Latest news with #BruceMartin
Fox Sports
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Josef Newgarden laments what could have been in Indy 500 three-peat bid
Bruce Martin Special to INDIANAPOLIS — There's a reason why no driver in history has won three straight Indy 500s. Because it's hard. Even with perhaps the fastest car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Sunday's 109th Indianapolis 500, Team Penske's Josef Newgarden was starting in the back row. It came after INDYCAR Series officials heavily penalized Team Penske for modifying the rear attenuator. Newgarden knew he would have to put on the race of his life to win his third-straight Indy 500. Newgarden had a lot working against him, even with the fastest car. The winning driver has never won the Indianapolis 500 from 28th or lower. Newgarden was starting 32nd. Newgarden laid back at the start of the race on the first green-flag lap because he saw the potential of a crash at the back of the pack. Sure enough, Marco Andretti and Jack Harvey were involved in a crash in Turn 1 that knocked Andretti out of the race. Harvey was able to continue but Newgarden was nowhere near the calamity when it occurred. Once the race finally settled down, Newgarden proved he had one of the fastest cars on the track. The No. 2 Shell Chevrolet raced its way through the field to as high as sixth place on Lap 128. He had the right strategy to fight for the win over the final 32 laps. Newgarden made his scheduled pit stop on Lap 133 and had an issue. He returned to the track but came back down pit road on Lap 134 and never returned to action. "It looks like some fuel pressure issues, so I'm not sure," Newgarden said after he climbed out of the car. "It's some kind of anomaly or something we've never seen before. "It's just unfortunate for the whole group. It's a team sport, which that very much shows it. You guys were definitely right on pace for what you had to do today to have a shot to make history." Newgarden reflected on what could have been on Sunday. "It's tough to not have a shot here at the end," he said. "It's a team sport. It takes everything to win here. "I'm still immensely grateful to run at Indianapolis. As tough as it is to take, I still feel grateful to be out here today. I just wish we had a chance to fight for it." Newgarden began his day loudly booed by many fans during driver introductions over the latest controversy surrounding the team. Although he seemed to use that for motivation earlier in the week, he remained determined to give it a shot at becoming the first driver to win three-straight Indy 500s. It's a record that will remain unachieved, for now. Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports writer and contributor to Follow him on X at @BruceMartin_500 . recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
What happens when the ‘iconic' Indy 500 Borg-Warner Trophy runs out of room?
Bruce Martin Special to INDIANAPOLIS — When the Borg-Warner Trophy appeared for the first time in Victory Lane after the 1936 Indianapolis 500, it had plenty of room on the original trophy to display the faces of the winning drivers, beginning with Ray Harroun in 1911. But it ran out of room on the original trophy after Bobby Rahal won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986. The solution was to mount the 80-pound, 4-foot-tall trophy on an additional base, beginning with the 1987 Indianapolis 500. Rahal was the last driver's face on the original trophy and Al Unser the first on the base after he won his fourth Indy 500 in 1987. Today, the Borg-Warner Trophy is 110-pounds and 5-foot-four-inches-and-three-quarters tall. As each Indianapolis 500 has passed and more winners have been added to the base of the trophy, it will once again run out of space in 2034. BorgWarner's creative team is working on a solution when the base fills up with the addition of a second base that will feature the winner of the 2035 Indianapolis 500 as its first face. "We're still throwing that around — what the second base is going to look like. But the last time we did this, we added on a complete additional base, which makes the trophy stand even taller, allowing for many more faces to come," BorgWarner CEO Joseph Fadool said Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Between now and then, we'll figure out the right approach to do it or maybe something a little bit different. "The unique thing over time, the trophy actually grows in size and stature and importance, so I think it's just fitting for the importance of Indy." The Borg-Warner Trophy is really a measurement of time and the history of the Indianapolis 500. Each face represents a different tale, a different era and a glimpse back in time. "What a great way to put that," Fadool said. "As we talked about, the trophy is growing in stature, growing physically, becoming even more important over time and just represents excellence and teamwork, which is all that takes to win this race. "We're just proud to be a part of it, and I know all of our BorgWarner employees just love to be a part of this INDYCAR Series, especially here at the Indianapolis 500." It all began back in 1935. Before the Borg-Warner Trophy, there was the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy. It was initially awarded to the leader of the race at the 400-mile mark. It was retired when owner Harry Hartz won it three times. The Borg-Warner Trophy was commissioned in 1935 and officially became the annual prize for Indianapolis 500 victors in 1936. The Art Deco design of the Borg-Warner Trophy includes