Friday, December 20, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Which Indy 500 is on your wish list?
Christmas is just around the corner, and I know what's on my list for Santa: a time machine and a ticket to the Indianapolis 500 race. If you could go back in time and attend an Indianapolis 500 from the past, which year would you choose? I can't choose just one, so here are my two picks.
My first pick would be 1983. I race the No. 83 IndyCar because my boss, Chip Ganassi, had his best Indianapolis 500 finish as a driver in 1983... in a car designed by my own dad! It's definitely a special year and significant number to me.
My second pick would be 1982, the 66th Indianapolis 500, because it's well-known as one of the greatest, and of course the close finish. Also, Gordon Johncock won in a car that my dad helped design.
My first pick would be 1983. I race the No. 83 IndyCar because my boss, Chip Ganassi, had his best Indianapolis 500 finish as a driver in 1983... in a car designed by my own dad! It's definitely a special year and significant number to me.
My second pick would be 1982, the 66th Indianapolis 500, because it's well-known as one of the greatest, and of course the close finish. Also, Gordon Johncock won in a car that my dad helped design.
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| Chip Ganassi's post-qualifying photo in 1983 (photo via IMS). |
Click here to watch highlights from past Indy 500 races. Post your pick on my Facebook page!
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
These are a few of my favorite things... racing edition!
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." Just kidding, I won't sing for you (which is a good thing, believe me). 'Tis the season for lists of favorites, so I put together some of my favorite memories and experiences from the past year and 2013 IndyCar season. Enjoy the slideshow, then tell me a few of YOUR favorite things from 2013!
Winning at Mid-Ohio
Words can't describe how great it was to get my first IndyCar win with the No. 83 team in August. So I'll let this video speak for itself.
Indy 500
There is nothing like the Indianapolis 500, the Month of May, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Always a highlight on the racing schedule!
Novo Nordisk and Race With Insulin
They've supported me since day one and have helped me realize many of my dreams. I've had the opportunity to do a lot of cool things on behalf of Novo Nordisk this year, like speaking in Madrid, attend the JDRF Children's Congress, take part in a major NYC media tour, and meet some really inspirational people.
Fans
Whether it's meeting them at the track or chatting via Twitter, I always enjoy the energy and support from IndyCar fans. I truly believe we have the best fans in the world!
The No. 83 team and my teammates
The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team really gelled this season, from the engineers, to pit crew members, to management. They really do make my job a lot easier, when I know I can go out there and just race. I'm humbled and lucky that I had the chance to work with and learn from Scott and Dario again. We'll definitely miss Dario in the seat of the No. 10 next year, but I look forward to working with TK too.
Getting away
I was able to get away from the racing scene a few times this year, and I really cherished the time to reflect and recharge with family and friends. Two of my favorites (yes, favorites within a favorites list): boating and the Grand Canyon!
Podium sweep at Pocono
Because who doesn't love a 1-2-3 CGR podium?! OK, I suppose the rest of the field didn't enjoy it as much as we did...
Leading the IndyCar field
The entire Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team worked really hard throughout the 2012-2013 off-season and I think not only do our race finishes (10 top-10s!) demonstrate that effort, but also having the No. 83 up front at both road/street courses and on ovals shows we can consistently contend for the win.
Dodgers
As a lifelong Dodgers fan, having the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a game last April definitely checked off bucket list item for me. Still pinching myself!
Daytona
Kicking off 2013 with a win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona was huge. Major thanks to the CGR team and teammates Scott, Juan, and Memos for guiding me through my first Daytona experience!
Winning at Mid-Ohio
Words can't describe how great it was to get my first IndyCar win with the No. 83 team in August. So I'll let this video speak for itself.
Indy 500
There is nothing like the Indianapolis 500, the Month of May, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Always a highlight on the racing schedule!
Novo Nordisk and Race With Insulin
They've supported me since day one and have helped me realize many of my dreams. I've had the opportunity to do a lot of cool things on behalf of Novo Nordisk this year, like speaking in Madrid, attend the JDRF Children's Congress, take part in a major NYC media tour, and meet some really inspirational people.
Fans
Whether it's meeting them at the track or chatting via Twitter, I always enjoy the energy and support from IndyCar fans. I truly believe we have the best fans in the world!
The No. 83 team and my teammates
The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team really gelled this season, from the engineers, to pit crew members, to management. They really do make my job a lot easier, when I know I can go out there and just race. I'm humbled and lucky that I had the chance to work with and learn from Scott and Dario again. We'll definitely miss Dario in the seat of the No. 10 next year, but I look forward to working with TK too.
Getting away
I was able to get away from the racing scene a few times this year, and I really cherished the time to reflect and recharge with family and friends. Two of my favorites (yes, favorites within a favorites list): boating and the Grand Canyon!
Podium sweep at Pocono
Because who doesn't love a 1-2-3 CGR podium?! OK, I suppose the rest of the field didn't enjoy it as much as we did...
Leading the IndyCar field
The entire Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team worked really hard throughout the 2012-2013 off-season and I think not only do our race finishes (10 top-10s!) demonstrate that effort, but also having the No. 83 up front at both road/street courses and on ovals shows we can consistently contend for the win.
Dodgers
As a lifelong Dodgers fan, having the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a game last April definitely checked off bucket list item for me. Still pinching myself!
Daytona
Kicking off 2013 with a win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona was huge. Major thanks to the CGR team and teammates Scott, Juan, and Memos for guiding me through my first Daytona experience!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
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Thursday, December 5, 2013
All dressed up with a bowtie
It's only December 5th, but it's been quite an exciting month already!
Yesterday all four Chip Ganassi Racing Team cars spent a day testing at Sebring, the first time running our new Chevy engines. Like I've said before, the 2014 season really started as soon as the checkered flag flew at Fontana in October. Since then, the whole Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has been working hard at the shop, at the gym, and in the engineering office to make improvements before we even got some track time.
Wednesday was spent getting a good baseline for the rest of the off-season and gathering some data before the end of the year. It was definitely good to be back in the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. It's nice to be back at the race track and focusing on 2014. Moving to Team Chevy has given us the opportunity to try some different things, learn from their engineers, as well as bring our strengths to the table. It was also a lot of fun to have TK and Tag at Sebring for the first time. I'm enjoying getting to know Tony better and develop a relationship at the track as a teammate.
Tonight I'm getting together with the whole No. 83 team for a post-season celebration. Looking forward to spending some time with them and their families away from the track!
Yesterday all four Chip Ganassi Racing Team cars spent a day testing at Sebring, the first time running our new Chevy engines. Like I've said before, the 2014 season really started as soon as the checkered flag flew at Fontana in October. Since then, the whole Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has been working hard at the shop, at the gym, and in the engineering office to make improvements before we even got some track time.
Wednesday was spent getting a good baseline for the rest of the off-season and gathering some data before the end of the year. It was definitely good to be back in the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. It's nice to be back at the race track and focusing on 2014. Moving to Team Chevy has given us the opportunity to try some different things, learn from their engineers, as well as bring our strengths to the table. It was also a lot of fun to have TK and Tag at Sebring for the first time. I'm enjoying getting to know Tony better and develop a relationship at the track as a teammate.
Tonight I'm getting together with the whole No. 83 team for a post-season celebration. Looking forward to spending some time with them and their families away from the track!
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| Nice bowtie! |
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| Chatting with Tony during the lunch break (photo via @IndyCar). |
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Tune in... next season!
Today the IndyCar Series announced the 2014 broadcast schedule... check it out below, and click here to learn more!
Monday, December 2, 2013
It's that time of year... season review time!
