Notes: 'The Future of Fast' grabs students' attention

DETROIT – Dr. Charles Drew Academy students were divided into two groups for a friendly competition of connect the chassis parts.

“Oh, front wing, over there,” Ashley Robinson exhorts a classmate to quickly place the marker over the front of the IZOD IndyCar Series car image on the easel. “Yeah, we got it; we beat ‘em.”

The 30-plus students from the Detroit school were among the 300 that attended “The Future of Fast,” an INDYCAR-themed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education program at Belle Isle in conjunction with the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans.

Students filter through five stations featuring hands-on educational components related to INDYCAR, including the Chevrolet and Honda engines, Firestone tires, consumer-relevant E85 fuel, safety and the chassis, created by Project Lead The Way.

Click it: About 'The Future of Fast'

“I think INDYCAR has done a great job with the program by reaching out to the younger population,” said Colin Parker, an IUPUI motorsports engineering major who is one of the summer facilitators of the program. “Many students don’t realize what’s behind racing and how the different areas of STEM are associated with racing.

“By allowing students to have hands-on activities and allowing them to be in the atmosphere of a race weekend is great to educate them about the sport and create an interest in the sciences and engineering.”

Parker, who races mini-sprints, said he could see the enthusiasm and excitement in students as they passed along a driver’s firesuit and helmet in the safety “pod,” which is among the aims of the program.

Other race-related events will take place at Fort Worth, Texas (June 8); Baltimore (Sept. 1); Houston (Oct. 5-6) and Fontana, Calif. (Oct. 19). Project Lead The Way and Jostens will reach out to schools in these markets to encourage them to attend.

“I really want to see the organization grow,” Parker said. “I would like to see more young people involved. There’s a lot of potential (for career tracks).”

Andretti 'knocking on the door'

Consistency has paved the way for Marco Andretti to climb to the top of the championship standings with top-seven finishes, including podiums on two street courses, in each of the five races.

Andretti, who finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, leads Takuma Sato of A.J. Foyt Racing by 11 points and Team Penske's Helio Castroneves by 16.

“The season, so far, has gone pretty close to target for me,” said Andretti, who last June advanced 11 positions to finish 11th in the race on Belle Isle. “Obviously, I wanted Indianapolis pretty bad. But I think we are, as far as street courses go, we’re knocking on the door and are a bit better. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I am in contention now.

“I really want to be challenging for wins and poles before I am sleeping pretty solid at night.”

Alternate viewing of Duals in five markets

In four television market areas, ABC affiliate stations will be airing the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon and have arranged for Dual 1 and/or Dual 2 to air on alternate stations.

Abilene, Texas (KTXS-TV) – June 1 race will air on the station’s Digital Tier 3 channel. June 2 race will air on the main channel.

Flint, Mich. (WJRT-TV) – June 1 race will air on the main channel. June 2 race will air on WBSF-TV (CW affiliate).

Oklahoma City (KOCO) – June 1 race will air on the main channel. June 2 race will air on the station’s Digital Tier 2 channel.

Wausau, Wisc. (WAOW-TV) – June 1 race will air on the main channel. June 2 race will air on the station’s Digital Tier 3 channel.

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS-TV) -- Will be airing the WHAS Crusade for Children on both days and will air the two races on the station’s Digital Tier 2 channel.

Of note

Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, will drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray Pace Car for both IZOD IndyCar Series races at Belle Isle. … Quicken Loans’ President and Chief Marketing Officer Jay Farner will be the grand marshal for the June 1 race. ... The Firestone primary and alternate tire specifications for Belle Isle are the same street-course specs that were used earlier this season at St. Petersburg and Long Beach. … Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan has experienced the good and bad at Belle Isle. He won the IZOD IndyCar Series race in 2007. In 2000, he suffered a broken arm in qualifying at Belle Isle and missed four races. ... A red flag was issued in the practice session because of a family of ducks on the race course.