With upwards of 225 drivers representing more than 90 international entries, Mark Dismore has coined the Mazda Robo-Pong 200 presented by Bridgestone the Indy 500 of karting.
The endurance karting event Oct. 14 at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana (12:30 p. m., free admission) features 500-Mile Race winner Dan Wheldon, 2007 IndyCar Series championship runner-up Scott Dixon, 2006 Indy Pro Series champion Jay Howard and ABC/ESPN IndyCar Series driver analyst Scott Goodyear among the competitors.
Many professional drivers are paired with some of karting’s top drivers. Wheldon and Mark Dismore Jr., who won the event in 2005, have teamed up again. Also entered to compete from the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series are Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt IV, Robbie Pecorari, Matt Jaskol, CR Crews and Logan Gomez.
“I think most racing drivers who are fortunate to make a living in motorsports are real respectful of karting, ” said Dismore, a former IndyCar Series driver who owns and operates the 1.1-mile karting facility off I-70. “That’s where 99 percent of them have come from, and it’s a tribute to the sport and a tribute to them as individuals to come back to their roots and participate in this race with a bunch of guys who would love to change places with them. ”
Teams representing the continental United States, Canada and even the Dominican Republic will be aiming for a $5,000 payday among the purse of $25,000.
“I want to make it the Indy 500 of karting, ” Dismore said, “and I think it’s quickly becoming that. Typically when you go to a national (karting) event there will be maybe 500 entries but there also are 15 classes. At the end of the weekend you have 15 winners. This event you have one class of racing and one (team) winner. Just like the Indy 500, there is one winner. ”
Each team is comprised of two to four drivers in 125cc water-cooled racing karts. The approximately four-hour race will feature a minimum of three pit stops per team for fuel and driver changes.
Morning practice Oct. 13 is followed by qualifying (2 p. m.), which will set the top 50 teams on time. The pole-winning team will receive a $500 bonus. The last 20 karts will have to gain entry into the 70-kart field through a 75-lap race at 4 p. m. The event will be taped for a one-hour broadcast on Speed this fall.
“Every year this gains momentum and continues to grow, ” said Dismore, who also will compete in the race. “I’m real excited about it. ”
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