One more Danica update before we go into 2009…

Credit goes to MyNameIsIRL for making the catch on this one. Looks like Patrick’s got explaining to do in January. A race car driver getting a speeding ticket? NO WAY!

Seriously, though, Happy New Year, everybody.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

My apologies for not posting over the last few days, but I’ve been patiently waiting for a new laptop while here on vacation with my family here in San Angelo, Texas. I’m now plugging away on a sleek black-and-silver HP with built-in wireless and an HD screen. I’m quite happy about this development as you can imagine.

Anyway, I hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas. Thanks for continuing to support Indy Racing Revolution and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve you all in 2009.

Speaking of 2009, it looks like Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama is making a play for Belle Isle’s spot on next season’s IndyCar Series schedule. Will open-wheel fans in the Southeast get a late present from Santa? I’ll have to watch more YouTube video on Barber before I can make an opinion on BMP, but from what I remember about last year’s test, it certainly is a nice-looking facility.

Detroit Grand Prix goes off 2009 IndyCar schedule

Citing bad economic conditions in the Detroit area as well as the loss of Porsche and Audi’s factory teams from the American Le Mans Series, Detroit Grand Prix organizer and IndyCar team owner Roger Penske has pulled the plug on the 2009 race at Belle Isle Park. The IndyCars and ALMS were scheduled to compete in the Motor City on Sept. 5-6.

Penske told the media, including The Indianapolis Star’s Curt Cavin, that he couldn’t continue the event in good conscience under present circumstances:

“This is a real economic time of distress for everyone. We couldn’t sit here and count on a lot of things happening [from a sponsorship standpoint] that we knew weren’t going to happen knowing that [Detroit] is so distressed with unemployment and all the things going on.”

At first, I wanted to be surprised, but really, it’s not surprising when you think about the economic crap sandwich that Detroit’s given itself. Roger Penske didn’t get rich by making bad business decisions, and he feels that having an ’09 race on Belle Isle would be just that.

No big loss as far as racing action goes. Maybe the IRL could talk to one of the tracks angling for a 2010 race and ask ’em if they could push prep up a bit. Really, any of the suitors — Portland, Cleveland, Houston, Barber, Vegas, N.H. — could make for a better race than Detroit. But that’s probably not going to happen. Regardless, the bigger overall picture is made a little less good with this announcement.

My friend Jeff over at My Name Is IRL sees this as Penske putting the race “in a voluntary induced-coma.” I’ll call it cryogenic sleep. Guess it’s 17 races now, eh?

Al Unser, Jr. named as extortion victim in indictment of N.M. prostitution ring leader

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. has been named as one of two extortion victims in the indictment of a 47-year-old prostitution ring leader from Albuquerque, N.M.

According to KOB-TV in Albuquerque, the District Attorney’s office is saying that Unser was blackmailed by one Bobby McMullin over “claims of a compromising video tape” involving the racing legend. KOB goes on to say that McMullin allegedly asked Unser for $750,000 in order to make sure the tape wouldn’t go public, and that prosecutors have ruled Unser out as a client of the ring.

The AP fills in some details, reporting that the extortion charge stems from concern over the saga running afoul of a morals clause in one of Unser’s endorsement deals.

Unser has not had the best time in recent years. In the last six years, he’s gotten into a booze-driven fight with his girlfriend, as well as a DWI charge in Nevada in 2007. He said that he would go into alcohol treatment after the Nevada incident, but unfortunately, it appears his off-track troubles are just continuing to pile up.

I just want to stress that I don’t know if alcohol played any role in this latest drama (I doubt it) and that it’s best to consider him innocent since he’s been labeled as a victim by the prosecutors.

All we can do is wish him the best.

NOTE: I first found out about this on Barstool Sports. WARNING: Main site may contain content not suitable for children…Seriously.

Early Christmas present: Dallara cuts parts prices for IRL teams

With lean economic times staring at the IndyCar Series, chassis manufacturer Dallara has decided to help out the teams by offering reduced prices on parts for the 2009 season.

The reductions, which will range from eight to 20 percent, is expected to help save an average of 11 percent per squad compared to last season. IndyCar.com reports that the new prices will come out on Jan. 10, while The Indianapolis Star is detailing which parts will have a smaller cost.

No doubt, a solid gesture on the part of the Italian car-maker and one that’s much appreciated. Check out the quote at the bottom of the IndyCar.com piece from IRL racing operations boss Brian Barnhart. I can’t help but interpret that as a nudge to the other “big guys,” Firestone and Honda.

We’ll see if they and other IRL suppliers will follow Dallara’s lead.

Autoweek: Porsche unlikely to make IndyCar jump

According to an Autoweek report, Porsche research and development board member Wolfgang Durheimer says that a possible future jump to the IndyCar Series is “not very likely” for the German company.

The interview with Autoweek’s Mac Morrison has Durheimer on record stating that while Porsche recognizes the history of Indy racing and its own relationship with team owner Roger Penske (who will run a Porsche-powered operation in Grand Am next season alongside his IndyCar squad), their partnership with the American Le Mans Series “is better suited to the demands of [their] customers.”