Happy December, everyone! Since we are wrapping up the year and racing toward 2014 (pun intended!), I figured it's a good time to take a look back at the 2013 IndyCar season.
Firstly, I would be remiss if I didn't include the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January... as I often say, the racing drivers' motto might as well be, "Have helmet; will travel." I'm always happy to be inside a race car, and it was such a honor to race with the No. 01 team and drivers Scott, Memos, and Juan. And to win on my first Daytona outing? What an amazing experience!
As always, the IndyCar season really starts with prep during the off-season. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Team had about four test days at the track before St. Pete in March, but there were countless more hours at the shop and in the engineering office.
From the first lap out in March to our last in October, I'd have to say it was definitely a good season. Top-10 in points, 10 top-10 finishes, our first race win, a lot of other strong results (Pocono, Barber, Indy, Baltimore, Houston, Detroit, Sao Paulo), and improved qualifying sessions all contributed to a good season. What would have made it great? Probably a win at Fontana to close out the season top-eight in points. There will always be highs and lows during a race season, like coming down with a 24-hour bug the weekend of the Indy 500, then fighting back to finish ninth. Or crashing during practice at Mid-Ohio, then having the entire CGR team come together for a win. But all in all, I have no complaints and I think we were right where we wanted and needed to be in 2013.
Looking forward to the 2014 season, I know it's not going to be any easier than this year. I'm excited about the new engine package. It's going to be great to be a part of the Team Chevy program. We'll have our first test with a Chevy engine on Wednesday, and we've been working since the checkered flag at Fontana to make the most of our time away from the track. We want to be fighting for the championship from the green flag in St. Pete.
I have to thank the whole No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen team for their efforts year-round. It makes my job easier knowing I'm stepping into the best car possible, so I can get out there and race. Getting the win at Mid-Ohio was not only huge for me, but also for the team as it was the first win for a lot of the guys, too. It meant a lot to me to be part of that experience for them. I also have to thank my partners at Novo Nordisk for their support every day, both on and off the track, as well as my friends at Honda Performance Development. Sure, we'll be competitors next season but they've done so much for me over the years and I can't thank them enough.
Lastly, a big thanks to you: the fans! I appreciate your support, and I hope you've had as much watching as I've had racing this year. Onward and upward to 2014!
Firstly, I would be remiss if I didn't include the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January... as I often say, the racing drivers' motto might as well be, "Have helmet; will travel." I'm always happy to be inside a race car, and it was such a honor to race with the No. 01 team and drivers Scott, Memos, and Juan. And to win on my first Daytona outing? What an amazing experience!
As always, the IndyCar season really starts with prep during the off-season. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Team had about four test days at the track before St. Pete in March, but there were countless more hours at the shop and in the engineering office.
From the first lap out in March to our last in October, I'd have to say it was definitely a good season. Top-10 in points, 10 top-10 finishes, our first race win, a lot of other strong results (Pocono, Barber, Indy, Baltimore, Houston, Detroit, Sao Paulo), and improved qualifying sessions all contributed to a good season. What would have made it great? Probably a win at Fontana to close out the season top-eight in points. There will always be highs and lows during a race season, like coming down with a 24-hour bug the weekend of the Indy 500, then fighting back to finish ninth. Or crashing during practice at Mid-Ohio, then having the entire CGR team come together for a win. But all in all, I have no complaints and I think we were right where we wanted and needed to be in 2013.
Looking forward to the 2014 season, I know it's not going to be any easier than this year. I'm excited about the new engine package. It's going to be great to be a part of the Team Chevy program. We'll have our first test with a Chevy engine on Wednesday, and we've been working since the checkered flag at Fontana to make the most of our time away from the track. We want to be fighting for the championship from the green flag in St. Pete.
I have to thank the whole No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen team for their efforts year-round. It makes my job easier knowing I'm stepping into the best car possible, so I can get out there and race. Getting the win at Mid-Ohio was not only huge for me, but also for the team as it was the first win for a lot of the guys, too. It meant a lot to me to be part of that experience for them. I also have to thank my partners at Novo Nordisk for their support every day, both on and off the track, as well as my friends at Honda Performance Development. Sure, we'll be competitors next season but they've done so much for me over the years and I can't thank them enough.
Lastly, a big thanks to you: the fans! I appreciate your support, and I hope you've had as much watching as I've had racing this year. Onward and upward to 2014!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
It's World Diabetes Day!
Today is no ordinary Thursday! November 14 is recognized as World Diabetes Day to bring awareness to diabetes, through events worldwide. Today I'll be at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg as a part of their World Diabetes Day activities. Check out my latest post for PARADE Magazine on what this day means to me. How are you marking the day and encouraging others to take steps toward a healthier life?
Friday, November 1, 2013
Time to take action for diabetes month!
Can you believe it's November already? November is American Diabetes Month, a time to bring more awareness to the diabetes pandemic. It's the perfect opportunity to encourage your friends and family members to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle and learn more about the risk factors for diabetes. Click here to learn more!
As always, you can join the Race With Insulin Crew at RaceWithInsulin.com and show your support for friends and family who have diabetes by sharing my story. Follow me at @racewithinsulin and Novo Nordisk at @NovoNordiskUS for more throughout American Diabetes Month!
As always, you can join the Race With Insulin Crew at RaceWithInsulin.com and show your support for friends and family who have diabetes by sharing my story. Follow me at @racewithinsulin and Novo Nordisk at @NovoNordiskUS for more throughout American Diabetes Month!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween!
It's that time of year again... the race season has finished, the championship parties have (mostly) ended, and winter testing has yet to begin. In between our other obligations and appearances, this leaves us IndyCar drivers with a bit of free time on the weekends.
I spent some time this past Sunday doing some Halloween pumpkin carving. As you know, I'm a California kid and grew up watching Stanford football. Now that I'm living in Indy, I've adopted the Colts as my favorite NFL team. Luckily I managed to get both Stanford and the Colts onto my pumpkin this year!
What is carved into your pumpkin this year? Are there any IndyCar-themed pumpkins out there? Tweet me your pics @racewithinsulin or post them on my Facebook page wall! I can't wait to see them!
Have a safe and fun Halloween!
I spent some time this past Sunday doing some Halloween pumpkin carving. As you know, I'm a California kid and grew up watching Stanford football. Now that I'm living in Indy, I've adopted the Colts as my favorite NFL team. Luckily I managed to get both Stanford and the Colts onto my pumpkin this year!
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| West Coast and the Midwest, together! |
Have a safe and fun Halloween!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Celebrate with us via IndyCar.com!
I can't thank the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Team enough for everything they've done this year to make it a successful season--from our ten top-10s, to strong qualifying sessions, to our first IndyCar race win. Let's keep celebrating the 2013 IndyCar season, and of course the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Team's championship! The 2013 INDYCAR Championship Celebration will be streamed live on IndyCar.com and the INDYCAR 13 mobile app on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Click here for more information.
Live from Trackside - MAVTV 500 INDYCAR World Championships
Saturday, Oct. 19
10:00 p.m.
First of all, major congratulations to Scott and the No. 9 team for winning the championship, and to the Chip Ganassi Racing organization as a whole. The goal tonight was for Scott to clinch the title in the No. 9 car and we were able to do that. We were able to run up front and prove that the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car was quick. It was unfortunate to have a mechanical failure that close to the end. We had a good restart, the car was just getting better and better and we were in good shape for the end of the race. Overall, we’re looking forward to the 2014 season and what the future holds.
Thanks to all of you for the support this season--much appreciated.
3:30 p.m.
