Drink and Drive with Three “Indy 500” Legends

Got three-and-a-half large burning a hole in your pocket? Then you can experience the ride (and cocktail party) of a lifetime.

The Indy Racing Experience recently announced they’ll be hosting the inaugural “Legends Day” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mark the date: May 23^rd, 2011, Mario Andretti, Arie Luyendyk, and Johnny Rutherford will be shuttling IndyCar fans around the historic Brickyard at a face-melting 180 mph in the stretch limo of open-wheel racing cars, the Indy Two-seater.

[Ron Popeil voice] “But wait, that’s not all…” For your $3,500 you will also receive breakfast (Sausage McMuffin WITH EGG), lunch ($5 Foot Long—LOADED), entrée to a cocktail party with said guests (Jell-O shots and all the Keystone you can pound!), plus participation in a Q&A, autograph session, custom helmet, and framed photograph with all three legends on the famed Yard of Bricks—schwa-POW.

Hey… there are some lies in there. Better click your way over to the Indy Racing Experience site and get all the truthful details on what—with all kidding aside—should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 60 lucky fans.

And may we take the liberty of suggesting these beverages for the gala: Andretti vino, Heineken, and Lone Star beer?

—JM

P.S. Dear Santa: Pleeeease…???

Putting a Face to the Name

When you hear the word IndyCar, what single person do you picture? Danica... Tony George... Roger Penske... Helio? The truth is that, depending on the individual, it could be any number of drivers, car owners, or officials you visualize.

The series is in desperate need of one recognizable figure to be the face of IndyCar and bridge the gap from series to fan. Someone that appears prominently at every press conference, in television interviews, and at race events. In short, IndyCar needs a front-man.

Not a new concept, to be sure, but what is new is a viable solution. He’s already closely involved with the series, on the track every weekend, and has three ‘500’ championships under his belt. Helio, you ask? A fair deduction, but no. Consider this the first vote for J.R. as ICS ambassador.

As an old-schooler, there’s no doubt it’s wonderful to have Johnny Rutherford still involved with the sport, wheeling the pace car every weekend but, in my mind, he’s destined for greater things and can truly help put IndyCar back on the racing map.

He’s a champion in every respect: articulate, relevant, and passionate. He loves the sport we hold dear and, in this writer’s opinion, he’s the only individual that’s got the chops.

Certainly, at 71, Johnny would, likely, not want to take on such a position for the long term, but securing him for a just year or two to get the proverbial ball rolling and mentor a suitable successor would be a stroke of genius by the series’ decision makers.

IndyCar has an important need and the perfect solution is already on the payroll. What do you say, John?

—JM