Glorious weather greeted the half-hundred or so road-racing aficionados who showed up at Skip Barber’s Lime Rock Park last Thursday to see and hear about improvements to its twisting asphalt racing surface. This track was described by Barber as “the fastest in the U.S.” Harvard grad Barber bases this assertion on a 15-year-old lap record speed of 128.595 mph set by P.J. Jones in qualifying his GTP Mark III Toyota for a May 1993 race on the 1.53-mile seven-turn circuit. Details of the planned modifications to the track are noted in a separate story in this issue (page 6) by Dan Jack. Barber’s admission that the planned changes to the 50-odd year-old course “would slow it down” caught Ye Ed’s ear. Never have we seen — or heard of — speed comparisons among racecourses since the board track days and question their importance. According to Barber, the Watkins Glen, N.Y., circuit — prior to recent changes, was ranked second fastest among U.S. road courses. Among the impressive numbers mentioned by Barber was a 151 mph clocking of a competitor on the Lime Rock downhill, which is scheduled to undergo alteration during the upcoming changes. Present at the gathering but unheard from was Tim Mayer, who runs things at IMSA and the American Le Mans Series. The fact that Mayer was not introduced nor spoke made guests wonder if the climate is calm between Lime Rock and its key sanctioning partner. Of particular interest was learning the already-accomplished (and expensive) 6-1/2 foot elevation of the track’s crossover bridge — over which all contestants and infield spectators must cross as racers whiz below — was mandated by the FIA. 

Looking up. The Indy Racing League opener at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway established what one might look upon as records. After a long spell of declining TV viewership the race, shown on ESPN2, averaged an 0.8 rating, highest in ESPN history for an Indy Car event. The rating was up from an 0.7 rating last year, which meant there were 618,070 households tuned in. And the race’s three yellow flag periods — for a scant 24 laps — was also an event record.

Enough already. The opening portion of last Monday’s “NASCAR Now” show on ESPN2  centered on the recent successes of driver Carl Edwards. They were discussed in detail by host Alan Bestwick, racing seat maven Randy LaJoie and trackside reporter Mike Massaro, all trying to look comfortable wearing buttoned-up suits and ties. The video accompanying their dialogue included a half-dozen or more views of Edwards executing his exclusive and now-famous back flip. Later in the show another succession of back flips was shown. In all, far too many Mr. Director, FAR too many. Edwards got his first major NASCAR drive — via a paid “Ride Wanted” classified ad in this newspaper?

Rick Hendrick’s NASCAR team, which won 18 of last year’s 36 Sprint Cup races, finally got around to winning one this year, its first in eight tries. Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson outfueled his Saturday night rivals at Phoenix to win the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Interesting race statistic: After the race, Team RCR regulars Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton remained the only Sprint Cuppers to have completed every lap of every series race run so far this year.

Driver, dancer, and now public speaker. Helio Castroneves, after winning two Indy 500s and gaining additional fame as a terpsichorean on the “Dancing with the Stars” TV show, will try a new field. On the night of April 30 at the annual Spirit of Service Awards Dinner at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, Castroneves will deliver the principal address at the principal charity affair of the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Which state in this country conducts most auto race meets per year? There’s no central bureau to go to for the answer, but having received the April bulletins from both the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club and the Hoosier Auto Racing Fan Club in the same mail, each touting dozens of member tracks and their race nights, feel one of these two Midwestern states holds this distinction. Each bulletin lists in-state track after track which hold weekly auto race meets. Anyone know which is No. 1? At HARF headquarters, after tallying results of its recent election, members named Bob Black as its new President Historian.

Wanna dress up and party? Then think about “Fashion Your Dream, Follow Your Heart” CARA Charity fashion show and luncheon gala at Indy’s downtown Marriott Hotel on Thursday, May 22. Call (317) 299-2277 for details and for credit card ticket purchases. 

From the Staff

We need your help. National Speed Sport News is planning a June special section commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first midget car race. We would like our readers opinion on who is the best midget racer they’ve ever seen, and why? E-mail your response to mikek@nationalspeedsportnews.com, or send it snail mail to National Speed Sport News, PO Box 1210, Harrisburg, N.C., 28075.

Heidi? The New York Daily News followed up Fox’s crazy switch between Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the rain-delayed New York Yankees versus Boston Red Sox baseball game to the infamous Heidi Bowl, which occurred more than 40 years ago. Fox moved the NASCAR pre-game to Fx in order to make room for the conclusion of the game, but with the game on its final out, switched cold turkey, moving the game to Fx and the race to Fox. As a result, many missed the beginning of the race and others missed the dramatic last out of the game. The Heidi Bowl, as it is known, occurred when NBC switched away from the end of an NFL playoff game to the movie, “Heidi,” causing many to miss the end of the game.