Heart a-Twitter for IndyCars? Here's some people to follow

Track, Sanctioning Body, Officials
Indianapolis Motor Speedway:     twitter.com/IndyTalk
IndyCar Series:         twitter.com/IndyCarNation
IMS Productions:        twitter.com/imsproductions
500 Festival:            twitter.com/500Festival

Teams
Bryan Herta Autosport:        twitter.com/BHA
Conquest Racing:        twitter.com/ConquestRacing
KV Racing:            twitter.com/kvracing
Luczo Dragon Racing:        twitter.com/luczodragon
HVM Racing:            twitter.com/HVMracing
Rubicon Racing:            twitter.com/rubiconsports
Sam Schmidt Motorsports:    twitter.com/SSM99
Vision Racing:            twitter.com/Visionracing

Drivers
Marco Andretti:            twitter.com/marco26
Stanton Barrett:        twitter.com/stantonbarrett
James Hinchcliffe:        twitter.com/Hinchtown
Ryan Hunter-Reay:        twitter.com/ryanracing
Tony Kanaan:               twitter.com/TonyKanaan
Alex Lloyd:            twitter.com/alex_lloyd
Mario Moraes:            twitter.com/mariomoraesindy
Tomas Scheckter:        twitter.com/tomasscheckter
Alex Tagliani:            twitter.com/TaglianiEnPiste

Media/Blogs
16th and Georgetown (blog):    twitter.com/16andgeorgetown
Autosportradio:            twitter.com/autosportradio
Bill Zahren (blog):        twitter.com/pressdog
Chris Estrada (blog):        twitter.com/estradawriting
Crash Gladys (radio):        twitter.com/Crashgladys
Curt Cavin (Indianapolis Star):    twitter.com/curtcavin
Dave ‘The King” Wilson (radio):    twitter.com/racinirlradio
ESPN:                twitter.com/ESPN
Furious Wedge (blog):        twitter.com/FuriousWedge
Indianapolis Star 500 coverage:    twitter.com/the500
Isitmayyet (blog):         twitter.com/Isitmayyet
Jim Pedley (Racin Today):    twitter.com/RacinToday
MyNameIsIRL (blog):        twitter.com/MyNameisIRL
Paddock Talk (blog):         twitter.com/paddocktalk
Planet IRL (blog):         twitter.com/planetIRL
SPEED:                twitter.com/speedtv
SPEEDtv.com:            twitter.com/SPEEDtweets
Speedfreaks (radio):        twitter.com/speedfreaks
Trackside Online:        twitter.com/tracksideonline
VERSUS:                twitter.com/versustv

Compiled by IRL media relations

How to qualify at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Check out this cool virtual lap.

NASCAR’s stock answer to Carl Edwards' Talladega crash is not enough

Carl Edwards' fiery crash was bad enough, but NASCAR officials' response was scary. If this is what safe looks like, let's not see the alternative, writes Times columnist John Romano.

(Pictured - Carl Edwards' car hits the fence during a crash on the last lap of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. [AP photo])

How to make fast circles in Kansas (without a tornado)

Some cool interactive stuff from the IRL leading up to this weekend's IndyCar race.

Look at my abs. Look at them!

From Shape:

  Follow your passion

To figure out where Danica’s unconventional career choice came from, look no further than her parents. Her dad, T.J., used to race snowmobiles, which is how he met her mother, Bev. “She repaired snow-mobiles. Her nickname was actually Captain Traction,” says Danica with a laugh. It was clear early on that Danica had racing in her genes. “I remember driving my dad’s pickup truck around his office building at 20 miles per hour and my little sister, Brooke, yelling, ‘Slow down, slow down!’ I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I was only 8 at the time,” she admits sheepishly. When she started racing go-karts two years later, she was one of the only girls doing it. (Danica proudly notes that today, nearly a quarter of go-kart racers are female.) “I felt invincible when I first started driving; I just wanted to go for it,” she says. “Now that I’m married, though, I get that feeling before a race of, ‘Wow, this is dangerous.’ I’m not scared out there, but I do think it’s a good thing to be a little nervous. It helps me perform better.”

