Dallara’s U.S. headquarters and CFH Racing will have a new neighbor soon on Main Street in Speedway, Ind.
The Speedway Redevelopment Commission and A.J. Foyt Racing signed agreements for purchase and renovation of a 45,000 square-foot building that will serve as the Verizon IndyCar Series team’s northern race car shop. Its longtime headquarters and main race preparation facility will remain in Waller, Texas.
“During the racing season, it makes sense for our team to operate close to the (Indianapolis Motor Speedway), where my name was made,” Foyt said. “I remember what Main Street looked like when I first came to Indy and the Commission has managed to modernize it but retain the area’s history, too. We’re happy to be part of Speedway’s redevelopment.”
The sound of the twin-turbocharged engines of the Verizon IndyCar Series cars is easily heard while walking on the sidewalks of Main Street, which is near the southwest corner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway administration building and the oval's Turn 1.
Lazier to serve as grand marshal
Buddy Lazier, the 1996 Indianapolis 500 champion and driver of the No. 91 University of Iowa Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research car in the 98th Indianapolis 500 in May, will be the grand marshal of the University of Iowa homecoming parade Oct. 10.
Jacqueline Lazier, the 12-year-old daughter of Buddy and Kara Lazier, was born with a rare eye disorder called aniridia, which is characterized by a complete or partial absence of the colored part of the eye. Aniridia, combined with glaucoma, has caused Jacqueline to lose vision in her right eye. The Wynn Institute is conducting research on aniridia and glaucoma as well as other inherited eye diseases.
Zanardi to compete in Ironman World Championships
Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi will compete in the Ironman World Championships on Oct. 11 in Hawaii.
A crash in 2001 took Zanardi’s legs, but he has not ceased competing. Zanardi, 47, of Italy, mastering prosthetic legs, participated in the New York City Marathon in 2007. He then began to excel at hand cycling, eventually winning two gold and one silver medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
The triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle and 26.2-mile run for which he’ll use a specially designed chair. Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Tony Kanaan and Vitor Meira competed in the event in 2011. Kanaan is INDYCAR’s iron man, starting 233 consecutive races.
Of note
Three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time in 2015. … Chrysler Group announced that it is discontinuing the factory-backed SRT Motorsports program in the TUDOR United SportsCar Series. Ryan Hunter-Reay co-drove one of the two Dodge Viper GTS entries in the Petit Le Mans last weekend at Road Atlanta. … A photograph (below) by Chris Bucher of Klipsch brand ambassador Josef Newgarden has been named the gold-medal winner of the National Museum of Sport's International Fine Art Competition in its photography division. Klipsch is a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer.