It's race day! But of course it's a little bittersweet, with it being our last race of the season. We feel pretty good about the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car today... I really have to thank the guys for giving me such a great car for these 500 miles. We'll start P4 today, after a couple of cars took the 10-grid spot penalty for an engine change.
It's been a busy day already, starting with a TV interview before a photo opp, drivers meeting, an autograph session and sponsor appearances. And that's all before we even get on track! I'm headed to a team engineering meeting then hopefully a few moments of quiet time before the green flag. Tune in to NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET for the finale and cheer for the No. 83!
Friday, Oct. 18
6:50 p.m.
Not a bad day at the office... our highest qualifying on an oval, and finished evening practice in the top 10. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing guys have been working really hard and it's definitely showing! I'm spending some time with my engineers tonight before getting rest before the big day tomorrow. Thanks for watching and for the support!
3:45 p.m.
I’m pretty happy with finishing top-five in qualifying. Being the top Honda on the charts feels pretty good. Overall it was a little surprising to be that good because we had focused on the race car so much during practice. But it’s nice to have a good car. The No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car has been good since we unloaded here and I think we’ll be in good shape come 500-miles tomorrow night. We’ll work on the car a little bit more tonight as it cools off and the sun goes down, but overall I think the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi guys are happy with that.
1:30 p.m.
We had a pretty good practice session with the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. We did a lot of work on the car as far as getting it race-ready. Our qualifying spot is 23rd today, so be sure to tune in at 2:15 pm Pacific via Race Control or catch the delayed broadcast on NBCSN at 4 p.m.
9:15 a.m.
It's a beautiful morning here in Fontana, and it looks like the good weather will stick around all day.
Yesterday afternoon I spent a lot of time with my engineers, watching (and dissected) last year's race and going over data. I also refitted my belts in the No. 83 car and made sure everything is set for today's first on-track session. We'll spend a little bit of practice on qualifying setups, but mainly we're focused on the car for the race. With it being a 500-mile race, it's most important to have the race car at its best for the green flag.
In case you missed it, the IndyCar Series released its 2014 season schedule last night. Click here to see the full schedule. Hope to see you all at the track next year!
Thursday, Oct. 17
12:30 p.m.
Hello from Auto Club Speedway! Always great to be back on the Best Coast. I can't wait to get back into the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for the season finale this weekend. We had a strong car at Fontana last year, and I think we can only improve from there. During testing last month, we were able to do a lot of long runs and really get the car prepped for the 500-mile race. Going into the finale, our focus is to finish strong and leave the track still sitting inside the top-10 of the championship points standings. I know Scott and the No. 9 team will be fighting hard for a well-deserved Championship. It's a long race and you have to be prepared for it all, but the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team will give it everything.
Here's our race weekend schedule for those coming to the race and those following along at home (all times Pacific).
Friday, Oct. 18:
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Practice
2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Qualifying (on NBCSN at 4 p.m.)
6:05 p.m.-6:35 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Oct. 19:
1-2 p.m. IndyCar Autograph Session (at INDYCAR Fan Village)
2 p.m. Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (at INDYCAR Fan Village)
5 p.m. MAVTV 500 INDYCAR World Championships (live on NBCSN)
Sunday, Oct. 20:
5:30 p.m. INDYCAR Championship Celebration (streamed live at IndyCar.com & via INDYCAR 13 mobile app)
Live timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
10:00 p.m.
First of all, major congratulations to Scott and the No. 9 team for winning the championship, and to the Chip Ganassi Racing organization as a whole. The goal tonight was for Scott to clinch the title in the No. 9 car and we were able to do that. We were able to run up front and prove that the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car was quick. It was unfortunate to have a mechanical failure that close to the end. We had a good restart, the car was just getting better and better and we were in good shape for the end of the race. Overall, we’re looking forward to the 2014 season and what the future holds.
Thanks to all of you for the support this season--much appreciated.
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| First stop by the No. 83 crew. |
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| Another quick stop under the lights. |
It's race day! But of course it's a little bittersweet, with it being our last race of the season. We feel pretty good about the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car today... I really have to thank the guys for giving me such a great car for these 500 miles. We'll start P4 today, after a couple of cars took the 10-grid spot penalty for an engine change.
It's been a busy day already, starting with a TV interview before a photo opp, drivers meeting, an autograph session and sponsor appearances. And that's all before we even get on track! I'm headed to a team engineering meeting then hopefully a few moments of quiet time before the green flag. Tune in to NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET for the finale and cheer for the No. 83!
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| Morning interview for COX-TV (photo via @CGRTeams). |
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| Met with Stella, a fellow cool-kid with type 1 diabetes! (photo via @CGRTeams). |
6:50 p.m.
Not a bad day at the office... our highest qualifying on an oval, and finished evening practice in the top 10. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing guys have been working really hard and it's definitely showing! I'm spending some time with my engineers tonight before getting rest before the big day tomorrow. Thanks for watching and for the support!
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| A few changes during evening practice. |
I’m pretty happy with finishing top-five in qualifying. Being the top Honda on the charts feels pretty good. Overall it was a little surprising to be that good because we had focused on the race car so much during practice. But it’s nice to have a good car. The No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car has been good since we unloaded here and I think we’ll be in good shape come 500-miles tomorrow night. We’ll work on the car a little bit more tonight as it cools off and the sun goes down, but overall I think the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi guys are happy with that.
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| Post-qualifying interview with Jake Query. |
We had a pretty good practice session with the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. We did a lot of work on the car as far as getting it race-ready. Our qualifying spot is 23rd today, so be sure to tune in at 2:15 pm Pacific via Race Control or catch the delayed broadcast on NBCSN at 4 p.m.
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| Post-install lap. |
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| Leaving pit lane [video here]. |
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| Pit stop practice. |
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| "Get Well Dario" decal on the No. 83! |
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| Making changes during practice. |
It's a beautiful morning here in Fontana, and it looks like the good weather will stick around all day.
Yesterday afternoon I spent a lot of time with my engineers, watching (and dissected) last year's race and going over data. I also refitted my belts in the No. 83 car and made sure everything is set for today's first on-track session. We'll spend a little bit of practice on qualifying setups, but mainly we're focused on the car for the race. With it being a 500-mile race, it's most important to have the race car at its best for the green flag.
In case you missed it, the IndyCar Series released its 2014 season schedule last night. Click here to see the full schedule. Hope to see you all at the track next year!
Thursday, Oct. 17
12:30 p.m.
Hello from Auto Club Speedway! Always great to be back on the Best Coast. I can't wait to get back into the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for the season finale this weekend. We had a strong car at Fontana last year, and I think we can only improve from there. During testing last month, we were able to do a lot of long runs and really get the car prepped for the 500-mile race. Going into the finale, our focus is to finish strong and leave the track still sitting inside the top-10 of the championship points standings. I know Scott and the No. 9 team will be fighting hard for a well-deserved Championship. It's a long race and you have to be prepared for it all, but the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team will give it everything.
Here's our race weekend schedule for those coming to the race and those following along at home (all times Pacific).
Friday, Oct. 18:
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Practice
2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Qualifying (on NBCSN at 4 p.m.)
6:05 p.m.-6:35 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Oct. 19:
1-2 p.m. IndyCar Autograph Session (at INDYCAR Fan Village)
2 p.m. Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (at INDYCAR Fan Village)
5 p.m. MAVTV 500 INDYCAR World Championships (live on NBCSN)
Sunday, Oct. 20:
5:30 p.m. INDYCAR Championship Celebration (streamed live at IndyCar.com & via INDYCAR 13 mobile app)
Live timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
IndyCar announces 2014 schedule
Oct 17, 2013
Via IndyCar.com
Eighteen races over 15 event weekends highlight the 2014 IndyCar Series schedule.
