By Paul Kelly
redbullindianapolisgp.com
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Don't be surprised if the winner of the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also captures the MotoGP World Championship this season.
The Brickyard always has been a superb barometer of champions.
Winning at Indianapolis has been a good indicator of season success in every major series that has raced at the historic facility. A breakdown:
•Indianapolis 500 (1911-16, 1919-41, 1946-2007): Thirty-three of 91 winners also captured a major open-wheel series title in the same season, a "double" strike rate of 36 percent.
•Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (1994-2007): Six of 14 winners also captured the top-level NASCAR season title in the same season, a "double" strike rate of 43 percent.
•United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis (2000-07): Three of eight winners also captured the Formula One World Championship in the same season, a "double" strike rate of 38 percent.
While those numbers are impressive, the names of the competitors who have achieved them are even more significant. Legends like A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr., Wilbur Shaw, Louis Meyer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher are among those who have pulled off the Indy victory/season title "double."
So the addition of five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi or reigning World Champion Casey Stoner to that list would be entirely fitting if either wins the Red Bull Indianapolis GP and the MotoGP World Championship this season. Rossi leads Stoner by 75 points with five races remaining this season, as their head-to-head duel for the title has been a compelling storyline this summer.
On-track action for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP starts Friday, Sept. 12 and continues Saturday, Sept. 13, with racing all day Sunday, Sept. 14.
Drivers who have won major events at IMS and series championships in the same season:
Indianapolis 500
| Year | Driver |
| 1916 | Dario Resta |
| 1919 | Howdy Wilcox |
| 1920 | Gaston Chevrolet |
| 1921 | Tommy Milton |
| 1922 | Jimmy Murphy |
| 1925 | Peter DePaolo |
| 1928 | Louis Meyer |
| 1930 | Billy Arnold |
| 1931 | Louis Schneider |
| 1933 | Louis Meyer |
| 1934 | Bill Cummings |
| 1935 | Kelly Petillo |
| 1937 | Wilbur Shaw |
| 1938 | Floyd Roberts |
| 1939 | Wilbur Shaw |
| 1955 | Bob Sweikert |
| 1959 | Rodger Ward |
| 1961 | A.J. Foyt |
| 1962 | Rodger Ward |
| 1964 | A.J. Foyt |
| 1967 | A.J. Foyt |
| 1968 | Bobby Unser |
| 1969 | Mario Andretti |
| 1970 | Al Unser |
| 1979 | Rick Mears* |
| 1980 | Johnny Rutherford |
| 1986 | Bobby Rahal |
| 1989 | Emerson Fittipaldi |
| 1994 | Al Unser Jr. |
| 1995 | Jacques Villeneuve |
| 2005 | Dan Wheldon |
| 2006 | Sam Hornish Jr. |
| 2007 | Dario Franchitti |
*Won CART title; A.J. Foyt won USAC title
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
| Year | Driver |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1999 | Dale Jarrett |
| 2000 | Bobby Labonte |
| 2001 | Jeff Gordon |
| 2005 | Tony Stewart |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson |
United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis
| Year | Driver |
| 2000 | Michael Schumacher |
| 2003 | Michael Schumacher |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher |
***
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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