Conclusion

Where did the time go?  It’s difficult to comprehend how the swiftness with which the last three weeks have passed. 

It’s hard to believe that yet another Indy 500 has come and gone.  It’s even harder to believe that the Fan Force United team was able to be a part of it.  As of May 1^st, our plan for the month of May was to run Armaan Ebrahim and Emerson Newton-John in the Freedom 100, and to join the masses in watching the Indy 500 from the stands.  The Indianapolis 500 was certainly on the radar screen, as it is the goal on which sights are set, but not for this year.  My what a dramatic turn in the team’s fortune.  A conversation that led to a phone call, which led to an email and another phone call, which ultimately led to the little Fan Force United team making the big leap to the big cars to prepare and run a car for the legendary Jean Alesi, forever changed the complexion of this racing team and its principals.  Things can never again be the same.  The Indianapolis 500 has been tasted.  It’s glory has been sampled.  Indy has now entered the metaphorical bloodstream of the Fan Force United team, and once Indy is in the blood, it creates a condition that can never be reversed – not that we would have it any other way.

In the moments following the end of our race, in a time that was naturally accompanied by disappointment, and in which it would have been quite simple to be overtaken by frustration or anger, team co-owner Tyce Carlson offered his thoughts that remind us all of the journey just taken, saying “We’re very appreciative of what Lotus, FP Journe, and the IndyCar Series allowed us to do.  Going into the month, we had plans to run the Freedom 100, so to get the opportunity to not only participate in the Indy 500, but to be what felt like a big part of the story this year, and to actually grid a car for the Indy 500, put us at least a year ahead of what we had planned.  Now we know what it takes, and now we just need to go back to the drawing board so that we are better prepared to take full advantage of being a part of this incredible event.  We’re not going to give up on our dream of winning the Indy 500, and we’ll be back either late this year or next year for sure.”

We went in as dreamers and we exit as dreamers.  As almost all were abandoning Lotus, and as others were offering reasons why they could not put a credible effort on track for Jean Alesi given the time constraints, we raised our hands, seized upon the opportunity to join with the underdog, and said that we could do it.  We knew going in that it was unlikely that we would be able to be competitive, given the well-known limitations of our engine, but this mattered not.  Here was a chance to show what our team could do, and we did.  Here was a chance to make the most of the situation, and we did.  We acquitted ourselves quite well, as did our highly esteemed and capable driver, and no one can point to any part of team, our crew, or our effort, and suggest that we did not honor the Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that we were in over our heads, or that we did not deserve to be there.  It is always a very good thing to be able to prove that one belongs, and the general consensus of the garage area and those inside the sport is that given adequate horsepower, the Fan Force United team and Jean Alesi would have been more than competitive on race day. 

We now ask our fans to turn their attention and support to our primary effort this year, which is our Indy Lights program with Armaan Ebrahim, as we continue to campaign the #24 JK Tyre machine with an eye towards what we believe to be a tremendous future with a very talented and determined driver.  As we now put the 2012 Indianapolis 500 behind us, and carry with us the memories of the great spectacle, Armaan and the team will be on track this weekend in Detroit, working hard to return to the IndyCar series and the Indy 500, and to bring another rookie to Indy in due time.   

Before we wrap things up here, Tyce (Carlson), Chris (Williams), Scott (Williamson), and Jason (Peters) would like to acknowledge the tremendous effort put forth by all involved, and to individually thank each and every member of this team that was so instrumental in bringing a dream to reality and setting us on a new course that will certainly lead us back to Indy.  So to Ted Bitting, Tim Wardrop, Mike Colliver, Ian Brown, Brad Brewer, Owen Snyder, Greg Beck, Tim Shank, Joe Vallone, Tracy Hash, Dave Metcalfe, Claudio Novoa, Mike Battersby, Mike Capicek, John Hines, John Colbert, Glenn O’Connor, Robert Lynch, Steve Turner, Trevor Mitchner, and Mike Fink (that should be everyone), we say “thank you.”  To Claudio, Olivier, John, Anne, and everybody with Lotus, we say “thank you.”  To Andreas and everyone at Dallara, we say “thank you.”  To Al, Joe, and the hard-working folks at Firestone, we say “thank you.”  To the IndyCar series administration and staff, we say “thank you.”  To the IndyCar series technical staff, we say “thank you” (and we really mean it!).   To the entirety of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway organization and the Hulman-George family, we say “thank you.”  To all those that provided media coverage of our team, our story, and this great race, we say “thank you.”  To our sponsors (FP Journe, AMG-Tim Donahue, Breeden Legal-Matt Breeden, Keco Coatings, West Point Financial, and Jonathan Byrd’s), we say “thank you.”  To Jean Alesi, we offer a very heartfelt and honored “thank you.”  Finally, and most importantly, to our Fan Force, we offer our most humble and appreciative “thank you,” and we hope that we can continue to earn and honor your encouragement, your loyalty, your well-wishes, and your unwavering support.    

See you at the races!     

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Chapter 13

It’s Race Day!

The “bomb” goes off at 5:30am, signaling the beginning of the day’s festivities.  The race won’t begin for another six and a half hours, but already, at each gate, there are lines of eager racing fans ready to experience the great spectacle that is the Indianapolis 500 mile race.  The mad rush begins, as attendees enter the gates and begin sprinting through tunnels in order to stake out prime viewing spots atop the spectator mounds that ring the inside of the track’s turns.

At 6:00am, in the Lotus Fan Force United team garage, and most likely in the garage of every other team that is working on final race day preparations, the televisions are tuned to the GP2 race in Monaco.  We’re all race fans, after all.  We may not be able to watch any of that race, but it is the ideal background noise for a busy team.  Naturally, in the garage of the Lotus brand ambassador, there is much talk of Conor Daly’s crash in the Lotus Racing GP3 car at Monaco.  Along those same lines, we all watch the 8:00am start of the Monaco Grand Prix, where fellow Lotus-runner, Roman Grosjean, is caught up in a spin at the start, ending his race before it could even begin.  We’ll share in similar frustrations in just a few hours.

Much as was the case in Lotus’ Indianapolis 500 debut on Thursday, May 30 in 1963, when two of the Lotus cars took the green flag as part of the field of 33, two Lotus-powered cars will start the 96th Indianapolis 500.  On that day, Jim Clark and Dan Gurney would score 2^nd and 7^th place finishes in their Lotus machines.  Lotus’ re-debut in the world’s most famous race would not go nearly as well. 

With the teams arriving so early on race day, the multi-hour wait until the gridding of the cars and the beginning of pre-race festivities is difficult.  Jean arrives at the garage for final strategy sessions and final pre-race preparations before returning to his home away from home at the racetrack to be with family, close compatriots, and his thoughts.  Though it is widely suggested that his day in the car will be short, Jean (and the team) prepares to race the full 500 miles.   

Finally, the time comes to move the #64 FP Journe Watches machine to the racetrack, and to place it at its location on the starting grid.  It is an extremely warm day in Indianapolis.  The IndyCar series chaplain joins the team for a group prayer.  Experienced team members, with years of experience at Indy go about their business.  Team owners and sponsors that are experiencing the pre-race festivities at Indy from this perspective for the first time are soaking in the traditions and the flood of emotions that accompanies the realization of long-held dreams.    

