Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...
After making his debut in 1997, Kasey Kahne scored his first World of Outlaws victory on Friday night in Williams Grove, Pennsylvania. Christian Lundgaard won the Grand Prix of Indianapolis with a sensational pass on David Malukas. Ken Roczen won the AMA Supercross championship after a fall took Hunter Lawrence out of contention. The FIA World Endurance Championship had an action-packed day from Spa-Francorchamps. The weather cooperated with NASCAR at Watkins Glen. It was a rough weekend for the Márquez brothers, but a great weekend for Aprilia. It is a busy time of the year. However, I have been thinking about identity, and how it pertains to competitors.
Wavin' Flag
There is always some sort of history made at the Indianapolis 500. Sometimes it is astonishing. Other times it is rather simple, but fun to see nonetheless.
What is it this year?
Mick Schumacher is about to become the first German to run the Indianapolis 500 since 1923. That sounds hard to believe, but the last time any Germans were in the race was 103 years ago when Mercedes entered three cars with Max Sailer, Christian Werner and Christian Lautenschlager starting and Karl Sailer, Max's nephew, running as a relief driver.
A lot has happened since 1923 for Schumacher to be the next German in the Indianapolis 500. There have been a lot of Germans since then!
However, Schumacher is not German-born, and even if he was, he would not be the first German-born driver to compete at Indianapolis since 1923. Dominic Dobson made seven Indianapolis 500 starts. Dobson was born in Stuttgart, but he is American and was raised in Seattle, Washington, where he still calls home.
Then there is Dennis Hauger. Hauger is going to be the second Norwegian-born driver. Whether or not you consider him the second Norwegian or the first Norwegian is a matter of debate. In the first Indianapolis 500, a driver born in Horten, Norway started the race. Gil Andersen was born there but he emigrated to the United States when he was a teenager. For the longest time, he was listed as a Norwegian, but he is listed as an American competitor from time-to-time.
In the early 20th century, there were many people living in the United States who were new to the country, and how they identified was broad. They lived in the States but spoke the language of their ancestors, and they could all come together and have an international event though everyone called this place home. That is how it was for motorsports and those who competed during that time. Along with Andersen, Ralph DePalma was a child when he came from Italy. He had spent most of his life in the United States when he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1915, but he would not obtain citizenship for another five years. Arthur, Louis and Gaston Chevrolet all emigrated from France and Switzerland.
It isn't even an old phenomenon. Mario Andretti was born in Italy, but competed as an American. Matthew Brabham was born in Boca Raton, was a Team USA Scholarship winner, and then made his one Indianapolis 500 start under the Australian flag. Pietro Fittipaldi was born in Miami, but he competed as Brazilian. It goes the reverse direction as well. Charlie Kimball was born in the United Kingdom, but always competed as an American. Eddie Cheever was born in Phoenix, Arizona, grew up in Italy and flaunted being Italian, but always competed as an American in Formula One and IndyCar. Identity can be complicated. Sometimes that is a choice.
This goes beyond Americans as well. Scott McLaughlin became a U.S. citizen last year, but he does not compete as an American. Romain Grosjean was born in Switzerland but has always competed under the French flag for his mother. Ed Jones was born in the United Arab Emirates and raced under that flag, but I don't think Jones is a name native to that land. Plus, Jones' accent gives him away. Kyffin Simpson was born in Barbados and he races under the flag of the Cayman Islands. His family's allegiance is to tax avoidance. Gil de Ferran was born in Paris and he spent his first few years in France before moving to Brazil, his parents’ home.
How we view a grid and drivers that are competing has likely changed from 1911 and 1923. If you look through old box scores, nationality is not listed. Even the current box scores do not include nationality. It is irrelevant to the actual result. It does show where people came from and how one event can bring together people from different walks of life. There are many paths to the Indianapolis 500, but in terms of it meaning something, nationality can be misconstrued.
In the last ten years, eight drivers have won the Indianapolis 500. Seven different nationalities have been represented. The only one that produced multiple winners is the United States. Does it mean anything? Does it mean superiority? (I acknowledge a dangerous question to ask during this time, especially considering some merchandising choices within IndyCar). The answer is no, and it doesn’t really mean anything.
Anything that can be taken away from that fact is it is more likely a U.S.-based championship will have American winners, the same way the Bathurst 1000 is more likely going to have Australian winners or the British Superbike Championship is going to have a British champion.
Some countries produce more drivers than others. In a larger quantity, there is a greater likelihood you will find someone of quality. In the ten years prior to these last ten, eight different drivers won the Indianapolis 500. Six different nationalities were represented. The United States and the United Kingdom each produced two. The United Kingdom produced a three-time winner in that span. There was once a time when there were nearly 40 years between British winners. Objectives were different. IndyCar was less international. Drivers didn't come from abroad to make a career. Teams also weren’t looking for international drivers. It wasn't a matter of talent or skill. It was more opportunity.
We chase firsts. There is this desire to see history and think we are observing what has never been done before. At times, we try and make a grey scenario black-and-white. We should embrace what has happened, and the messiness.
Hauger will not be the first driver born in Norway to start the Indianapolis 500, but to determine whether or not he was the first "Norwegian" is somewhat unclear, mostly because the times have changed and how we interpret nationality and stress its importance as an identifier for the competitors is not the same as its was a century ago. Whether he is first or second, we should acknowledge what did happen. Gil Andersen was born in Norway but came to the United States with his family as a child. What do we gain if Hauger is first Norwegian or the first Norwegian to start the race in 108 years? What does it matter if it has been 103 years since a German competed in the Indianapolis 500? They are fun footnotes, but we should not try and use those to give one clear answer when it really does require a little explaining.
We should not get too caught up in if we are seeing history but rather how the present relates to the past and tell a more complete story.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about Kasey Kahne, Christian Lundgaard and Ken Roczen, but did you know...
Jorge Martín won MotoGP's French Grand Prix, and Martín won the sprint race. Izan Guevara won in Moto2. Máximo Quiles won in Moto3, his third victory of the season.
The #20 BMW Team WRT BMW of René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde and Robin Frijns won the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The #59 Garage 59 McLaren of Antares Au, Tom Fleming and Marvin Kirchhöfer won in LMGT3.
Enzo Fittipaldi and Tymek Kucharczyk split the Indy Lights races from the IMS road course. Jacob Douglas and Jack Jeffers split the USF Pro 2000 races. Anthony Martella, Sebastián Garzón and Brad Majman split the U.S. F2000 races.
Shane van Gisbergen won the NASCAR Cup race from Watkins Glen. Connor Zilisch won the Grand National Series race. Kaden Honeycutt won the Truck race, his first career victory.
The #29 Turner Motorsport BMW of Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley won the GTWorld Challenge America race from Sebring. The #028 RS1 Porsche of Spencer Pumpelly and Luca Mars split the GT4 America races. Tony Davis and Memo Gidley split the GT America races.
Thierry Neuville won Rally de Portugal.
Chase Sexton won the Supercross race from Salt Lake City, his second victory of the season. Cole Davies won 250cc East-West Showdown.
Coming Up This Weekend
Indianapolis 500 qualifying.
The 24 Hours Nürburgring will have a few extra viewers.
MotoGP drops into Barcelona.
NASCAR has its All-Star Race from Dover.
Formula E take to the streets of Monaco.
World Superbike is heading east to Most.