The Helio Castroneves interview

Helio Castroneves sat in his business office in Miami on Tuesday, sorting through the mundane, zero-mph tasks of being a race car driver that once might have bored him. He’d knock out a few phone calls, endorse a few bills, think about packing for this weekend’s IndyCar race in Kansas City, Kan. He was loving it. Just four days after being acquitted on federal tax evasion charges that could have sent he, his sister and business manager Kati and his attorney, Alan Miller to prison for six years, two days after returning to Team Penske’s No. 3 car after worrying during a six-week trial that his career was over, the engaging Brazilian, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a “Dancing with the Stars” champion, was starting over. At age 33, he said, he is new again.

 Q: How nice is it to get back to everyday business?
 A: You don’t understand. For six months it was very difficult. You know how much I like to talk, but in those six months I had to let people talk for me. It was the hardest thing. I really say it was a nightmare. I can’t believe I woke up and I am back again doing what I love the most, what I’ve been doing since I was 11 years old. That for me, that’s my life, to be back in a race car, it was a great relief.

Q: When did it sink in that this was over?
A: I guess when I was in the race car (the first practice at Long Beach), my first lap around the track. I mentioned to the guys, “Is this a dream?” and they were like, “No this is a reality.” I was pushing the throttle warming the car up. For me, it was an awesome feeling. It was like putting on a glove that you always like. Talking racing terms, really cool. I was so relieved.

 Q: As much as you appreciate being back, is it tough knowing you’ll have a tremendous task getting back into championship contention having missed the season-opener at St. Petersburg?
 A: Honestly, the way I am thinking, I need to get back on the rhythm. Long Beach was great, we got a top 10 and now our goal is to finish a little bit better every race. Hey, why would I change now? If I have a chance to think about winning, I am. The only thing I am changing now is probably more personal, see little things different. I appreciate racing even more now, packing my bags, going to the airport, things like that is becoming much more fun.

 Q: What was waiting for a verdict like?
A: Every morning, it was very difficult to get up, about 5:30 in the morning, not getting any sleep because you always had the knot in the stomach, which man, it was the worst feeling. About midday you start feeling a little bit better because no news is good news. Toward the end of the day, then it’s “great, let’s go back to another day.’ Counting the days was very, very difficult. About (last) Thursday they found the first verdicts and we were wondering what this was going to be and where we were going to go. It was hard to see it still wasn’t over yet, and when we got to Friday it was just playing with my emotions. It was very difficult to control it. I was very fatigued mentally and emotionally. It was hard to control.

Q: How handle did you handle the stress?
 A: Jan. 12, I was 159 pounds and I am about 146 now. I lost weight although it doesn’t look like it. I guess that’s good for racing, isn’t it?

 Q: Do you think your fame, greatly boosted by Dancing with the Stars, helped or stood to hurt you when you were on trial?

A: I don’t know. I just don’t know which way it went. Certainly what I heard, to be in this position, it wasn’t because I was an ordinary person. That’s what I understood and that’s what they told me. Now, the only thing I’m thinking is giving back what the fans gave me, which is a lot of prayers and a lot of love.

 Q: Does coffee taste better, the sunset look more pretty these days?
A: Big time. People sometimes don’t appreciate the small things. They should go out in their backyard and see the garden and the grass and the sky. Wow, I appreciate to be here. Appreciate your health. So many things you never thought you’d think about. I always thought I was a good person, but I think I am a much better person now to have gone through this.

Indianapolis 500 entry list

     IndyCar® Series
Indianapolis 500
At Indianapolis Motor Speedway
1 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, May 24, 2009
ABC/IMS Radio Network/XM 145/Sirius 211 (Live)     

