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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Humpy Wheeler Concerning Indy 500 Promotion, Future
H.A. "Humpy Wheeler" talks about the Indy 500, Danica Patrick and more...
SPEED Staff  |  Posted June 22, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Former President and General Manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler. (Photo: Getty Images)

Legendary racing promoter and former President and General Manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, joined guest host Mike Joy Sunday night on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain on SPEED. Wheeler discussed his recent trip to the Indianapolis 500, his potential interest in promoting the Indy 500, the impact of Danica Patrick in NASCAR and Despain’s idea of making the Indy 500 a “green race,” among other issues. Following is a transcript from the interview:

Joy: For the past month, “Tunnel heads” have wanted to have you on the show to hear about your trip to the Indy 500 and what it was like …

Wheeler: “I had a ball up there. I’ve been to the Brickyard and all that but the Indy 500 is such a special … I’d been competing against it for all those years. I’d call Tony George the morning of every race and say, ‘We’ve got as many people as you do up there because what I did was let everyone who was walking down the street come and sit on the fans’ laps.’ He’d laugh and I’d say, ‘Is it raining yet?’ We had a big time and we did that every year that I was at the speedway after he took it over. I had a good time and I know Mary George and all the girls up there and had talked to them and kept up with them and talked to them quite a bit.”

Joy: Are you like me … when I don’t have that headset to put on, I don’t know what to do?

Wheeler: “No, I had plenty to do because I was reacquainting myself a lot. I’m good friends with a lot of those drivers like Dario Franchitti, and I was glad to see him win today because I thought he could have won that race had he not had that lousy pit stop he had.”

Joy: If the opportunity presented, would have an interest in going to promote the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, or as many people on our live chat have asked, would you have an interest in the new Formula One series?

Wheeler: “Well, that new series sounds interesting but it also sounds like a real pain in the eye. Starting from scratch on that thing … that’s going to be …… and then you’re going to have heads butting. I used to do that when I was operating dirt race tracks and I don’t want to do that anymore. As far as Indy is concerned, Tony (George) and I are good friends and I actually may help them do some things. As far as going to a fulltime deal, that’s probably not in the cards. I think Tony will get this thing straightened out. We’re in a tough economy right now and racing all over’s been hit pretty hard.”



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