The team’s Indy Lights driver, Armaan Ebrahim, takes in the sights and sounds, as he fully expects to be an Indy 500 starter himself in the not-too-distant future.  It is Armaan’s full-season Indy Lights program that was ultimately responsible for the Fan Force United team to be in a position to put together the 500 effort for Jean Alesi, quickly building a very good team from a vastly experienced and well-respected base.

This author, with emotion breaking in to his voice, leans over to tell team co-owner (and Indy 500 veteran) Tyce Carlson that it was 27 years ago that his father had first fielded a car at Indy, also realizing a dream, and that it had started from the same spot (33^rd). 

Though the wait had been long, the pomp and the pageantry of the pre-race ceremonies flew by in a way that did not seem possible.  It now seemed that the hours before the race were nothing more than a few minutes.  The bands had marched and played, driver introductions had been made, prayers were prayed, planes had flown overhead, drivers were strapped in to their machines, songs were sung, and balloons floated skyward.  Whereas in the lead-up to the race time had practically stood still, these events seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.  Finally, a voice gave the command to start engines.

Goosebumps.  Chills.  Butterflies.  A nervous glance skyward.  A silent prayer.

It is 87 degrees when the race begins.  The track temperature is 120 degrees.  There are no clouds in the sky, and a late May Indiana sun burns down on the hundreds of thousands in attendance. 

The parade and pace laps are completed and the green flag flies.  You can almost hear nervous team members audibly exhale after a clean trip through turn one.  Early on, Jean picks up a position, passing Simona deSilvestro in the other Lotus-powered machine.  One of today’s goals is to be “first in class,” and Jean is on his way to doing that, at the least.  Unfortunately, Jean is not able to maintain the pace of the rest of the field, falling just outside what is known as the 105% rule, meaning that he is called in to the pits on Lap 10, just a lap or two ahead of the time when he is expected to be lapped by the race leaders.  The team makes the adjustments that are possible, preparing to return Jean to the Speedway.  That is what their driver wants.  He is a proud and intense competitor.  It is hoped that they can pick up some positions through attrition, while also allowing Jean to gain Indy experience for his hoped-for return engagement in 2013, while also gathering valuable data for the development of the Lotus engine.

The team is informed that they are not going to be allowed to continue in the race.  In response, there is intense lobbying to allow Jean to return to the track, indicating that to this point the #64 car has not been in anybody’s way, and that they are most assuredly here to race.  All of this, of course, was to no avail.  Initially, Jean is scored in 32^nd place, thus another goal is achieved.  However, Jean is penalized for not answering the black flag in a timely manner, and is penalized two laps.  So even though his on-track performance had him at least one spot better, the penalty ends up placing him 33^rd.  A bit of insult to injury, it seems.

Though being parked early is not entirely unexpected, it is still a significant disappointment to a team and driver that had worked so incredibly hard.  Nobody wanted to “start and park.”  That was never the plan, and nobody was here just to collect a paycheck.  This team put in nearly 900 miles of practice laps.  This team put its car and driver on the track all but one day that the track was open for practice (including two days of ROP).  This team prepared to run 500 miles and to do all that it could to best represent themselves, their partners (Lotus), and their sponsors (FP Journe Watches, Jonathan Byrd’s, AMG, Breeden Legal, West Point Financial, Keco Coatings), while honoring the sport and the event around which we order our calendars and our lives. 

There is a media crush in the pit once Jean is officially retired from the race.  Jean patiently speaks to television and radio reporters, exuding class and confidence in the face of what we know is monumental frustration, looking ahead to next year and speaking quite favorably of the team that has worked so very diligently for him.    

At the very least, even if we were slow from the outset, let it be said that from the car that many thought to be the most beautiful car at the track this year, to the team gear that so many have expressed the desire to own, we looked good doing it.

To be concluded…     

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What Indy Means...

From the beginning, the Indianapolis 500 has been a place at which to test both man and machine.  That test extends beyond the men behind the wheel, as all that join in to accept the challenge of Indy, from the person that sweeps the garage floor, to those that fuel the car and change the tires on race day (and everybody in between), are tested by what has come to be referred to as “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing.”  Indy is what drives this sport.  Indy is why we do what we do.  Indy is its own championship, and success here overshadows success everywhere else.  Every participant will gladly exchange an IndyCar championship for an Indianapolis 500 victory and the racing immortality so conferred.  Nearly 400,000 people will fill the Speedway on race day, because they are drawn by its inescapable lure.  Choice seats are handed down from generation to generation.  It defines the city and the state that serves as its host.  The opportunity to participate, let alone win, is reason enough to experience all of the highs, the lows, and the unnerving frustrations that the Brickyard has to offer.  The Indianapolis 500 is Monaco, LeMans, and Daytona all rolled into one and then some.  Every turn is Eau Rouge.  Every lap is the final lap.  Race day at Indy is Christmas, New Year’s Day, and your birthday combined.  Indy is pageantry and tradition and speed and danger.  Throughout its history, the world’s greatest racers have come here to test themselves and to share in its mystique.  A win at Indianapolis becomes the defining moment in the career of a race car driver.  It is the race that all want to win.  It has humbled the greatest champions.  It can be soul-stirring and heart-wrenching, producing both chills and tears.  If racing was a religion, Indy would be its temple.  Indy is where heroes are born, and it is where legends never die.

Chapter 12

Carb day at the Brickyard.  The final day of practice for the Indianapolis 500.  The Lotus Fan Force United team and Jean Alesi need their #64 FP Journe Watches sponsored machine to spend as much time on the track as possible.  Alas, this was not to be. 

The green flag flew over the Speedway at 11am, and Jean Alesi, driving with a freshly-mounted Lotus powerplant, steered on to the circuit for an installation lap.  One lap is needed for a leak check before the team and driver get busy seeing what exactly their new and upgraded Lotus engine can muster. 

Checking over the rear of the car that has been effectively taken apart and re-assembled since Sunday’s qualifying run, and with everything seeming to be in order for the moment, the engine is fired and Jean is motioned out of the pit at 11:07am.  It’s time to spend the next hour running race condition laps, practicing pit stops and launches, and making crucial final preparations.  Jean’s first lap at speed was in excess of 204mph.  This does not equal the pace of the guys at the front of end of the field, to say the least, but this does generate intrigued and somewhat satisfied looks all around the Fan Force United team pit.  Jean posts a couple more laps at a similar pace, running with traffic before returning to the pit to completely fill the tank and make his first full-tank runs of the month.  It’s possible that Jean’s expectations for the new engine were a bit higher than it was able to deliver, as he expresses a lack of contentment with the power that is available to him.  Nevertheless, the team (and Jean’s fans around the world) is confident that Jean will be able to get the best from his car. 

Returning to the pit, Jean slides to a stop and the team performs a live pit stop.  Curiously, the brakes are smoking, which is not exactly expected.  This draws a bit of attention, and many are curious as to the source of this strange smoke.  Naturally, the brakes are hot on a hot day, but that doesn’t offer a satisfactory explanation.  Nevertheless, the tires are changed, fuel is delivered, the jack is dropped, and at 11:19am Jean again motors down the pit lane, eager to discover how his fully-fueled mount will feel around the 2.5 mile creator of legends.

