Paul Tracy has been called many things in his racing career, but shrinking violet usually doesn’t come to mind.
True to form, the outspoken and often irascible “Thrill from West Hill,” Ont., didn’t pass up a chance to toss a glove or two in his opponents’ direction during last weekend’s IndyCar Series Long Beach Grand Prix when he announced a deal with KV Racing to drive in May’s 93rd Indianapolis 500.
“Well, as I was laying on the couch watching the disaster of a race at St. Pete’s, I felt like I could get out there and clean everybody’s clock, the way they were driving,” he said, referring to a mistake- and accident-filled season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., three weeks ago.
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“It won’t take me very long to get back up to speed. I think I proved that in Edmonton last year, and I think that’s probably the toughest track that the series goes to in terms of rough and fast.”
The KV Racing deal may also turn out to be good news for organizers in Toronto and Edmonton, who are now one large step closer to having the popular driver in the field for their events. But getting a chance to race at home is a question of scraping up enough sponsorship to pay for the extra appearances.
At the time, Tracy not only raced in the rival Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART, later Champ Car), but he was also one of its most outspoken defenders. Many felt that having Tracy’s face added to the Borg Warner trophy would be too much for Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner and IRL founder Tony George to stomach, and so the fix was in.
When asked whether he’d take part in the rookie sessions to help get more comfortable in his new car, Tracy showed he hasn’t forgotten 2002.
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“It’s four corners. We’re going to do the best we can, and we’re going there to win. Nothing else really matters to me other than winning the race.”
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