Pippa Mann: From Indy 500 to Low-Buck Enduro

Many a low-buck endurance racer has dreamed of eventually posting a start in the Indy 500. We can all dream, right?

But how does an Indy 500 regular adapt to ChampCar racing? While making her sedan debut? In a car that only has ABS up front? And at a track she’s never run before? 

Pipp…

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That was an interesting read - thanks for posting the link to it.

In reply to T.J. :

Cool. Glad that you enjoyed it. 

"Who here has never raced at this track before?"

"Oh, you with all the Indy 500 experience, yeah, you're in the novice group."

dude, get her to submit some stuff to the magazine.  

In reply to AngryCorvair :

I know, right?

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Sorry man, not trying to do your job.  ;-)

She's been really impressive in the interviews that I've seen. Seems like she loves racing for all the right reasons and goes about things the right way. I've always felt she deserved a bit more spotlight. Enjoyed the story as well.

In reply to AngryCorvair :

It's all good. :)

Awesome.  More please.

What other top lever pro drivers have raced Chump/Champ or LeMons, I think Randy Lanier did.  Any others?

I think Greg Biffle does quite a bit of fun racing now.  I know he has some horrifying sandrails and other desert stuff.

Didn't Tony Stewart run a Lemons race years ago?

Randy Pobst?

met Randy Pobst at the last Sebring race :)

good read..

Lof8 - Andy said:

 

met Randy Pobst at the last Sebring race :)

LOL, I looked at that and my first thought was:

'Damn, Randy's looking old' 

Then I realized he's 10 years older than me (I check, he's 12 years older). 

Then I looked in a mirror. 

Then I thought 'Damn, Randy's looking good'

A shortlist, and I know I am missing some. I go to all 30 races each year and I talk to so many people for the ChampCar show.  Lots of the top racers use a pseudonym when entering. Sometimes I interview them not knowing who they are until after I am done. Those are the funny ones. The NASCAR drivers are the best, they just totally screw with me.
I know we have a lot of IMSA drivers as they use our races to prep for tracks they will later run. Same with some of the road racer NASCAR drivers.

Pippa Mann
Adam Corolla
Jay Leno
Randy Pobst
Tommy Byrne (F1)
Leh Keen
Bobby Allison
Tony Stewart
Terry Labonte
Ken Schrader
Mike Skinner (I think)
Michael Fassbender
Chris Harris (Top gear)
Jack Baldwin
Joe Sahlen
Joe Nonnamaker
Will Nonnamaker
Wayne Nonnamaker
Bill Riley
Ben Keating
Jeroen Bleekemolen
Doug Boles (IMS President)
Dan Binks
Tommy Archer

 

In reply to Bill Strong :

Cool, what about the Taylor kids Jordan and Ricky? although I'm not sure the Captain would let one of his drivers compete in CHAMP car, but what about the past?

So can I add this to my resume now "Passed a Indy 500 starter on the outside of turn 14 at Sebring?"

Adrian_Thompson said:

In reply to Bill Strong :

Cool, what about the Taylor kids Jordan and Ricky? although I'm not sure the Captain would let one of his drivers compete in CHAMP car, but what about the past?

I'm pretty sure Jordan would have that slathered all over his social media. As long as Ricky is working for Penske, I highly doubt he'll ever see any crapcan racing. 

Adrian_Thompson said:

In reply to Bill Strong :

Cool, what about the Taylor kids Jordan and Ricky? although I'm not sure the Captain would let one of his drivers compete in CHAMP car, but what about the past?

I think they have but under their fake names. So I am not 100% certain.

And I know we have had a bunch more, but they have asked us to keep it on the down-low for personal or professional reasons. 
Sometimes they don't want the fans showing up and turning their fun weekend of no-pressure racing into a show.

It's funny. Sometimes I know who I am interviewing, but won't say who the guy is, just asking him how his weekend is going, and after I am done, you will hear Doc Waldrop say something like, "Hmmm, he looks familiar".
My most fun interviews have been the lower lever NASCAR drivers. They are a blast to talk to. They want to thank everyone under the moon, and even make up silly sponsor names on the fly. Give fake reports of how great their car is doing, even though it's behind them in the shot on jackstands with the engine half out of the car.

Fun stuff.

Travis Pastrana and the nitro circus raced an El Camino and got parked for too many black flags.

Really neat article. Thanks for sharing it!

I have raced a lot of those names listed above.  

These men and women are totally approachable at these races and will bench race with you and share a beer after the checkered flag.

It's cool that this type of racing really brings all level of competitor together. 

I have heard that some nudists like being naked because then you can't judge people based on perceptions of who they are or what they do.  I would argue wearing a racesuit is similar. 

If you didn't know who Randy Pobst is, you would walk past him as he is just another dude working on making his racecar faster.

What was Randy driving?  His own car or as an invited driver on another team?

This was a great thread that now has moved on to being awesome.