Race car drivers for $500.
He’s won three races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but is participating in the Rookie Orientation Program.
Who is Wade Cunningham?
That he could be part of motorsports trivia strikes the 27-year-old Kiwi, who is the only three-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100 on the 2.5-mile oval.
“(Doing ROP) is funny because I’ve been in the paddock for six years now,” said the 2005 Firestone Indy Lights champion who made his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in 2011. “I got my feet wet last year with the (three) races, so I have some IndyCar experience but it’s a learning curve with the new package. I’m (an Indy 500) rookie and you have to do it.
“The IndyCar is still just another race car. Though you have more to work with the same principles apply. To been smooth you have to be confident. For the car to be right you have to have good communication with your engineer and you have to get the package working in harmony. I have a lot of laps at Indy and understand the changes. That’s all valuable and now it’s time for my learning curve to accelerate.
“We want to unload on Saturday with the primary car and the goal is to improve each day. I’m looking to learn, minimize mistakes, and if we do that every day eventually you get a result. Part of any sport is learning and goal-setting.”
Cunningham’s short-term goal, of course, is to win the biggest auto race in the world in the No. 41 Honda-powered Dallara for A.J. Foyt Racing. Long term, it’s to secure a full-time IZOD IndyCar Series ride. The former would certainly assist with the latter.
Last year, Cunningham eschewed the opportunity to compete for a starting spot at Indianapolis in lieu of a four-race program with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Basically, both he and Schmidt thought such a program would attract more attention from teams and commercial partners. Cunningham had a best finish of seventh at Kentucky Speedway (0.702 of a second behind winner Ed Carpenter).
This year, Cunningham sees hooking up with the Foyt group for the Month of May as a teammate to regular driver Mike Conway could be the most expedient path to a full-season deal in 2013. The second car program is headed up by Indy 500 veteran Larry Curry.
“Larry Curry has decades of experience at Indy and has worked with a lot of rookies and has a good plan to bring us along,” Cunningham said. “We have the basic ingredients you need to get a result. A.J.’s goal is to expand, so this is a toe in the water. Good results never hurt and hopefully the conversation can continue and turn into something more.”
Curry, who most recently oversaw the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing operation, said he couldn’t turn down the opportunity presented in late March. Working with Cunningham is a bonus.
“Wade is a talented race car driver who hasn’t gotten his total shot yet,” Curry said. “We’ve seen him a few times. I’ve been able to put together a proper program for him. There will be some challenges, but because of his experience in open-wheel racing cars he’ll cut through it and get right on with it. Between my experience at the Speedway and A.J.’s at the Speedway, there’s a lot of experience over there.
“Their goal is to work toward becoming a two-car team and it would be great if it happens. Wade is one of those drivers who deserves an opportunity. He’s done everything he can to prove his worth and he just needs a shot.”