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And Colossally That's History! - Indy 500: Europe's impact on the great American race

Indy 500: Europe's impact on the great American race

05/08/24 • 74 min

And Colossally That's History!

For many motor racing fans, the month of May means one thing: The Indianapolis 500. Famously known as 'the greatest spectacle in racing', the Indy 500 captured American hearts from its inception in 1911 - but the race has also tantalised Europe's racing elite over the years, charmed by its big prize pot and unique challenge.

On this episode, Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) take a look at the roots of oval racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself, before focusing on famous European incursions at the great American race.

Tune in for stories about the wine-drinking Frenchman who triumphed in 1913, Ferrari's ill-fated attempt at the 500 in 1952, Lotus' ultimately victorious campaign at The Brickyard in the 1960s, and much more. Plus, Matt gives us his personal recollections of working alongside Fernando Alonso during the Spaniard's fabulous (but fruitless) attempt at the 500 in 2017, and Richard takes us back to the early 1990s, when he witnessed first-hand Nigel Mansell's two participations at Indy in 1993 and 1994.

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For many motor racing fans, the month of May means one thing: The Indianapolis 500. Famously known as 'the greatest spectacle in racing', the Indy 500 captured American hearts from its inception in 1911 - but the race has also tantalised Europe's racing elite over the years, charmed by its big prize pot and unique challenge.

On this episode, Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) take a look at the roots of oval racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway itself, before focusing on famous European incursions at the great American race.

Tune in for stories about the wine-drinking Frenchman who triumphed in 1913, Ferrari's ill-fated attempt at the 500 in 1952, Lotus' ultimately victorious campaign at The Brickyard in the 1960s, and much more. Plus, Matt gives us his personal recollections of working alongside Fernando Alonso during the Spaniard's fabulous (but fruitless) attempt at the 500 in 2017, and Richard takes us back to the early 1990s, when he witnessed first-hand Nigel Mansell's two participations at Indy in 1993 and 1994.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

undefined - Imola '94: The fallout and lasting legacy (Part 3)

Imola '94: The fallout and lasting legacy (Part 3)

Matt Bishop (journalist, editor, novelist and PR) and Richard Williams (journalist, author and broadcaster) are here to reappraise the past - and they'd love to have you along for the ride!

In the final episode of our trilogy marking the 30th anniversary of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Matt and Richard look at the fallout and lasting legacy of F1's so-called blackest weekend, when both Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed in action.

They discuss what happened at the next race on the calendar, in Monaco, when a crash in practice raised anxiety levels yet further, and left poor Karl Wendlinger in a coma. They also reflect on the safety changes made in the wake of Imola, both immediately (to cars and circuits) and in the long term.

Also, Richard reflects on attending the inquest into Senna's death in Italy, before he and Matt assess how Williams and Damon Hill were impacted by - and reacted to - the terrible Imola accident.

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Next Episode

undefined - Paying tribute to motor sport’s pioneering female drivers

Paying tribute to motor sport’s pioneering female drivers

On this episode, Matt and Richard remember several pioneering female drivers from the past; each an inspiring character who competed on equal terms with their male peers and who achieved, against the odds, some incredible things.

Those discussed included Maria Theresa De Filippis (the first woman to compete in a world championship Grand Prix), Pat Moss (the talented rally driving sister of F1 star Stirling Moss), Lella Lombardi (the first woman to score an F1 point), Desire Wilson (the only woman to win an F1 race of any sort), Michele Mouton (a four-time world rally winner), Janet Guthrie (the first woman to qualify and compete in both Indy 500 and Daytona 500), and many more.

And after reappraising the past, Matt and Richard bring us up to the present to look at efforts to bring more female drivers into the sport, and they also ponder the age old question of whether female racers will ever become mainstays in F1 in the future.

NOTE: This podcast was recorded before Abbi Pulling's landmark British Formula 4 victory!

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