Car    Driver                    Hometown                      Car Name                                 Entrant    Race Strategist
2    Raphael Matos (R)    Belo Horizonte, Brazil    US Air Force Luczo Dragon    Luczo Dragon Racing    Jay Penske
2T    Raphael Matos (R)    Belo Horizonte, Brazil    US Air Force Luczo Dragon    Luczo Dragon Racing    Jay Penske
3    Helio Castroneves (W)    São Paulo, Brazil    Team Penske    Team Penske    Tim Cindric
3T    Helio Castroneves (W)    São Paulo, Brazil    Team Penske    Team Penske    Tim Cindric
4    Dan Wheldon (W)    Emberton, England    National Guard Panther Racing    Panther Racing    John Barnes
4T    Dan Wheldon (W)    Emberton, England    National Guard Panther Racing    Panther Racing    John Barnes
5    Mario Moraes    São Paulo, Brazil    KV Racing Technology/Votorantim    KV Racing Technology    Mark Johnson
5T    Mario Moraes    São Paulo, Brazil    KV Racing Technology/Votorantim    KV Racing Technology    Mark Johnson
6    Ryan Briscoe    Sydney, Australia    Team Penske    Team Penske    Roger Penske
6T    Ryan Briscoe    Sydney, Australia    Team Penske    Team Penske    Roger Penske
7    Danica Patrick    Roscoe, Ill.    Motorola    Andretti Green Racing    Michael Andretti
7T    Danica Patrick    Roscoe, Ill.    Motorola    Andretti Green Racing    Michael Andretti
8    TBA    TBA    KV Racing Technology    KV Racing Technology    TBA
8T    TBA    TBA    KV Racing Technology    KV Racing Technology    TBA
9    Scott Dixon (W)    Auckland, New Zealand    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Mike Hull
9T    Scott Dixon (W)    Auckland, New Zealand    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Mike Hull
10    Dario Franchitti (W)    Edinburgh, Scotland    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Chip Ganassi
10T    Dario Franchitti (W)    Edinburgh, Scotland    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Target Chip Ganassi Racing    Chip Ganassi
11    Tony Kanaan    Salvador, Brazil    Team 7-Eleven    Andretti Green Racing    George Klotz
11T    Tony Kanaan    Salvador, Brazil    Team 7-Eleven    Andretti Green Racing    George Klotz
12    Will Power    Toowoomba, Australia    Team Verizon Wireless    Penske Racing    John Erickson
12T    Will Power    Toowoomba, Australia    Team Verizon Wireless    Penske Racing    John Erickson
13    E.J. Viso    Caracas, Venezuela    PDVSA HVM Racing    HVM Racing    Michael Cannon
13T    E.J. Viso    Caracas, Venezuela    PDVSA HVM Racing    HVM Racing    Michael Cannon
14    Vitor Meira    Brasilia, Brazil    ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    A.J. Foyt
14T    Vitor Meira    Brasilia, Brazil    ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    A.J. Foyt
15    Paul Tracy    Scarborough, Ontario    GEICO/KV Racing Technology    KV Racing Technology    TBA
15T    Paul Tracy    Scarborough, Ontario    GEICO/KV Racing Technology    KV Racing Technology    TBA
16    Scott Sharp    Norwalk, Conn.    Tequila Patrón Panther Racing    Panther Racing    TBA
16T    Scott Sharp    Norwalk, Conn.    Tequila Patrón Panther Racing    Panther Racing    TBA
17    TBA    TBA    Rahal Letterman Racing    Rahal Letterman Racing    TBA
17T    TBA    TBA    Rahal Letterman Racing    Rahal Letterman Racing    TBA
18    Justin Wilson    Sheffield, England    Z-Line Designs    Dale Coyne Racing    Bill Pappas
18T    Justin Wilson    Sheffield, England    Z-Line Designs    Dale Coyne Racing    Bill Pappas
19    TBA    TBA    Dale Coyne Racing    Dale Coyne Racing    TBA
19T    TBA    TBA    Dale Coyne Racing    Dale Coyne Racing    TBA
20    Ed Carpenter    Indianapolis    Menards/Vision Racing    Vision Racing    Jeff Britton
20T    Ed Carpenter    Indianapolis    Menards/Vision Racing    Vision Racing    Jeff Britton
21    Ryan Hunter-Reay    Boca Raton, Fla.    Vision Racing    Vision Racing    Neil Fife
