Post Weekend News And Notes - April 29th, 2026
Editor's note - trying something new here, feel free to send me your racing notes at jeremy@jsmotorsports.net
Don't forget that submissions to the SPMJ Media Awards are due Friday, May 1st. You can enter though this link: https://www.motorsportsjournalists.org/media-awards
The Russo-Marvel Award will be officially handed out to Paul Pfanner on Friday, May 22nd at 10:30am in the media center, with the SPMJ Media Awards announced Saturday, May 23rd following the public drivers meeting at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
We start off this post with a sad update. Former IndyCar driver Merle Bettenhausen passed away this morning. The 82-year-old passed from complications of a stroke earlier this year. Merle was the son of Tony, brother of Gary and Tony Jr. While most of his career was spent in midgets, Merle did run a handful of Champ Car races, ultimately losing his arm in a crash at Michigan in 1972. He's survived by his son Ryan and daughter Tracy Jennings.
This past weekend, I had the chance to notch off a bucket list item I never thought would be possible. While visiting friends in France, we took the train over to Monaco to watch practice for the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. Cars from 1986 on back were showcased in this fantastic event. I'll have more on this in the coming days, but if you ever want to go, this is the event!
There was an American who stood atop the podium of one of the races. Joe Colasacco took his 1964 Ferrari 1512 (a gorgeous sounding piece of machinery, might I add) to the Group B class honors. Joe also races in Formula 1600 Championship, a part of Formula Race Promotions here in the states.
It's been a rough go for sports car transporters the past couple of weeks. BSI Racing's Toyota GR86 Cup hauler caught fire just outside of their Daytona Beach shop, when the brakes caught fire. No one was hurt and only one car was damaged. The crew were able to get a backup hauler to continue the drive to COTA. Then it was reported that DXDT Racing may miss the most recent IMSA round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after their trailer caught fire. More to come on that story.
The two day test in the runup for the Indianapolis 500 is over as of this post. Fastest in day 1 was Conor Daly in his Dreyer and Reinbold Chevy with a 225.394 and rookie Caio Collet took his AJ Foyt Chevy to the top today with a 226.381
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