Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
Jimmy Vasser, driving for Patrick Racing, gives an interview at the end of Friday practice for the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I like to think she opened her interview, like all great interviews, by asking his favorite Knock Knock joke. To which the proper answer is, of course, banana/banana/orange. Did you give the right answer Jimmy?
Pat Patrick (the Patrick in Patrick Racing) watches his team during Friday practice at the 2001 CART race in Portland.
Roberto Pupo Moreno talks to his Patrick Racing crew during Friday practice at the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. Some friends in graduate school introduced me to open-wheel racing in the mid-90’s near the end of Pupo’s Formula One career, he was so nice and unassuming I was pleased that not only did he then go on to race in Indycars, but I got a chance to see him a couple of times at the races in Portland. He’d finish second in the rainy race that Sunday.
At the 2002 CART race at Portland, familiar with his success in the Indy Lights feeder series, I wanted a picture of young Townsend Bell, driving that year for Patrick Racing. I came across him giving an interview in the pits and got a picture of him, but was pleased to also get a picture of his steering wheel with the orange body of his car sweeping out past his name. I quit watching racing not long after for a variety of reasons but started watching again when Formula One returned to regular cable on the NBC Sports Network. They also cover some of the IndyCar races and I was pleased to see Townsend again, now providing color commentary for those races, as well as still racing in sports cars (winning at LeMans last year!) and in the Indy 500.
Boolie 