Indianapolis, IN

Indy 500 Winner Tony Kanaan Takes NASCAR’S Kyle Busch For A Ride In Indy Car At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2023

Indy 500 Winner Tony Kanaan Takes NASCAR’S Kyle Busch For A Ride In Indy Car At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch in the backseat with 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan … [+] August 11 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Bruce Martin Photo

Kyle Busch has made a determined effort to compete in the Indianapolis 500 one day, but the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and winner of 63 NASCAR Cup Series races admits he has yet to strike a deal to compete in the Memorial Day Weekend Classic.

Last Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Busch said any possibilities to compete in next year’s Indianapolis 500 were “non-existent.”

“I’m definitely hoping to do it, it’s just a matter of making something happen,” Busch told me. “There are not enough teams out there to do it and do it the right way.

“I’m sure they could give me a test. I haven’t asked for one, but I think it would be feasible.”

It may not have been a ride in the Indianapolis 500, but Busch got a ride in an Indy car last Friday, thanks to Lucas Oil.

The motorsports sponsor arranged for the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver to ride in the Ruoff Mortgage “Fastest Seat in Sports” IndyCar “Two-Seater” with 2013 Indianapolis 500 winning driver and 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan.

Ten years ago, Busch and Kanaan did a two-seater ride at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the oval. On August 11, after IndyCar Series qualifications for the August 12 Gallagher Grand Prix, the two racing legends reprised their roles on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Kanaan completed his final IndyCar Series race of his career in the 107^th Indianapolis 500 on the oval on May 28. Busch finished 36^th in Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.

Busch and Kanaan went for an out lap and then a fast lap before coming back into the pits.

“I thought it was a fun ride,” Busch said. “These cars are a bit different than the real thing, but it gives you a good sense of G forces and cornering capabilities and things like that. It was pretty cool.

“Had a great time today. Thanks to Tony for putting us out on the Indy road course and giving us a real ride of what it is like to get around here. Pretty cool capabilities of the car and what it is capable of, different than the Cup cars with braking points and G-loads through the corners, but I’ll still take my acceleration over the Indy car’s acceleration.”

Kanaan, ever the showman, couldn’t pass up an opportunity.

Kyle Busch (left) with Tony Kanaan (right) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Bruce Martin Photo

“Did you guys miss the announcement?” Kanaan said after he got out of the car. “Kyle Busch and I are racing at the Indianapolis 500 next year in this car.”

Kyle Busch quipped, “It will be the 34^th car.”

Of course, the Indianapolis 500 features a 33-car starting lineup, not 34.

“Kyle will drive 250 miles and I’ll driver 250,” Kanaan quipped. “I’m a big Kyle Busch fan in everything he has driven. He has proven one more time, including a few weeks ago, how good he is. I’m glad I’m retired when he comes to the Indianapolis 500 one day, I won’t have to face him.

“It would be awesome.

“It was a lot of fun to do this, but it’s not the real thing. I’ll be a big fan of Kyle when he does it.”

Busch said, “Kyle will be my driver coach when I come to the Indianapolis 500. He’s won it before so I’m sure he has some good pointers what it takes to get around here.

“It’s been a while since I’ve turned left around here.”

The August 12 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard may be the last time NASCAR uses the IMS road course. A Goodyear tire test was conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval.

It is expected that NASCAR will return to the oval with a revival of the famed Brickyard 400.

“They are doing a Goodyear test on the oval here on Monday, but until they announce a return to the oval, we can all just hope,” Busch said last Friday.

Busch is one of the many drivers that looks forward to a return to the oval, presumably as early as 2024.

Kanaan can relate to the experience of being in the back of the two-seater with another famous driver behind the wheel.

“I’ve been in the back of that car with Mario Andretti and Marco Andretti,” Kanaan said. “It was fun. Kyle wouldn’t want it any different so I drove as fast as I could, 100 percent.

“We both could have gone a little quicker, but it’s not the real car.”

