Pit Pass Indy: Recent Episodes
Evergreen Podcasts
Journalist Bruce Martin gives racing fans an inside look at the exciting world of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this fast-paced podcast, featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport.
Show host Bruce Martin throws the checkered flag on the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season with this special edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental. Martin has exclusive interviews with Firestone Grand Pris of Monterey winner Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing managing director Mike Hull, IndyCar owner and Penske Corporation Chairman Roger Penske and Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles.
Show host Bruce Martin helps close out the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series championship as IndyCar heads to the final two races of the season, beginning with the Labor Day Weekend Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland and ending with the September 10 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on this edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental. Martin has exclusive interviews with Scott Dixon after winning his 55th career IndyCar win at Gateway, championship leader Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser, and an in-depth interview with Michael Andretti, plus, much, much more.
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY PENSKE TRUCK RENTAL AND HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 34 – Deep Dive with Team Penske Vice Chairman Walt Czarnecki. Also, IndyCar drivers Marcus Ericsson, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, and Linus Lundqvist August 22, 2023 Show host Bruce Martin gets you prepared for this weekend’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on this edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental. Martin has exclusive interviews with Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Linus Lundqvist of Meyer Shank Racing, Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport. Martin also has an exclusive, in-depth interview with Walt Czarnecki, the Executive Vice President of the Penske Corporation and Vice Chairman of Team Penske. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
Show host Bruce Martin has a comprehensive look back at last weekend’s IndyCar NASCAR Weekend at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee. Martin has exclusive interviews with Gallagher Grand Prix winner Scott Dixon, the latest news involving NTT IndyCar Series championship leader Alex Palou, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske, NASCAR Cup Series champion and this year’s Knoxville Nationals winner Kyle Larson, racing great Dale Earnhardt, Jr. of NBC and much, much more from a busy weekend in Indianapolis for Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee bring you all the action on Pit Pass Indy. This year’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway may be over, so race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
Show host Bruce Martin has a comprehensive look back at last weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville and a look ahead to this weekend’s big INDYCAR/NASCAR Weekend on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee. Martin has exclusive interviews with Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race winner Kyle Kirkwood, NTT IndyCar Series championship leader Alex Palou, Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport, Big Machine President and CEO Scott Borchetta and Bridgestone Americas Director, Race Tire Engineering and Production Cara Kristolic. Penske Truck Rental and Hy-Vee bring you all the action on Pit Pass Indy. This year’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway may be over, so race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
Show host Bruce Martin looks ahead to the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville on August 6 on Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. Martin has exclusive interviews with the two IndyCar Series drivers who live in Nashville, who also happen to be two of IndyCar’s biggest stars – Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport and this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. Martin also has an exclusive interview with “The Mustache Man” – Christian Lundgaard’s best friend, Victor Petersen of Denmark. This year’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway may be over, but Hy-Vee is proud to be a partner of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, so race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 30 – Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa “Deep Dive” with Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Penske Corporation President Bud Denker July 25, 2023 Show host Bruce Martin recaps the biggest IndyCar Event of the Summer – the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway on Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. We celebrate Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden’s doubleheader sweep at Iowa followed by an exclusive interview with Penske Corporation President Bud Denker. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway is completed, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 29 – Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Preview with Toronto winner Christian Lundgaard, Hy-Vee Chairman Randy Edeker and Executive VP and CMO Anna Stoermer July 18, 2023 Show host Bruce Martin prepares you for the biggest IndyCar Event of the Summer – the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway on Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. We celebrate Christian Lundgaard’s first career IndyCar Series race victory as the 21-year-old drove the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda to the big win in the July 16 Honda Indy Toronto. He joins Martin for an exclusive interview. Also, Pit Pass Indy has extensive and exclusive interviews with Hy-Vee Chairman of the Board Randy Edeker and Hy-Vee Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Anna Stoermer heading into the only doubleheader weekend on the 2023 NTT INDYCAR Series schedule. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 28 – Deep Dive with IndyCar Legend and Team Bobby Rahal July 11, 2023
Show host Bruce Martin takes you on a high-speed adventure on another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee including an exclusive interview 1986 Indianapolis 500 winning driver, three-time CART champion and NTT IndyCar Series team owner Bobby Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 27 –Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio winner Alex Palou, Hy-Vee IndyCar driver Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing July 4, 2023 Show host Bruce Martin takes you on a high-speed advance on another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee including exclusive interviews with IndyCar points leader Alex Palou, as well as Rahal Letterman Lanigan drivers Christian Lundgaard and Jack Harvey. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 26 – IndyCar Test Wrap-up from Iowa Speedway with Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Ed Carpenter, Ryan Hunter-Reay Graham Rahal, and Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend President Michael Montri June 27, 2023 Show host Bruce Martin has another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee including exclusive interviews with IndyCar points leader Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Ed Carpenter, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal and Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend President Michael Montri. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 25 – Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America winner Alex Palou, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Hy-Vee IndyCar Weekend at Iowa Speedway General Manager Anne Fischgrund June 20, 2023 Welcome to this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. We are proud and honored to bring Hy-Vee to the show as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. Hy-Vee is proud to be the sponsor of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway as INDYCAR returns to “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet,” July 21-23, 2023. For tickets, fans can visit hyveeindycarweekend.com or call the ticket office at 641-417-6007 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Show host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Ed Carpenter Racing and Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend General manager Anne Fischgrund. Hear this, and much more, on this edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY HY-VEE – SEASON 3, EPISODE 24 – Team Penske Managing Director Ron Ruzewski June 13, 2023 Welcome to this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. We are proud and honored to bring Hy-Vee to the show as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. Hy-Vee is proud to be the sponsor of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway as INDYCAR returns to “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet,” July 21-23, 2023. For tickets, fans can visit hyveeindycarweekend.com or call the ticket office at 641-417-6007 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Show host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with Team Penske Managing Director Ron Ruzewski from the Team Penske Race Shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. Hear this, and much more, on this edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Hy-Vee. Although the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway promises to be the highlight of the summer, race over to your local Hy-Vee throughout the year. Hy-Vee -- Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY PENSKE TRUCK RENTAL – SEASON 3, EPISODE 23 – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Review with winner Alex Palou, Penske Corporation President Bud Denker and Team Penske drivers Will Power, Scott McLaughlin and 108th Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden. June 6, 2022 Show host Bruce Martin has you covered with another great episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental after the June 4 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Featured on this episode is Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix race winner Alex Palou, Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, 107th Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske and his teammates including two-time IndyCar champion Will Power and Scott McLaughlin. Hear this, and much more, on this edition of Pit Pass Indy Presented by Penske Truck Rental. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 48 – Deep Dive with Team Penske INDYCAR Managing Director Ron Ruzewski November 29, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with Team Penske INDYCAR Managing Director Ron Ruzewski. In addition to overseeing Team Penske’s three-car, three-driver NTT INDYCAR SERIES team, Ruzewski also calls the race strategy for two-time and defending INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power. In Bruce Martin’s exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, Ruzewski reflects on the 2022 season and looks ahead to more accomplishments for the team in 2023. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 47 – Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles looks ahead to INDYCAR 2023 November 22, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles, the man in charge of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In Bruce Martin’s exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, Miles recaps some of the successes of the 2022 season while looking ahead to continued growth for INDYCAR in 2023. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 46 – Catching up with 2022 NTT IndyCar Series Champion Will Power November 15, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with this year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Will Power of Team Penske. Power, his wife and young son recently returned to Australia for the first time in three years to see his family. Power is back in North Carolina but is off to Las Vegas this weekend for a World Karting Event. In Bruce Martin’s exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, Power talks about his championship in INDYCAR, Team Penske driver Joey Logano winning the NASCAR Cup Series title for the team and NASCAR driver Ross Chastain’s incredible last lap move at Martinsville Speedway that captured the attention of racers all over there world. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 45 – 106th Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s returns to Sweden November 8, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with this year’s winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500, Marcus Ericsson. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver took the Borg-Warner Trophy to Sweden over the weekend to a wild celebration from the fans in his home country. In addition, Martin has the latest news on seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who competed in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES the past two season, returning to NASCAR, this time in a team owner role. Johnson has purchased a financial stake in the Petty GMS Racing Team which also includes seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty. Also, INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske became the first team owner in history to win both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in the same season. One of Team Penske’s NASCAR Cup Series drivers, Joey Logano, won the championship on November 6 at Phoenix Raceway. Will Power won the INDYCAR Championship on September 11 at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Logano won his second Cup Series Championship and Power also won his second INDYCAR Championship this season. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 44 – 106th Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s face is added to the Borg-Warner Trophy November 2, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with this year’s winner of the 106th Indianapolis 500, Marcus Ericsson. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver from Sweden had his face unveiled on the Borg-Warner Trophy in a special ceremony in Indianapolis on October 27. BorgWarner Director of Global Marketing and Communications Michelle Collins also joins us on Pit Pass Indy. In addition, Martin has the latest news on 2013 Indianapolis 500 winning driver and 2004 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Tony Kanaan joining Arrow McLaren SP for the 107th Indianapolis 500. NTT DATA moves over from Chip Ganassi Racing to Arrow McLaren SP in a multi-year deal announced on November 1. The company will sponsor Kanaan in the 107th Indianapolis 500, Felix Rosenqvist for 10 races and will have associate status on the other Arrow McLaren SP drivers including Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 43 – 2022 Indy Lights champion Rinus Lundqvist October 25, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with this year’s Indy Lights champion as he talks about his dominant season and his hopes for the future in IndyCar on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. The 23-year-old driver from Stockholm, Sweden scored five wins and nine podiums during the season for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing. His victories came at Barber Motorsports Park in April, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in May, both races on the streets of Detroit in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and on the streets of Nashville in August. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 42 – IndyCar great Mario Andretti explains what Formula One means to him October 19, 2022 At 82, Mario Andretti is certainly not slowing down. The only driver to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and Formula One World Championship in their career drove a modern-day McLaren MP4-28 Formula One car at WeatherTech Racing at Laguna Seca in Monterey, California last weekend. Andretti will also drive the same car from 2013 before this weekend’s United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The final turn at that race course has been renamed “The Andretti” in his honor. Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with the 1978 Formula One World Champion, the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1967 Daytona 500 winner on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 11, 2022 IndyCar driver Conor Daly of Ed Carpenter Racing made his first NASCAR Cup Series start in the October 9 BankofAmerica ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin was there to talk to Daly before and after the race on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 40 – Creating the Face for the Borg-Warner Trophy with 106th Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, sculptor William Behrends and BorgWarner Director of Global Marketing and Public Relations Michelle Collins October 4, 2022 In this special edition of Pit Pass Indy, Show Host Bruce Martin spent September 20 with 106th Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and his girlfriend, Iris Tritsaris at sculptor William Behrends studio in Tryon, North Carolina. It’s an important step in the process that culminates with Ericsson’s face cast in Sterling Silver that is attached to the Borg-Warner Trophy for permanent display. Also, Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Ericsson, sculptor William Behrends and BorgWarner Director of Global Marketing and Public Relations Michelle Collins. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 39 – Jimmie Johnson will not race full-time in 2023; INDYCAR releases 2023 schedule September 27, 2022 This special edition of Pit Pass Indy features big news on two fronts. The first is seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, an NTT IndyCar Series driver the past two seasons, Jimmie Johnson. He announced on Monday, September 26 that he will not compete full-time in any racing series in 2023. Instead, he will create a “Bucket List” schedule that could include several INDYCAR races along with a few NASCAR Cup Series events and famed sports car races the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 24 Hours of LeMans. Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin was one of a select group of journalist that spoke to Johnson via Zoom on Tuesday, September 27. The other big news is the 2023 NTT INYCAR SERIES schedule was released by INDYCAR at 12 noon Eastern Time on Tuesday. Pit Pass Indy has all the details. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 38 – Championship celebration with Team Penske’s Will Power, Tim Cindric, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. Also, in-depth with Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. September 19, 2022 In this special 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Celebration, Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has interviews with the champion driver Team Penske’s Will Power, Team Penske President Tim Cindric and teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. Also, Pit Pass Indy Host Martin has an exclusive, in-depth interview with Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY– SEASON 2, EPISODE 37 – Will Power wins the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship along with Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey race winner Alex Palou September 12, 2022 Team Penske’s Will Power clinched the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with a third-place finish in the September 11, 2022, Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. Power became a two-time INDYCAR SERIES champion by driving an extremely smart race and finishing third. His closest pursuer in the championship, Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden, finished second after starting 25th. But after Power won the pole on Sunday to earn one point and earned another point by leading a lap, all Power had to do was finish fifth on better. Newgarden was unable to close the gap on eventual race winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing and Power clinched the championship by 16 points over Newgarden in the final race of the season. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin has interviews with race-winner Alex Palou and an in-depth interview with two-time champion Will Power in this week’s championship edition. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 36 – Grand Prix of Portland Race Winner Scott McLaughlin, Jimmie Johnson and team Penske engineer Ben Bretzman September 6, 2022 Just 41 points separate the top-five heading into Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. It’s the closest championship battle since the 2003 Indy Racing League championship when 30 points separated the top five. Team Penske’s Will Power takes a 20-point lead into the season’s final race after finishing second to this week’s guest on Pit Pass Indy, Scott McLaughlin, in the Grand Prix of Portland on September 4. McLaughlin won the pole on Saturday and dominated the race on Sunday, leading 104 of the 110 laps in the race and defeating Power by 1.1792 seconds. McLaughlin took note of the fact that entering Portland 54 points out, he was overlooked in the battle for the title. But with his big win, he moved up to fourth in the standings, 41 points out, although he would need some help to win the championship. Maximum points available in an INDYCAR race other than the Indianapolis 500 is 50 for the win, one point for the pole, one point for leading a lap and two points for leading the most laps. Power can clinch his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship Sunday if he finishes third or higher in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. This week’s Pit Pass Indy features two interviews with McLaughlin. Other guests include seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson who drives the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. Also, McLaughlin’s race engineer, Ben Bretzman, joins us after the big win at Portland. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 34 – Deep Dive into the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 with World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. August 30, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 2022 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway is over and what a weekend it was in greater St. Louis area. Show host Bruce Martin goes on a deep dive with World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President Chris Blair. They recap the exciting race weekend, what changes may take place for 2023 and forecast the exciting INDYCAR championship battled heading into the final two races of the season. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 34- Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Wrap-up featuring winner Josef Newgarden and second-place David Malukas. Also, Christian Lundgaard and Marcus Ericsson August 23, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 2022 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway is over and what a weekend it was in greater St. Louis area. Show host Bruce Martin has the full wrap-up from the August 20 race including exclusive interviews with the race winner Josef Newgarden as well as an exclusive interview with Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing. We also hear from second-place finisher David Malukas of Dale Coyne Racing after he finished second in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, and fellow rookie driver Christian Lundgaard of Denmark, who signed a contract extension with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing last week. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 33– Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Preview with Chris Blair, Kyle Kirkwood, John Bommarito and Larry Foyt August 16, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Show host Bruce Martin has the latest heading into this weekend’s big race, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. Guests include World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President Chris Blair, AJ Foyt Racing driver Kyle Kirkwood, Bommarito Automotive Group President John Bommarito and AJ Foyt Racing President Larry Foyt. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 32– Scott Dixon scores win No. 53, plus Marcus Ericsson, Helio Castroneves, Jimmie Johnson and Josef Newgarden August 9, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Show host Bruce Martin has the latest on all the action with exclusive interviews with Scott Dixon following his big win in the August 7 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Martin also has exclusive interviews with Marcus Ericsson, Helio Castroneves and was part of a group interview with Jimmie Johnson. The show wraps up with three-time Bommarito Automotive Group 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, as he looks to score his fourth victory in that contest on August 20. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode.
Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com
For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 31 Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay, Pato O’Ward and Will Power August 2, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Show host Bruce Martin has the latest on Alex Palou’s contract controversy as Chip Ganassi Racing is taking its driver to court. Also, Martin has exclusive interviews with Gallagher Grand Prix winner Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport, 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP. In our Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway spotlight, Team Penske driver and current NTT IndyCar Series points leader gives our listeners a lap around the World Wide Technology Raceway as he explains the key shifting points on the 1.25-mile oval. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 30 Jimmie Johnson scores career-best INDYCAR finish, plus Pato O’Ward, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and INDYCAR President Jay Frye July 26, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Show host Bruce Martin has the latest on Josef Newgarden’s condition after he was airlifted to an Iowa hospital following last Sunday’s race. He also has exclusive interviews with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson after he scored his highest career INDYCAR finish, a fifth-place in Sunday’s Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 at Iowa Speedway. Martin also has interviews with Sunday’s winner Pato O’Ward, Saturday’s Hy-Veedeals.com 250 winner Josef Newgarden, defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou and INDYCAR President Jay Frye. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 29 Scott Dixon ties Mario Andretti for second on IndyCar’s victory list, plus deep dive into Team Penske July 19, 2022 It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Show host Bruce Martin has the latest from embattled driver Alex Palou, a man with two contracts for 2023. He also has exclusive interviews with Honda Indy Toronto winner Scott Dixon, who won an IndyCar race for the 52nd time in his career, tying him with the legendary Mario Andretti for second on IndyCar’s all-time victory list. The only driver with more wins is AJ Foyt with 67. After that, Martin takes a deep dive into Team Penske with exclusive interviews with Team Penske Team Manager for IndyCar, Kyle Moyer; Team Penske Managing Director for IndyCar, Ron Ruzewski and Team Penske President Tim Cindric. We wrap up the show with Bommarito Automotive Group vice president and general manager Chuck Wallis, as he previews the big race coming up at World Wide Technology Raceway on August 19-20. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY PRESENTED BY THE BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 AT WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY – SEASON 2, EPISODE 28 – Featuring drivers Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson, Alex Palou, Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and WWTR Exec. VP & GM Chris Blair For the first time since 2019, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Canada for the Honda Indy Toronto on the streets of Toronto’s Exhibition Place. The race was halted in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway deliver another all-star lineup of guests. First up is two-time race winner in 2022, Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske. This year’s Indianapolis 500 winner and current points leader Marcus Ericsson is next with additional interviews from defending champion Alex Palou, four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud and World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair, who reveals the weekend schedule for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at WWTR on August 19 and 20. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. Make plans now to be part of the action by visiting www.wwtraceway.com and https://www.bommarito.com For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 5, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio race winner Scott McLaughlin, Jimmie Johnson, and World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. The show gives serious INDYCAR fans an into-the-paddock and inside-the-cockpit look at one of the most exciting sports on Earth. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy Presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive, in-depth interview with team owner Michael Shank of Meyer-Shank Racing. The Ohio native looks ahead to his two-driver team racing in the July 3 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Those include four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2016 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 21, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has an exclusive, in-depth interview with racing legend Mario Andretti, who came to the United States as a 15-year-old immigrant on June 16, 1955. Since that time, Andretti has embodied the “American Dream.” Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 14, 2022 Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Sonsio Grand Prix of Road America winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 7, 2022 The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES kicks into high gear and this week’s Pit Pass Indy keeps pace bringing you exclusive interviews from some of the biggest names in the racing series. Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix winner Will Power of Team Penske, his brother and comedian Damien Power, Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy. It’s another jam-packed episode full of exclusive interviews from some of the biggest names in the May 29 106th Indianapolis 500. Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing, Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Jimmie Johnson, third-place finisher Tony Kanaan, fourth-place finisher Felix Rosenqvist, fifth-place finisher Alexander Rossi and his teammate Colton Herta, four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, top-10 finisher Santino Ferrucci, Ed Carpenter, two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato and INDYCAR President Jay Frye. Bruce Martin and Pit Pass Indy have all the storylines covered in this week’s episode. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2022 Pit Pass Indy is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the “Month of May” – the biggest month of the year for INDYCAR culminating with the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2022. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin previews Sunday’s 106th running of the world’s biggest race with exclusive interviews with Indy 500 pole winner Scott Dixon, sensational Indy 500 rookie Jimmie Johnson, 2018 Indianapolis 500 Will Power and many other drivers in the field of 33 in Sunday’s big race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2022 Pit Pass Indy is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the “Month of May” – the biggest month of the year for INDYCAR culminating with the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2022. The 33 car/drivers combinations that will compete in the Indianapolis 500 are on the track for a full week of practice leading into this week’s qualifications, that will determine the starting lineup for the big race. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with INDYCAR drivers Colton Herta, the winner of last Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix; 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, rookie driver Kyle Kirkwood, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2022 Pit Pass Indy heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the “Month of May” – the biggest month of the year for INDYCAR culminating with the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2022. Before that, however, is Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, which has become an anticipated fixture on the “Month of May” schedule. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with INDYCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal. Martin also has a lengthy feature interview with Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, who talks about the documentary “Pennzoil Presents The Club” that will air on NBC at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday, May 14. “The Club” is an emotional documentary and the only time AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves were able to gather together as the only four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500. It was filmed on July 20, 2021, and Unser passed away after a lengthy health battle on December 9, 2021. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2022 Pit Pass Indy features two interviews with 22-year-old Pato O’Ward of Monterey, Mexico of Arrow McLaren SP Racing. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin talks to O’Ward following his third career INDYCAR SERIES win in the May 1 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. In the second interview, O’Ward and Martin discuss the “Month of May” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, culminating with the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2022. O’Ward also talks about the positive trend involving his contract negotiations to remain with Arrow McLaren SP past this season. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 26, 2022 This week’s Pit Pass Indy brings INDYCAR fans up to speed with interviews from last week’s Indianapolis 500 Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All 32 cars currently entered in the May 29 106th Indianapolis 500 participated in the two-day test session Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin has exclusive interviews with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Indianapolis 500 rookie Jimmie Johnson, 2013 Indy 500 winner and 2004 INDYCAR champion Tony Kanaan, INDYCAR start Colton Herta and internationally popular driver Romain Grosjean. The former Formula One driver is another rookie in this year’s Indianapolis 500. Pit Pass Indy also has breaking news, regarding modifications to this year’s qualifying procedures for the 106th Indianapolis 500. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 19, 2022 The latest edition of Pit Pass Indy previews the Indianapolis 500 Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, scheduled for April 20-21, 2022. Nearly every car/driver combination that is entered in this year’s 106th Indianapolis 500 is expected to compete in two full days of testing on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin brings our listeners up to speed with in-depth interviews from some of the biggest names in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Those include seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who suffered a broken right hand from a crash in practice at Long Beach on April 8. Johnson had surgery to his broken right hand on April 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina at OrthoCarolina. Johnson plans on competing in the two-day test and tells Martin why that test is so important in his first attempt at the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2022. Martin also interviews defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, 2016 INDYCAR champion and 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud, Chip Ganassi Racing driver Marcus Ericsson, INDYCAR rookie driver Kyle Kirkwood of AJ Foyt Racing and Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on this episode of Pit Pass Indy. They all give their thoughts on the importance of this week’s Indy 500 Open Test. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 12, 2022 This week’s Pit Pass Indy is a quick-hitting show that features the winner of the 47th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden. He joins Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin to talk about winning the famed street race for the first time in his career. It was also his second-straight victory. Newgarden also won the March 20 XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway. Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin also gives the latest update on seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who sustained a broken right hand in a crash in practice at Long Beach on April 8. Johnson underwent successful surgery on the injured hand on April 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 5, 2022 This week’s Pit Pass Indy includes an exclusive and in-depth interview with two-time Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Will Power of Team Penske. Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin spent Monday at Power’s home on the shores of Lake Norman in North Carolina. Power discusses his past victories at Long Beach, his fast start to the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and his recent manufacturers test of the Chevrolet 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, V6 engine that will begin INDYCAR competition in 2024 on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 29, 2022 This week’s Pit Pass Indy includes exclusive and in-depth interviews with three of INDYCAR’s top drivers. Pit Pass Indy Show Host Bruce Martin talks with the current series points leader, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin. Martin also catches up with Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing before wrapping up this week’s Pit Pass Indy with Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands. Also, Pit Pass Indy gets each driver’s predictions for this weekend’s NCAA “Final Four” at New Orleans as college basketball will crown a new champion for 2022. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 22, 2022 Jimmie Johnson and The American Legion returned to glory in the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on March 20, 2022, as the second-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver competed in an oval race for the first time in an Indy car. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion delivered with his best INDYCAR finish ever – sixth place on the 1.50-mile Texas Motor Speedway, a track where he is NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin was there to capture Johnson’s reaction from the time he climbed out of his No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing on pit lane at Texas Motor Speedway. Pit Pass Indy also features interviews with six-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon and XPEL 375 race winner Josef Newgarden. Our featured interview is when Dean Kessel, the Chief Marketing Officer of The American Legion, who explains why the veterans service organization has become an active partner with Chip Ganassi Racing and INDYCAR. Last week, it was announced that The American Legion would serve as an “official partner” with INDYCAR in a multi-year deal. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week’s Pit Pass Indy revs up with a preview of the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, the first INDYCAR oval race of the 2022 season. It will also be the first time Jimmie Johnson drives an Indy car on an oval.