The schedule includes a new event, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, on a 2.343-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in addition to the return of doubleheaders at Detroit, Houston and Toronto.
Times and network television schedules will be announced at a later date, though ABC has confirmed it will broadcast both races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The network will televise the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race for the 50th year.
“The World’s Fastest Spring Break Party” on the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg (Fla.) street circuit kicks off the season for the fourth year in a row on Sunday, March 30. Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., will host the season finale under the lights on Saturday, Aug. 30, for the third consecutive year.
“There are some changes, primarily in the format,” said Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR. “We wanted to have more consistency so that fans can know once our season starts we’re going to be out on front of them throughout and until the end. We decided to condense the season in order to accomplish that and we’ll stop on Labor Day weekend, so it’s a more condensed North American circuit but it’s not less racing. It’s kind of a transition toward 2015 when we grow back again."
Click here to read more.
Via IndyCar.com
Eighteen races over 15 event weekends highlight the 2014 IndyCar Series schedule.
The schedule includes a new event, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, on a 2.343-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in addition to the return of doubleheaders at Detroit, Houston and Toronto.
Times and network television schedules will be announced at a later date, though ABC has confirmed it will broadcast both races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The network will televise the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race for the 50th year.
“The World’s Fastest Spring Break Party” on the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg (Fla.) street circuit kicks off the season for the fourth year in a row on Sunday, March 30. Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., will host the season finale under the lights on Saturday, Aug. 30, for the third consecutive year.
“There are some changes, primarily in the format,” said Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR. “We wanted to have more consistency so that fans can know once our season starts we’re going to be out on front of them throughout and until the end. We decided to condense the season in order to accomplish that and we’ll stop on Labor Day weekend, so it’s a more condensed North American circuit but it’s not less racing. It’s kind of a transition toward 2015 when we grow back again."
Click here to read more.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tune-in reminder: INDYCAR Championship & 2014 schedule preview
The NBC Sports Network will air a special tomorrow night focusing on the season finale (and championship-deciding) IndyCar race... and they will unveil the 2014 IndyCar schedule! Be sure to tune in (or set your DVR) at 8 p.m. Eastern on Thursday for a preview of the championship race, a look back at the 2013 season, and a peek at what's in store for next year. Click here to learn more.
Any predictions for the series championship? Or do you have a wish list for the 2014 schedule? My money's on Scott and the No. 9 Target team, but I may be a bit biased!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A week away
It's no secret racing at speeds of 200-plus miles per hour requires a great deal of focus and concentration. After a long race weekend, sometimes I'm as mentally exhausted as physically tired! One way I 'reset' throughout the race season is by taking the opportunity to get away for a week or so. During the break following Baltimore, I was able to check one item off my bucket list: a father-son trip to the Grand Canyon. To say I had a lot of fun would be an understatement for sure!
For a total of 188.5 miles downriver, Dad and I paddled the Colorado River from Marble Canyon, Ariz. to Whittmore, Wash. We had great guides that acted as river runners, geologists, historians, storytellers, chefs, and (even though no one on our trip came close to needing it) EMTs. We did everything from running big rapids to seeing local wildfire, and from to hiking to finding some beautiful waterfalls up the side canyons. Our guides Wiley and Lindsey made the trip even more enjoyable. It was really eye-opening to hear the history of the Grand Canyon, from just after the Civil War through today, with the dams, the engineering and the geology... there’s just so many aspects of the trip that were once in a lifetime.
It was incredible to see something of that size and magnitude and be reminded of just how small we are. The sense of scale was so far off that we would see rock formations and think they were 10 feet tall. When we got to them, they were more like 200 feet tall!
It was even more special that I got to experience the whole trip with my dad. We had a blast and were able to enjoy what I think is really one of the most beautiful parts of the country together (without phone calls or email!). I hope that one day I’ll be able to do that trip again, maybe even to take my son down the Grand Canyon.
Enough of my words about the trip; take a look at some photos I took... enjoy!
For a total of 188.5 miles downriver, Dad and I paddled the Colorado River from Marble Canyon, Ariz. to Whittmore, Wash. We had great guides that acted as river runners, geologists, historians, storytellers, chefs, and (even though no one on our trip came close to needing it) EMTs. We did everything from running big rapids to seeing local wildfire, and from to hiking to finding some beautiful waterfalls up the side canyons. Our guides Wiley and Lindsey made the trip even more enjoyable. It was really eye-opening to hear the history of the Grand Canyon, from just after the Civil War through today, with the dams, the engineering and the geology... there’s just so many aspects of the trip that were once in a lifetime.
It was incredible to see something of that size and magnitude and be reminded of just how small we are. The sense of scale was so far off that we would see rock formations and think they were 10 feet tall. When we got to them, they were more like 200 feet tall!
It was even more special that I got to experience the whole trip with my dad. We had a blast and were able to enjoy what I think is really one of the most beautiful parts of the country together (without phone calls or email!). I hope that one day I’ll be able to do that trip again, maybe even to take my son down the Grand Canyon.
Enough of my words about the trip; take a look at some photos I took... enjoy!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Live from Trackside - Grand Prix of Houston
Sunday, Oct. 6
3:20 p.m.
Obviously, we’re thinking about all the guys involved in that last corner accident. Not just the drivers, but the fans and the safety team too. Hopefully everyone is okay. Overall, it was a pretty good race for the No. 83 car. We had clean stops, a good race pace and we just tried to be smart with it. To come out with an 8th place finish is pretty good. Now we’re going to focus as much as we can heading into Fontana and another 500-mile race to end the season strong.
10:00 a.m.
Well, it definitely didn't dry up for qualifying! We went out and waited on pit lane but due to the wet track, IndyCar race control decided to grid race 2 by entrant points. We'll start in P10. I think we have a good shot from there, especially with the changes made overnight and with the experience gained on this course during yesterday's race. Tune in to NBCSN at noon Central for race 2!
8:15 a.m.
Deja vu... it's race day! But unlike yesterday, it looks like we've got a bit of rain coming soon. It should be clear by noon, so we'll hopefully have a dry track for the race.
As it stands now, we'll qualify at 8:45 a.m. I feel pretty good about our car today; I think we've sorted out the issues from yesterday's race and with a good start, we'll have the chance for a top-10 to finish out the weekend. Keep following via Twitter @racewithinsulin and we'll keep you updated!
Saturday, Oct. 5
5:30 p.m.
It was another fighting run for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. I don’t think anyone can say that the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew doesn’t dig deep and fight hard, so a lot of credit to them. They gave me the information I needed to overcome the problems we had on the starts. To come back and end up nearly in the top-10 like we did, I’m pretty happy with that. We have a pretty fast race car so I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race. Congrats to Scott and the 9 team for their win today!
8:15 a.m.
Good morning... it's race day! We have an adjusted schedule this morning, as the track was modified last night in order to fix some of the issues from yesterday.
9:45-9:55 a.m. Warm up
10:50-11:20 a.m. Qualifying #1
You can catch live timing and scoring here for both sessions. We'll qualify for race 2 on Sunday at 8:45 a.m. Follow me on Twitter @racewithinsulin for more at-track updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
In case you missed the news yesterday, I'll have a new teammate in 2014... Tony Kanaan! I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully learning a bit from his experience, too. Chevrolet will join Chip Ganassi Racing as our engine manufacturer so we have lots to look forward to next season. Click here to learn more. I have to thank Honda for their support throughout my career; they've been a great partner. For now, I'm off to a drivers meeting.
