Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...
The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions. Supercross saw a number of injuries. Jett Lawrence is out after tearing his ACL in Arizona. Eli Tomac is banged up. Hunter Lawrence was injured in his heat race from Tampa. Jorge Martín suffered a few fractures after a hair-raising accident testing in Sepang. NASCAR had a Hall of Fame ceremony. Dubai hosted a pair of races while the Asian Le Mans Series announced a return to Buriram for next season. Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...
I Got Nothing
It is the evening of Super Bowl Sunday, and I got nothing.
I got some things. Bits of some things actually. It is really nothing though.
Looking at this weekend for the last month or so, I didn't have anything on my mind. There were a few ideas that had been floating around surrounding the opening of 2025 and news broke that drew a response. There are a few things in the next few weeks that will come up and require a write up or at least take up some brain space. This weekend was one where I had nothing pinned down. There was no grand topic I wanted to touch, nor did anything stand out that was going to happen.
Do I want to talk about promos? That can wait.
Do I want to talk about Mike Wallace? NASCAR's decision could warrant a response, but it is a singular issue and it will likely be forgotten soon.
Do I want to talk about the Daytona 500? Eh. A preview is coming during the week. There is excitement for it. Controlled excitement as there will notable names fighting to make the race, but with this format it is not the most exciting. It is limited when 36 of 40 spots are locked up before a qualifying lap is run.
I already spoke about the major NASCAR rule changes. Do I want to talk about the unnecessary point that will be awarded for fastest lap in each race? I think calling it unnecessary says enough. Who cares? When has fastest lap ever meant anything? Are drivers going to chase it? Unless a driver is three laps down in 28th, teams aren't going to be chasing it. If they are, who cares? They are running 28th and three laps down.
Do I want to talk about all the money the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum made last week in auctions?
A little bit.
I get it. It made nearly $88 million selling two cars, a Mercedes-Benz W196R that Juan Manuel Fangio drove to a victory in a non-championship Buenos Aires Grand Prix and Stirling Moss used in the 1954 Italian Grand Prix, and the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Ferrari 250 LM. But boy, how do you sell those gems?
Apparently, both cars spent most of their time in storage. If you are upset about these being sold to private collectors and likely never seeing them again, well, they were already in a private collection and not on display for the general public. Nothing has changed in that sense other than someone else wanted it and paid the price for it. If you have $88 million in your basement, why is it in your basement? But, remember, you are not going to get possession of those cars again.
The Mercedes was a gift from the manufacturer in 1965, in honor of the Speedway's contribution to motorsports and in honor of Mercedes' only Indianapolis 500 victory with Ralph DePalma 50 years earlier.
The Ferrari was purchased from Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team after its final race in 1970.
I guess there was going to be a time to cash in. It doesn't mean it wasn't going to be difficult to decide.
The museum, which re-opens this spring after being closed for over a year for renovations, has said it is re-focusing its collection on cars that competed in the Indianapolis 500 and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
I understand focusing the collection, but it isn't a bad thing to have gems like this. Gems like this aren't going to be coming around again, whether it be something historic or a modern car that will soon become a piece of legend. Manufacturers aren't gifting these type of vehicles away. Audi isn't giving up R8s, R10s or R15s. Red Bull isn't going to be leaving a present on the doorstep at 16th and Georgetown. There is a point of cherishing what you have and think twice before you give up something special.
I don't know if the museum could have found a different way to make $52 million on the Mercedes and nearly $36 million on the Ferrari while retaining possession. With cars like that, you should find a way to get those on the floor permanently. Those aren't irrelevant race cars. That isn't the 21st-place finisher in the 1983 Indianapolis 500. These are cars of consequence, pieces of art compared to most of the products of the 2020s, not mass-produced spec chassis. They might not have raced at Indianapolis, but their importance far exceeds this place and it is good to show that to everyone who passes through those doors.
These aren't the only cars the IMS museum is selling. At the end of the month, in Miami, it is selling a Ford GT40 Mk II, a Benetton B191 that Michael Schumacher drove in the 1992 South Africa Grand Prix and the Spirit of America Sonic I, which set the land speed record of 600.601 mph at Bonneville in 1965, among a number of other vehicles.
Again, it is hard to turn down $88 million. The Speedway is likely going to add another $30 million for selling the rest of these cars in Miami. Considering the museum has been closed since November 2023, forgoing whatever revenue it draws from 363 days of tickets at $15, and the renovation cost $89 million, making over $110 million clearing the basement is a no-brainer, but just consider what is being sold and that you will never get it again.
I guess I had something on my mind after all. Something from nothing I guess. I will do better next week.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about the Super Bowl, but did you know...
The #25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca of Malthe Jakobsen, Michael Jensen and Valerio Rinicella won the first 4 Hours of Dubai. The #26 Bretton Racing Ligier of Jens Reno Møller, Theodor Jensen and Griffin Peebles won in LMP3. The #96 2 Seas Motorsport Ben Barnicoat, Anthony McIntosh and Parker Thompson won in GT.
The #20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca of Olli Caldwell, Kriton Lendoudis and Alex Quinn won the second 4 Hours of Dubai. The #15 RLR Sport Ligier of Nick Adcock, Ian Aguilera and Chris Short won in LMP3. The #99 Herberth Motorsport Porsche of Ralf Bohn, Alfred Renauer and Robert Renauer won in GT.
Malcolm Stewart won the Supercross race from Tampa, his first career victory in his 109th career start. Max Anstie won the 250cc class.
Coming Up This Weekend
The 67th Daytona 500
Formula E is back for its third round, its first doubleheader of the season, in Jeddah.
Asian Le Mans Series ends its 2024-25 season with a doubleheader at Yas Marina.
The World Rally Championship plays in the snows of Sweden.
Supercross heads to Detroit.
