That was Townsend Bell; he was damn glad to meet you

Yeah, he might be a 22-time pole sitter, 32-time winner and two-time champion in Formula One. But here at Indy, Fernando Alonso has a different designation: pledge … er, rookie. Fortunately, NBCSN analyst and 10-time Indianapolis 500 starter Townsend Bell channeled his inner rush chairman to welcome Alonso to the exclusive IMS racing fraternity.

 

Street racer

Speaking of Alonso, he’s already made a mark in Indianapolis — specifically, with an eponymous downtown street sign. Check it out on Delaware Street, just south of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. 


👍🇺🇸

A post shared by Fernando Alonso (@fernandoalo_oficial) on

 

Teed off

On their way to Gateway Motorsports Park for the May 2 open test, members of the Ed Carpenter Racing crew stopped in Casey, Illinois to check out the World’s Largest Golf Tee. Although the team apparently passed on the World’s Largest Wind Chime and the World’s Largest Crochet Needles (also in Casey), they’re still planning to partake of a different superlative: “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” later this month.

 

New track record

Max Chilton laid down a hot lap at Gateway on Monday … in his rental car. Here’s hoping he opted for the insurance.

 

A little love from Dale Jr.

If you think the double-ochos (No. 88) on the Harding Racing entry for this year’s Indianapolis 500 — piloted by Colombian standout Gabby Chaves — look familiar, you’re not the only one. That’s because the number (and even the font) are a nod to another top driver: NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr., who got wind of the homage and was duly honored.

 

Rahal lights it up

Great news! Graham Rahal did not meet an untimely death or incinerate his home while installing new lighting in his (spectacular) kitchen. Take that, electrical gremlins!