Friday, Oct. 4
7:00 p.m.
Overall, it was a pretty good day for the NovoLog FlexPen car. When you come to a track you haven’t been to in six years as a series, it’s always a challenge but the guys did a great job on getting us some laps on most of the track. I know they’ll make the repairs, as needed, to Turn 1 so we can have a full straight, which will change the entry into Turn 2. Overall, we’re pretty happy with the car. We’ve made some good progress and now we just have to get ready for heading into qualifying tomorrow morning.
11:05 a.m.
Yes, I should be on track right now. However, we're on a slight delay due to a course issue in turn 1. The No. 83 team is ready to go, so hopefully we're on track soon! In the meantime, check out this piece from Culture Map Houston.
Don't forget--as long as things get going on track soon, I'll be at the Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel in the Fan Village at 1 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Thursday, Oct. 3
9:00 a.m.
Hello from H-Town! I'm excited to get back into the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for the Grand Prix of Houston. I think it will be technical, rough, probably hot, maybe wet... all in all, the perfect storm for a great IndyCar race weekend. As a team we've looked over past footage and tried to duplicate Houston's corners from others I've raced before, so we'll be as prepared as possible before we hit the track for practice Friday. Double-headers are always tough physically for us drivers, but a good time for the fans.
Check out the race weekend schedule below for those at the track or following along at home (all times local/Central).
Friday, Oct. 4:
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. IndyCar practice
1 p.m. Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
3:05-4:15 p.m. IndyCar qualifying #1
5:45-6:45 p.m. IndyCar driver autograph session (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
Saturday, Oct. 5:
10:45-11:15 a.m. IndyCar qualifying #2
12:15 p.m. #RoboRivalry competition (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
2 p.m. IndyCar race #1 (live on NBCSN)
Sunday, Oct. 6:
8:45-9:15 a.m. IndyCar warm up
12 p.m. IndyCar race #2 (live on NBCSN)
Timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
Here's a cool virtual lap of the Grand Prix of Houston track... I'll keep it on repeat until our first practice tomorrow!
3:20 p.m.
Obviously, we’re thinking about all the guys involved in that last corner accident. Not just the drivers, but the fans and the safety team too. Hopefully everyone is okay. Overall, it was a pretty good race for the No. 83 car. We had clean stops, a good race pace and we just tried to be smart with it. To come out with an 8th place finish is pretty good. Now we’re going to focus as much as we can heading into Fontana and another 500-mile race to end the season strong.
10:00 a.m.
Well, it definitely didn't dry up for qualifying! We went out and waited on pit lane but due to the wet track, IndyCar race control decided to grid race 2 by entrant points. We'll start in P10. I think we have a good shot from there, especially with the changes made overnight and with the experience gained on this course during yesterday's race. Tune in to NBCSN at noon Central for race 2!
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| Headed out for qualifying... umbrellas necessary (photo via @CGRteams). |
Deja vu... it's race day! But unlike yesterday, it looks like we've got a bit of rain coming soon. It should be clear by noon, so we'll hopefully have a dry track for the race.
As it stands now, we'll qualify at 8:45 a.m. I feel pretty good about our car today; I think we've sorted out the issues from yesterday's race and with a good start, we'll have the chance for a top-10 to finish out the weekend. Keep following via Twitter @racewithinsulin and we'll keep you updated!
Saturday, Oct. 5
5:30 p.m.
It was another fighting run for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. I don’t think anyone can say that the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew doesn’t dig deep and fight hard, so a lot of credit to them. They gave me the information I needed to overcome the problems we had on the starts. To come back and end up nearly in the top-10 like we did, I’m pretty happy with that. We have a pretty fast race car so I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race. Congrats to Scott and the 9 team for their win today!
 |
| Pit stop for the No. 83 crew. |
Good morning... it's race day! We have an adjusted schedule this morning, as the track was modified last night in order to fix some of the issues from yesterday.
9:45-9:55 a.m. Warm up
10:50-11:20 a.m. Qualifying #1
You can catch live timing and scoring here for both sessions. We'll qualify for race 2 on Sunday at 8:45 a.m. Follow me on Twitter @racewithinsulin for more at-track updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
In case you missed the news yesterday, I'll have a new teammate in 2014... Tony Kanaan! I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully learning a bit from his experience, too. Chevrolet will join Chip Ganassi Racing as our engine manufacturer so we have lots to look forward to next season. Click here to learn more. I have to thank Honda for their support throughout my career; they've been a great partner. For now, I'm off to a drivers meeting.
Friday, Oct. 4
7:00 p.m.
Overall, it was a pretty good day for the NovoLog FlexPen car. When you come to a track you haven’t been to in six years as a series, it’s always a challenge but the guys did a great job on getting us some laps on most of the track. I know they’ll make the repairs, as needed, to Turn 1 so we can have a full straight, which will change the entry into Turn 2. Overall, we’re pretty happy with the car. We’ve made some good progress and now we just have to get ready for heading into qualifying tomorrow morning.
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| Practice pit stop during practice 1. |
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| Making changes during practice 2. |
Yes, I should be on track right now. However, we're on a slight delay due to a course issue in turn 1. The No. 83 team is ready to go, so hopefully we're on track soon! In the meantime, check out this piece from Culture Map Houston.
Don't forget--as long as things get going on track soon, I'll be at the Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel in the Fan Village at 1 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Thursday, Oct. 3
9:00 a.m.
Hello from H-Town! I'm excited to get back into the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for the Grand Prix of Houston. I think it will be technical, rough, probably hot, maybe wet... all in all, the perfect storm for a great IndyCar race weekend. As a team we've looked over past footage and tried to duplicate Houston's corners from others I've raced before, so we'll be as prepared as possible before we hit the track for practice Friday. Double-headers are always tough physically for us drivers, but a good time for the fans.
Check out the race weekend schedule below for those at the track or following along at home (all times local/Central).
Friday, Oct. 4:
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. IndyCar practice
1 p.m. Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
3:05-4:15 p.m. IndyCar qualifying #1
5:45-6:45 p.m. IndyCar driver autograph session (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
Saturday, Oct. 5:
10:45-11:15 a.m. IndyCar qualifying #2
12:15 p.m. #RoboRivalry competition (in INDYCAR Fan Village)
2 p.m. IndyCar race #1 (live on NBCSN)
Sunday, Oct. 6:
8:45-9:15 a.m. IndyCar warm up
12 p.m. IndyCar race #2 (live on NBCSN)
Timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
Here's a cool virtual lap of the Grand Prix of Houston track... I'll keep it on repeat until our first practice tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
#RacingRobots rivalry... it's on in Houston!
As an IndyCar driver I tend to be pretty competitive, and that applies not only on track but also off track. In Houston, I'm going for the win (just like every other race weekend). And yes, that means I'm going for the win in the #RacingRobots competition against fellow IndyCar driver and my PitFit Training partner Josef Newgarden!
On Saturday, Oct. 5, I'm partnering with the FIRST Robotics Competition team 148 “Robowranglers" for a challenge against Josef and team 118 “Robonauts." The Robowranglers' robot, Viper, will square off against the Robonauts' robot, Apex. And because everyone loves a good friendly competition, we're letting the fans pick the wager for us. What should the driver on the losing team have to do before the race on Sunday? Tell us on Twitter with the hashtag #RacingRobots!
I met the Robowranglers at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year with Honda Racing, and let me tell you... they are an impressive group of young adults with a lot of passion for what they do! And of course, I was totally geeked to see their robot in person. Click here to learn more, and if you'll be at the race this weekend, stop by the INDYCAR Fan Village at 12:15 p.m. Saturday to watch the Robowranglers win!
