CHANGING LANES
Crazy Woman Driver By Kay Bell
IndyCar Speeding Ahead
Last year was particularly tumultuous for America's open- wheelers, but the series maneuvered some tricky turns
and is headed in the right direction. Photo courtesy of Darren Brode/Shutterstock.com
While NASCAR doesn't crown its champion until right before Thanksgiving, the IndyCar Series wrapped up its 2012 season a couple weeks ago. All in all, I'd call it a pretty good success, especially considering what the open-wheelers faced when they kicked off their campaign back in March.
The 2012 season began with the series trying somehow to rebound from the disastrous end to 2011, when Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon died in a horrible crash at
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the start of the season-ending race in Las Vegas. That crash not only took the life of one of the sport's most well-liked participants but also forced IndyCar to cancel the remainder of the race, as well as all of its end-of- season festivities. Over the winter, the big headline was that IndyCar's most popular driver – at least in terms of media and marketing – Danica Patrick, was leaving to expand her brand in the world of NASCAR. On top of that, the series was introducing a
OCTOBER 2012 // WWW.CHANGINGLANESDIGITAL.COM