ASHLEY FORCE EARNS
HER 'STRIPES'
During a test session last Thursday at Indy
Ashley Force made three or four squirts on a very hot
and slick Indy surface. On one of those laps the car drifted
left out of the groove and then put a couple of cylinders
out on the left bank, which drove the car hard toward
the wall. Ashley handled the car like a veteran, keeping
it off of the wall but did fold up the header pipes.
At the end of the track Ashley reportedly
had a few colorful comments as she exited the car. Like
father, like daughter: a great driver and a great Top
End interview! [8-29-2005]
CAN HINES REPEAT
AT PRO BIKE BATTLE?
Andrew
Hines will headline a special eight-motorcycle field from
the No. 1 qualifying position as he seeks his second consecutive
victory in three starts in the 15th annual Ringers Gloves
Pro Bike Battle at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Sept.
3. Hines, the 2004 Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion,
won last year's Battle over GT Tonglet in a duel of Harley-Davidsons.
The total race day purse for the Battle
is $36,000. The winner will earn a $15,000 bonus from
Ringers Gloves. Any rider who can win the Battle and the
U.S. Nationals will earn a $10,000 "Double-Up"
bonus from the NHRA. (Ian Tocher
photo) [8-29-2005]
NEW OWNERS FOR
'CHRYSLER CLASSIC'
The Blankenship family has taken over the ownership of
the Chrysler Classic Events. Cars registered for the car
shows and drag races at the Norwalk, OH event on Sept.
16-18 and the Indianapolis event on Oct. 8-9 are asked
to call 614-834-7990 to confirm. [8-29-2005]
A FEW STATS
DRO stats man Jim Hawkins send along some interesting
observations after Memphis.
WJ posted his 101st holeshot
loss since 1987 and ninth of the season. (Jim Yates is
second in number of holeshot losses since 1987 with 61).
His worst holeshot record was 1-13 in 2002. Another interesting
WJ stat is that he is 7-0 in red-lights this year. Everyone
must be trying to cut a light against him.
We've often talked about Dave Connolly's
holeshot prowess, but Greg Stanfield has a 7-1 holeshot
record. You thought the 7 red-lights in PSB at Memphis
were a lot? There were 7 in Sonoma in 2003, 8 in Atlanta
in 2003, 9 in Denver in 2004 and 11 in Indy in 2003.
In fact, speaking of Indy 2003, there were
only two rounds that the other driver was outrun and won.
Ron Capps has outrun the most guys in Funny car this season:
15 times or 56% of his wins. Capps outran Bazemore, Scelzi
and TJ, before losing to Medlen in the final at Memphis.
Tony Schumacher has outrun the competition
17 times and they account for 52% of his wins. He notched
two more at Memphis. His 4.806 win over Morgan Lucas was
classified as a holeshot win since Morgan had an identical
elapsed time. Tony's reaction time was quicker. [8-29-2005]
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The Agent just got around to noticing that for 2006 it
will no longer be the Pro Stock Bike class at NHRA. Instead,
we will have Pro Stock Motorcycle. After Lance Armstrong's
success at the Tour de France, people were probably getting
confused about the type of vehicle. Yeah, that's it. [8-29-2005]
