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Mario & Michael Andretti

Mario and Michael Andretti watch the timing and scoring results during Friday practice for the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. Although both father and son had been quick at Portland in the past (each was a multiple race winner here), as you can probably guess from their expressions, Michael was having trouble finding speed on this day. Saturday wouldn’t go much better as he qualified 16th, but in the race he’d improve to finish 8th. Regardless I loved seeing them and spent quite a bit of time at the Team Motorola pits hoping for a chance at a picture.

Dressed For Work

Max Papis puts on his helmet before climbing into his Team Rahal car at the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway.

Max Papis

Max Papis of Team Rahal talks to his crew in the pits on qualifying day for the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. It was quite a weekend for Max, he won the pole, won the race, set the fastest lap, and was photographed by me.

Rolling in the Catnip

Scout picks up a belly full of dirt rolling in the catnip on our back porch. I dusted her off as best I could before she went back inside. I had given her a bath once before. Once.

Gray Green

I don’t think I’ve put this picture online before, the handsome Templeton enjoying some supervised time in our backyard in 2006. He died late in 2007 but I don’t know if a day has gone by since that I haven’t thought about him, a little charmer was our gray tuxedo.

Metroglyph

I found this petroglyph in our old, urban neighborhood and wondered if a kindred spirit once roamed these lands.

Master of Disguise

Already masters of hiding in the swamp, this alligator went the extra mile by covering its head in plants. Either that or it’s the worst toupee I’ve ever seen.

Crab Breakfast

As the sun rose, I noticed a group of alligators in this marshy section of the freshwater lagoon at Huntington Beach State Park but didn’t realize why they were there. Then one suddenly lurched forward and scooped up a little crab from the mats of organic material (algae? bacteria?) floating in the water, and then another did it, and another. It was remarkable how quickly they would go from floating motionless to catching the crabs and back to floating motionless.

Hidden Treasure

The golden light of the rising sun begins filtering through the trees, illuminating a treasure hidden in the marsh.

Paul Tracy

Paul Tracy waits in the pits while his crew makes adjustments to his car during Saturday practice at the 2002 CART race at Portland International Raceway. The race on Sunday ended early for Paul, he drove past with what looked like suspension damage, but he had plenty of success at other races and now is a commentator for NBC Sports Network’s IndyCar races.