Have you had enough of Paul Tracy yet IndyCar fans? No, you have not. Today AJ Foyt Enterprises announced that they will be hiring Paul Tracy to drive the #14 at The Milwaukee Mile this weekend in place of the injured and convalescing Poor Vitor Meira. This makes for not a pairing of two of the most outspoken characters in open-wheel racing, but also two of the oldest. Not that either of them is mellowing much in their advanced age.
"When I started my career, I competed against A.J.," said Tracy, a rookie in 1991. "He was one of my idols growing up. I haven't told too many people this, but he was one of the guys I modeled myself after. I'm a little rough around the edges like him and I say what I feel. There's no b.s., and that's one of the things I've always admired about him."Recall the Chrome Horn already has deals in place to race in the Canadian events for KV Racing, so for now this is a one-race deal. However, it's pretty impressive as one-offs go considering that Tracy has victories at Milwaukee in CART/CCWS events in 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2005. That probably played into the hire since this race is sponsored by ABC Supply Co, which is the primary sponsor of Foyt's team.
(MORE from Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)
In a related note, check out this stunning picture from Matt Dial of The Star of Vitor Meira's impact on Sunday, noting that his helmet is where the steering wheel should be. This work should be entitled "In celebration of the HANS device."
Notice also how much the SAFER barrier has flexed. Had that been exposed concrete this impact would have had a much more serious result.
Jovy Marcelo comes to mind. I'm thankful that the safety has been improved so substantially. I wish Vitor well, with a rapid recovery...and a first ICS win in the not-too-distant future.
Meanwhile, I'm very happy to see Paul in the seat again. Love him or hate him, he's always good for a story and some exciting race moments. Since the Mile is so much a driver's track, I would not count him out at all...a driver can carry a car here, moreso than at most other tracks.
Tracy is good for the league and should be racing full time. Every sport needs a "bad guy," and Tracy seems more than willing to take on that role.
Jeff, I think you've been "punk'd" by Roy Hobbson, or something.
IF this is true, mrs. mmack and I will be seen on ABC TV holding up a big cardboard sign with "Hey Paul, Crash in OUR Corner!" printed on it.
Come to think of it, PT would probably vault the fence, eat all our Famous Dave's BBQ, drink all our beer, and randomly headbutt people in our section if we did that, so perhaps we won't.
To paraphrase Guy Fieri, "PT driving for AJ? That's CRAZY!!!"
egads!...PT and AJ?...has the ozone layer dropped significantly lately or is AJ having brain farts?!