NASCAR greats feel that will detract from what promises to be a historic event. "Racing at Indy in a stock car is a dream come true," Waltrip said. "There is a mystique when you walk through the garage area and you think about the tradition and the heritage. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd be racing here." Those dreams will become reality in August.
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Transcript | Changes rule Indy Car seene Chip Ganassi knew coming into the 1994 Indy Car season that he had a winning combination on hand. What he didn't expect was how quickly that combination would become successful. "We knew what we were looking for coming into the season," Ganassi admits. "What has surprised us was how quickly things fell into placer&nd how quickly \ we've been able to succeed." The veteran Indy Car owner J;ias been a leader in exploring new car combinations ancl new avenues of success. He made a bold move last season when he announced he PHOTO BY RON McQUEENEY would be <%pr*1 ' 520 V switching froni a long-term relationship with Lola to spearhead a move toward a Reynard chassis. ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ Throw\into the mix a Fqrcl/Cosworth engine ancl a highly competitive driver like Michael Andretti, ancl it's easy to understand why Ganassi is leading a new wave of Indy Car success. That new wave will present itself May 29 for the 78th running of the Indianapolis 500. "When you look at where we were once year ago, ancl then to come out and say we would be switching to Reynard, sure it was a risky move," Ganassi said. "At'that point we didn't even know who our driver would be, but we've been lucky enough to bring in the right people, ancl it's been a big success." \ That success started with the first race of the season, when Andretti was able to fight inclement weather ancl a series of challenges to win the FAI Australian Indy Car Grand Prix. He had placed his Reynard/Ford in the first row for that race and\was one of six drivers racing the new Reynard chassis to qualify in the top 11. "I gliess you could safely say there's a new look to the sport this season," Ganassi said. "I think this will be the most competitive Indy Car season ever. I know I've never been this excited." The Reynard chassis is one of severaknew looks that will be on display this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to the Ganassi- Andretti combination, other successful drivers ^ making the switch to the Reynard include Jimmy Vasser, Jacques Villeneuve ancl Andretti teammate Maurico Gugelmin. All those drivers have a Reynard-Ford/Cosworth combination while Teo Fabi and Andrian Fernandez have Reynard-lllmor V8/D combinations. Development of the Reynard was aided by Bruce Ashmore, who was instrumental in designing the highly-successful Lola chassis, but switched to Reynard last season. Continued on page 77C By Tom Hayes NASCAR set to invade Indy Bill Elliott owns the two fastest laps ever turned in by a NASCAR driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And the veteran NASCAR champion understands the significance of both laps. "Anything you do at Indy takes on a lot of historical significance," Elliott said after turning a top speed of 167.467 miles per hour during a two-day NASCAR trial test in Indianapolis in August of '93, "Running like this lets you leave this place feeling pretty good," Elliott hopes to bring that good feeling back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this August when he and his fellow NASCAR drivers invade the Speedway for the first-ever NASCAR race on the famous 2-1/2-mile oval. Dubbed the Brickyard 400, the race is set for August 6. Practice will be held two days prior to that. The race will end more than two years of planning and will mark the first-ever non-lndy Car race to be held at the Speedway, a facility that has traditionally been used only for the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500. "I never thought I'd have a chance to run at Indianapolis," said Elliott, who turned a fast lap of 168.767 during a 1992 NASCAR test at the Speedway. "This place is so special and I always thought it would be reserved for Indy cars. I'm just glad we get the chance to race there and I hope we put on a good show." Tickets for the Brickyard 400 sold out in less than a month, and, while no official numbers were released, Speedway officials have indicated that they received enough orders to fill up the Speedway seats more than four times. That's enough to get the NASCAR drivers even more excited. "This place is just awesome," said NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Ind. "I've driven around here before in a tour bus and my pickup truck, but that's nothing like racing here. I can't wait till August." Gordon and Elliott will join famous NASCAR names like Kyle Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip and Mark Martin at the Speedway in August. Indy greats like Al Unser Jr., John Andretti and Gary Bettenhausen also hope to take the green flag for the Brickyard 400. "It takes a little longer to get down the straightaways, but when you get into the corners you're going to have your hands full," Andretti said of the difference between racing Indy cars and NASCAR cars at the Speedway. "The car (NASCAR) wants to slide so much more in the corners. That's the biggest difference I've noticed." That ancl speed. While Elliott's 168 plus is far below the track record of 232.482 set in 1992 by Roberto Guerreo, none of the NASCAR greats feel that will detract from what promises to be a historic event. "Racing at Indy in a stock car is a dream come true," Waltrip said. "There is a mystique when you walk through the garage area and you think about the tradition and the heritage. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd be racing here." Those dreams will become reality in August. |
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