Busch would like to return the favor and give Kanaan a ride in his NASCAR Cup Series car. Stay tuned for that possibility.

“Tony and I have been friends for a long, long time,” Busch said. “When we did this at Las Vegas 12 years ago, I actually got to get behind the wheel and drive an IndyCar.

Kyle Busch and Tony Kanaan making a video after their ride in an Indy car.

Bruce Martin Photo

“I’d love to give it a shot and get out there on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. To roll around here on the Indy road course is vastly different than the oval, but to get my feet and hands and everything in the Indy car, it’s been pretty neat.”

Busch has enjoyed the IndyCar/NASCAR Weekend, which will likely go away after this year when the schedule is announced. NASCAR Cup Series is expected to return to the oval in 2024 and IndyCar is expected to take this race away from IMS and transfer the slot to The Milwaukee Mile.

The IndyCar/NASCAR Weekend was borne out of necessity in 2020 because of the COVID shutdown. IndyCar needed races and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway served as a platform to help the series achieve a 14-race schedule after many venues had been shut down because of the pandemic.

NASCAR allowed IndyCar to share its weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the two series have co-existed through 2023.

“It’s really cool and it’s really fun to have the two paddocks in the garage area be so close to each other and the comradery with some of the IndyCar drivers,” Busch said. “I’m friends with a few of the IndyCar drivers, mainly Josef Newgarden.

“I watch NHRA. I watch IndyCar. I watch Off Road when I can. It’s neat to get to know those guys. Running in SRX this year has helped that, too.”

Busch and Kanaan have been friends and mutual admirers for most of their major racing careers. They finally got a chance to race each other in the SRX Series, which began as a six-race summer series on CBS, but this year became “Thursday Night Thunder” on ESPN.

If Busch is able to compete in the Indianapolis 500 one day, he would join his older brother Kurt, who competed in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport.

Kurt Busch started 12^th and finished sixth and was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

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Indianapolis, IN

NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Published

3 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Press Room

NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Indianapolis will host an NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday and Sunday, March 28 and 30, 2025. Houston, Purdue, Tennessee and Illinois/Kentucky made the Sweet 16. The last team standing earns a spot in the Final Four, April 5 and 7 in San Antonio.

Here’s how you can secure a ticket and lodging in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament regional.

When are the NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis? When are the NCAA Tournament games at Lucas Oil Stadium?

Tennessee vs. Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Houston vs. Purdue, 10:09 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Regional championship game is Sunday, March 30, time TBA

NCAA Tournament tickets at Lucas Oil Stadium

Buy Sweet 16, Elite 8 tickets

All sessions: Start at $443 on StubHub

Friday, March 28: Starting at $194 on StubHub

Sunday, March 30: Starting at $127 on StubHub

Buy Purdue NCAA Tournament tickets

Lodging for the NCAA Tournament regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $95 a night on Expedia

Airbnb for March Madness regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $40 on Airbnb

How likely is Houston to win March Madness?

The Houston Cougars (32-4) are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional and have won 15 consecutive games. They own the nation’s best defense, allowing 58.4 points per game and 38.4% shooting. Houston is the nation’s best 3-point shooting team (39.8%), though it doesn’t shoot many, and it protects the ball (9.2 turnovers, 6th fewest). The Cougars were national runners-up in 1983 and ’84 have been to the Final Four seven times, most recently in 2022.

Houston basketball key players

Houston basketball coach

Kelvin Sampson is in his 11th season at Houston and owns a 296-83 record. He previously coached at Washington State, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Houston NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Houston 78, SIU-Edwardsville 40

Second round: Houston 81, Gonzaga 76

Has Purdue basketball ever made the Final Four?

The Purdue Boilermakers reached last season’s national championship game, losing to UConn. They were the national runner-up in 1969 and made the 1980 Final Four at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. The No. 4 Midwest Regional seed lost six of its last nine games leading into the NCAA Tournament but won its March Madness games handily.