21T    Ryan Hunter-Reay    Boca Raton, Fla.    Vision Racing    Vision Racing    Neil Fife
22    TBA    TBA    Vision Racing/BHA    Bryan Herta Autosport    TBA
22T    TBA    TBA    Vision Racing/BHA    Bryan Herta Autosport    TBA
23    TBA    TBA    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Larry Curry
23T    TBA    TBA    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Larry Curry
24    Mike Conway (R)    Bromley, England    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dennis Reinbold
24T    Mike Conway (R)    Bromley, England    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    Dennis Reinbold
25    TBA    TBA    Roth Racing    Roth Racing    TBA
25T    TBA    TBA    Roth Racing    Roth Racing    TBA
26    Marco Andretti    Nazareth, Pa.    Andretti Green    Andretti Green Racing    Kyle Moyer
26T    Marco Andretti    Nazareth, Pa.    Andretti Green    Andretti Green Racing    Kyle Moyer
27    Hideki Mutoh    Tokyo    Formula Dream    Andretti Green Racing    Kim Green
27T    Hideki Mutoh    Tokyo    Formula Dream    Andretti Green Racing    Kim Green
34    TBA    TBA    Conquest Racing    Conquest Racing    Brandon Fry
34T    TBA    TBA    Conquest Racing    Conquest Racing    Brandon Fry
36    TBA    TBA    Conquest Racing    Conquest Racing    TBA
36T    TBA    TBA    Conquest Racing    Conquest Racing    TBA
41    A.J. Foyt IV    Hockley, Texas    ABC Supply/Foyt-Greer Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    TBA
41T    A.J. Foyt IV    Hockley, Texas    ABC Supply/Foyt-Greer Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    TBA
43    John Andretti    Indianapolis    Window World    Richard Petty Motorsports/
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    TBA
43T    John Andretti    Indianapolis    Window World    Richard Petty Motorsports/
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    TBA
44    Davey Hamilton    Nampa, Idaho    DRR Kingdom Racing Hewlett Packard    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    TBA
44T    Davey Hamilton    Nampa, Idaho    DRR Kingdom Racing Hewlett Packard    Dreyer & Reinbold Racing    TBA
48    TBA    TBA    AJ Foyt Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    TBA
48T    TBA    TBA    AJ Foyt Racing    A.J. Foyt Enterprises    TBA
52    TBA    TBA    Roth Racing    Roth Racing    TBA
52T    TBA    TBA    Roth Racing    Roth Racing    TBA
67    Sarah Fisher    Commercial Point, Ohio    Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing    Sarah Fisher Racing    TBA
67T    Sarah Fisher    Commercial Point, Ohio    Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing    Sarah Fisher Racing    TBA
68    TBA    TBA    Sarah Fisher Racing    Sarah Fisher Racing    TBA
91    TBA    TBA    Hemelgarn Johnson    Hemelgarn Johnson    TBA
98    Stanton Barrett (R)    Bishop, Calif.    CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G    CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G    Owen Snyder
98T    Stanton Barrett (R)    Bishop, Calif.    CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G    CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G    Owen Snyder
99    Alex Lloyd    Manchester, England    Chip Ganassi Sam Schmidt Racing    Chip Ganassi Racing
Sam Schmidt Motorsports    TBA
02    Graham Rahal    New Albany, Ohio    McDonald’s Racing Team    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    John Tzouanakis
02T    Graham Rahal    New Albany, Ohio    McDonald’s Racing Team    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    John Tzouanakis
06    Robert Doornbos (R)    Rotterdam, Netherlands    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    Todd Malloy
06T    Robert Doornbos (R)    Rotterdam, Netherlands    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing    Todd Malloy
All cars use Dallara chassis, Honda engines and Firestone tires.
Issued: 4/20/09