This will prove to be Jean’s final lap on the morning, as Jean comes right back to the pit, brakes smoking again (something about a solvent that was used to clean the brakes – a minor issue that has been addressed).  There seems to be a problem at the rear of the car.  As the team inspects the back end of the racing machine, it is discovered that there is a leaky seal at the front of the gearbox.  Thankfully, it is not an issue with the engine that limits Jean’s laps.  As far as the plan for the day is concerned, this is a disaster, as it cannot be easily addressed on the pit lane, nor there is enough time to do so.  In addition, the team is forced to let the car sit and wait until the end of practice, as they are unable to move the car to the garage for the duration of the session.  This proves to the very first mechanical issue that has limited the team’s ability to run laps since the month began.  Oddly, it comes not after the 48 hours in which the car was assembled and placed on the racetrack, nor any day thereafter.  Rather, it comes after five days of careful assembly.  The racing gods do indeed have a sense of humor.  The bright side is that the problem was discovered on Carb Day rather than race day, which is always an encouraging silver lining. 

Though his practice time was short, Jean’s day was just getting started.  After the aborted attempt to practice, Jean turns his attention to the Indy Lights race, paying special attention to the two Fan Force United cars of Armaan Ebrahim and Emerson Newton-John.  Afterwards, Jean makes a trip to the suite of his sponsor, FP Journe Watches, which has a large contingent of retail partners in town for race weekend.  After an appearance there, Jean returns to the garage, going over details with his team while interacting with guests, signing autographs, and continuing to enjoy his maiden Indianapolis 500 experience.  At 6:00pm, Jean makes an appearance at the annual “Last Row Party,” accepting his extra prize money of 33 cents for being the 33^rd and final starter in the 500 field.  He enjoys some good-natured ribbing and mild roasting, taking it all in stride with a wink and a smile.  From there he is off to the IndyCar Soiree, for a brief appearance before being whisked off to a dinner with FP Journe and his guests. 

The day is long and full, but not nearly as productive as had been hoped.       

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Chapter 11

It’s Thursday, the day before Carb Day.  The Lotus Fan Force United team has been working flat-out since Monday morning to get the #64 FP Journe DW12 prepared for the final day of practice.  We’ve received and installed our new Lotus engine, hopeful that it will provide Jean with just a bit more grunt for race day. 

This little (not-so-little) team continues to write the headlines for the month of May at Indy.  From two days before the Rookie Orientation Program, when this particular effort was announced, to opening day, and right through qualifying, the Fan Force United team, Jean Alesi, the underdog Lotus engine, and the team with a substantial amount of heart and a growing number of fans and supporters has provided Indy with its story-lines.  It is has been our intention and sincere desire to capture the passion of the dream that is Indy, fully cognizant of the fact that it is an incredible privilege to be a part of this amazing and history-laden event.  The legends of auto racing have walked the hallowed grounds of this temple of speed and sport, and we wish to honor the legacy that has been left to us and which we have been charged to carry, as both participants and fans.    

It is more than worth noting that the Lotus Fan Force United team comes to the Indy 500 as the only true “one-off” for this year’s race.  Yes, there are entries that are “Indy-only,” but all of those single-event entries are being fielded in association with a full-time team.  Fan Force United, with tremendous support from Lotus, and with gracious assistance from Dallara and other manufacturers, have taken on the challenge of Indy on its own, doing so along with staffing and scaling up to run an additional car in the Firestone Indy Lights’ Freedom 100 in addition to its full-time Indy Lights program.  As the executives from Lotus have told us, as they have been closely following the team’s efforts, what the team has done is nearly miraculous.  What others said that they could not do in a month, we managed in far less time, achieving each goal that we have set for ourselves along the way.  Many thought this effort would be a recipe for disaster, but all have tipped their caps to the Fan Force United group, for what has been, regardless of speed, a flawless and well-executed leap to center-stage of the world of motorsport.    

Of course, there are more stories than Jean and the saga of the Lotus.  Tyce Carlson, one of the principals of Fan Force United, is yet another former Indy 500 driver making the leap to Indy 500 car owner.  This has been something of a trend of late, with a number of current IndyCar team owners having driven in the 500 in the past. 

Fan Force United comes to Indy with three rookies.  Not only is Jean Alesi an Indianapolis 500 rookie, but both of the team’s Firestone Indy Lights drivers (Armaan Ebrahim and Emerson Newton-John) are Indy rookies as well.  Along with the fact of their rookie status, this is the first oval race for each of the three, thus further multiplying the challenge that is being well-faced by what is proving to be a very deep team.  To make things even more difficult, Jean comes to Indy more than ten years removed from single-seater competition, which is also true for Emerson Newton-John, who is attempting to revive a career that was unfortunately sidetracked a decade ago.  Armaan is making the jump to Indy Lights from slightly lower single-seater formula in Europe and Asia, leaving home and family to try his hand on the “road to Indy.”  Tagging along with Emerson for his re-introduction to the racing world is his famous aunt, Olivia Newton-John, who will be giving the command to start engines for the Freedom 100, while also serving as the grand marshall for the annual 500 Festival parade that takes place on Saturday. 

As the team continued its preparations this morning, word came that Jean’s fellow countryman, F1 driver Jean Eric Vergne, is wearing Jean’s helmet design for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, in order to honor Jean’s participation in the Indianapolis 500.  It is truly humbling for us to have so many eyes, from all around the world, cast towards our driver and this team, as “the Jean” tackles his newest and perhaps most difficult single challenge.  Working with a driver of his stature has been an incredible experience, and we sincerely hope to be able to do it again next year, as Jean has expressed interest in a return engagement at Indy, with a bit more horsepower available to his legendary right foot.  It seems as if Jean has found something of another home here, with this team and among its fans, and appears to want to be a part of its story on more than just this one occasion.  Interestingly, Jean has made a pointed statement in the last few days, expressing his admiration for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race, and his team, saying “I have learned more in one week here than I did in my entire Formula One career.”  

Don’t forget, to
Join the Fan Force by liking us at www.facebook.com/fanforceunited

Visit our website and sign the contract at www.fanforceunited.com
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Chapter 10

Props to Lotus!  Why?  Since Jean Alesi took to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit in his #64 FP Journe Watches DW12 on the 10^th of May, he has put nearly 900 miles on his Lotus powerplant.  In and of itself, this is not remarkable; but when one takes into consideration that the team took possession of the engine after it had already seen 900 miles of track time to this point in the racing season, the fact that the engine finished this life cycle with right at 1800 miles, with no internal or mechanical issues of which to speak, is notable.  If we add that the engine ran the last 100 miles or so with the higher boost levels implemented for “Fast Friday” and qualifying, and did so problem-free, then perhaps the too-often-maligned Lotus development team deserves a little bit of a pat on the back.

Why mention this little engine-related tidbit now?  Well, since the close of qualifying and the planned reversion to standard boost levels for Carb Day and Race Day, along with the news that we have received and installed our new and upgraded Lotus engine, Fan Force United supporters far and wide are again asking the hopeful question of “Are you guys going to get to keep the extra boost?”  Of course, to answer this question and to offer our response, we refer the reader to chapter seven of our story.  There, it was flatly stated that “We don’t need more boost.  We just need more cowbell!”