It’s a chance for the 46-year-old Johnson to display what he did best as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. Johnson won a NASCAR-record seven races at Texas Motor Speedway in a career that began in 2002 and ended at the end of the 2021 season. His track-record seven wins rank fourth among his career victories at a single track (Dover-11, Martinsville-9, Charlotte-8) and no other Cup driver has won more than four at Texas.
Johnson also owns the track’s series records for consecutive wins (3), laps led (1,152) and top-five finishes (16) in 35 career starts.
Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with Johnson.
Also on this week’s show is five-time Texas Motor Speedway IndyCar race winner Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing.
In a special feature, Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin interviews two drivers from Monterrey, Mexico who remain close friends despite competing in different racing series. It’s INDYCAR’s Pato O’Ward and NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez.
For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 8, 2022 Pit Pass Indy was at the Indiana State Capitol Building when four-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Helio Castroneves was honored by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb on March 3. The Borg-Warner Trophy was unveiled featuring a fourth face for Castroneves on the permanent trophy that honors all winning drivers of the Indianapolis 500. Pit Pass Indy Host Bruce Martin spoke with Castroneves in the Indiana Governor’s Office after the ceremony for an exclusive interview. This week’s Pit Pass Indy also features an in-depth interview with Castroneves’ team owner, Michael Shank, the co-owner of Meyer-Shank Racing on a variety of topics. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 1, 2022 The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SEASON is underway and Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin delivers with an action-packed episode featuring Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race winner Scott McLaughlin, who talks about his first career INDYCAR victory. Also, Pit Pass Indy catches up with defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Helio Castroneves is back as he returns to full-season INDYCAR action. Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren SP joins Martin to talk about why 2022 is an important season for the driver from Sweden. Pit Pass Indy also includes a heartfelt tribute to the late, great, Danny Ongais, who drove with the “foot of an elephant” on the accelerator and earned him such nicknames as “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” and Danny “On the Gas.” For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 22, 2022 Pit Pass Indy features an in-depth and revealing interview with Team Penske driver Will Power. The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Team Penske driver Will Power is a two-time winner on the streets of St. Petersburg with victories in 2010 and 2014. He is also an eight-time pole winner at St. Pete, most recently in 2020. The most revealing aspect of Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin’s interview with Power is the driver’s description of the horrific crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2011. The 15-car pile-up sent Power’s car airborne 25 feet into the air and into the fence. Power suffered a broken back in the crash, but when his car came to a stop, it was facing the damaged car containing Dan Wheldon, who was killed when his head hit one of the fenceposts supporting the wheel-fence after his car had also launched into the fence. Power admits how that sight continues to haunt him to this day and still causes panic attacks. As for the 2022 season, Power believes he can return to championship form and also looks to the future, after his racing career is over. With 40 career wins and 62 career poles, the series championship in 2014 and an Indianapolis 500 victory in 2018, Power has firmly established himself as one of the great drivers in INDYCAR racing. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin conducted an in-depth and revealing interview with Power from his home on Lake Norman, North Carolina as the Team Penske driver prepares for this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg the latest episode of the Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 15, 2022 Two of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ best drivers are also two of its youngest. It’s “Fast Foes” Pato O’Ward, a 22-year-old from Monterey, Mexico, and 21-year-old Colton Herta of Santa Clarita, California. These two drivers have been racing against each other since the karting days and are two of the main contenders for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin conducted a lively and informative interview with both O’Ward and Herta for the latest episode of the Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 8, 2022 The world is celebrating the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy features INDYCAR’s “Nordic Track” of drivers. It’s Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing and Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Although these drivers aren’t competing in any type of winter sports, they are from the Nordic Region of Europe that has produced some great Winter Olympians. For Ericsson and Lundgaard, however, they are preparing for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opening race, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin interviewed both Ericsson and Lundgaard at INDYCAR’s “Content Days” at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 1, 2022 The latest episode of Pit Pass Indy features INDYCAR’s “Flying Frenchmen” – Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport and Simon Pagenaud of Meyer-Shank Racing. Both drivers are on new teams for 2022. Grosjean is a 10-year Formula One veteran who came to INDYCAR in 2021 driving for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR. After an impressive rookie season, the 35-year-old Grosjean has joined the powerful Andretti Autosport operation, driving the famed No. 28 DHL Honda in every race on the schedule, including his first-ever appearance in the Indianapolis 500 on May 29. Pagenaud won the 2016 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and the 2019 Indianapolis 500 with Team Penske. After seven seasons at Team Penske, Pagenaud has moved over to Meyer-Shank Racing for 2022. The INDYCAR season hasn’t even started yet, and Pagenaud has already won a major race. He was one of the four drivers in the No. 60 Acura DPi that was the overall winner of the 60th Rolex 24 at Daytona Sports Car Race January 29-30. It was Pagenaud’s first win in the Rolex 24. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin interviewed both Grosjean and Pagenaud at INDYCAR’s “Content Days” at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 25, 2022 The latest episode of Pit Pass Indy features “Chip’s Champions” – Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon of New Zealand and 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou of Spain. A popular hashtag in INDYCAR is #ChipLikesWinners. The longtime team owner likes champions even more. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin interviewed both Dixon and Palou at INDYCAR’s “Content Days” at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 18, 2021 Popular drivers Jimmie Johnson and Tony Kanaan will both be “Reporting for Duty” with The American Legion once again in 2022. Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, begins his second season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as the driver of the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda. He will drive the full schedule this year after competing in the street and road course races in 2021. That includes his first-ever appearance in the Indianapolis 500 in May. Popular driver Tony Kanaan will drive an American Legion-sponsored Honda in the 106th Indianapolis 500 in May. It will be Kanaan’s 21st Indy 500. He won the race in 2013. Both drivers compete for the famed Chip Ganassi Racing INDYCAR team. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin interviewed both Johnson and Kanaan at INDYCAR’s “Content Days” at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis January 17 and January 18. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 11, 2021 It’s Season 2 Ep. 2 in 2022 for Pit Pass Indy as we speed ahead into the new year of IndyCar action. Our special guest on the second episode of Season 2 is Michael Shank, the winning team owner in the 105th Indianapolis 500. Last May, Shank’s driver, Helio Castroneves, became just the fourth driver to win the Indy 500 four times in his career. Shank, along with co-owner Jim Meyer, enter the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with two, full-time entries this season. Castroneves returns to full-time INDYCAR duty for the first time since 2017, when he finished fourth in the standings at Team Penske. He is reunited with former Team Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud, who moved over to Meyer-Shank Racing during the offseason. Both drivers tested at Sebring Raceway on Monday, January 10 as team testing is underway. Later this month, Castroneves and Pagenaud will park their Indy cars and climb into Meyer-Shank Racing’s Acura DPi racing machines to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA Sports Car classic January 29-30 at Daytona International Raceway. Pagenaud will join full-time drivers Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist along with the team’s endurance race driver, Castroneves. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin interviewed Shank from a windy Sebring Raceway Monday evening to cover a wide range of topics. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
January 4, 2021 It’s Season No. 2 in 2022 for Pit Pass Indy as we speed ahead into the new year of IndyCar action. Our special guest in the first episode of Season 2 is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of his INDYCAR SERIES championship. It’s 1997 Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart. Before he went on to win three NASCAR Cup Series championships and become a Cup Series championship owner with Kevin Harvick in 2014, Stewart was an Indy car racing star. In 1995, Stewart became the first driver in history to win all three United States Auto Club (USAC) National Championships in the same season when he won the Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown series. That made him the perfect fit for a step up to the new Indy Racing League in 1996 as the original goal of that series was to promote grass roots, oval track drivers from the United States. Stewart won the Indy Racing League championship in a 10-race season in 1997 that also included his first career INDYCAR victory at Pikes Peak International Raceway that season. He won two-more INDYCAR contests in 1998 with victories at Disney World and New Hampshire that season. Stewart finished third in the standings that year with Kenny Brack winning the championship and Davey Hamilton second. Stewart traded in his Indy car for a NASCAR Cup Series car in 1999, setting a then-rookie record with three wins his first season. Stewart won Cup Series titles in 2002, 2006 and 2011. He retired from Cup Series racing as a driver following the 2016 season with 49 career wins. Stewart remains as one of NASCAR’s top Cup Series team owners and this year, started an NHRA drag racing team for his wife, Leah Pruett. He also owns one of the top grass roots operations in racing, Tony Stewart Racing. Stewart continues to drive race cars around the country in various divisions at the grass-roots level. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin interviewed Stewart at the famed “Yard of Bricks” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on December 10, 2021. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