On Saturday, Oct. 5, I'm partnering with the FIRST Robotics Competition team 148 “Robowranglers" for a challenge against Josef and team 118 “Robonauts." The Robowranglers' robot, Viper, will square off against the Robonauts' robot, Apex. And because everyone loves a good friendly competition, we're letting the fans pick the wager for us. What should the driver on the losing team have to do before the race on Sunday? Tell us on Twitter with the hashtag #RacingRobots!
I met the Robowranglers at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year with Honda Racing, and let me tell you... they are an impressive group of young adults with a lot of passion for what they do! And of course, I was totally geeked to see their robot in person. Click here to learn more, and if you'll be at the race this weekend, stop by the INDYCAR Fan Village at 12:15 p.m. Saturday to watch the Robowranglers win!
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| Meeting the Robowranglers at TMS. |
.JPG) |
| It is SO on, Josef! |
Monday, September 23, 2013
A preview of the season finale... come see us in Fontana!
What if I said you can get a sneak-peek of the 2013 IndyCar Series' season finale? If you're in the LA area, come out and watch the test day at Auto Club Speedway tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 24! The test day is free and open to the public. It looks like we'll have great weather for the test... I'm not exactly endorsing a work "skip day" but if you happen to call in sick, sunshine and the roar of engines might do you some good! Click here for details.
I'm really looking forward to getting back in the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for some left turns on the track, especially after the recent break and a month or so since our last oval. We had a really fast car in Fontana last year so I think with a year of development and this testing under our belts, we'll be in good shape when we return again next month.
Check out a virtual lap of Auto Club Speedway below, and be sure to follow @ACSupdates, @IndyCar and @RaceWithInsulin on Twitter for updates!
I'm really looking forward to getting back in the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car for some left turns on the track, especially after the recent break and a month or so since our last oval. We had a really fast car in Fontana last year so I think with a year of development and this testing under our belts, we'll be in good shape when we return again next month.
Check out a virtual lap of Auto Club Speedway below, and be sure to follow @ACSupdates, @IndyCar and @RaceWithInsulin on Twitter for updates!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Who's your favorite?
It's that time of year again... INDYCAR Nation (INDYCAR's official fan community) is asking you to vote for your favorite IndyCar driver of 2013! Out of those who vote, INDYCAR Nation will choose 10 winners to receive autographed hero cards from the top three drivers in this year’s vote, as well as one winner to receive a complimentary Champion membership.
I happen to know one recent IndyCar race winner who'd appreciate your vote... hint hint: he likes to wear orange at the track (OK, it's me)!
Voting is open through October 7. CLICK HERE to vote today!
I happen to know one recent IndyCar race winner who'd appreciate your vote... hint hint: he likes to wear orange at the track (OK, it's me)!
Voting is open through October 7. CLICK HERE to vote today!
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Live from Trackside - Grand Prix of Baltimore
Sunday, Sept. 1
11:30 a.m.
Happy first day of September... and it's race day! We had a decent warm up session earlier. It's always a good time to re-establish some confidence in the car, as well as a bit of sanity after a night to think about (over and over again!) what you can do better.
It should be a really interesting race later today... there are just so many factors in place here in Baltimore, from the chicane to the heat to the overall unique layout of the track. It's like no other track for sure.
Tune in to the Grand Prix of Baltimore at 2 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN! And keep following me on Twitter @racewithinsulin for on-track updates from my Pit Lane Reporter.
Saturday, Aug. 31
1:50 p.m.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with a top-10 qualifying position. It’s the third time in a row that we have started a race from within the top-10, which is something we really focused on heading into this season. We were pretty happy with the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. We made big improvements through the night. We saved a couple sets of alternate tires for tomorrow and we’ll be ready to go racing from ninth position. If the weather does something different, we’ll appreciate having those extra sets of tires. A lot of credit to the No. 83 crew because the car wasn’t the greatest yesterday but we made some big steps overnight.
I'm having a quick lunch then headed to the INDYCAR Fan Village for the autograph session at 2:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
11:20 a.m.
We made progress during morning practice and had a pretty good session. We're more confident after practice than yesterday afternoon and made a couple of steps in the right direction. We'll work hard for a few tenths in a couple of places and hopefully make the top-10 in qualifying again.
Friday, Aug. 30
3:45 p.m.
Overall, we went through quite a few changes during practice today. It was a clean day for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car but we’ll look at things overnight. It’s nice to have teammates; we’ll look at their lap times for comparison. We’ll figure out where we need to get better for tomorrow and be ready for qualifying.
Earlier this afternoon I met a local robotics team... super impressive work by high schoolers! Thanks to Honda HPD for setting it up. Tonight I'm laying low and getting some rest. Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend!
Thursday, Aug. 29
3:15 p.m.
Hello from Baltimore! I've been busy spending some time with my engineers and team today, looking at data and videos from last year to see what we can learn before we get on track tomorrow. We'll see how the weather plays a factor this weekend, too. Could be an interesting race!
Here's a schedule for the race weekend (all times Eastern):
Friday, Aug. 30
10:10-10:55 a.m. Practice
2:30-3:15 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 31
9:05-9:50 a.m. Practice
12:00-1:10 p.m. Qualifying (broadcast on NBCSN at 6 p.m.)
2:30-3:30 p.m. Autograph Session (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
Sunday, Sept. 1
10:15-10:45 a.m. Warm Up
2:00 p.m. Grand Prix of Baltimore (live on NBCSN)
Check timing and scoring for all on-track sessions here.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@racewithinsulin) for updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
Wednesday, Aug. 28
3:00 p.m.
Yes, my race weekend is starting a bit early! I'm headed to Baltimore in a couple of hours for some early-morning media appearances tomorrow. I'll be live on FOX 45 at about 8:50 a.m. ET and live on 105.7 The Fan's Vinny & Bob radio show at 10:20 a.m. ET on Thursday. Tune in if you're in the area!
I'm looking forward to getting back on track in Baltimore this weekend. Last year the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team had a really good race there. The streets of Baltimore and the Baltimore Grand Prix always put on a great event and the fans are fantastic. It's nice to be able to run downtown in such an incredible metropolis. It's a great opportunity for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car and the whole team to bounce back from a tough result at Sonoma Raceway. I think we had a very good performance but not the result we wanted as a team. We're looking forward to getting back at it, and hopefully doing anything we can to help Scott Dixon in his championship fight, as well as Honda in their manufacturers' championship quest.
Click on the video below to preview a lap of the Baltimore circuit!
6:10 p.m.
I think that was harder work than the Indianapolis 500! Nice to come out of this race in sixth place. A lot of credit goes to the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen team... we just kept digging deep. We would get caught up in other incidents, then get clear and have to fight our way back. And, they did. They just kept giving me the right information and giving me the right calls on pit stops. When it came down to it, we had the speed and had the control. We’ll figure out how to get it better for next year because we had the car; there’s just a couple other things we have to clean up before we’re at the podium. But overall, a good battling day for the No. 83 team!
Now I'm running off to hopefully make a flight home to Indy tonight... Thanks for the support this weekend!
11:30 a.m.
Happy first day of September... and it's race day! We had a decent warm up session earlier. It's always a good time to re-establish some confidence in the car, as well as a bit of sanity after a night to think about (over and over again!) what you can do better.
It should be a really interesting race later today... there are just so many factors in place here in Baltimore, from the chicane to the heat to the overall unique layout of the track. It's like no other track for sure.