Championship tickets available

From homesteadmiamispeedway.com:

MIAMI— In an unprecedented move in the history of motorsports, NASCAR, IndyCar and Grand-Am Series all will crown Champions at Homestead-Miami Speedway this October and November. Tickets for these amazing events go on sale to the public on April 20. As a way to celebrate, Homestead-Miami Speedway is hosting two Viewing Parties in South Florida Saturday (NASCAR) and Sunday (IndyCar Series).

This Saturday April 18, join Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray and the HMS crew at Bokamper’s Sports Bar in Plantation to watch NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series race from Phoenix. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. green flag) with full menu available for purchase. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and NASCAR’s best will be on track in pursuit of the Sprint Cup Championship, to be crowned Nov. 20-22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend.

And this Sunday April 19, join HMS President Gray and the HMS crew at Buffalo Wild Wings in Cutler Bay, for IndyCar’s Grand Prix of Long Beach. HMS will be on site at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. green flag) to enjoy this road course favorite leading up to the Oct. 9-10 SpeedJam Championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway—the finales of the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Fans will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets for all six Championship finales in advance of the April 20th on-sale date. In addition to the exclusive Championship Presale in advance of the Monday, April 20th on-sale date, races fans at both Viewing Parties this weekend can enter to win Championship Weekend race tickets and NASCAR merchandise, as well as pose for a picture with NASCAR and IndyCar show cars.

Homestead-Miami Speedway is THE Championship Track—Six races, Six Championships, in Six weeks. Tickets on sale Monday, April 20: (866) 409-RACE or www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com

SATURDAY – 7 p.m. – NASCAR WATCH PARTY @ BOKAMPER’S SPORTS BAR

Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill (954-533-7152) is located at 1280 N. Pine Island Road in Plantation.

SUNDAY – 2:30 p.m. – INDYCAR SERIES WATCH PARTY @ BUFFALO WILD WINGS

Buffalo Wild Wings (305) 238-8850 is located at 20505 S. Dixie Highway in Cutler Bay.

Partial verdict reached in Castroneves tax evasion case

MIAMI (AP) — A federal jury reached a partial verdict Thursday in the tax evasion trial of Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves, but was hung up on several counts.
Federal Judge Donald Graham said he would not immediately read the verdicts on two tax evasion counts against Castroneves and told jurors to continue deliberating on four other tax evasion counts and one conspiracy count. Thursday was the fifth day of deliberations. Castroneves, 33, is charged with conspiring with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes.
The jury said it also reached a partial verdict against Katuicia Castroneves, 35, who is her brother's business manager, and a full verdict against Michigan motorsports attorney Alan Miller, 71. Those verdicts also remained sealed.
All three faced more than six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion between 1999 and 2004. The case mainly revolved around income from a $2 million sponsorship deal Castroneves had with the Brazilian firm Coimex and his $5 million licensing deal he reached with Penske Racing in late 1999.
As the notes were read to the jury, Castroneves sat bent over at the defense table with his fists clenched to his eyes and his sister's arm wrapped around his shoulder. When court recessed, he dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.
Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 and Grand Prix of St. Petersburg-winner and one of the Indy racing circuit's most popular drivers, was temporarily replaced on Team Penske by Australian Will Power pending the outcome of the case. Castroneves won the TV dance competition in 2007.
Central to the case is the ownership of a Panamanian company called Seven Promotions. Prosecutors called it a shell corporation set up primarily so Castroneves could dodge U.S. income taxes, but Castroneves' father testified he created Seven to boost his son's image in Brazil. The elder Castroneves said his son never owned it.
Prosecutors called that a lie, showing jurors numerous documents in which Castroneves claimed Seven as his own. An Internal Revenue Service agent testified that if it belonged to Castroneves, he owed U.S. taxes on the full $5 million from Penske even though he has never actually received the money.
Instead, the Penske payments were eventually invested in a deferred compensation deal with the Dutch firm Fintage Licensing B.V.
Castroneves attorney Roy Black told jurors in closing arguments that such deals are common — and perfectly legal — for athletes who have relatively short careers and face injury or worse at any moment.
Black also said Castroneves had only a slight understanding of his financial affairs and relied on professionals to deal with them.
"Does anybody really think Helio Castroneves really made a financial decision? All he did was drive — and drive he did," Black said.
Prosecutor Matt Axelrod, however, said it made little sense for Castroneves to sign away $5 million to Seven if he had no control.
"You don't send millions of dollars to a company you don't own or control," Axelrod said.
Besides the Penske and Coimex money, Castroneves was charged with claiming thousands of dollars in improper tax deductions and failing to disclose as income Hugo Boss clothing and airline tickets he received.

Briscoe wins Grand Prix

Ryan Briscoe emerged as the winner of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, with Ryan Hunter-Reay taking second place .4619 seconds behind the leader and Justin Wilson finishing third .5490 seconds behind Brisco. The Top Five was rounded out by Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, who had to fight his way back into contention after making contact with defending champion Graham Rahal in the first lap of the race. It was the first time Kanaan hasn't finished in the Top Three at St. Petersburg. Rahal battled back to take seventh.-- Dave Scheiber