Thursday, August 28, 2008
A collection of interesting facts about the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP event Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, updated daily:
Did You Know …
... that the first motorized race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a motorcycle race, on Aug. 14, 1909? A.G. Chapple won the first race, a 5-mile event with seven competitors, on an Indian motorcycle. The race distance was two laps on the 2.5-mile IMS oval. Nineteen MotoGP riders will race 28 laps on the 2.621-mile road course at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.
... that there will be approximately four hours of action on Race Day at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Sept. 14, more on-track Race Day activity than either of the other two events this year at IMS? Four classes - MotoGP, 250cc, 125cc and Red Bull Riders Cup - will race Sunday, with warm-up sessions for MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc. It will be a full day of two-wheel racing action from 8:40 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Brickyard!
… that five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi is among the 20 highest-paid athletes in the world? Rossi had estimated earnings of $34 million in 2007, according to a Sports Illustrated study. Only Formula One champions Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso earned more among worldwide motorsports competitors in 2007, according to SI.
… that five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will become the winningest rider in MotoGP/500cc history with a victory Sept. 14 at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP? Rossi tied fellow Italian legend Giacomo Agostini with his 68th career victory in the premier class Aug. 31 at the Grand Prix of San Marino.
… that British rider Scott Redding this season became the youngest winner in the 60-year history of World Championship motorcycle racing when he won the 125cc race at the Grand Prix of Great Britain on June 22 at age 15 years, 170 days? Redding will race in the 125cc class at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
… that there are 10 different motorcycle manufacturers among the three categories of Grand Prix racing that will compete in the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Aprilia, Gilera, KTM, Derbi and Loncin each compete in at least one class.
… that MotoGP riders lean their motorcycles as much as 60 degrees when racing through turns such as those at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14? Riders have thick plastic discs called "pucks" attached to their leather riding suits that often scrape against the asphalt, protecting their knees during the extreme lean angles of cornering.
… that American riders have won the MotoGP World Championship in 15 of the last 30 seasons, more than any other nation during that span? Kenny Roberts was the first American World Champion (1978-80), and Freddie Spencer (1983, 85), Eddie Lawson (1984, 86, 88-89), Wayne Rainey (1990-92), Kevin Schwantz (1993), Kenny Roberts Jr. (2000) and Nicky Hayden (2006) followed with world titles.
… that the exotic prototype motorcycles of the MotoGP class will reach speeds of 200 mph on the front straightaway of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14?
… that 113 riders overall are scheduled to compete in the five races during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? There were 60 drivers overall in the Indianapolis 500 and Firestone Freedom 100 in May at IMS and 43 drivers in the starting field for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in July at IMS.
… that the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the 13th MotoGP race to take place in the United States since the series started in 1949, but the first in the Midwest? Two races took place at Daytona International Speedway (1964-65) in Daytona Beach, Fla., with another 10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (1988-91, 93-94, 2005-08) in Monterey, Calif.
… that the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup featured a finish this season decided by eight-ten thousandths of a second (.0008)? Benny Solis edged Leandro Mercado by that incredible margin July 19 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup, for top 13- to 16-year-old riders, will compete during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
… that practice, qualifying and races will take place rain or shine during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Motorcycles will be equipped with grooved rain tires during wet conditions.
… that just 15.5 square inches of both tires touch the track when a MotoGP motorcycle is at speed, equal to about the size of two credit cards?
… that at least one American rider has finished in the top 10 of the MotoGP points standings in 28 of the last 32 seasons, dating back to 1976? An American rider has finished in the top five in each of the last five seasons, including Nicky Hayden's World Championship in 2006.
… that some MotoGP riders wear clear plastic rain jackets over their leather riding suits and surgical rubber gloves under their leather riding gloves to help stay dry while riding in the rain? Action at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP will take place rain or shine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
… that the top MotoGP straightaway speed recorded during qualifying Saturday for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP was 194.4 mph, by Ducati's Marco Melandri?
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Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.
Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.
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