BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – NTT IndyCar Series drivers and fans have been praising the grace, beauty and demands of Barber Motorsports Park since the series first raced at the road course in 2010.
One of the greatest Indy car drivers of all time added his voice to the chorus Friday, when legendary Mario Andretti was announced as grand marshal for Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst.
Unable to attend past NTT IndyCar Series races at the plush circuit in the past, Andretti was wowed by its splendid design and challenging aspects as he gave Indy car two-seater rides to guests on Thursday.
“I know what I missed in not coming every year to this particular race. It took this official invitation (to be grand marshal),” Andretti said during a news conference to commemorate the 10th INDYCAR race at Barber this weekend. “I'm so happy that it happened because I never had the opportunity to really drive on this course. I was here, like, 10 years ago.
“So, (on Thursday) I first got the opportunity to get in a two-seater. I love it, I love it! This is a place where you really can attack. It seems like there's a couple different areas where you know you can really improve, so you’ve always got something to look forward.”
The four-time Indy car champion and 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner thanked George Barber, the Alabama businessman and philanthropist who donated the 880-acre land that now holds the track and amazing Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
“This facility is just absolutely stunning, Mr. Barber,” Andretti said. “Obviously you are proud, you should be very proud of what you have here. From the minute you enter, you know this is a place where you want to be.”
Andretti was joined at the news conference by the four past Barber race winners entered this weekend: Will Power (2011, ’12), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2013, ’14), Josef Newgarden (2015, ’17, ’18) and Simon Pagenaud (2016).
Gene Hallman, president and CEO of ZOOM Motorsports, which promotes the event, presented each current driver with a plaque that had a piece of the race surface attached as a keepsake.
“We hope you treasure it because we treasure you guys,” Hallman told the drivers. “You've been great champions.”
Hallman cited the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, which said the annual economic impact of the race weekend is $30 million. Tickets this year were sold to fans in 42 states and eight countries because, Hallman said, the track is the attraction.
“The star of this show is undoubtedly this facility, Barber Motorsports Park,” Hallman said.
“This is the largest philanthropic project by an individual in this state. George Barber doesn't own anything here. He donated a vast, vast sum of money – nine figures – to make this happen. He donated to a foundation. The foundation owns everything here, including the museum. It's his gift back to our community.”
Long Beach names ‘King of Beach’ Unser Jr. honorary starter
Al Unser Jr., regarded as the “King of the Beach” for his record six wins at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, was named honorary starter for the April 14 race on the iconic temporary street course on Friday.
Unser Jr. won all of his races in an eight-year span from 1988-95. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner now serves as a driving consultant for Harding Steinbrenner Racing. He will wave the green flag to start the 36th annual Indy car race on the streets of the Southern California city.
Long Beach officials also announced that Los Angeles Chargers head football coach Anthony Lynn will be the grand marshal for the race, issuing the famous command for drivers to start their engines for the race. Lynn won back-to-back Super Bowls as a player in 1998 and ’99. In his second season as the Chargers head coach in 2018, Lynn guided the team to a 12-4 record and first playoff appearance in five years.
“Last year was very successful for coach Lynn and the L.A. Chargers, and we are delighted to have him here as grand marshal,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “And having Al Unser Jr., a real crowd favorite, start our 45th anniversary race is especially appropriate, considering the success he enjoyed here.”
Ticket information for the race weekend is available at gplb.com or by calling 888-827-7333.
DragonSpeed names Allen as INDYCAR development driver
DragonSpeed announced that 22-year-old James Allen will be a development driver for the new NTT IndyCar Series team, working alongside regular driver Ben Hanley, who is scheduled to drive in five races this season including the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama this weekend.
Allen will also drive the team’s LMP2 entry in the 2019 European Le Mans Series with Hanley and Henrik Hedman, as well as its LMP1 entry at the Spa-Francorchamps round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in May.
“It’s great to be part of a team that’s going places,” Allen said, “and I hope the INDYCAR opportunity will add the extra dimension to my career I’ve been looking for.”
Allen won two ELMS races in 2017 with Graff Racing and impressed when substituting for Renger van der Zande in DragonSpeed’s LMP1 entry at two races last year. Allen also claimed the LMP2 pole position for the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January and led the class at several points during the race.
DragonSpeed team principal Elton Julian sees promise in the rising star from Australia.
“James has consistently shown himself to be a genuine talent, from his previous ELMS successes and being thrown into the deep end of the WEC and LMP1 with us in 2018, to his performance at this year’s Rolex 24,” Julian said. “He has the essential combination of pace and maturity to deliver for us in sports cars this season and progress further up the racing ladder in years to come.”