"Any day at the racetrack is a good day," Scott Roembke said in May.

It was joyous reunion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Roembke entertained well wishes and more in-depth conversations from waves of long-time friends and racing associates. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing COO had been absent from the Speedway -- in body but not in spirit -- as doctors attended to his physical needs.

On Race Day, Takuma Sato almost delivered the perfect gift on the final lap.

"That's racing," said Roembke, who in 2004 hugged a victorious Buddy Rice in a cramped and steamy garage as rain pelted the racetrack.

On Sept. 9, Roembke died following a long illness. He was 51.

“This is a very sad day for all of us at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said. "Scott was truly passionate about motor racing and particularly Indy car racing and was wealth of knowledge about the sport. He was a great leader, a confidant of mine and a dear friend. Scott’s passion was directing winning Indy cars and RLL and many drivers were the beneficiaries of his strategic genius. 

"Scott was selfless when it came time for the betterment of the sport and the sport is now poorer for his passing. Our prayers and sympathies are with his wife Darcy, son Chris and the entire Roembke family. Scott will always be a part of our team, now and in the future.”

Roembke, of Indianapolis, began his professional racing career in 1986 with Patrick Racing as the logistics manager and then accepted the role of assistant team manager. Late in 1991, he joined Rahal-Hogan Racing as general manager, and in 2000 was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.