Luciano do Valle Queiroz, a prominent figure in Brazil sports broadcasting for five decades, died April 19. He was 66.
He was the lead broadcaster of the first Indy car race telecast in Brazil by Rede Bandeirantes in 1985 and the chief announcer on the network of all seven Indianapolis 500 Mile Race victories by Brazilians: Emerson Fittipaldi (1989, 1993), Helio Castroneves (2001, ’02 and ’09), Gil de Ferran (2003) and Tony Kanaan (2013).
Do Valle also was the chief announcer for BAND of the Verizon IndyCar Series races on the streets of Sao Paulo in 2010-13.
A native of Campinas in the state of Sao Paulo, he was a Rede Globo announcer for World Cup action in 1974, ‘78 and ’82 and Olympic Games in 1972, ‘76 and ’80 before moving in 1983 to BAND, where he covered multiple sporting events through the years.
He was en route to broadcast a soccer match when he suffered a heart attack. Do Valle was buried April 20.
No off week in June
Between the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway and the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader weekend, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers are scheduled to participate in team test on ovals.
Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya and Will Power are scheduled to hit the .875-mile Iowa Speedway on June 10.
The next day they’ll be among nine drivers at Milwaukee. Also scheduled to test are Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Carlos Munoz of Andretti Autosport, Mikhail Aleshin of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Simon Pagenaud of Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports.
Aleshin and Pagenaud will join Graham Rahal at Iowa Speedway on June 16, and then Rahal moves to Pocono Raceway on June 19 with Andretti and Munoz. Castroneves, Montoya and Power will be on the 2-mile Pocono oval June 17.
Byrd family plans return to racing in 2016
Jonathan Byrd’s Racing, a long-time fixture at the Indianapolis 500, will return to competition beginning with the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in May 2016, the family announced.
The late Jonathan Byrd, a Greenwood, Ind., businessman, was an entrant, team owner and car sponsor for the 500 Mile Race from 1985-2001 and in 2005. He died in 2009.
“Even though we were never able to make a trip to victory lane at the Speedway, the Jonathan Byrd’s Racing teams have a strong history at Indy," David Byrd said. "There have been a lot of highs and a lot of lows, and with 17 successful entries, six top-10 finishes with Vogler, Johncock, Fox, Brayton, John Andretti and Buddy Lazier, the all-time track record with Luyendyk, and the very first ‘double’ with John Andretti in 1994, Indy has been very good to us, but there is obviously some unfinished business.
"Going back in 2016, to kick off the next era of Jonathan Byrd’s Racing’s participation in the 500 with the 100th running, and maybe even defending our track record on the 20th anniversary of Arie Luyendyk setting the all-time qualifying mark in a Jonathan Byrd’s Racing car, seems entirely appropriate. Our being involved at Indy again is going to give us a fantastic platform from which to do a lot of interesting and valuable things for our business, for our customers, and for our community, and those efforts can start with this announcement.
"So, even though it may seem like a long way away, the 2016 Indy 500 will be here before we know it. We want to do this right, and we can’t wait to get there."
Drivers, teams to host Racing For Kids event at Milwaukee
Racing For Kids will be the Official Charity of the ABC Supply Co. Inc. Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest Presented by the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers in August.
Verizon IndyCar Series drivers will visit patients at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and host outpatients and their families at the track on Aug. 15. Celebrating its 25th year, Racing For Kids has donated more than $6 million to the hospitals it visits and other healthcare institutions and organizations devoted to the care of children.
Of note
Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, will sing the national anthem before the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. … Alternative rock band LIVE will perform during the first day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 on May 17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. … Jamaican-born reggae artist Shaggy, a five-time Grammy Award nominee, will headline the musical lineup on the MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage before the second Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans Verizon IndyCar Series race. ... Donate a minimum of $5 to the Graham Rahal Foundation and be entered to win an Indianapolis 500 prize package. Details HERE.