News
- The purse for the 2008 Indy 500 was increased substantially from previous records. Under a new league revenue sharing program, the winner of the 2008 Indy 500 received an estimated US$2.5 million, while the entire race purse totaled at least US$13.4 million.
- Two-time Indianapolis 500 and Formula One champion Emerson Fittipaldi drove the Chevrolet Corvette pace car.
- 2007 IndyCar rookie of the year Ryan Hunter-Reay was eligible to compete for the Rookie of the Year award, under race rules. Even though he is an established IndyCar driver, he has not yet made a start at Indianapolis. Several other former Champ Car drivers will be individually evaluated and may be eligible to require only a "refresher" level test in lieu of the traditional four-phase rookie test. Any driver not declared a rookie, but had not started this race in the past, in the series were declared rookies for this race only.
- With the IRL/CC merger, the 2008 running is expected to one of the most competitive in many years.
- Peak motor oil sponsored the US$100,000 pole position award.
- The official entry list was released April 11. The initial list features 39 cars and 32 drivers. Additional drivers will be announced during practice and qualifying.
- 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, rode around the oval track approximately one hour prior to the 500 start aboard a Honda RC212V Grand Prix motorcycle, demonstrating the 2-wheel machinery that will be racing at Indianapolis in September.
- On May 19, the 33 qualified drivers took part in a media tour in New York City. The drivers lined up in the traditional eleven rows of three in front of the famous Charging Bull near Wall Street.
- On May 21, 2008, it was announced Kristi Yamaguchi will be the starter for the race. A death in the family forced Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to withdraw from the honorary position.
Read more about this topic: 2008 Indianapolis 500
Famous quotes containing the word news:
“If you are one of the hewers of wood and drawers of small weekly paychecks, your letters will have to contain some few items of news or they will be accounted dry stuff.... But if you happen to be of a literary turn of mind, or are, in any way, likely to become famous, you may settle down to an afternoon of letter-writing on nothing more sprightly in the way of news than the shifting of the wind from south to south-east.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“These men, in teaching us how to die, have at the same time taught us how to live. If this man’s acts and words do not create a revival, it will be the severest possible satire on the acts and words that do. It is the best news that America has ever heard.... How many a man who was lately contemplating suicide has now something to live for!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I think of no news to tell you. It is a serene summer day here, all above the snow. The hens steal their nests, and I steal their eggs still, as formerly. This is what I do with the hands. Ah, labor,—it is a divine institution, and conversation with many men and hens.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)