PAUL TRACY DAZZLES CROWD IN RETURN TO INDY
Player Management International Media Release
Indianapolis, IN (May 25, 2009) – In 2002, Paul Tracy passed Helio Castroneves on the final lap to win the Indianapolis 500. Or so he thought. The Indy Racing League would later rule that Tracy passed the Penske driver under caution, despite videotape evidence that indicated otherwise. At the time, Tracy vowed to never return to the venue that stole his joy. He then went on to notch the 2003 Champ Car championship.
Time heals all wounds. Seven years later, Tracy returned. And so did the fans that love him and support him. Referred to as the Grateful Dead of auto racing due to his cult-like fan following, Tracy was on the world’s biggest stage in Indianapolis on Sunday and he did not fail to please.
Undeniably the most colorful, recognized racer in the world, GEICO Driver Paul Tracy has garnered the lion share of the media exposure this month, including features in the USA Today, while also being featured on the cover of the upcoming RACER magazine. However, on race day he would be met by a formidable foe when GEICO’s caveman arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A fan-favorite, the caveman paraded around the speedway at Tracy’s side and even accompanied him to driver introductions before later showing up on the starting grid carrying Tracy’s helmet.
Slated to start in the 13th position, on the inside of row five, Tracy vowed to remain patient and focus on ‘being there at the end’. For the 2003 Champ Car champion, patience is not one of his virtues.
When the green flag was displayed at the most prestigious race in the world, over 200 countries and over 400 million households watched Tracy move the GEICO car from 13th to the 9th position on the opening lap before a yellow flag was displayed at the conclusion of Lap 1. While Tracy’s KV Racing Technology teammate, Mario Moraes, collided with Marco Andretti to cause the opening caution, Tracy would fare much better.
The ‘Thrill from West Hill’ settled in and ran comfortably in the Top 10 while battling understeer. On Lap 98, Tony Kanaan found the wall in a hard crash that sent debris spilling across the racing surface. Tracy’s #15 GEICO car would collect some of the debris, causing damage to the underside of his front wing.
By Lap 141, Tracy and the #15 GEICO car had moved into the 4th position, eyeing Helio Castroneves, who was running 2nd. While Tracy smelled blood in the water, the damage to his front wing would prevail, as Tracy would lose ground and quickly find himself in the 11th position. As the race began to wind down, the #15 GEICO car would return to the Top 10 and remain there until the checkered flag was displayed and Tracy recorded his second best finish at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Tracy’s 9th place finish on Sunday gives way only to his controversial runner-up finish to Helio Castroneves in 2002.
“I came here to win, so the result wasn’t what we were looking for, but we did finish 9th in Indy, so I’m happy for GEICO and the KV Racing Technology team,” Tracy said. “I had a great month here and I cannot thank Jimmy Vasser (team owner), Kevin Kalkhoven (team owner) and GEICO enough for giving me the opportunity to come back here. I’ve enjoyed my time here at IMS and look forward to hopefully returning next year.”
Tracy is a fierce competitor who is, at times, out-spoken and direct. He is also one of the top racecar drivers in the world, and in his historic return to the track that once broke his heart, Tracy’s tenacity and love of his sport were on display. What the fans witnessed of Tracy over the last month is special and it is something they will not soon forget.
Paul Tracy is his own man and because of it he often finds himself in solitude. While he did not win the race this weekend, he overcame his past to return to the most sacred place in motorsports to give the fans something they have been in search of: a driver who is fiercely passionate without compromise and will, regardless of opinions or commentary, lay it all out there in an effort to be the best.
To learn more about Paul Tracy and the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.geicogarage.com