Whether or not this is for real or just a smoke screen (after all, we didn’t initially know who was taking part in the IRL engine powwows besides Honda), this is still noteworthy. Keep in mind that three of the companies mentioned in the article — Audi, VW and Porsche — are all basically under one umbrella. Just because Porsche may not be involved doesn’t mean the parent company can’t strike a engine deal with the IRL through either of its other two brands.

Vitor's not the only new guy at Foyt Racing

Not a lot of news has come out from yesterday’s Firestone tire test at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but A.J. Foyt Racing has been kind enough to give the fans a bone with a recap of their work with driver Vitor Meira.

As you may know, Meira left Panther Racing following the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway in September and then signed with Foyt’s operation for the 2009 campaign (which he got started on a little early by driving the No. 14 at Surfer’s Paradise in October).

But the Brazilian driver isn’t the only new man on the team. New engineer Adam Schaechter brings a solid Champ Car pedigree as well as experience with open-wheel chassis manufacturers Swift and the defunct Reynard.

I think Foyt’s made a good hire with Schaechter on the road course front — combined with Meira’s background in road racing, this can be a very good match. But solid oval performance hasn’t always been there with the team; it will be interesting to see if Schaechter can get the No. 14 toward the front more often at the speedways.

Also notice at the bottom that the team’s going on their annual hunting trip next week. I suddenly have a vision of Meira walking around in an Elmer Fudd hat hunting for turkeys…yeah, the off-season is making me crazy.

2009 IRL wall calendars now on sale

Proceeds to benefit Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

United Medical Providers have put out a 2009 Indy Racing League wall calendar to help raise money for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. The calendar, which features full-color photos of IndyCar Series action, will also have the ’09 schedules for both the ICS and Firestone Indy Lights.

You can learn how to order one by clicking on the second link and looking for the calendar icon to the right. Thank you to MVN’s NASCAR blogger Richard Ginn at The Pit Stop and Cory Humes for the heads-up.

IRL Quick Hits: Honda to stay in Indy Racing League

…Describing their efforts in the Indy Racing League as “self-sustaining,” Honda Performance Development has stated that their company’s decision to leave Formula One will not affect their standing as the IRL’s sole engine supplier. Read Curt Cavin’s story here.

…Next week, Andretti Green Racing and Target Chip Ganassi Racing will take part in a Firestone tire test down in Homestead, Florida. Meanwhile, several other teams are still trying to put driver/sponsorship packages together for 2009. Read Cavin and Steve Ballard’s story here.

…Barber Motorsports Park will play host to a three-day IndyCar preseason test on March 20-22. Read the story from the Birmingham News’ Mike Bolton here.

First Indy 500 may get the big-screen treatment

Creators of “Hoosiers” and “Rudy” team up with Indiana film producer for project

The Indianapolis 500 has had a long connection with movies. While many of those Indy-driven movies came out in the 1930s, the aura of Hollywood has continued to intertwine with the aura of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing up to the present day.

But with a few exceptions, the fact of the matter is that most racing movies suck. Now, some of them can pass as cornball entertainment (see”Days of Thunder” or “Talladega Nights”) but most race fans have accepted that whenever the camera turns their attention to the sport, there’s going to be something they’re not gonna like in the finished product. When you see something as outlandish as “Driven,” you have every right to be skeptical.

Oh well, at least Wilson’s in it (why, yes, I am a “House” fan) and Sylvester Stallone made up for it — eventually — with “Rocky Balboa.” But let me get back on point here. Most racing movies simply don’t cut the mustard, but perhaps, we may finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Indiana film producer Justin Escue has teamed up with Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh, the two creators behind sports movie classics “Hoosiers” and “Rudy,” to make a movie based on the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

According to SPEED Channel’s Robin Miller, the movie will revolve around IMS co-founder and “500” mastermind Carl Fisher, as well as the two main combatants that fought for victory in that first Spectacle — winner Ray Harroun and runner-up Ralph Mulford.

As of now, the film is trying to secure financing and a location to build a circa-1911 replica of IMS. Miller goes on to report that the group plans on attempting to sell the finished film to a major distributor. The targeted release date is 2011.

I’d certainly like to see this project if it is completed. I want to see that a lot of love is put into this — it’s a great subject and I think that there’s a chance to cultivate a younger generation of fans with this film.

With that said, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if Zack Snyder, director of the epic  “300” and the upcoming “Watchmen,” got his hands on this and employed the whole “digital backlot” shebang we’ve seen in those films (click here to see how “300” used this), as well as in Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s “Sin City.”

There’d be a lot of risk involved — the massive scale of this type of production would threaten to squash the story itself. But with a balance of visual effects and restraint, I could see a topic like the first Indy 500 pulled off with this style of film-making.

But that’s just a little daydream I had once. No matter what, I just want to see a good racing film. Hopefully, these guys can do the job.