9
saw this as a huge opportunity. Bringing
this business here and closer to the source
is very important not just to our state but
to the entire industry. We immediately
contacted IndyCar to inquire what we
could do to bring as much of the new
chassis here as possible. We provided an
incentive package which I believe was
good for Dallara, the IndyCar teams who
are their customers, the IndyCar series
and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Obviously the presence of Dallara in
Speedway is good for the Indiana
economy too because of the new jobs
and investment it is bringing to the state.
We work very closely with Dallara both
here and in Italy to explore additional
business development for them. We try to
make them aware of new business
opportunity and they in turn help us by
recommending Indiana to contacts they
may have. We are very proud to have
them here and the facility they have built
brings tremendous recognition to our
Indiana motorsports industry».
Which is in your opinion the most
valuable aspect of Dallara’s activities in
the Us?
«
Having a high tech automotive company
such as Dallara here is crucial not just to
stimulate our racing business but Indiana
is also one on America’s top states for
automotive production. The auto industry
is our leading manufacturing job and
investment producer. We also have some
of the best engineering colleges in the US
in Indiana and Dallara works closely
with them. We are very excited about
Dallara bringing their new simulator here.
This will be of tremendous benefit not
just to racing but to our industries and
colleges. I know of one Indiana company,
Hoosier Racing Tire which has been
sending its engineers to Italy to use the
simulator. Now they can just come to
Indianapolis when this is completed. This
will be a significant savings in cost and
much more convenient. We can see other
Indiana and American companies doing
the same. We also assisted in connecting
Dallara with the Indianapolis campus of
Indiana University/Purdue University to
create a new curriculum for simulation.
This is the only college in the US which
offers both a bachelors and masters
degree specific to motorsports
engineering. The opportunities this will
create for Dallara and engineering
students is tremendous. We really are just
at the beginning stages of exploring what
Dallara USA will bring to racing, the auto
industry and Indiana. The potential is
unlimitedo».
In which direction do you think the
global motorsport business will develop
in the future? Are green technologies a
chance to find new deals, markets,
audience…?
«
We all know this is a fickle business. It is
hard to predict where motorsports will be
going in the future and how it can be
positioned to best serve the racing fan,
the people who make their living in the
industry and future automotive and
transportation technology. We do know
for a fact that having a company like
Dallara in Indiana will create opportunity
we would not have without them. Their
presence and the supporting industry
components Indiana can offer with
Dallara will position all of us to explore
and develop the technologies, systems and
components which motorsports can
create. When you think back what
motorsport and racing have provided to
the auto industry, transportation and
basic technology it is amazing. This will
only accelerate as future technologies
develop. Companies such as Dallara will
position us to be on the leading edge not
just in providing fast, exciting and safe
racing but in exploring and exceeding
boundaries in future automotive
development».
Which are your best memories of your
motor racing career? We know you met a
lot of great drivers and that you’ve been
not only a car owner but also the
President of USAC.
«
Wow…now you are asking the hard
question.
Like so many I became fascinated with
racing as a child when my dad took me
to Sprint and Midget Car races here in
Indiana. While so many youngsters want
to be drivers, I wanted to become a car
owner plus I love to work on cars so I
wanted to learn the mechanics of racing.
All of my racing was done in the various
USAC divisions. It is great racing and has
been the spring board for some of
America’s greatest drivers. I was very
fortunate to be able to own and maintain
the cars that were instrumental in
building the careers of John Andretti, Ken
Schrader, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. I
also was fortunate to have drivers like
Mel Kenyon, Stan Fox, Larry Rice and
Johnny Parsons. We were able to win
many of the major «short track» races
across the United States. It was a great
pleasure to be able to be associated with
these icons of American racing and to
win many major races and
Championships. I would have to say my
biggest thrill in racing came in May of
2012
when Governor Daniels was asked to
wave the green flag to start the
Indianapolis 500 and he requested I
accompany him on the starters stand.
The thrill of watching those 11 rows of 3
coming at you for the start of the world’s
greatest race is unbelievable.
In 2001 I had sold my business and was
devoting almost all my time to racing
when I was approached by the United
States Auto Club (USAC) as they were
seeking a new President/ CEO. USAC was
no longer the sanctioning body for the
Indy cars but still is the major short track
sanction in the US. We also were the host
FIA delegate for Formula One when it ran
at Indianapolis and responsible to the FIA
for any world land speed record attempts
conducted in the US.
After leaving USAC at the end of 2007 I
was approached by the IEDC about the
motorsports iniative which Governor
Daniels had started. It is noteworthy that
a state recognized the importance of a a
vibrant and growing motorsports industry
for its economic value. Racing is part of
the fabric of Indiana and Indianapolis is
recognized worldwide in racing so it is
important that we take advantage of
what we have and help it to grow and
prosper».
by Stefano Semeraro and Stefano De Ponti
«
H
AVING A HIGH TECH AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY SUCH AS
D
ALLARA HERE IS CRUCIAL
NOT JUST TO STIMULATE OUR RACING BUSINESS BUT
I
NDIANA IS ALSO ONE ON
A
MERICA
’
S TOP STATES FOR AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTION
.
T
HE AUTO INDUSTRY IS OUR
LEADING MANUFACTURING JOB AND INVESTMENT PRODUCER
»