December 28, 2021 As we get ready to close 2021, this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy pays tribute to one of racing’s biggest winners this year. It’s Helio Castroneves, who won his fourth Indianapolis 500 on May 30. He joined AJ Foyt, the late Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win the “World’s Biggest Race” four times in their careers. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin spent the day with Castroneves and famed sculptor William Behrends at the artist’s studio at his home in Tryon, North Carolina on December 13. Both Castroneves and Behrends join Martin on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
December 21, 2021 Al Unser was one of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. When he won his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 1987, he joined AJ Foyt as the only drivers to win the famed race four times in a career at that time. Since then, Rick Mears joined them as a four-time winner in 1991 and Helio Castroneves won his fourth Indianapolis 500 on May 30. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin pays tribute to Unser, who died from a rare form of cancer on December 9. Unser was 82. In addition to winning four Indy 500s, Unser also won three INDYCAR National Championships and scored an impressive 39 victories. In addition to his outstanding IndyCar record, Unser also finished fourth in the 1968 Daytona 500 NASCAR race and had another fourth-place finish in a NASCAR race at Riverside, California in 1969. Racing legends Mario Andretti and Rick Mears join show host Bruce Martin to remember the great Al Unser on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
December 14, 2021 Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin wraps up his two-part, in-depth conversation with one of INDYCAR’s all-time greats. It’s “Lone Star J.R.” – three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Johnny Rutherford. Part 1 was last week as Rutherford recalled how he got his start in racing, his NASCAR victory in one of the qualifying races for the 1963 Daytona 500 and his incredible Indianapolis 500 career all the way up through his retirement. Part 2 is how Rutherford survived one of the most dangerous eras of IndyCar racing and his personal thoughts on some of the great drivers that he raced against. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
December 7, 2021 Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin has Part 1 of an in-depth conversation with one of INDYCAR’s all-time greats. It’s “Lone Star J.R.” – three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Johnny Rutherford. The driver from Kansas who later moved with his family to Fort Worth, Texas was one of the great drivers of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He came up in an era when racing was extremely dangerous but was able to survive to enjoy an incredible career. Part 1 includes how Rutherford got his start in racing, his NASCAR victory in one of the qualifying races for the 1963 Daytona 500 and his incredible Indianapolis 500 career all the way up through his retirement. Part 2 will be available next week. The subject of that episode is how Rutherford survived one of the most dangerous eras of IndyCar racing and his personal thoughts on some of the great drivers that he raced against. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOVEMBER 30, 2021 Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin has an in-depth conversation with another one of the young, talented drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. It’s 28-year-old Jack Harvey of Bassingham, England. Harvey gets a new start on a new team at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2022. He will race the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda for the team owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winning driver and three-time CART champion Bobby Rahal, South Side Chicago Industrialist Michael Lanigan and television and comedy icon David Letterman. Harvey will be part of a three-driver lineup that also includes veteran driver Graham Rahal and rookie driver Christian Lundgaard of Denmark. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOVEMBER 23, 2021 Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin has an in-depth conversation with one of the current greats of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, it’s two-time INDYCAR champion Josef Newgarden. Since joining Team Penske in 2017, Newgarden has two INDYCAR championships, a fifth in the standings in 2018 and back-to-back second place finishes in the championship the past two seasons. For any driver in the series that hopes to win the championship, they have to fight off Newgarden in order to reach that goal. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOVEMBER 16, 2021 Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin has an in-depth conversation with INDYCAR President Jay Frye. Among the topics are a quick recap of an outstanding 2021 season, as well as a look ahead to changes for 2022 and even further ahead to when the new engine/car combination hits the track in 2023. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOVEMBER 9, 2021 Mark Miles is “The Boss” of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His actual title is CEO of Penske Entertainment, the company that owns and operates INDYCAR, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and IMS Productions. But Miles is the overall leader of Penske Entertainment and a key member of owner Roger Penske’s senior management. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin caught up with Miles last week to talk about the 2021 season and what lies ahead in 2022 for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as it continues to make positive gains and significant growth. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOVEMBER 2, 2021 It’s time to catch up with 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske. He was a legend in Australia in the Supercars Series where he won three-straight championships and 56 career wins. McLaughlin switched to INDYCAR after the 2020 season. He scored a second-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in the first race of a weekend doubleheader and finished 13th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Pit Pass Indy show host Bruce Martin caught up with McLaughlin last week to talk about the 2021 season and what lies ahead in 2022 for the driver from Christchurch, New Zealand. McLaughlin also talks about his favorite National Football League team and reveals which team he cheers for in college football. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
OCTOBER 19, 2021 This edition of Pit Pass Indy wraps up our exclusive, deep dive interview the great Danny Sullivan, a driver that embodied the glamour and lifestyle of being a professional race driver in the 1980s and 1990s. This episode focuses on his CART IndyCar Series career, including his “Spin and Win” in the 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner and his 1988 CART IndyCar Championship. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
OCTOBER 19, 2021 If ever there was a driver that embodied the glamour and lifestyle of being a professional race driver in the 1980s, it was Danny Sullivan. Beginning with this episode of Pit Pass Indy, we’re going to take a deep dive into the great career of the 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1988 CART IndyCar Champion. He dated beautiful women who were models and actresses including Christie Brinkley and Lisa Hartman before she married actor/singer Clint Black. Sullivan even modeled himself for Town & Country Magazine. Sullivan’s appeal was so strong, he was cast in an episode of the iconic 1980s television show “Miami Vice” in the episode “Florence, Italy.” He played a race car driver accused of murdering a prostitute with some of the filming scenes in pit lane of the Miami Grand Prix. He played golf with the greats of the game and struck up a friendship with Greg Norman that continues today. Sullivan was an “A List” celebrity. He was the epitome of what many in the mainstream thought a race driver should look like. But deep-down, Sullivan was a true racer. It was a long path that brought the driver from Louisville, Kentucky to stardom. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
PIT PASS INDY – EPISODE 27 – Featuring Jimmie Johnson, Roman Grosjean, team owner Michael Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and an exclusive interview with 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou from the NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. OCTOBER 12, 2021 Just a few days after Alex Palou received the awards and accolades as the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, Jimmie Johnson and Romain Grosjean were on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the Rookie Orientation Program. The ROP is an important part of the Indianapolis 500 process as drivers who have never competed on the IMS oval must pass the three-phase, high-speed, on-track test. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin was there to interview Johnson and Grosjean and get their first impressions of preparing for the 106th Indianapolis 500 in 2022. Martin also interviews team owner Michael Andretti and driver James Hinchcliffe, who worked with Grosjean on the team’s radio during ROP. This week’s feature interview is with 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou, who attended his first NASCAR race this past Sunday at the BankofAmerica ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Show host Bruce Martin was there for this exclusive interview with Palou, who met both “The King” – NASCAR great Richard Petty – and “James Bond 007” – actor Daniel Craig, the honorary starter for the NASCAR race. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