“More cowbell!”  That is the rallying cry.  Formula 1 has their air horns, South African football fans have their vuvuzela horns, and Fan Force United is adopting the cowbell.

Now, if you are asking yourself, “What in the world do these guys mean by ‘more cowbell’?”, we refer you to the famous Saturday Night Live skit featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0uvVZg4Tw4

We most definitely have a fever, and the prescription is “more cowbell!”  We want/need our Fan Force to come out in support of us.  How can you do that?  Just bring a cowbell with you to the Speedway this weekend.  The first 100 fans to come by our garage or to the fence area behind our pit and show us their cowbell will receive a signed Jean Alesi autograph card.  Of course, it won’t be enough to show us your cowbell.  During Friday’s practice, Indy Lights race, and the big race on Sunday, we want to hear those cowbells.  We want to know that our Fan Force is out there and pulling for us.  We want the television and radio commentators to have to talk about the overwhelming sound of cowbell. 

While the final IndyCar practice session is happening on Friday morning, we want to hear those cowbells whenever Jean Alesi is coming down the main straightaway.  During the Freedom 100 on Friday afternoon, show your support for Fan Force United drivers Armaan Ebrahim (black and yellow #24) and Emerson Newton John (white #42), by letting us hear those cowbells as the pack races down the front straight.  During the 500, be loud and proud with you cowbells as you support Jean Alesi, Lotus, and the underdog Fan Force United team, as we attempt to silence the naysayers. 

Now, we realize that not everybody is going to have a cowbell laying around their house just waiting to be picked up and brought to the Speedway.  So to assist you, we have done a bit of research.  Cowbells are available, in a variety of shapes, sizes, and prices at music stores, tractor supply, farm and feed stores, and party supply stores.  They are definitely out there.   It’s up to you to find them; and if you can’t find one, feel free to make banners and signs with the message of “more cowbell,” and join in the rallying cry.   

Be a part of the cowbell movement!  Show us your cowbell! 

If this was not realized already, Fan Force United wants to be known as the true fan’s team.  As part of that desire, and to go along with the creation of the cowbell nation, Fan Force United has unveiled the “Ride With Fan Force United” promotion.  What’s it all about? 

We are giving our fans three Chances to “Ride with Fan Force United” on Memorial Day Weekend.  Because our fans are the backbone of Fan Force United, we are giving you the opportunity to have your name on one of the 3 cars that we are running this weekend.  Two lucky fans will "ride" as a sponsor or either Armaan Ebrahim (#24) or Emerson Newton-John (#42) in The Freedom 100 on Friday; and one lucky fan will “ride” with Jean Alesi (# 64) in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.  Each winner will also receive an exclusive team hat signed by each driver. 

How do you get the chance to “ride”?  We want you to “like” us on facebook, to tag the “Ride With Fan Force United” flyer/photo, or to post a comment to the photo telling us that you want to “ride”.  The three winners will be selected and announced prior to the Freedom 100 on May 25th, 2012! 

Stay tuned for another fan engagement plan.  It’s going to be a great weekend!

Don’t forget, to
Join the Fan Force by liking us at www.facebook.com/fanforceunited

Visit our website and sign the contract at www.fanforceunited.com
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Reach us at lotusfanforceunited@gmail.com
Share this with your friends & family and stay tuned for more of our story.    

Chapter 9

The day finally arrived for the Lotus Fan Force United team and their driver, Jean Alesi, to qualify the #64 FP Journe DW12 for the 96^th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Before we get to qualifying, it’s time for one final practice.  There is going to be precious little time to waste, so the team is prepared to hit the track at 9:00am, when the green flag flies.  Of course, this makes for an early day and a long day, while also being both beautiful and productive.  With this session, we’re going to run in cooler temperatures and on a cooler track than we have since this car first hit the track for ROP last week.

Jean took to the track on a set of used tires, on a sunny and slightly breezy central Indiana morning.  We expected to see a gain from our brief session on a very warm Saturday afternoon (on a very warm race circuit), with laps somewhat close to that which we had posted on Friday afternoon.  However, the first run was a bit of a disappointment, as speeds came in around 207mph, 208mph, and 209mph.  However, we can also note that Jean was losing less RPM in the turns, while also not approaching the limits of available RPM.  More speed is available, and it should come down to a simple matter of gear selection.  It’s truly amazing how much this racetrack can change from day to day and from hour to hour.  A team can go out expecting to see one thing and be surprised with something entirely different. 

In between his first and second runs of the morning, with the second proving to be the final run of this final practice session before qualifying, the sun begins peaks over the Tower Terrace suites behind the pit lane, and begins to rapidly warm the air and the racetrack.  At 9:22am, Jean eases into gear again and begins the long drive down pit lane towards the track.  Speed expectations are dashed again, as Jean posts a lap approaching 209mph.  The team begins to wonder if it is encountering its first engine issues of the month, and they decide to return to the garage.  Examining both software and hardware, the engine techs from Lotus determine that there isn’t a problem with the powerplant, and as the Fan Force team has yet to experience a single mechanical issue in nearly 1000 miles of track time, they set to work to determine if there is another source of this seemingly strange turn in fortune.  In the garage, the team quickly discovers a simple issue with the clutch.  No worries. 

Noon arrives and it is time to qualify.  There is a tension in the air.  Even though the team is relatively certain that they are not in danger of being bumped from the field, and even though the team is filled with veterans that have “been there, done that” so very many times, there is nervousness.  It is probably a feeling that the team is feeling on behalf of their massively experienced rookie driver, as it is always said that the four most difficult laps that a driver will ever experience is qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. 

At 12:49pm, with an air temperature of 85 degrees, and a track temperature of 113 degrees, Jean Alesi commences his maiden qualifying attempt for the Greatest Spectacle In Racing.  The Lotus brand ambassador, with a worldwide following - a man that has driven for Tyrrell, Benetton, Sauber, Prost, Jordan, and Ferrari, now competes on behalf of Fan Force United (yes, an unlikely pairing).  Speaking of that very team, at the end of the day, when his position was set, Jean had this to say: “This team has worked so hard, and everybody knows the limitations that have been placed on them by our equipment.  We have made the most of our situation and I am quite happy with everything that they have done for me.  I can tell you that next Sunday night, when it is all over and it is time to leave, that I am going to be very sad, because these guys have become like family to me very quickly.  I have not always been able to experience that in my career, and it has been quite nice.”  It could almost go without saying that the team shares in this sentiment, and would offer a very hearty ditto to their celebrated pilot.

The qualifying run is uneventful.  Jean warms up, takes the green, posts four laps (with each lap faster than the one before it), and ends with a four lap speed average of 210.094mph.  He is the 31^st qualifier, but ultimately this will place him 33^rd of 33 on the starting grid.  Jean will be in the catbird seat, riding shotgun on the field.

Obviously this is Jean’s first qualifying attempt at Indy.  This is the Fan Force United team’s first qualifying attempt at Indy.  This is the first qualifying attempt at Indy for team sponsors FP Journe Watches, AMG (Automotive Management Group), and Breeden Legal.  As a bit of a fun fact, this is the 19^th driver to post a qualification attempt at Indy while carrying the logo of team sponsor Jonathan Byrd’s. 

