Indianapolis 500 Legends React To SCCA Runoffs Announcement

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (October 14, 2015) – The joint announcement on Wednesday from Sports Car Club of America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway drew reaction not just from SCCA competitors but former competitors with ties to both the SCCA Runoffs and the Brickyard.

The history of the Speedway and the SCCA’s Club Racing program are linked hand-in-hand.

Two drivers, Mark Donohue and Bobby Rahal, have captured both an Indy 500 win and an SCCA National Championship.

“I think this is just fabulous news,” said Rahal, the 1975 Formula B National Champion and 1986 Indy 500 winner. “For the Runoffs to be at Indianapolis, on a circuit that has been universally acclaimed by anyone who has driven on it, to really be at the center of racing in America, I think is just fabulous news. I’m confident that the drivers will love the circuit. The people at the Speedway know how to throw a party. This is going to be great for the Runoffs, it’s going to be great for Indy, but mostly it’s going to be great for the participants. I’m going to come down and watch it. That’s how special I think it is.”

The Indianapolis 500 is littered with current team owners who saw Runoffs success as drivers, in addition to Rahal.

Jimmy Vasser was the 1986 champion in the current Formula F class (then called Formula Ford) and his win at the Runoffs was his first step to competing in the Indianapolis 500.

“It’s awesome,” Vasser said of the news. “Every young guy and every racer alike, when you’re a driver, you dream about just going to Indianapolis. It was always my path. And now with the road course and the Runoffs being able to go there, all the amateur guys have a chance to win at Indy and being able to pull into victory lane, it’s going to be very special for the guys and girls who are able to do that.

“At the time, it was by far my biggest win, of course. To be National Champion, we chased after that for three seasons. When I won the Runoffs in ’86, it was huge for me. It was a huge springboard to the next step, up into Atlantics. Winning the President’s Cup was huge for me. I still have those memories all the time. As a matter of fact, I bought the car back years ago and put it back in the same livery as when I drove it.”

Like Vasser, Sam Schmidt turned a National Championship into a ride in the Indianapolis 500, before becoming a team owner.

"I'm very pleased to hear that the SCCA National Runoffs are coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Schmidt said. “I'm very proud of my 1993 Formula Continental championship and I respect what the Sports Car Club of America has done for motorsports in the U.S.

"I consider myself a proud life member, and what could be better than combining that organization with the most historic venue in the United States? I wouldn't have had the opportunity to compete in IndyCar or to be an IndyCar team owner now, without the opportunities that SCCA created for me early on."

Chip Ganassi competed in four Indianapolis 500 races as a driver, and as a team owner, has seen his drivers pull into victory lane on four occasions. Prior to that, however, Ganassi was a podium finisher in the 1980 Runoffs in Formula F.

“The SCCA Runoffs have always been an important piece to the overall puzzle of auto racing in this country but for it to be paired with Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the most iconic track in the world, is huge,” Ganassi said. “Both played a significant part in getting me to where I am in my career. The Runoffs in the late 70s and early 80s provided a place for me to showcase my driving ability on a national level. It was a crucial step in my career as a driver, like it has been for many other competitors over the years. Bringing the event to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will undoubtedly raise the profile and add another layer to the rich history of the Brickyard.”

Joining their fellow team owners, Michael Andretti was the polesitter and podium finisher in the 1982 Runoffs in Formula F before his professional success. Roger Penske, whose name is synonymous with Indianapolis 500 history, was a very successful SCCA Club Racer in his own right, winning the prestigious President’s Cup three times.

The links to Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t just to past drivers, however. Graham Rahal holds the record as the youngest SCCA Runoffs winner in history at 16 years, 242 days at the time of his 2005 Formula Atlantic championship.

Though not a Runoffs veteran, Josef Newgarden returned to his roots in 2014, just to participate in the SCCA’s 45th anniversary celebration of Formula F. As a racer, he understands the scope of the event for amateurs.

“It is fantastic news to hear that the SCCA Runoffs will be held at the greatest race track in the world,” Newgarden said. “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an iconic venue that provides such a unique atmosphere. For these racers to get a chance to run there is an absolute treat and I'm sure they will produce a great show.”

The success of former SCCA racers running at Indianapolis isn’t limited to just Memorial Day weekend. Boris Said, a three-time National Champion, is a veteran of two NASCAR Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard races.

And just as importantly, SCCA Runoffs success extends beyond just the race track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kyle Krisiloff, now the Senior Director of Music and Entertainment at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was the 2001 Formula F National Champion to start his driving career.

“Hosting the 2017 SCCA Runoffs is a great way for IMS to reconnect with passionate racers from all across the country,” Krisiloff said. “It'll be a special experience for them and a great opportunity for IMS to be a part of an excellent event with lots of rich history.”

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs has crowned Club Racing National Champions in a winner-take-all, single race format since 1964, providing a landing place for some to race on weekends, and a springboard to professional careers for others. Through 27 separate races over three days, the 2015 edition recently crowned champions in 27 classes in the pinnacle event of amateur racing.

Prior to Indianapolis, the 2016 SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB is at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sept. 19-25, 2016.

Click here for the full location announcement.