OCTOBER 4, 2021 It was a whirlwind of a week of celebration for 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, culminating with the INDYCAR Victory Lap at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on Friday night, October 1. The 24-year-old driver from Spain was honored for his first series championship along with team owner Chip Ganassi, team manager Barry Wanser and chief mechanic Ricky Davis, who won the INDYCAR Championship Chief Mechanic Award presented by Pennzoil. The winning team was awarded with The Astor Cup. Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske was honored for winning the INDYCAR Rookie of the Year award. McLaughlin produced five top-10 finishes, including second place in the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in his first oval race, in the No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. Also honored were second-place in the standings Josef Newgarden, third-in-the standings Pato O’Ward, Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the TAG Heuer “Don’t Crack Under Pressure” Award for advancing the most cumulative places during the season, and Honda Performance Development (HPD) took home the INDYCAR Manufacturers Award for the fourth consecutive season. HPD President David Salters accepted the award on behalf of his team. Show host Bruce Martin interviews the champion, Alex Palou. Martin also has interviews with Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP, Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is over and 24-year-old Alex Palou of Spain is the champion. Palou sealed the championship with a fourth-place finish in the September 26 Acura Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Twenty-one-year-old Colton Herta of nearby Santa Clarita, California scored his second-straight victory. The winner of the September 19 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey won his first Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. He started 14th but led 43 laps in the 85-lap race. Show host Bruce Martin interviews both drivers on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. First up is race winner Herta followed by an in-depth interview with Palou the morning after he became the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will be decided in this weekend’s final race of the season, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Pit Pass Indy has all the storylines entering this weekend’s championship as show host Bruce Martin interviews all three of the drivers still eligible for the title. That includes Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward and two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden as the last three drivers to determine the championship in Sunday’s fabled street race. Twenty-four-year-old Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing has a 35-point lead over 22-year-old Pato O’Ward of Mexico entering the final race of the season. Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske is 48 points back and would have to score the maximum 54 points available in the race to claim a third INDYCAR SERIES championship. This will be the 16th consecutive season in which the NTT INDYCAR SERIES title race will be decided at the final race of the season. This week’s Pit Pass Indy also features interviews with Colton Herta, winner of last Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and INDYCAR Rookie Jimmie Johnson. Show host Bruce Martin also has an extended interview with Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President Jim Michaelian, who talks about the great history of this famed street race that ranks only behind the Grand Prix of Monaco as the great street races in the world. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 A 35-point flip in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship race at the Grand Prix of Portland has Alex Palou back in the lead with just two races remaining. This week’s Pit Pass Indy tells how it all happened as show host Bruce Martin interviews the Chip Ganassi Racing driver as he takes a 25-point lead into the final two races of the 2021 campaign. Palou entered the Portland weekend trailing Pato O’Ward by 10 points. Palou’s dramatic win, combined with O’Ward’s 14th-place finish, has put the 24-year-old driver from Spain in the lead heading into this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Show host Bruce Martin also has interviews with O’Ward, and Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who is third in points just 34 out of the lead. Martin also catches up with Jack Harvey, as he prepares for his final two races at Meyer Shank Racing and Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are just three races remaining in the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with Pato O’Ward of Mexico leading Alex Palou of Spain by just 10 points and two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske by 22. Show host Bruce Martin talks to three drivers who hope to end the season on a positive note. It’s Andretti Autosports drivers Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta. Martin also interviews owner/driver Ed Carpenter of Ed Carpenter Racing. Carpenter drives on the oval tracks of the schedule, but with no more oval races in 2021, he will focus on his two-car operation that includes second-year driver Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands in the No. 21 Chevrolet and veteran driver Conor Daly in the No. 20 Chevrolet. The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues with the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, September 12. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AUGUST 31, 2021 Longtime motorsports journalist Robin Miller passed away on August 25, 2021, after a lengthy battle with multiple Myeloma that had developed into leukemia. Show host Bruce Martin devotes the entire episode of Pit Pass Indy to Miller’s life and legacy. Martin gives his tribute to Miller and interviews some of the all-time greats, including Roger Penske, racing legend Mario Andretti, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dario Franchitti and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2004 INDYCAR SERIES champion Tony Kanaan. Also included is Miller’s acceptance speech when he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, just 12 days before he passed away. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
INDYCAR returns to Iowa Speedway in 2022, and this week's episode focuses on the people who helped make this possible after a one-year layoff. Bruce Martin conducts exclusive interviews with Roger Penske, Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal, and Hy-Vee’s CEO Randy Edeker. Also, Gateway winner Josef Newgarden and rookie driver Romain Grosjean. INDYCAR owner Roger Penske talks about leasing Iowa Speedway from NASCAR to take full control of the race track. Also, Hy-Vee chairman, President and CEO Randy Edeker talks about the Iowa-based supermarket chain and its role as partner at Iowa Speedway. Team owner Bobby Rahal also talks about Hy-Vee’s importance to INDYCAR and to his team, as a full-season sponsor of a third entry beginning in 2022. One of his drivers is Graham Rahal, who was the first driver Hy-Vee sponsored at Iowa in July 2020. Also, a quick look back at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway as Pato O’Ward takes over as the new points leader after Alex Palou was involved in a crash early in the race. Bruce Martin spoke with race winner Josef Newgarden immediately after the race. Also, former Formula One driver Romain Grosjean made his first-ever start on an oval. He spoke with Martin before the race about the differences between oval racing and his forte on the road and street circuits. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s a jam-packed Pit Pass Indy featuring some of the biggest names in both INDYCAR and NASCAR racing on this special edition following the only INDYCAR-NASCAR Tripleheader weekend of the season. Show host Bruce Martin has an exclusive interview with former NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr., he gives his thoughts on former teammate and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson switching gears and joining INDYCAR this season. Martin also interviews Johnson after his best complete race of the season this past Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Team Penske’s Will Power drops by after he won Saturday’s Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix INDYCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway followed by interviews with NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou. Arrow McLaren SP drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist are also guests as they look ahead to the final short oval race of the season on August 21 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Featuring a tribute to Bob Jenkins, a two-part interview with Marcus Ericsson along with interviews with six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward Another action-packed edition of Pit Pass Indy, as show host Bruce Martin has a tribute to the late Bob Jenkins, who passed away on August 9 from brain cancer, a two-part interview with Big Machine Music City Grand Prix winner Marcus Ericsson, six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP race. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AUGUST 4, 2021 As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to action this weekend in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin has an in-depth interview with Ryan Hunter-Reay. The Andretti Autosport driver is one of the most accomplished drivers of this era, with 18 career victories including the 2014 Indianapolis 500. He also won the 2012 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Those accomplishments have earned Hunter-Reay the nickname “Captain America.” Martin has a lively interview with Hunter-Reay as they discuss a variety of topics and recap his extremely impressive racing career. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
JULY 26, 2021 The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has one more weekend off because of the Olympic break, but there is plenty of high-speed, fast-paced action on the newest edition of Pit Pass – Indy. Show host Bruce Martin has an in-depth interview with NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. The popular driver from Brazil has a 39-point lead over Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP with six races remaining beginning with the August 8 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville. Palou talks about the championship battle, what it’s like to be teammates with Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Jimmie Johnson, and his favorite food that he craves after a victory. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is taking a few weeks off after a dramatic first 10 races to the 2021 season. But there is plenty of action on the newest edition of Pit Pass – Indy. Show host Bruce Martin has an in-depth interview with four-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Helio Castroneves. The popular driver from Brazil discusses a variety of subjects, from his recent experience in the SRX Series to his return to INDYCAR in the August 8 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville. Castroneves also admits the “secret” to his perfect hair and which “Dancing With the Stars” competitor was among the first to congratulate him after his big win in the 105th Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 2021. For more INDYCAR coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is taking a few weeks off after a dramatic 10-race stretch to begin the season back in April. But there is plenty of action on the latest edition of Pit Pass – Indy. Show host Bruce Martin has a wide range of guests who talk about a variety of topics. This week’s guests include Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward of Mexico, who is second in the points behind Spain’s Alex Palou. Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing and Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren SP join us to talk about their return to action following injuries. Ryan Norman talks to Martin about his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut at Mid-Ohio on July 4. Martin wraps up this week’s show with an interview with Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, who previews the big INDYCAR-NASCAR Tripleheader weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway August 13-15. INDYCAR’s next race will be a big one – the Big Machine Records Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee the weekend of August 8. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Host Bruce Martin takes NTT INDYCAR SERIES fans behind the scenes from the big Fourth of July Weekend race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Josef Newgarden’s victory in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 4 came on the 50thAnniversary of Team Penske’s first Indy car win when Mark Donohue drove to victory in the 1971 Schaefer 500 at Pocono Raceway. Martin has an exclusive interview with INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Roger Penske, who also owns Team Penske, on this historic win. Newgarden finally broke his streak of bad luck that had kept him from winning the previous two races. He started on the pole and led 73 of the 80 laps in the race to score career victory No. 19. Martin interviews Newgarden after the race. Ohio’s own Graham Rahal and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and INDYCAR rookie Jimmie Johnson also drop in for quick interviews with Martin on this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES gets set for a Fourth of July battle in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin gets fans ready for the fireworks on this week’s episode. This will be the last race before a lengthy four-weekend break because INDYCAR’s television partner, NBC, will televise the Summer Olympics from Tokyo. Combine that with the cancellation of the July 11 Honda Indy Toronto because of Canada’s ongoing battle with COVID-19, and this year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will consist of 16 races instead of 17. INDYCAR won’t have another race until the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville on August 8. Martin interviews Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands, who was forced to miss the previous race at Road America because of a broken clavicle he incurred in a bicycle crash in Indiana on June 14. The feature interview is with 2014 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winning driver Will Power from his home at Lake Norman in North Carolina. For more IndyCar coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES gets the weekend off after hitting the road at Road America for last weekend’s action-packed REV Group Grand Prix. Pit Pass Indy host Bruce Martin brings IndyCar fans up to speed with the action from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and what to expect in the second half of the 2021 season. Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing drove his No. 10 NTT DATA Honda to victory for the second time this season and reclaimed his position as the leader in the championship standings. The Road America thriller featured 231 on track passes, the most since the INDYCAR SERIES returned to this beautiful 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course in 2016. There were 194 passes for position, most since the return. There were also 11 lead changes among seven different drivers. Palou and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson are featured guests on this week’s episode of Pit Pass Indy as they join show host Bruce Martin with insightful interviews. Other guests include former Formula One driver and INDYCAR rookie Romain Grosjean, six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon and fellow drivers Kevin Magnussen, Conor Daly, Marcus Ericsson, Cody Ware and Oliver Askew. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s another action-packed episode of Pit Pass Indy, loaded with content from the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle from June 12-13 along with a look ahead of the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on June 20. Show host Bruce Martin has an all-star lineup of guests including Marcus Ericsson, who scored his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory in last Saturday’s first race of the Detroit doubleheader as well as Sunday’s winner, Pato O’Ward. Martin also catches up with Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, who is also the promoter of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Denker recaps the highs and the lows of the weekend from the promoter’s standpoint. Three of the four drivers from Team Penske sit down with Martin for separate interviews including Will Power, Josef Newgarden and rookie driver Scott McLaughlin. Pit Pass Indy catches up with racing legend Dario Franchitti at Chip Ganassi Racing and also with Scott Pruett, who is working with rookie driver Jimmie Johnson as the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series star continues his transition as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie. Martin’s final guest is four-time Champ Car Series champion Sebastien Bourdais of AJ Foyt Racing. For more IndyCar coverage, follow Bruce Martin at Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After taking a weekend off following the 105th Indianapolis 500, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Detroit for a weekend doubleheader in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. It’s back-to-back races Saturday and Sunday, which means another weekend of double points are available to the INDYCAR regulars. Pit Pass Indy looks back at the other drivers in the top five at the 105th Indianapolis 500 as well as Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske and looks ahead to Detroit. Bruce Martin’s guests include Indy 500 second-place finisher and current NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader Alex Palou, third-place Indy 500 finisher Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske, fourth place Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP, fifth-place finisher Ed Carpenter and 2021 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske. In a special “cross-over” between Pit Pass Moto and Pit Pass Indy, our final guests are the hosts of Pit Pass Moto, PJ Doran, and Dave Sulecki. The history of motorcycle racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway dates all the way back to the track’s opening in 1909. Balloon races were the first events ever held at the Speedway, but later that year, a series of motorcycle races took place before the first auto races were ever held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. More recently, IMS was the site of Moto GP from 2008 to 2015. We compare IndyCar and motorcycle racing in this special “crossover” interview. For more IndyCar coverage, follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 105TH Indianapolis 500 episode features 4-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves as well as Rick Mears, Michael Shank, Simon Pagenaud, Pato O’Ward, Conor Daly, IMS President Doug Boles, Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, 2003 Indy winner Gil de Ferran and Team Penske IndyCar Manager Kyle Moyer. INDIANAPOLIS – It was fast, it was fearless, it was dramatic, and it was historic. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the 105th Indianapolis 500, but this episode we break down the May 30th Memorial Day Classic with the biggest names in the race. Show host Bruce Martin gives an in-depth interview with race winner Helio Castroneves, who became just the fourth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times in his career joining the greats AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Bruce also interviews the man who became a four-time Indy 500 winner 30 years ago, Rick Mears, who was one of Castroneves’ mentors when he was at Team Penske. Winning team owner Michael Shank, stops by from the “Yard of Bricks” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the day after the race as does Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. Other guests on this week’s show include third-place finisher Simon Pagenaud of Team Penske, fourth-place Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP, Indy 500 lap leader Conor Daly, who was out front for 40 laps on Sunday. Wrapping up the show are interviews with Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran and Team Penske IndyCar Manager Kyle Moyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
INDIANAPOLIS – Start your engines early for Sunday’s 105th Indianapolis 500. This week’s episodei s a special preview of the “World’s Greatest Race” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 30. Host Bruce Martin gives a complete tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with guests Scott Dixon, who won his fourth Indy 500 Pole on Sunday; the legendary racing hero AJ Foyt; three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves; two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya; popular driver and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan; two-time winner Arie Luyendyk; James Hinchcliffe; Conor Daly; and young racing star Colton Herta, who starts in the middle of Row 1. Also featured are interviews with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar owner Roger Penske, who has five cars in the starting lineup for the Indy 500 and the drama it took to get all five in this past weekend. Michael Cannon is Dixon’s engineer and stops by to explain the great driver’s success and Penske Corporation President Bud Denker talks about the successful return of fans to this year’s Indianapolis 500 and what to expect the next race, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
They are on the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the “Month of May” for the 105th Indianapolis 500 is underway. The action kicked off last Saturday with 20-year-old Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands winning the GMR Grand Prix on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. VeeKay started seventh, was able to track down Romain Grosjean of France and use some brilliant strategy and a fast pit stop toward the end of the race to claim his first career IndyCar victory. VeeKay became the sixth-youngest driver to win in IndyCar history. The Dutch driver also gave Ed Carpenter Racing its first-ever victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was also a fitting “Welcome Home” for ECR team partner Tony George, whose family used to own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before selling it to Roger Penske on November 4, 2019. VeeKay’s win continues a trend that began with Alex Palou getting his first career win the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 18. Pato O’Ward got his first-career IndyCar win in the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2. Now, the focus turns to the 105th Indianapolis 500 as practice for the world’s greatest race began on Tuesday, May 18 and runs through “Fast Friday.” It’s Armed Forces Qualifying Day on Saturday, May 22 followed by the final day of qualifications on Sunday, May 22 featuring Last Chance Qualifying for the final Row 11 from 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 pm Eastern Time. The run for the pole and the starting order for the first three rows will be determined in Fast Nine Qualifying from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time. A final two-hour practice for the field of 33 