Some may be wondering why the significant drop-off in speed between Friday afternoon practice and qualifying.  On Friday, Jean had pushed the car to a mid-213mph non-towed lap.  This led the team to believe that a lap in the 214’s (maybe even 215mph with enough trimming) was a possibility.  However, during Jean’s qualifying run, the highest lap speed mustered was more than 3mph off that high.  So what gives?  Did the higher temperatures, both air and track, have that much of an impact?  Naturally, the answer to that question is yes, but that would not account for the totality of the drop-off.

 

At the same time, while Jean’s qualifying speed dropped off, the morning practice and qualifying speed of his fellow Lotus-runner, Simona deSilvestro of the HVM Racing team, jumped up to its highest level.  Until today, Jean had regularly been faster than Simona.  Clearly, something had changed.  The explanation of the entire situation is quite simple, in that Simona’s team was delivered a fresh and updated (within parameters of the rules, prior to the mid-June major update window) Lotus engine, which Lotus believed made extra horsepower and would also make a noticeable difference on track.  This proved to be the case.  Part of the team’s goal in qualifying was to at least be “first in class,” and to be the faster of the two Lotus teams, as they had been all week.  With this now out of reach, the team decided to go ahead and exercise a bit of discretion and restraint, de-trimming the car a bit to something closer to the race set-up, and asking their driver to put in four solid laps without taking any unnecessary risks.  That is what he did.  Though this made for something of a disappointment in relation to qualifying and starting position, especially as this was the first goal the team would fail to reach in its short yet eventful journey, but the good and exciting news is that Lotus informed the team that they would have an engine of the same specifications as that of Simona delivered to them for the race.  A bit more power is always good news indeed, especially at Indianapolis.    

Speaking to his qualifying experience, Jean would say “It is a big relief for me to finally get into this race. I have wanted to do this race ever since I was young. I was always watching the 500, and as I progressed in my career, I would tell people that someday I would like to race in that race.  People would laugh at me.  When I decided to do the Indy 500, I talked with my father and my brother. I am close with my family, and we talk all the time, and together, we agreed that I could do it.  So, since that time of making the decision, I have watched many Indy races on TV and recordings of Indianapolis races. I knew who all drivers were, who the announcers were, and, I trained very hard for many months to prepare.  I put a lot of effort to get ready for this.  Of course, I am disappointed because I do not have the car I thought I would have, but it was all we could get, and we took it.  I keep it inside of me. It’s frustrating to not have the same speed as the others.  I am a professional, I have passion inside of me.  I want to do the maximum that I can, with the car that I have.”

Though he is not content with the speed that has accompanied his introduction to Indianapolis, Alesi is gaining respect – respect for the racetrack and respect from officials, fans, and competitors alike.  With every lap turned, Jean gains new fans, as in the face of long odds, the indomitable spirit and never quit attitude that so endeared him to the Formula 1 faithful, is also winning over the most seasoned of Indy 500 diehards.  The result has been to cast Alesi and his Lotus Fan Force United team as something of the month’s beloved underdogs, and as the topsy-turvy, feel-good story of the 96^th Indianapolis 500. 

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Chapter 8

The first day of qualifying for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 mile race.  We would get on the track today, but we didn’t have any plans to qualify.  The plan was to skip the morning warm-up, as running between 8am and 10am, at least for today, accomplishes nothing for us.  We’re not going to find that last little bit of speed to contend for the fast 9 or even the top 24, and we’re not going to learn anything that could apply to what is looking to be an extremely warm race day next weekend, so there’s not much point in using up a set of tires, putting miles on our engine, or tweaking the car at all.

So we knew we would eventually get on track, during the hot part of the day after the initial break in the qualifying line, allowing us to run in the hot part of the day.  This actually would let us learn about our race car in a way that would be useful for both qualifying and the race itself, though time would be short.  Track time for us came at 2:30pm.  We started with some used tires, just to check the balance after some moderate overnight changes geared towards increasing mechanical grip.  Plus, the guys put a little downforce back into it, just to compensate for a track that was going to be the hottest that this car was yet to see – 127 degrees when Jean wheeled the #64 FP Journe Watches machine on to the racing surface.  Just four laps are sufficient (a bit of a mock simulated qualifying run), and Jean and the Fan Force United engineering staff gets a quick read on the car.  Top speed on that run was 211.5mph.

We’ve been steadily adding names to the Lotus Fan Force United car.  We’ve previously announced the inclusion of long-time IndyCar supporter Jonathan Byrd’s as a sponsor of our Indy 500 effort (www.jonathanbyrds.com, www.facebook.com/jonathanbyrdscafeteria).  Naturally, Jonathan Byrd’s, so famous for its fried chicken, graces the front wings of the car.  So many people have responded to having them on board, and it’s been pretty great tapping into a little bit of Indy nostalgia.  AMG (Automotive Management Group www.youramg.com) has also come on board with our Indy 500 program, and you’ll find AMG on the top of the nose.  Yesterday, we had another group sign on, as Breeden Legal (www.breedenlegal.com, www.facebook.com/breedenlegal, @BreedenLegal) makes its 2012 Indy 500 debut, landing a spot on the side of the nose, ahead of the front tires.  Finally, on the “shark fin” ahead of the sidepods, you’ll find that Keco Coatings has joined the campaign (www.kecocoatings.com). You can check our twitter feed (@LotusFanForce) for pictures.  The chance to be a part of what we are doing, both on and off the track, appears to be appealing.  I’m sure that the chance to have a hand in the Indy 500 debut of a legendary racer like Jean Alesi has quite a bit to do with the rush to sign on as well.  As we head into race week, who else will join up with the Fan Force United team?  To get in on the action, email us at lotusfanforceunited@gmail.com, and we can start a conversation.  It might be easier than you think! 

By the way, we want to thank each of these groups (Jonathan Byrd’s, AMG, Breeden Legal, and Keco Coatings), as all of them are on board as sponsors of our Indy Lights team (drivers Armaan Ebrahim and Emerson Newton-John) as well, and will be adorning our two cars that will be competing in the Freedom 100 later this week. 

Getting back to the track action, 2:57pm sees Jean’s second and final visit to the racing circuit.  There is a brief reprieve from the heat, as the sun temporarily ducks behind some clouds.  However, it is soon burning down again, increasing the misery index on what feels like the most humid day to date this month.  This run will be a simulated qualifying run, so sticker tires are placed on the car.  Jean posts four laps all in excess of 211mph and brings the car to pit lane.  Considering the heat and humidity, that was just about what was expected after the speeds that Jean posted Friday.  There’s no point in chasing the track, and making changes that will not be helpful for qualifying, as different track conditions will be expected in the morning practice and in the first half of qualifying, so Jean hops out of the car, that portion of his work for the day complete.  The team feels confident that Jean will put up his best speeds of the month on Sunday, get himself qualified for the “greatest spectacle in racing,” and will be taking advantage of every last minute of practice to continue preparing their car for the race.    