Tune in to the Grand Prix of Baltimore at 2 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN! And keep following me on Twitter @racewithinsulin for on-track updates from my Pit Lane Reporter.
 |
| Ready to go for warm up. |
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| Practice pit stop for the No. 83 crew. |
1:50 p.m.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with a top-10 qualifying position. It’s the third time in a row that we have started a race from within the top-10, which is something we really focused on heading into this season. We were pretty happy with the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. We made big improvements through the night. We saved a couple sets of alternate tires for tomorrow and we’ll be ready to go racing from ninth position. If the weather does something different, we’ll appreciate having those extra sets of tires. A lot of credit to the No. 83 crew because the car wasn’t the greatest yesterday but we made some big steps overnight.
I'm having a quick lunch then headed to the INDYCAR Fan Village for the autograph session at 2:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
 |
| Getting set for qualifying. |
We made progress during morning practice and had a pretty good session. We're more confident after practice than yesterday afternoon and made a couple of steps in the right direction. We'll work hard for a few tenths in a couple of places and hopefully make the top-10 in qualifying again.
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| Engineers getting set before practice. (Via @CGRTeams) |
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| Morning practice. |
3:45 p.m.
Overall, we went through quite a few changes during practice today. It was a clean day for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car but we’ll look at things overnight. It’s nice to have teammates; we’ll look at their lap times for comparison. We’ll figure out where we need to get better for tomorrow and be ready for qualifying.
Earlier this afternoon I met a local robotics team... super impressive work by high schoolers! Thanks to Honda HPD for setting it up. Tonight I'm laying low and getting some rest. Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend!
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| Morning practice. |
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| Making adjustments to the No. 83. |
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| Heading back out on track for afternoon practice. |
3:15 p.m.
Hello from Baltimore! I've been busy spending some time with my engineers and team today, looking at data and videos from last year to see what we can learn before we get on track tomorrow. We'll see how the weather plays a factor this weekend, too. Could be an interesting race!
Here's a schedule for the race weekend (all times Eastern):
Friday, Aug. 30
10:10-10:55 a.m. Practice
2:30-3:15 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 31
9:05-9:50 a.m. Practice
12:00-1:10 p.m. Qualifying (broadcast on NBCSN at 6 p.m.)
2:30-3:30 p.m. Autograph Session (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
Sunday, Sept. 1
10:15-10:45 a.m. Warm Up
2:00 p.m. Grand Prix of Baltimore (live on NBCSN)
Check timing and scoring for all on-track sessions here.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@racewithinsulin) for updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
Wednesday, Aug. 28
3:00 p.m.
Yes, my race weekend is starting a bit early! I'm headed to Baltimore in a couple of hours for some early-morning media appearances tomorrow. I'll be live on FOX 45 at about 8:50 a.m. ET and live on 105.7 The Fan's Vinny & Bob radio show at 10:20 a.m. ET on Thursday. Tune in if you're in the area!
I'm looking forward to getting back on track in Baltimore this weekend. Last year the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team had a really good race there. The streets of Baltimore and the Baltimore Grand Prix always put on a great event and the fans are fantastic. It's nice to be able to run downtown in such an incredible metropolis. It's a great opportunity for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car and the whole team to bounce back from a tough result at Sonoma Raceway. I think we had a very good performance but not the result we wanted as a team. We're looking forward to getting back at it, and hopefully doing anything we can to help Scott Dixon in his championship fight, as well as Honda in their manufacturers' championship quest.
Click on the video below to preview a lap of the Baltimore circuit!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Live from Trackside - Grand Prix of Sonoma
Sunday, Aug. 25
5:00 p.m.
Overall, it was a just a tough day for the No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen car. The Novo Nordisk crew did a great job both in pit lane and in recovering from the incident at the beginning of the race. We fought our way through and gained a lap-back on a road course, so that’s pretty impressive. The car was that quick and we were able to make some passes. We felt strong on both primary and alternate tires, so we feel pretty good about the car, especially on a road course package. We’re looking forward to Baltimore and we’ll move forward from here.
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| Josh & the No. 83 ready to roll. |
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| Pitting for reds. |
11:00 a.m.
It's race day! Just finished up morning warm-up and am headed into engineering meetings before a couple of meet and greets. We had a pretty good session; worked on hot pit stops and got some good laps in, finishing in the top-10. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has been pretty strong on the other two permanent road courses this year (Barber and Mid-Ohio) so we'll be working hard to keep that momentum going here in Sonoma.
A cool note... yesterday marked the second consecutive time all three CGR cars have made it to the Firestone Fast Six at the same time. Hopefully we'll make it another 1-2-3 finish today!
Saturday, Aug. 24
4:15 p.m.
As one of the engineers said, it's nice to be in a position to be disappointed with a sixth-place qualifying spot--rather than completely satisfied. Always more to improve and learn! I'm really proud of the whole Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew because in the test we were not quite as quick as we wanted to be and even in practice yesterday, the speed wasn't quite there. I think one thing they have proved is, all year they really dig deep when we need to overcome a lot of issues. To see the progression and to end up inside the top-six is definitely good. The car was there, and I think it was there for another couple of tenths, which would have moved us up a couple of spots. Ending up in the Fast Six, when looking at my previous results here at Sonoma Raceway, is impressive, and I'm very proud of the guys for that. Coming off Mid-Ohio, it's nice to have that confidence and that momentum for sure. I think one of my favorite quotes from a team owner when asked about what his favorite race win was, he said, "the next one." I admit, Mid-Ohio was great, but now we are looking forward to trying to get a great result tomorrow.
Tonight I'll have a low-key night, just resting up for the race. Be sure to tune in (or set your DVR) to NBCSN at 4 p.m. Eastern tomorrow, and keep following along on Twitter @racewithinsulin for updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
As if a trophy and a new Rolex watch weren't enough, Paul (IndyCar's starter) stopped by the transporter after qualifying today with the checkered flag from our win at Mid-Ohio! So cool--it means a lot to be able to keep the flag from my first-ever IndyCar win.
10:15 a.m.
Good morning! Another beautiful day in Sonoma. We just finished up with the IndyCar autograph session... thanks to all of the fans who came out bright and early to see us! I'm headed into an engineering meeting then will be on track at 11 a.m. for practice.
I had a great time last night, just a casual get-together with friends and family at a local pizza place here in town. It's always nice to get a chance to thank them for supporting me through the ranks and continuing to come out to see me at the track.
If you're here at Sonoma Raceway, be sure to come see me at the Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel in the INDYCAR Fan Village at noon!
Friday, Aug. 23
3:15 p.m.
Overall, it was a pretty good practice day at Sonoma Raceway. It’s going to be tough here because you get a lot of tire degradation. The new Firestone tires were pretty impressive. You take a big step on new tires, but then afterwards it’s a lot of work. We’re trying to find some good grip with the car but it’s hard when you don’t get that good lap on new tires and the time sheets can be a little deceiving. We’ve got some time to find it, but fortunately our teammates are quick so we’ll be able to learn from the No. 9 and No. 10 car overnight. We’ll look at their set-up and hopefully be able to apply the gains they found to the No. 83. Overall, we’re feeling good about tomorrow.
Tonight I'm hosting some friends and family for dinner in Sonoma. Looking forward to seeing them all!
12:45 p.m.
Good afternoon from Sonoma Raceway! I had a great time yesterday with the JDRF Greater Bay Area chapter, and I think the kids really enjoyed karting. Maybe there were a few future IndyCar stars in the group...
We didn't have the best first practice session earlier today, but I think we have some changes set for this afternoon that will put us back up on the lap chart.
Just had some lunch and am now spending time with engineers before shooting a quick video for the track's jumbo-tron... keep an eye out for it if you're at the track! In the meantime, be sure to read this USA Today piece on the recent success of the No. 83 team. Thanks to Jeff Olson for chatting with me!
Thursday, Aug. 22
12:05 p.m.
The test day yesterday went really well. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team accomplished a lot and ran a lot of laps. We focused on making the car better throughout the course of a stint with used tires, to simulate the race Sunday when it will really matter. The sun came out in the afternoon and the temperatures were up, which should be similar to race day. Overall, the test was really good. We did a few practice pit stops and the No. 83 guys were quick, and I focused on making gains into the pit box. Sonoma Raceway can be really challenging, but I think it's going to be a great race weekend--hopefully with a lot of on-track action!
Today I'm back at the track, spending some time with my engineers and the team looking at data from yesterday and seeing what we can take from what we learned to improve this weekend. This afternoon I'm headed down to Burlingame for a go kart event with the JDRF Greater Bay Area chapter and Novo Nordisk. Karting and meeting fellow Type 1s? Sounds like a fun time to me!
In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I truly have the best fans around! Thank you all for the support. I'm honored and humbled to read stories like this, from IndyCarAdvocate.com.
Here's a quick run-down of the race weekend (all times Pacific):
Friday, Aug. 23
11-11:45 am Practice
2-2:45 pm Practice
Saturday, Aug. 24
9-10 am IndyCar autograph session (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
11-11:45 am Practice
12 pm Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
2:30-3:40 pm Qualifying (on NBCSN at 9 p.m. Eastern)
Sunday, Aug. 25
10:05-10:35 am Warm Up
1:00 pm Race (live on NBCSN)
Timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
It's race day! Just finished up morning warm-up and am headed into engineering meetings before a couple of meet and greets. We had a pretty good session; worked on hot pit stops and got some good laps in, finishing in the top-10. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has been pretty strong on the other two permanent road courses this year (Barber and Mid-Ohio) so we'll be working hard to keep that momentum going here in Sonoma.
A cool note... yesterday marked the second consecutive time all three CGR cars have made it to the Firestone Fast Six at the same time. Hopefully we'll make it another 1-2-3 finish today!
 |
| Hot stops for the No. 83 crew. |
4:15 p.m.
As one of the engineers said, it's nice to be in a position to be disappointed with a sixth-place qualifying spot--rather than completely satisfied. Always more to improve and learn! I'm really proud of the whole Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew because in the test we were not quite as quick as we wanted to be and even in practice yesterday, the speed wasn't quite there. I think one thing they have proved is, all year they really dig deep when we need to overcome a lot of issues. To see the progression and to end up inside the top-six is definitely good. The car was there, and I think it was there for another couple of tenths, which would have moved us up a couple of spots. Ending up in the Fast Six, when looking at my previous results here at Sonoma Raceway, is impressive, and I'm very proud of the guys for that. Coming off Mid-Ohio, it's nice to have that confidence and that momentum for sure. I think one of my favorite quotes from a team owner when asked about what his favorite race win was, he said, "the next one." I admit, Mid-Ohio was great, but now we are looking forward to trying to get a great result tomorrow.
Tonight I'll have a low-key night, just resting up for the race. Be sure to tune in (or set your DVR) to NBCSN at 4 p.m. Eastern tomorrow, and keep following along on Twitter @racewithinsulin for updates from my Pit Lane Reporter!
As if a trophy and a new Rolex watch weren't enough, Paul (IndyCar's starter) stopped by the transporter after qualifying today with the checkered flag from our win at Mid-Ohio! So cool--it means a lot to be able to keep the flag from my first-ever IndyCar win.
 |
| With the starter, Paul. |
 |
| Changing to Firestone reds. |
 |
| All set for the Firestone Fast Six. |
 |
| Pre-qualifying quiet time. |
Good morning! Another beautiful day in Sonoma. We just finished up with the IndyCar autograph session... thanks to all of the fans who came out bright and early to see us! I'm headed into an engineering meeting then will be on track at 11 a.m. for practice.
I had a great time last night, just a casual get-together with friends and family at a local pizza place here in town. It's always nice to get a chance to thank them for supporting me through the ranks and continuing to come out to see me at the track.
If you're here at Sonoma Raceway, be sure to come see me at the Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel in the INDYCAR Fan Village at noon!
Friday, Aug. 23
3:15 p.m.
Overall, it was a pretty good practice day at Sonoma Raceway. It’s going to be tough here because you get a lot of tire degradation. The new Firestone tires were pretty impressive. You take a big step on new tires, but then afterwards it’s a lot of work. We’re trying to find some good grip with the car but it’s hard when you don’t get that good lap on new tires and the time sheets can be a little deceiving. We’ve got some time to find it, but fortunately our teammates are quick so we’ll be able to learn from the No. 9 and No. 10 car overnight. We’ll look at their set-up and hopefully be able to apply the gains they found to the No. 83. Overall, we’re feeling good about tomorrow.
Tonight I'm hosting some friends and family for dinner in Sonoma. Looking forward to seeing them all!
 |
| Getting set for practice 2. |
 |
| Practice pit stop for the No. 83 team. |
 |
| Honoring Floyd Ganassi this weekend. (Photo via http://instagram.com/chipganassiracing) |
Good afternoon from Sonoma Raceway! I had a great time yesterday with the JDRF Greater Bay Area chapter, and I think the kids really enjoyed karting. Maybe there were a few future IndyCar stars in the group...
We didn't have the best first practice session earlier today, but I think we have some changes set for this afternoon that will put us back up on the lap chart.
Just had some lunch and am now spending time with engineers before shooting a quick video for the track's jumbo-tron... keep an eye out for it if you're at the track! In the meantime, be sure to read this USA Today piece on the recent success of the No. 83 team. Thanks to Jeff Olson for chatting with me!
 |
| On pit lane before practice 1. |
 |
| Leaving pit lane at Sonoma Raceway. |
 |
| Making changes to the No. 83 |
12:05 p.m.
The test day yesterday went really well. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team accomplished a lot and ran a lot of laps. We focused on making the car better throughout the course of a stint with used tires, to simulate the race Sunday when it will really matter. The sun came out in the afternoon and the temperatures were up, which should be similar to race day. Overall, the test was really good. We did a few practice pit stops and the No. 83 guys were quick, and I focused on making gains into the pit box. Sonoma Raceway can be really challenging, but I think it's going to be a great race weekend--hopefully with a lot of on-track action!
Today I'm back at the track, spending some time with my engineers and the team looking at data from yesterday and seeing what we can take from what we learned to improve this weekend. This afternoon I'm headed down to Burlingame for a go kart event with the JDRF Greater Bay Area chapter and Novo Nordisk. Karting and meeting fellow Type 1s? Sounds like a fun time to me!
In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I truly have the best fans around! Thank you all for the support. I'm honored and humbled to read stories like this, from IndyCarAdvocate.com.
Here's a quick run-down of the race weekend (all times Pacific):
Friday, Aug. 23
11-11:45 am Practice
2-2:45 pm Practice
Saturday, Aug. 24
9-10 am IndyCar autograph session (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
11-11:45 am Practice
12 pm Appearance at Novo Nordisk FlexPen Tunnel (in the INDYCAR Fan Village)
2:30-3:40 pm Qualifying (on NBCSN at 9 p.m. Eastern)
Sunday, Aug. 25
10:05-10:35 am Warm Up
1:00 pm Race (live on NBCSN)
Timing and scoring for all on-track sessions available here.
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