SAM HORNISH JR. HEADED TO INDY BUT EYING TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Marlboro Team Penske Sam Hornish Jr. is packing his bags for Indianapolis this week, but he already is thinking about the Bombardier Learjet 500k at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10. The Indy Racing League drivers arrive in Indy next week to spend the rest of the month preparing for the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. But Texas Motor Speedway isn’t far from Hornish Jr.’s thoughts.
“We are looking forward to Indianapolis, and after that we get real close to going to Texas which is one of my favorite race tracks,” Hornish Jr. said. “Having never won the June race, I’m looking forward to breaking that streak this year and going to Victory Lane.”
Hornish Jr. won the fall IndyCar Series races at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 and ‘02 on his way to capturing the series championship in each of those years.
“I celebrated both of my championships in Texas and couldn’t think of a better place to do it. One year we had it wrapped up going into the race, but we wanted to go out with a win since we hadn’t won since the first two races of the year,” Hornish said. “And the next year, we had that great battle with Helio. Two different circumstances going into those races, but both ended up the same way with a win and getting to celebrate in Victory Lane and the championship. I really look forward to going back there because it holds a special place in my heart. It has been the site of a lot of good moments for me.”
Both of Hornish Jr.’s wins at Texas have come in photo finishes. His win by just 0.0188 of a second over Scott Sharp in October 2001 ranks as the third-closest finish in TMS history and ninth closest all-time in the series. He edged Castroneves by just 0.0096 of a second in September 2002 to win the closest IndyCar Series finish at Texas Motor Speedway and third closest in series history. Last year, the tables were turned as he was edged by Tomas Scheckter by just 0.0534 of a second, the fourth-closest finish in TMS history and 12th closest in the IndyCar Series.
“A lot of people think the Texas track is a track where you just get there and put it flat to the floor and see how fast you can go,” Hornish Jr. said. “It is that, but one of the big things about the track is it is a lot of a mental game and positioning yourself for the end of the race. At Texas, you wait and put yourself in the right position for the last lap of the race instead of worrying about taking the chance when you can.”
The Bombardier Learjet 500k is “America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Series Race.” Hornish Jr. says that is one of the big attractions to the annual stop in Texas.
“I like racing at night under the lights,” he said. “I am kind of a night person and not much of a morning person. The fans seem to really enjoy the night races as well. I finished fourth there two years ago and second last year, so I just need to move up one more position this year.”
“We are looking forward to Indianapolis, and after that we get real close to going to Texas which is one of my favorite race tracks,” Hornish Jr. said. “Having never won the June race, I’m looking forward to breaking that streak this year and going to Victory Lane.”
Hornish Jr. won the fall IndyCar Series races at Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 and ‘02 on his way to capturing the series championship in each of those years.
“I celebrated both of my championships in Texas and couldn’t think of a better place to do it. One year we had it wrapped up going into the race, but we wanted to go out with a win since we hadn’t won since the first two races of the year,” Hornish said. “And the next year, we had that great battle with Helio. Two different circumstances going into those races, but both ended up the same way with a win and getting to celebrate in Victory Lane and the championship. I really look forward to going back there because it holds a special place in my heart. It has been the site of a lot of good moments for me.”
Both of Hornish Jr.’s wins at Texas have come in photo finishes. His win by just 0.0188 of a second over Scott Sharp in October 2001 ranks as the third-closest finish in TMS history and ninth closest all-time in the series. He edged Castroneves by just 0.0096 of a second in September 2002 to win the closest IndyCar Series finish at Texas Motor Speedway and third closest in series history. Last year, the tables were turned as he was edged by Tomas Scheckter by just 0.0534 of a second, the fourth-closest finish in TMS history and 12th closest in the IndyCar Series.
“A lot of people think the Texas track is a track where you just get there and put it flat to the floor and see how fast you can go,” Hornish Jr. said. “It is that, but one of the big things about the track is it is a lot of a mental game and positioning yourself for the end of the race. At Texas, you wait and put yourself in the right position for the last lap of the race instead of worrying about taking the chance when you can.”
The Bombardier Learjet 500k is “America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Series Race.” Hornish Jr. says that is one of the big attractions to the annual stop in Texas.
“I like racing at night under the lights,” he said. “I am kind of a night person and not much of a morning person. The fans seem to really enjoy the night races as well. I finished fourth there two years ago and second last year, so I just need to move up one more position this year.”
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