Team co-owner and Indy 500 veteran, Tyce Carlson summed up the team’s approach to the day: “Everybody on this team has been around the Speedway for a long time.  They know what the day is like and the amount of momentum that goes into it, along with the risks that other people out on the track are taking looking for that last bit of speed to make a run for the pole.  So we didn’t want to be out on the track this morning and possibly be in somebody’s way when they are making a simulated qualifying run.  So we let that go and we went out this afternoon, just making sure that our balance is the same and to see what the car would do in the heat of the day, because that’s how race day is going to be.  We knew that we weren’t going to be in the top twenty-four today.  We’re realists here, and we didn’t want to waste a set of tires.  We’re going to go out first thing in the morning, make sure the balance is there, take the first opportunity to qualify that we can, put the car in the show, and keep working towards the race.”   

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Chapter 7

Fast Friday, as they call it these days.  We’re getting extra boost.  Everybody else is as well, so we don’t really expect to close the gap.  If we do, we do.  If we don’t, we don’t.  We’re concerned about us and about our program.  Our job is not to worry about the things outside of our control, but to focus on those things that we can control and improve.  We’ll gladly accept the extra boost (and we’d love to keep it for the race), but apart from that, it’s business as usual.  Honestly, we’re pretty sick of hearing about it, so our de facto answer, as suggested by team principal Jason Peters, to the query of “Do you guys think you’ll get more boost?” is “We don’t need more boost.  We just need more cowbell!”  Perhaps some enterprising fans can seize on this thought? 

So, turbo boost, activate!  We’ll take it.  It’s always better and more fun to go faster.  Taking to the track for the first time on the day at 1:50pm, on a beautiful mid-May Indiana day, Jean Alesi attempts to stretch the legs of the FP Journe Watches #64, hoping to post his best laps of the month.  On his first run, we see a lap over 206mph, and then over 208mph.  Not there yet.  On his second run, which commenced at 2:06pm, Jean clicks off a lap over 209mph, and then two laps over 210mph.  He’s getting there.  Twenty minutes later, he’s out and right up over 209mph, exceeds 210mph on the next lap, posts his fastest speed of the month to date on his third lap (211.580), and rounds off the run with another lap in excess of 211mph.  However, since others are also boosting their top speeds, we’re not yet closing the gap.  On a positive note, his fastest lap was most definitely run alone, with no tow.  

We round out this session and return our Lotus-powered machine to the garage.  It only took Jean 14 laps to accomplish each part of the program that had been designed for the first track session of the day.  There’s still wing to take out of the car, and a bit of understeer in the car.  Overall, it was a good session, as Jean and the Fan Force United team keep pushing for small gains.  Word around the pit is that the soft limiter might be kicking in a bit low, generating a not insignificant amount of horsepower.  These are the types of things that you can learn and quickly overcome if you are running a large number of cars.  It seems that there is something in the software that keeps Jean from being able to do what he wants when it comes to gearing and shifting.  It’s one of those things that is out of our hands.  Identifying it is the first step.  We hope that solving it comes later.  We’re confident that if we keep working, the solution will be forthcoming, and we’re thrilled to be able to participate in the development.  Not only do racers want to race, but racers also want to have a hand in developing engines.  Naturally, wverybody understands that there’s a sense of satisfaction that comes from being a part of the story of the underdog, especially if the underdog eventually (sometime down the road) takes a bite out of the big dogs, and you get to be a part of the chomping.

Re-emerging from the garage, the team returns to the track at about 4:30pm for their second session of the day.  It’s hot.  It may be the hottest that it has been since the track opened for practice.  Assuredly, the track temperature is approaching 130 degrees, and there is not a cloud in the sky.  A light breeze blows toward to the northwest.  The order of the day now is simulating qualifying runs.  In the first of these, which commenced at 4:36pm, Jean posts laps above 211mph.  It’s good to see him consistently near his top speeds to this point.  He does this on what are extremely used tires, with what is described as “a pretty good push” in the car.  Gearing and rev limiter work has been done.  With the car trimmed, we need to be able to bump ourselves up and ease up on the self-imposed restrictions, so as to take advantage of all of the revs that are available to us.  We’re really not concerned with being too hard on the engine.  In fact, by the end of the day today, we’ll have put 318 laps on this engine.  Apart from being down on power, it has not given us a moment’s worth of worry.  The team is taking some more drag out of the car, and is making the requisite adjustments to get the aero properly balanced front and rear.

We’re still working hand in hand with Lotus.  They see what we see the same time that we see it.  They know every move we are making and are themselves processing the info, talking it over, and making the correlating adjustments.  We’re exploring and discovering, while pushing for more speed while keeping Jean comfortable, and doing all of these things at the same time.  All are learning.  It’s a steep learning curve.  It’s a good thing that we were able to assemble a group of incredibly capable people on such short notice, as the learning curve has been flattened and accelerated (though still quite steep). 

Jean rolls out again at 4:49pm.  Within one lap he knows that the changes just made did not go far enough, and he returns the car to the pit lane.  5:00pm sees the #64 return to the racetrack, as “happy hour” begins.  Jean embarks on another simulated qualifying run, posting 3 laps in excess of 212mph, and then jumps up into the mid-213mph range.  This is a huge psychological barrier, as a lap in the teens puts him that much closer to the pack.  He has now also shaved 5mph from the gap from the fastest overall speed and his fastest speed.  In addition to that, a small but important victory is achieved, as Jean returns to 1^st in class, posting a higher speed (more than 1mph more) than his fellow Lotus runner.  Additionally, he has now gone more than a mile an hour faster than his previous fastest lap, though he did do so with a tow (as is the case for almost everybody else).  The team discovers that with the amount of drag and downforce that has been removed, which doesn’t seem to have an effect on Jean’s comfort level in the least, that the gearing is coming up a little short.  This is noted and will be addressed before returning to the circuit on Saturday.      

Now, with the car almost completely trimmed out in the aero department, mechanical grip is addressed.  The team makes some camber adjustments on the left front of the car.  It can’t be said enough that the feedback the Jean provides is tremendous, and that he has certainly accelerated the learning curve on these cars with his vast experience. 

Venturing out again at 5:17pm, Jean does a couple laps at 211mph and 212mph.  He comes back in, wanting a bit more front grip.  The team obliges him.  He receives sticker tires, the car is trimmed just a bit more, and he is sent back to the circuit for another simulated qualifying run.  His out lap is in excess of 210mph, and he goes on to post four laps with an average above 213mph, doing so completely by himself with no tow whatsoever.  Jean has now matched and even exceeded the rest of his fellow competitors, adding more than 5mph from his fastest pre-boost change non-tow lap, to his fastest post-boost change non-tow lap.  That’s another small victory.  Whereas yesterday he ended the day 19mph adrift from the top speed on the day, today he trails the leader by only 14mph.  When tows are factored out, it appears that Jean may be as little as 11mph to 12mph off the true top speed of the day.  Again, these are small but not insignificant victories for this driver and his team.  This should really serve to change the conversation in a lot of ways. 

Though Jean is running very light in the rear wing downforce department, it is believed that there may be more there.  It is not all the way laid back, and Jean has not expressed any discomfort with the downforce going away.  Jean communicates that even though the car was faster, and that he was running his highest speeds yet (lap and trap speeds), the car felt slower.  This is a good sign.  Even with the car trimmed out, his comfort level has not decreased.  Ladies and gentleman, he’s a gamer!  As of right now, he really likes the car.  However, the team is not going to push this luck too far.  They can take the trim a very little bit farther, but will be, as mentioned, focusing more on the mechanical grip from this point, with the goal of reducing steering input and diminishing the scrubbing of speed in the corner.  Consensus seems to be that there is still another mph (if not 2) in the car. 

On the day, Jean completed 40 laps, bringing his combined total (including last week’s official ROP sessions) to 318 laps on the Speedway.  He has been putting in the necessary time on the racetrack, and he is in the top half for laps completed this month.  This is a great testament to a dedicated driver and team, that simply refuse to quit.  In the end, we did in fact close the gap.  We’re getting there.  Thanks for taking the ride with us.  What shall the weekend bring?           

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Chapter 6

While controversies and questions can swirl, the FP Journe Watches sponsored Lotus Fan Force United team and their driver will continue to work, doing everything in their power (and with their power) to effectively prepare for the competition in the world’s greatest sporting event.

So at 1:30pm, under a bright blue sky, and having again climbed into the car to continue the onward march of progress towards his goal, Jean Alesi again steered his car on to the famous circuit, as he and the team quietly and steadily went about their business.  Right away, Jean posted laps above 207mph.  In and of itself, this is not exactly newsworthy, but this is a gain from the previous day, and all gains must be appreciated. 

There is dramatic action taking place on the racetrack, as cars run in packs.  Jean does his best to pick his spots so as not to interfere, while also doing what he can to run in some traffic and so improve his understanding of his racecar and how it will feel when there are cars around him.  Part of racing, of course, is learning the performance boundaries of your own machine and being prepared to run your own race at the edge of these boundaries while not affecting others in a negative way.  In this regard, each and every lap, in practice, in qualifying, and in the race itself, will be a valuable asset in the ongoing development of the Lotus powerplant.  A little insight – very experienced guys on the Force Fan United team, who are well aware of the car’s limitations and limiting factors and who have worked with some fairly outstanding racers in their careers, are expressing tremendous admiration for their driver, saying things like “Man, it would be great to be able to come back here next year with this guy and with equal power, because he really could win the whole thing.   He gets it.  He’s switched on.”  Perhaps they are channeling their inner Chicago Cubs fan (“there’s always next year”)?  Regardless, working with Jean, even if the team is nowhere near the top of the speed charts, is keeping everybody enthusiastic, which says a lot.

After a run that commenced at 2:03pm, which again saw Jean record some of his quickest laps of the week (with regular boost), Owen Snyder asks Jean if “the car is pretty good.”  Jean responds with a pronounced nod of the head.  So even though the team is dealing with some issues relating to downshift functionality, which is quite important due to the significant drafts/tows that are being created by the new generation IndyCar, the Fan Force United prepared mount is stout.  It seems quite likely that a big jump in horsepower and speed would not change Jean’s feeling about the car, and there are few on the team that, at this point, doubt Jean’s ability to run right up to the edge of the car’s performance capabilities.  At the close of this run, the team commences with their pit stop practices.  There has been so much to do to this point, that it has not been a possibility until now.  Naturally, they look good.  They are a bunch of old pros and seasoned veterans, after all, so there is no surprise here.  By the way, as it was noted that this particular run saw Jean post some of his best speeds of the week, it is also worth noting that the team peeled off tires that had seen 47 laps. 

Another reporter from the French television network, TF1, is here chronicling Jean’s odyssey for their program “Auto Moto.”  Putting aside issues of speed, the outpouring of support and interest from his native land indicates that he is something of a national treasure.  His story shares interested observers from around the globe, which was highlighted by the widespread interest in his talk of things being “unsafe” and the stories that such talk generated. 

Jean jumps out of the car briefly for some more in-depth consultation with his team.  The Fan Force United pit is a hive of activity, as usual.  An extensive and detailed plan is in place each day, as the less than two week old IndyCar portion of this team works to learn about their car, to get a “rookie” comfortable and up to speed, to gel as a group, and to assist in the development of the Lotus engine.  This requires a great degree of co-ordination and synchronization, all of it managed by very able individuals.  This team, though recently assembled, is handling all that has been thrown at them flawlessly.  Their chins are always up, and Jean has been more than effusive in his praise of the men behind his machine, whether he is speaking with Lotus brass, the media, or having pleasant conversations with his fellow competitors.  That makes a group of guys feel good.

Back in the car and back on the track, time is being spent working on draft/tow gearing and doing rev-limiter work.  Of course, Jean is working the driver-available controls, processing as much information as possible on every single lap at speed.  One thing must be said for certain, which is that this team is not sitting on its hands.  This car has been on track 7 of the 8 days for which it has been possible to run.  This team and its driver is doing all that it can to prepare and to get better.  In fact, today is the busiest day yet for the 64 car, as by the time the practice session comes to an end, Jean will have recorded 67 laps.  Every avenue is being explored in the pursuit of speed.  There is not quit.  There is no rest.  Not yet.  Jean and the team seeks the highest possible level of comfort and driveability, working closely with the Lotus engineers to wring the last ounce of performance from their engine.

Jean and the team made two trips from the garage to pit lane today, running in the early afternoon and in the later afternoon.  The program has been prepared, and items are being checked off one by one.  In the 5 o’clock hour, Jean spends time running in traffic, running laps at consistent speeds, as he and the team continue to demonstrate that they are extracting the highest level of performance that is available from their package. 

Amusingly, as Jean circles the track, the scoreboard briefly shows one of Jean’s competitors gaining significant speed from one lap to the next, as the 4 car is shown as having posted a lap at 571.429mph.  This generates chuckles all around. 

As has been so forcefully pointed out, Jean is on track as long and as much as possible, though he is actually able to run fewer laps than the team would like to see.  Today, he runs nearly to the end of the day, and when the checkered flag again waves over the Speedway, all are relatively pleased with the day’s results.  Of course, none are content.  Summing up his day, Jean offers his thoughts, stating: ““Today was a day for preparing to compete in traffic.  I tried to follow some cars.  I feel happy to run with cars.  Less lonely (laughs).  Now tomorrow we have to prepare for qualifying.  Every day is new for me, so I go step by step.”  As a follow-on to that, and probably taking into consideration all that has been said and written about this effort from the moment it was announced, Fan Force United co-owner Chris Williams also offer his own thoughts, saying “Today was just about preparing for the race.  Like yesterday, we had a program to follow and that’s what we did.  From the beginning, working with Jean has been great, and this team is just going about its business.”

We are at Indy, so business is good.  We are at Indy, so we appreciate every lap.  Yes, it’s a challenge, and no, it’s not been a smooth road.  If it was easy, maybe it would not be as rewarding…

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Chapter 5

At 2:20pm today, under a largely cloudless sky, Jean Alesi brought his 44 hour absence from the racing surface of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to an end, when he dropped his Lotus-powered #64 FP Journe Watches DW12 into gear, eased out of his pit box,  and accelerated on to the track.  A consistent wind was blowing north to south and slightly west, and the track temperature was in excess of 120 degrees. 

The area behind the wall of Lotus Fan Force United pit area was filled with interested onlookers, as the story of the F1 legend-turned-Indianapolis-newcomer continues to generate interest.  The stories do indeed abound (the Fan Force United component being quite interesting), with interest about Jean’s aspirations and plight being expressed here and from abroad. 