wings on the side that symbolize the speed of flight. But the most unique feature was the sculpted faces representing each of the 24 drivers who had already won the race when the trophy debuted in 1936. The driver that won it that day was Louie Meyer, the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. As the new Borg-Warner Trophy was placed on the back of his winning race car, Meyer asked for a cold bottle of buttermilk, becoming the first driver to have milk as his victory celebration after winning the Indianapolis 500. Two great traditions were created on the same day in 1936. Since then, every race winner has had his face added to this iconic trophy, which has become the symbol for reaching the pinnacle of performance. Winners do not get to take the Borg-Warner Trophy home. It stays on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Winning drivers and team owners receive a sterling silver replica of the trophy which is fondly referred to as the Baby Borg. After the winner's sterling silver image is attached to the main trophy, a replica image is attached to the Baby Borg's lacquered wood base. William Behrends has been sculpting the faces of the Indy 500 winners since 1990. The 2024 winner, Josef Newgarden, was the 35th face he has sculpted for the trophy. Behrends, who began sculpting when he was 26 years old, has been commissioned to immortalize a wide variety of subjects. Those subjects include Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, automotive pioneer Henry Ford II, golf legend Bobby Jones, and Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, who was Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835. Behrends grew up in Wisconsin and has always had a special place in his heart for the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." "Growing up in the Midwest, I was always aware of the Indianapolis 500," Behrends said. "The first race I really noticed was 1963 when Parnelli (Jones) won. I was really fascinated by him and that win stuck in my memory. "Each year I look forward to working with the Indy 500 winner to capture his emotions and spirit so they can be part of the Borg-Warner Trophy for years and years to come." Then, there is the tale of Jack Mackenzie, who was once the caretaker of the Borg-Warner Trophy. Mackenzie was a student at Butler University in Indianapolis when he became the caretaker of the trophy in 1953. He earned $75 for his first year in that role and was responsible for transporting the trophy to various events throughout the month of May. Mackenzie stored the 80-pound sterling silver trophy in his dorm room at his fraternity house. He hauled it around town in the backseat of his car, often covering it with an army blanket for added security. Despite his best efforts, the trophy once vanished from his room in the fraternity house. Mackenzie said when he returned home from a date, the Borg-Warner Trophy was missing. He eventually found it in the basement of his fraternity house where it was being used as an impromptu drinking vessel. Mackenzie relinquished his trophy duties following the 1983 Indianapolis 500 saying at the time, "I've had my fun, I've enjoyed going to all the different activities associated with the speedway. It's time to let somebody else have some fun." The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has maintained control of the Borg-Warner Trophy ever since. "It's something all the drivers look forward to having their face on if they can win the Indianapolis 500," Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR President Doug Boles said. Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports writer and contributor to Follow him on X at @BruceMartin_500 . BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE: Ranking Indy 500 drivers from 33 to 1: Can anyone unseat Josef Newgarden? Got milk? 33 potential Indy 500 winners pick preferred dairy option Pato O'Ward pens letter to Indy 500: 'Had my heart broken here … but it also fuels me' No oval experience, no problem: Rookie Robert Shwartzman captures Indy 500 pole Rash of Crash: Inside a wild weekend of wrecks during Indy 500 prep From 'magical' to 'legendary': Drivers describe the Indy 500 in one word 2025 Indy 500 liveries: See the designs of all 34 cars on the track at The Brickyard Counting down the 25 most memorable moments in Indy 500 history recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Rash of Crash: Inside a wild weekend of wrecks during Indy 500 prep
Bruce Martin Special to INDIANAPOLIS — The past three days of on-track activity ahead of the 109th Indianapolis 500 included a "Rash of Crash." When Scott McLaughlin's No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet slammed into the Turn 2 wall and went airborne in Sunday afternoon's practice session, it was the fourth serious crash of the weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. McLaughlin's Team Penske crew prepared Josef Newgarden's backup car but decided to pull out of the Fast 12 qualification session to get it ready for Monday's full-field practice session for the 109th Indianapolis 500. It highlights the risk versus reward of racing high-speed Indy cars around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 to this weekend's qualifications, danger lurks just around every corner for every driver that hits that track. But these are athletes that look danger in the face and don't flinch. That is why 350,000 fans will fill the sold-out grandstands on Sunday for this year's Indianapolis 500 in the ultimate battle of man versus machine. The famed auto racing journalist and publisher Chris Economaki used to say tracks promoted racing drivers as "death defying daredevils" in the 1930s through the 1960s. Of course, in modern times, that can't be used for liability reasons, but part of the allure of the Indy 500 is these are athletes who risk it all to compete in the "World's Biggest Race." The fact each driver involved in every crash walked away uninjured and were back on track to try it again is a major testament to the safety of the current Indy car. The "Rash of Crash" began on Fast Friday. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyffin Simpson crashed in Turn 4 during a qualification simulation. His No. 8 Honda backed into wall and briefly lifted off the ground, tipped on the left side, did a quarter roll on its wheels and skidded down the front straight before coming to a stop at the entrance of pit road. Simpson returned to action in a backup car for Saturday morning's practice session. Also on Friday, Kyle Larson crashed his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, but it was mundane by comparison, a three-quarter spin before making front-end contact in Turn 3. Larson returned to the track later that day. But the crashes were more serious beginning on Saturday. Marcus Armstrong, who had been one of the fastest drivers in Indy 500 practice for Meyer Shank Racing, got loose and made hard rear and left side contact with the Turn 1 SAFER Barrier. The car slid down the track and had secondary left-side contact in Turn 2. His No. 66 Honda did not tip or go airborne. Colton Herta, however, had a vicious and thunderous crash in Turn 1 on his qualification attempt on Saturday. The No. 26 Gainbridge Honda did a half-spin before pile-driving into the SAFER Barrier. The car overturned and slid along the track upside-down, making secondary impact with the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier. The aeroscreen played a major role in protecting Herta from potential serious. Herta walked away and returned to the track and qualified 29th for the 33-car starting lineup. That was the prelude to McLaughlin's major crash during Sunday's Fast 12 practice, ruining the chances of the fastest car at the Speedway to make a qualification attempt. At the time of his crash, McLaughlin had just completed the fastest lap of the practice session at 233.553 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet. McLaughlin's car hammered the Turn 2 wall, launching the car into the air before it slammed heavily into the asphalt on its left side. The impact left a deep gash in the asphalt of the race, which had to repaired by track safety workers. McLaughlin's car bounced onto its wheels and slid to rest at the exit of the corner. McLaughlin was uninjured, but distraught that he crashed what could have easily been the pole-winning car for the second straight year at the Indy 500. "I'm just really, really, really, really sorry for everybody at Team Penske and the guys on the (No.) 3 car, and everybody on the 2 (Josef Newgarden), 12 (Will Power) and everyone who builds these cars," McLaughlin said after he was released from the IU Health Medical Center. "It (the car) was talking to me, and I sort of felt it and I should have backed out. "But you know you are trying to complete a run to see what it feels like and was it worth the risk. It probably wasn't. I'm incredibly sad. … You just try and brace yourself and hope you don't go in the catch fence. I'm very grateful to INDYCAR for the safety. My team and the SAFER Barriers kept me safe." McLaughlin returns to action for Monday's full-field practice session and by opting to sit out the Fast 12 qualification session, will start 12th in Sunday'smain event. Ironically, he will be joined by his two Team Penske teammates, Newgarden and McLaughlin, as INDYCAR officials pulled both cars out of line for working on the car in the qualifying line after it had been in technical inspection. Both teams had made repairs and/or modifications to the attenuator on the rear of the car. That aside, McLaughlin's focus is preparing a car capable of winning the race on Sunday. "You just have to get on with it," McLaughlin said. "If they can build a car for me fantastic. I have the best crew on pit lane. I'm really gutted for them. I just destroyed it. "It's hard to take, especially now. You kind of wish it was for something, but it was for nothing in practice. But ultimately, those are the decisions that you make at that speed, and I chose to keep the run going. That's on me." Engineers and personnel have all indicated the hybrid unit changes the balance of pressure on a race car, which means weight shifting from front to rear and diagonally from right rear to left front and left rear to right front. But they all indicated it is too early to blame that as the reason for the crashes at this year's Indianapolis 500. Friday and Saturday's on-track activity were on windy days, and that can dramatically impact an Indy car's ability to maintain grip at very high speeds. The bottom line — these are race cars traveling around a 2.5-mile race course designed in 1909 with 45-degree turns traveling at over 233 miles per hour. Of course, the crashes are going to be big. FOX Sports spoke with several IndyCar Series drivers about why the last three days included some spectacular crashes and if the extra weight provided by the hybrid unit played a role. "… it proves the cars are really safe, because everyone got out of these horrendous crashes without a scratch," four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves said on