Purdue basketball key players

Purdue basketball coach

Matt Painter is in his 20th season at Purdue and owns a 471-214 record. He previously coached at Southern Illinois.

Purdue NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Purdue 75, High Point 53

Second round: Purdue 76, McNeese 62

Has Tennessee ever made it to the Final Four?

The Tennessee Volunteers (29-7) seek their first Final Four trip. Purdue defeated Tennessee in a 2024 regional championship game. The Volunteers finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference, which sent a record 14 teams to March Madness. They have a stingy defense, allowing 62.9 points per game (No. 6 in the nation) and 38.2% shooting (No. 1) and 28.3% 3-point shooting (No. 3). They lost twice to Kentucky this season.

Tennessee men’s basketball NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Tennessee 77, Wofford 62

Second round: Tennessee 67, UCLA 58

Tennessee basketball coach

Rick Barnes is in his 10th season at Tennessee, and owns a 231-108 record. He previously coached at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas.

Tennessee basketball key players

Why is Kentucky basketball so popular?

The Kentucky Wildcats (24-11) are a true college basketball blue blood, with eight NCAA Tournament championships, second to UCLA. UK last won the title in 2012. This season’s Wildcats average 85.0 points per game (No. 4 in the nation) and have six players averaging in double figures. Their depth shows in their 45-point average in second halves (also No. 4). They have beaten Tennessee twice this season.

Kentucky basketball NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Kentucky 76, Troy 57

Second round: Kentucky 84, Illinois 75

Kentucky basketball coach

Mark Pope is in his first season at Kentucky. He previously coached Utah Valley and Brigham Young.

Kentucky basketball key players

What channel are NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis on?

TV: Games are on CBS, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery and Grant Hill (analysis), and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporting)

Watch the games with a free Fubo trial

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Indianapolis, IN

Marion County deputy sheriff arrested and fired for drunk driving

Published

14 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Marion County deputy sheriff arrested and fired for drunk driving

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — David Hodges, a deputy sheriff at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Saturday for drunk driving.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday, that Hodges was arrested by the Lawrence Police Department March 22.

Hodges arrested and taken to jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment, reckless driving causing property damage, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a BAC above .08%.

MCSO said in the press release that Hodges has been terminated following the arrest.

Hodges’ initial hearing is set for April 7.

This is a developing story.

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Indianapolis, IN

How to buy Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets, Tennessee Vols March Madness basketball tickets

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

How to buy Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets, Tennessee Vols March Madness basketball tickets

No. 2 Tennessee is back in the Sweet 16.

The Volunteers defeated No. 7 UCLA 67-58 on Friday, advancing to the Midwest Regional Semifinals.

The Vols were once again led by senior Chaz Lanier. After scoring 29 points in the Round of 64, Lanier had 20 points on Saturday and broke the school record for most three pointers made in a season.

Tennessee advanced to the Sweet 16 where they will take on the winner of the upcoming matchup on Sunday between No. 3 Kentucky and No. 6 Illinois.

Here’s everything you need to know in order to buy Tennessee men’s March Madness Sweet 16 tickets.

Shop Tennessee March Madness tickets

Tennessee Sweet 16 location

The Vols are headed to Indianapolis for the Midwest Regional. The games will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets

Tennessee tickets for the Sweet 16 are already on sale. As of publication, the cheapest available ticket to Friday’s game costs $206.

Shop Tennessee Sweet 16 tickets

Tennessee Sweet 16 game date, time

The Midwest Regional’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will take place in Indianapolis. The Sweet 16 is scheduled to be played on Friday, March 28 and the Eite Eight game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 30. Game times will be announced closer to the conclusion of the Round of 32.

Tennessee Midwest Regional Sweet 16 tickets

The Midwest Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets are on sale now. An All-Sessions pass for Indianapolis grants access to both Sweet 16 games and the Elite 8 game. At the time of publication, the cheapest All Sessions Pass costs $409.

Shop Indianapolis All-Sessions Pass

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