will follow from 5-7 p.m. Pit Pass Indy will keep you up to speed on this year’s Indianapolis 500 with another action-filled lineup that includes guests Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Jimmie Johnson, Arie Luyendyk, Ed Carpenter and Dale Coyne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pit Pass Indy is loaded with content this week as the “Month of May” kicks off this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with three full weeks of activity culminating with the 105th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30. But action kicks off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday with practice and qualifications for Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix on the IMS Road Course. There have already been two races this May, however. Texas Motor Speedway hosted a doubleheader weekend with the Genesys 300 on Saturday night, May 1 with Scott Dixon driving to another dominating victory for the second year in a row. On Sunday, May 2, 21-year-old Pato O’Ward scored his first career IndyCar win in the XPEL 375. Today’s show will take a look back at the Texas doubleheader. It was going to be the theme of last week’s Pit Pass Indy, but with the passing of three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Bobby Unser at the age of 87, we created a tribute to one of the biggest names in Indy 500 history. After the two Texas races we take a post-race “Pit Walk” featuring on some of the biggest stories that came out of the Texas doubleheader including race winners Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward, Team Penske rookie Scott McLaughlin, four-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Rick Mears, Team Penske race strategist Jon Bouslog, Graham Rahal, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Colton Herta and Arrow McLaren SP team owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson as well as team president Taylor Kiel. Our featured guest this week is Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles, who discusses the plans for 137,000 fans at this year’s Indianapolis 500, making it the largest sporting event in the World since the COVID-19 Pandemic began last year. We also discuss a variety of interesting topics with Miles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week begins with some sad news as three-time Indianapolis 500 winning driver Bobby Unser passed away late Sunday night after a lengthy illness at the age of 87. Upon reflecting on the life of this Indy 500 legend (who is also a 10-time Pikes Peak Hill Climb champion), a line from Dr. Seuss comes to mind: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Not only was Unser one of IndyCar racing’s most legendary drivers, he was also one of its greatest personalities. He was fast and fearless on the track, and talkative and controversial outside of the car. He won 37 IndyCar Series races in both the United States Auto Club (USAC) and CART. He also won 52 poles in his career. His Indy 500 wins came in 1968, 1975 and 1981. Once his racing career was over, Unser became part of ABC’s television crew that telecast the Indianapolis 500 and other IndyCar races on TV. His personality and bombastic style made him a fan favorite. The episode of Pit Pass Indy is entirely devoted to Unser as host Bruce Martin gives his highly personal reflections on a driver who was a hero as a youngster and became a close friend in life. Racing legend and 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti, a friend with Unser for most of his career and one of his fiercest rivals, gives his thoughts on Unser. Also, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears pays tribute to his former teammate at Penske Racing. Instead of recapping the doubleheader action at Texas Motor Speedway this past weekend, those interviews will be part of next week’s show on Pit Pass Indy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ST. PETERSURG, FLORIDA – The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is off to a flying start and Host Bruce Martin keeps pace by providing interviews with some of the biggest names in the series like Colton Herta, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Conor Daly, and Jimmie Johnson. Two races into the season and it appears that youth is not just served, it’s being showcased in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Twenty-four-year-old Alex Palou won the season opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on April 18. This past weekend, 21-year-old Colton Herta started on the pole and led 97 laps in the 100-lap Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to score his fourth career victory. That ties him with his father, Bryan, who is on the team’s radio calling race strategy for his son this season at Andretti Autosport. It’s the first time the two have worked together on the same race team and the results have so far been very impressive. Find our full show notes at evergreenpodcasts.com/pit-pass-indy. You can follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 and read more of his work at www.speedsport.com. Pit Pass Indy is a production of Evergreen Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is underway after a spectacular debut weekend for a new driver at Chip Ganassi Racing. Alex Palou of Spain became just the third driver to score an IndyCar win in his Chip Ganassi Racing debut when the 24-year-old from Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain led 56 of the 90 laps in the race to win Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. The other two drivers to win in their CGR IndyCar debut were Michael Andretti in 1994 and Dan Wheldon in 2006. Last year, America got to know Alex Palou when the then-rookie driver from Spain had an impressive season with Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh. It certainly impressed team owner Chip Ganassi, who hired Palou to replace Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda. In the first race of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season, Palou got to know Victory Lane. This was a race where so much attention was placed on a first-time driver for Chip Ganassi Racing. But instead of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in the No. 48, it was Palou in the No. 10. He defeated a charging Will Power by 0.4016 seconds. Palou was able to use a consistent driving style to keep Power at bay, as the Team Penske driver had nearly half of his 200 seconds of push-to-pass to use in the final 10 laps. Because Power was able to hit the push to pass button, he tightened the gap to just 1.2300 seconds to the leader as they raced around the picturesque road course outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Palou was able to fend off the pressure and stay 1.8311 seconds ahead of Power’s Chevrolet beginning the final lap. He drove to the first checkered flag of his career as he scored his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory. Palou was one of three Chip Ganassi Racing drivers in the top eight. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon was third and Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson was eighth. Pit Pass Indy caught up with Palou Friday at Barber Motorsports Park to talk to the popular Spaniard about joining one of the elite teams in INDYCAR. The featured interview for this week’s episode, however, is Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is the first to admit he has a lot to learn and a long time to get there as he switches gears from a legendary career in NASCAR to an IndyCar rookie. Although he struggled with the results over the weekend, he kept the expectations low. He qualified 21st in the 24-car field, avoided a first-lap crash that was triggered when Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden spun, and was able to finish the race 19th, three laps down. Pit Pass Indy had a lengthy interview with Johnson a few weeks ago and he talks about the reason he parked his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in NASCAR to begin a new career in the No. 48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Finally, Pit Pass Indy caught up with McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who skipped this past weekend’s Formula One race in Imola, Italy to support his IndyCar effort at Arrow McLaren SP, that includes Pato O’Ward of Mexico and Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden. O’Ward won the pole and was one of the leading contenders in the race. All of that, and more, on this week’s edition of Pit Pass Indy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's inaugural episode features our host, Bruce Martin, interviewing Takuma Sato, Bobby Rahal, Michael Lanigan, Michelle Collins, and Doug Boles. Bruce was able to conduct these interviews on February 19th, 2021 at the Borg-Warner Trophy Unveiling. Forty-four-year-old Takuma Sato is one of the most exciting drivers in IndyCar. His motto is "No attack, no chance." After seven seasons in Formula One, Sato joined IndyCar in 2010. On August 23rd of last year, Sato, this time under the ownership of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, claimed his second Indy 500 victory. In the interview on today's episode, he shares what it feels like to see his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy for a second time. Bruce also shares his interview with Sato's team owner, Bobby Rahal, who was also a true driving legend of IndyCar racing. Rahal is a three-time cart series champion. He won 24 races in his driving career, most notably the 1986 Indianapolis 500. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is also co-owned by former TV talk show host David Letterman and south side Chicago industrialist Michael Lanigan, a very interesting man in himself. Lanigan owns the Panama Canal Railroad outright. Enjoy our interview with him, also from February 19th, as he discusses his first Indianapolis 500 as a team owner. The Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the most iconic and famous trophies in all of the world. It's right up there with the Stanley Cup in terms of recognition. When people see that trophy, they instantly know that it’s for the Indy 500. It's been awarded since the mid-1930s and the next guest is Michelle Collins, the Global Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Borg-Warner. She shares a little bit about the trophy and what it means to her company to have such a longstanding relationship with one of the greatest sporting events in the world. The final interview on today's show is with Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, who talks about how challenging 2020 was, trying to operate the facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant that last year's Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 NASCAR Weekend was held without spectators. Boles also talked about his hopes for the 2021 Indy 500, which will hopefully have spectators if the Indiana and Marion County officials allow it. Thank you for joining us today. Keep up with the latest IndyCar news by following Bruce on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500 or visit SPEEDSPORT.COM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Journalist Bruce Martin gives racing fans an inside look at the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar series in this fast-paced podcast, featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices