The Nuge is here! Yes folks Ted Nugent is at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma today. It looks like he got to take a hot lap around the track with IndyCar driver Sam Hornish Jr. I snapped a quick picture through the window of the media center. It’s not the greatest photo but still. 
Danica Patrick was also driving a Honda Safety Car around the track. I have no idea why the Nugent is here, although he did play a show at the Fillmore earlier this week, but he’s not the Grand Marshall. Whatever the circumstances it’s very cool to see a rock legend enjoying the races.
Danica Patrick behind the wheel of a Honda Safety Car (the official pace car)
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma 2006 Photo Gallery
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When I arrived at Infineon this morning for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend things didn’t seem that different from when I was there in June for the NASCAR race. The same messy traffic issues with go-karts and pedestrians making it incredibly nerve racking to navigate the parking lots. There were the same big tents promoting everything from cars to clothes to video games and a super special cleanser for your sunglasses. But it wasn’t until I took a seat in the media center that I realized this was definitely not the same as a NASCAR race. The guy two seats down from me was speaking a language I couldn’t quite figure out, I’m thinking it’s Italian? Or maybe Portuguese? Anyway, he was speaking fast and broadcasting live, reporting on the IndyCar warm-ups going on before us. The other thing that tipped me off was that the whole front row was full of Japanese media.
Since the day was about practicing and qualifying I went off to check out the vendor tents. Qualifying is obviously important but I will admit that it’s the only boring thing about racing. I saw Tony Kanaan as I left the media center, he was walking with two other guys that I’m assuming were drivers but I couldn’t tell who from where I was standing. Tony kinda stands out in that bright green suit.
Behind the grandstands Honda had what looked to me like a regular showroom, complete with carpeting throughout, and every single car in their production out for display. I bumped into the Playboy tent, which was full of men, and young boys on the outside looking in. Sierra Nevada had a great outdoor lounge area featuring a stage where a band called the Spazmatics were to play today and tomorrow.
If you haven’t picked up your tickets for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend, set for Aug. 25-27, yet then I think you should mark your calendars for Thursday, August 17th. That’s the day that IndyCar
With this blog I wanted to talk about things that you’re not going to hear Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach or Darrell Waltrip mention during the races on Sunday. Ya know like who’s that new blonde chick standing next to Kasey Kahne during the national anthem??? Or didn’t Jeff Gordon’s fiancee Ingrid Vandebosch look like she might be preggers last weekend at the Brickyard?? (For the record she’s not as far as I know, but that shirt she was wearing made me do a double take, note to Ingrid: don’t wear that top again it makes you look a little pudgy in the stomach region)
Anywhoo… I couldn’t possibly get to all the gossip and insider info that’s out there and why should I when there are others who do it so well already. Like, for instance, this blog called Answer This… has a great section just about NASCAR wives and girlfriends. It’s a must read to get caught up on your favorite drivers love life.
Towards the end of August the IRL series makes its way to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, August 25 through the 27th to be exact. Yours truly will be there blogging from the race track. It’ll be great to get an up close look at the big names of the IRL, like Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon and Marco Andretti. But honestly, I’m really hoping that Ashley Judd is there to support her husband, Dario Franchitti. I love her family and you just never know what she’s going to say.
I’ve never been to an IRL race before but I hear that the atmosphere is different than that of a NASCAR race. For the IRL fans it’s more about seeing and being seen. I guess I will have to see for myself, and of course I’ll report it all back to you.
So my heart softened just a little bit for Jimmie Johnson this weekend. Normally he’s on my crap list, especially with that suspect crew chief of his Chad Knaus, but this week I could really sense genuine feelings and emotions from him, like winning this race really meant something to him.
And so it should, it was the Brickyard 400 after all, oops I mean the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. This is one of the few times I’ll ever take issue with sponsors but when the race is at Indy it should be called Indy or Brickyard. They’re never going to change the Daytona 500 to the McDonalds 500 at Daytona. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is steeped in history for Indy cars, but not so much for stock cars. But if you watched the pre-race show on NBC you’d think Jesus walked on those bricks. I kid, I kid…
The thing I hated about the race was that the finish wasn’t a nail biter. It didn’t come close to this year
