LONG POND, Pa. -- Danny Sullivan says that Pocono Raceway was made for IndyCars and vice versa.
Sullivan won the last Indy car race at Pocono Raceway in 1989 and is excited for the IZOD IndyCar Series' first event at "The Tricky Triangle" on July 7 in the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco.
“I think Pocono is an ideal track for IndyCars,” said Sullivan, who also won the 1984 race. “With all of the upgrades, improvements in safety, you should see a great return from the IndyCar Series.”
Sullivan holds the 500-mile race record of 170.720 mph average speed in the CART-sanctioned 1989 race on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
“A great layout, and three distinctly different corners makes a good setup difficult,” Sullivan added. “Pocono used to be rough, but that added to the challenge. My races there were always close and competitive. Winning it twice was special.”
Foyt expected to make full recovery from hip surgery
IZOD IndyCar Series team owner A.J. Foyt won’t make the trip to Pennsylvania for the Pocono race because of hip replacement surgery he underwent July 1.
Foyt, who won four times at Pocono Raceway (including his last Indy car victory on June 21, 1981), is expected to make a full recovery.
“I was a little nervous about this surgery but they had me up and walking the same day,” he said. “I’m sore but nothing like I was before the surgery. I guess I waited too long to have it done though because my hip was in really bad shape. They couldn’t believe I was walking at all.
“The doctors tell me it will be six to eight weeks before I can travel.”
F1 similar to INDYCAR regs
Each Formula One entrant in 2014 will be limited to five of the new 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected V6 engines for the season, according to recently-announced engine regulations. This year, each driver is permitted to use eight of the 2.4-liter V8 engines over the course of the season.
The 2014 regulations divide the engines into a six modules, with entrants allowed to mix and match their allowance for five of each one. A 10-place grid penalty will be applied if a sixth of any of the modules is used. The replacement of a complete engine will put the entrant to the rear of the field.
IZOD IndyCar Series teams use 2.2-liter turbocharged, direct-injection V6 engines. An entrant is allowed five engines per season, and a 10-spot penalty is incurred for unapproved engine changes during the season.
GM, Honda to collaborate on fuel cell system
General Motors and Honda announced a long-term, definitive master agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies.
GM and Honda plan to work together with stakeholders to further advance refueling infrastructure, which is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles.
GM’s Chevrolet brand and American Honda subsidiary Honda Performance Development are the IZOD IndyCar Series’ engine suppliers.
Of note
Dario Franchitti will be driving the black and orange No. 10 Energizer car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing at Pocono Raceway. … Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing’s Charlie Kimball will be featured in the July “Athletes Give Back” issue of Sports Illustrated Kids. Read the online version HERE.