Dreyer & Reinbold - Kingdom Racing team principal Dennis Reinbold immediately recognized the bright yellow 1938 AAA Eastern Championship-winning sprint car driven by Duke Nalon unveiled May 8 in Pagoda Plaza at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It was built by his grandfather, Floyd “Pop” Dreyer.
“I’ve been coming to (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) since I was a little kid so it’s just fabulous to be back,” said Reinbold, whose grandfather, among other accomplishments, constructed the bodies of the three front-row starts for the 1931 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. “It’s a special deal for me in celebration of my grandfather as we tie it in to the unveiling of our 2015 car.”
Reinbold and driver Townsend Bell then took the wraps off the No. 24 Robert Graham Special. The livery fits with the luxury clothing brand based in New York, and the car’s interior pays tribute to NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon with a photo montage of Gordon’s five Brickyard 400 victories on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
Gordon will be the honorary pace car driver for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24.
“While I have had great success at the Brickyard as a NASCAR driver, the Indy 500 has always been a special event for me and this year’s race presents a very cool, unique opportunity – one that I will never forget,” said Gordon, whose adolescence was spent in Indiana.
Bell, who will seek to make his ninth Indy 500 start, will see his first action on the 2.5-mile oval May 11.
“Robert Graham styling fits right in with the essence of the Indy 500,” said Bell, who also is an NBCSN analyst for Verizon IndyCar Series telecasts. “The Robert Graham Special will once again sport a very distinctive look at IMS this May.”
Colts punter McAfee named pace car driver
Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee will be the honorary pace car driver of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 9.
"I've done some cool things around Indianapolis over the years but the opportunity to drive a pace car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to be among the coolest," he said. "But it's a serious job too, and I'm lucky to have a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (Arie Luyendyk) as my coach.”
Bonus points for meeting mileage mark
Honda will receive 20 bonus points in the Manufacturer Championship as the engines in the Nos. 5 and 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entries surpassed the 2,500-mile threshold for engine life during practice May 7 for the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
The Chevrolet engines in the Nos. 2 and 3 Team Penske, No. 11 KVSH Racing and Nos. 20 and 67 CFH Racing also met the mileage mark. But the manufacturer will not receive bonus points for the first engine in its entries. According to Rule 10.6.4.4 of the Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook: an engine is no longer eligible for mileage lifespan points once it has undergone a non-minor repair approved by INDYCAR.
He said it
What Team Penske teammate Juan Pablo Montoya had to say about teammate Helio Castroneves, who will make his 300th Indy car start May 9 in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis:
“The first time I dealt with Helio was 1990. We ran the world championship of go-karts together. That was like yesterday. He’s the same as today; well, he puts a lot more stuff in his hair now.”
Of note
The ABC Supply Co. Inc. Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest Presented by the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers is offering race fans an exclusive tour bus package from Indianapolis to Milwaukee IndyFest on July 12. Visit milwaukeeindyfest.com or call (800) 514-3849.