As the car had been in pieces yesterday, Jean’s first time on to the racetrack was for an install lap.  He quickly returned to the pit, where the car was inspected for any leaks or obvious problems.  Noting a lack of issues, errors, or omissions in the work of the Lotus Fan Force United crew, the car is good to go for a busy session in which there is much to accomplish.  The team is eager to make up for a lost day, with data to gather, ECU and mapping work to do, upshift/downshift issues to explore, and some chassis work to accomplish.  None of this is overly dependent on raw speed, which is probably a good thing. 

Clearly, the heavily experienced team, a number of which proudly wear their Indy 500 champion rings, have an ambitious plan to work and some important steps to accomplish as they continue to prepare for the grand event of May 27^th.  All are well aware of the engine power and top speed issues.  The vast majority of that is out of their hands, so they choose to focus on that which is in their hands (along with the more-than-capable hands of their esteemed and highly regarded driver), making sure that they are doing all that they can to put on to the track the finest racecar that they can possibly produce.  Today, the team will spend a couple of hours running laps, as seat time for Jean, for his comfort (though he is well on top of things as they stand), is also quite crucial.

As Jean returns to the track with a car that has been checked over following his installation lap, one cannot help but note the distinct hum of the Lotus engine as it traverses the main straight of the Brickyard.  It might be down on power, and it might be a bit slower, but it certainly has a sweet, slightly throaty sound that is quite pleasing to the ear.  Romanticizing complete, Jean runs a number of laps in the 204mph range and is in to download (figuratively and literally).

His third visit to the racetrack sees him complete one lap before returning to the pit.  This usually indicates some type of problem, but apparently it was nothing too serious, as he quickly returned to the track for yet another number of laps in excess of 204mph.  Sticker tires go on to the car, and Jean goes out to post another 204mph lap.  For the next round of laps, the team put 15 gallons of fuel into the tank for the purpose of an extended run.  It is inside this run that Jean would post his quick lap of the day in the mid 205mph range.  Consistent laps at the edge of the car’s performance come to him with ease on this longer run.  It’s nice to know that he and the car can do this without much trouble and feeling more than comfortable, but of course it is not good enough.  At the very least, the team is getting solid fuel consumption readings.  Again, there is so much to do. 

The Fan Force United crew and he Lotus brand ambassador are having a heavy hand in the development of this engine.  We know that this will result in benefits and solid gains down the road, but as of right now, going up against the other manufacturers is a monumental task.  Fortunately, everyone on this team has dealt with adversity, so we just keep our heads down and keep on working.  With the hand we were dealt and which we cheerfully accepted, we’re behind, not dead, and we’re not rolling over.

Despite being at the tail end of the speed charts, Jean is having to balance the demands of being an Indianapolis rookie with the overwhelming flood of media requests from all around the world, as access to our driver is sought from outlets far and wide.  This serves as a testament to his significant popularity, more than a decade removed from his retirement from the most prestigious stage of world motorsport.  Undoubtedly, they come for Jean and to tell his story; but perhaps a recognition of the tenacity of this terrific little Indy 500 team that wasn’t, and then was and is, will filter its way into the stories that they will tell the world.

On to Jean’s final run of the day.  Can we use the word “consistent” too often.  The answer is probably “yes,” but it’s applicable.  Consistency is good, we just wish it was a bit quicker.  Hey, we’re just trying to be honest here.  The car is parked and Jean hops out.  It’s time to head back to the garage.  It will be almost four more hours before the team calls it a night and vacates the premises just before the gates are closed for the evening.  The Lotus Fan Force United crew is the last to leave practically every night.    

Jean talks to some media about the newness of so many of the experiences of being here in Indianapolis, even pointing out that having spotters in his ear is new for him.  Later he will add that “the chance to race at Indianapolis is a real gift.”  Now who couldn’t love a guy like that?

To go along with the attention that this Alesi, Lotus, and Fan Force United team has generated, some controversy has been stirred by Jean’s reaction to the events of the day.  When asked to sum up his time on the track, Jean, without any excitement and without the slightest hint of exasperation, calmly and straightforwardly stated: “Right now, I feel very unsafe, being quite slow in the middle of the track, so I am quite concerned for my fellow drivers if we are not able to get the speed that we need.  I am flat out and I have reached 205 as the maximum that I can see.  So it is not a comfortable position right now.” 

With these sentiments, Jean is expressing his concern for his fellow competitors, communicating that he believes the situation as it stands to be one that is unsafe, simply due to the speed differential.  He is not necessarily saying that he fears for himself, or that he feels a lack of safety in the car.  Jean has made it quite clear that he is very comfortable in the car, and is simply desirous of going faster.  All of this makes sense, as he is a determined racer that wants to be competitive.  Jean remains fully confident in his team, and continues, along with the Fan Force team, to work hard to do all he can to find improvement in every possible area.

Let us see what tomorrow brings.  We will continue to enjoy the ride and the chance to be a part of the Greatest Spectacle In Racing! 

Don’t forget, to
Join the Fan Force by liking us at www.facebook.com/fanforceunited
Follow us on twitter @LotusFanForce & @FanForceUnited
Reach us at lotusfanforceunited@gmail.com
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Interlude

As Jean Alesi did not make it on to the circuit at Indy today, we do not have a chapter to add to our Indy 500 story.  Thus, we offer a brief interlude.  We hope you enjoy...

In a display case at Jonathan Byrd's, in Greenwood, Indiana (Fan Force United team sponsor), there sits a special trophy.

The trophy was specially produced for the purpose of honoring a special feat, which was the setting of the 1 and 4 lap qualification records at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.  It is quite likely that these records will stand for all time.

It is a simple trophy, consisting of a picture, a plaque that lists the speeds in commemoration of the achievement, and a brick from the original racing surface of the Speedway (the Brickyard).

In the photo, from left to right, is Brad McCanless (crew chief), the late Jonathan Byrd (team co-owner), Tim Wardrop (engineer), and Arie Luyendyk (driver and Indy legend).  Of course, also featured in the photo is the record-setting racing machine.

Four of these trophies were produced, with one given to each of the men in the photo.

Tim Wardrop is currently the Director of Competition for the Lotus Fan Force United Indy 500 team and the Fan Force United Indy Lights team.

In conversation with Tim earlier this month, it was learned that though he still owns the trophy, at some point the brick came to be missing.  This unacceptable situation demanded to be rectified, and so it was.

 
In the FP Journe Watches/Lotus Fan Force United garage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the perfect opportunity to rectify the situation presented itself, and Tim was presented with another original Speedway brick to replace the one that had been lost.

In the photo, from left to right, is Jean Alesi, David Byrd (standing in for his dad), Tim Wardrop, and Arie Luyendyk, as they briefly re-live that magical moment from sixteen years ago.

This is the kind of "United" that the "Fan Force" delivers!

Ah, Indy...

Don't forget, to
Join the Fan Force by liking us at www.facebook.com/fanforceunited
Follow us on twitter @LotusFanForce & @FanForceUnited
Reach us at lotusfanforceunited@gmail.com
Share this with your friends & family and stay tuned for more of our story.