Sunday. "That's a plus. "Of course, being in the car right now and living it, you can see the cross-weight is a little different. It's not so much the weight of the hybrid, but the floor of the car. I remember last year, it was crazy in that situation and now with the added weight … "But as far as cars flipping over, I've had that situation in the past. We are traveling over 230 miles an hour, but everyone is coming out safe and that is the important part. Scott Dixon is a six-time INDYCAR Series Champion, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner and the second winningest driver in IndyCar history with 58 career victories. At 44, Dixon is the "Village Elder" of INDYCAR. He is the wise sage of the series and has seen plenty in his career, both good and bad. What has made Dixon so great is his ability to adapt and survive the danger in a risky business. "Conditions have been tough, especially Saturday with the wind," Dixon told FOX SPorts. "The hybrid doesn't make it any easier, that's for sure, but it's the same for everybody and you have to dial it in. "Some big crashes, bigger than we have seen in recent years. But I think that happens every year where you have people pushing the limits. We had a couple today and a couple yesterday, it's just part of it, especially when you go from race trim to qualifying trim, that can be a big shift. "Luckily, everybody is OK. "It's not easy, man. It's difficult out there." That's why the drivers in the Indianapolis 500 become larger than life heroes, if they can avoid the danger that awaits them around the next turn. Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports writer and contributor to Follow him on X at @BruceMartin_500 . BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE: Pato O'Ward pens letter to Indy 500: 'Had my heart broken here … but it also fuels me' Marcus Ericsson calls winning 2022 Indy 500 'a dream come true' in letter to fans From 'magical' to 'legendary': Drivers describe the Indy 500 in one word 2025 Indy 500 liveries: See the designs of all 34 cars on the track at The Brickyard Everything to know about the Indy 500: Entry list, schedule, Carb Day, favorites Counting down the 25 most memorable moments in Indy 500 history INDYCAR Power Rankings: Will the Indy 500 jumble this list? recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Indy 500 sellout will entertain 350,000 fans: 'These are the good old days'
Bruce Martin Special to INDIANAPOLIS — The 109th Indianapolis 500 will be contested in front of a sellout crowd of 350,000 fans, Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced Friday morning. That means the television blackout for Central Indiana has been lifted and the first Indianapolis 500 televised for FOX Sports will be available both live and later that evening on a re-air on WXIN, FOX59. "Having a sellout is emblematic of this beautiful thing we have now in INDYCAR, FOX Sports and a lot of hard work from people pushing this sport in the right direction," INDYCAR team owner Chip Ganassi told FOX Sports. "We got the Penske deal down, we got the FOX deal done, we got the race sold out, now let's get back to huge crowds here for Pole Day. "These are the 'Good Old Days' we're in now." According to IMS and INDYCAR President Doug Boles, just a few hundred reserved grandstand tickets remain available and are expected to be sold by the conclusion of Indy 500 qualifying this weekend. It's the first sellout since the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016. The local blackout was lifted that year. In 2024, a heavy rainstorm delayed the start of the Indy 500 by four hours. The local TV blackout was lifted for that to accommodate the massive crowd in case they had to leave and miss the race because of the long delay. "We are really excited to say that sometime between now and the next handful of hours, the Indianapolis 500 for the 109th running presented by Gainbridge will have a grandstand sellout," Boles announced. "We are under four digits in terms of tickets remaining. We wanted to get this announcement out now. Those fans that are thinking about coming, they've got a few hours to get that done. "I think before we get to the end of practice on Monday it will definitely be done. Swe wanted to make sure that we told folks that this will be an Indianapolis 500 sellout — which we're excited about." Sunday is a huge sports day in Indianapolis with the largest single-day sporting event in the world in the Indianapolis 500, followed by the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in downtown Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. By lifting the television blackout, fans will not have to choose between the re-air of the Indy 500 or the Pacers game. For those fans that attended the Indy 500 in person, they have the opportunity to watch the FOX Sports telecast later Sunday night. "The Pacers are playing in town that evening, but for a lot of our fans who are here for the race, their tradition when they get home is to go home and watch the Indianapolis 500," Boles said. "I'm sure many are trying to figure out how to bounce between a Pacers game — which we hope is a win — and the Indianapolis 500 here locally. "We're really excited about that. It's going to be a fun time over the course of the next few days. "But for the first time since 2016, we have a grandstand sellout." By selling out all grandstand seats, fans can still attend with general admission tickets for the massive Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. "A lot of those folks that buy a GA ticket are folks