BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Verizon IndyCar Series drivers helped cut a red ribbon April 25 to open a 460-foot pedestrian bridge with a see-through floor that connects the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum with the infield of the road course.
The project follows last year’s $4 million addition of the Barber Proving Grounds – a wet/dry skidpad that can accommodate events at the 830-acre facility while the 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course is in use. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which last year was given the title of world’s largest motorcycle collection by Guinness World Records, annually draws more than 250,000 visitors from around the world.
Hinchcliffe gets out-of-this-world tour
James Hinchcliffe says he has a dream job driving in the Verizon IndyCar Series, but the Canadian has a special affinity for those involved in the space program. An admitted astronaut wanna-be since he attended space camp as a youngster, Hinchcliffe was thrilled to visit the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center April 24 in Huntsville, Ala.
He received a behind-the-scenes look at the Payload Operations Integration Center, where NASA prepares scientific research for the International Space Station, including the ways scientists are continually improving the orbital unit’s Life Support System.
“I’m lucky with one of the coolest ajobs in the world,” Hinchcliffe said. “There are very few people that can make a good argument to me that they have a better job than I do, but I think a few of those people that can are right here in this building and the ones like them across the world and orbiting Earth.”
Hinchcliffe’s passion for the space program was refueled in April 2014 when he attended space camp in Huntsville again with fellow driver Josef Newgarden, then met with astronauts Drew Feustel and Anna Fisher for special access to Johnson Space Center in Houston last June.
“Through the last couple of years with INDYCAR, being able to come back to space camp, with a tour around Johnson Space Center, these are things that most people never get to do,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are big fans and very passionate about space that never have this opportunity that are probably much more deserving than I am. But that just makes me that much more appreciative to have the chance to come here and see what it is these guys do. And how they keep making miracles happen.”
Up, up and away
Honda’s seven-seat HondaJet, which was unveiled April 23 in Tokyo, will be ready for delivery this summer.
The jet is designed to face less air resistance because its engines sit atop the wings instead of the rear of the fuselage. HondaJet, developed by the automaker’s U.S.-based subsidiary Honda Aircraft Company, has a $4.5 million price tag. The company said it has more than 100 orders.
Of note
More than 100 feet of tire barrier was been added to the Turn 14-15 complex where Verizon IndyCar Series rookie Sage Karam made contact during the March 16-17 Promoter Test. ... The race winner will receive an engraved TAG Heuer timepiece. … The entrant of the car in pit lane the shortest amount of accumulated time during each race will earn the $10,000 Firestone Pit Stop Performance Award. Tony Kanaan and the No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing team won the award at Long Beach. … The entrant of the highest-finishing car in each race displaying an Xtrac emblem on each side of the attenuator will be awarded $2,000.