that come to the Snake Pit. A lot of the younger generation buy their tickets here over the course of the next week, so we'll continue to sell GA tickets," Boles explained. "But we do anticipate very, very nearly 350,000 people here on race day. "We will be the second-largest city in the state of Indiana inside the racetrack on May 25th. We are really excited about that." Boles indicated the majority of the tickets that remain are on the north end of the track between Turns 3 and 4. "The pass for last year's win at the Indianapolis 500 happened right in front of those seats, and there's been a lot of activity," Boles said. "You can think of the Emerson Fittipaldi-Al Unser, Jr. moment [in 1989] back there. That is one of the most exciting turns on the racetrack, and certainly a lot of folks who saw Pato O'Ward coming out of Turn 2 down the backstretch had no idea who the winner was going to be. And those folks in Turn 3 and the north chute knew who was going to win because they saw the pass right in front of them." There are also single tickets located throughout the massive grandstands. In 2016, the Indianapolis 500 was a milestone moment celebrating the 100th running of the world's biggest race. This year's sellout is another indication that the Indy 500 is back to its Goliath status as one of the most incredible sporting events on the planet. "It's super exciting as a driver to perform on that stage and I'm super happy for Roger Penske," said 2024 Indy 500 pole winner Scott McLaughlin told FOX Sports, referring to the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Team Penske. "Every time you come back here, this place looks even better. "That's an awesome thing." Josef Newgarden is chasing history, as the Team Penske driver attempts to win the Indy 500 for the third year in a row — a feat that's not yet been achieved. "It's an amazing, historical facility, an incredible event. Tere is nothing like it on the planet," Newgarden said. "What I would call the resurgence of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis 500 has been a real joy to be in this generation. "This is one of the best generations in INDYCAR history. It's pretty impressive. I like the track INDYCAR is on at the moment. We're really heading in the right direction. "It's hard to beat this event when you see it in person. We want everyone to feel the magic." Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports writer and contributor to Follow him on X at @BruceMartin_500 . BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE: Pato O'Ward pens letter to Indy 500: 'Had my heart broken here … but it also fuels me' 2025 Indy 500 liveries: See the designs of all 34 cars on the track at The Brickyard Everything to know about the Indy 500: Entry list, schedule, Carb Day, favorites Counting down the 25 most memorable moments in Indy 500 history INDYCAR Power Rankings: Will the Indy 500 jumble this list? recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tax Systems acquired by Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners has acquired Tax Systems, a UK-based tax and accounting software provider, from Bowmark Capital. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Providence, a firm specialising in investments across media, communications, education, and technology sectors, stated that its funding will drive Tax Systems' ongoing platform growth and innovation. The investment aims to enhance tax and regulatory compliance solutions while expanding into both established and new markets. Established in 1991, Tax Systems provides software and solutions designed to digitise tax compliance, allowing tax professionals to automate workflows, improve compliance, reduce risk, and extract valuable insights from their tax operations. According to Providence, the company supports a client base of more than 1,500, including multinational corporations, more than 80% of the leading accounting firms in the UK and Ireland, and around 40% of FTSE 100 companies. Providence senior managing director and co-head of Europe Karim Tabet said: 'We are excited by the opportunity to partner with Tax Systems. Throughout Bowmark's ownership, the company has developed into a specialist leader in regulatory and compliance software. We believe this is a large and fragmented category, with constant changes and strong digitisation trends that provide potential for numerous growth avenues.' Since being acquired by Bowmark in 2019, Tax Systems is said to have doubled both its revenue and profits. The company, which was listed on AIM, has built a cloud-native, multi-tax technology platform and recently introduced Pillar2, an AI-driven SaaS solution designed to navigate the complexities of the OECD's global Pillar Two compliance and reporting requirements. Tax Systems CEO Bruce Martin said: 'We have enjoyed an excellent and rewarding partnership with Bowmark, whose support has been instrumental in strengthening our position in core markets, expanding our product suite, and successfully entering new geographies. 'As we move into our next phase of growth, we are excited to be partnering with Providence, who recognise the strength of our business and the significant opportunities ahead. Their support will help us accelerate our expansion and innovation as we continue building the leading tax compliance software platform in EMEA.' In December 2023, Tax Systems announced the acquisition of TaxModel, a Dutch company specialising in tax technology. "Tax Systems acquired by Providence Equity Partners " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
