Indianapolis, IN
Jimmie Johnson Enters First Indianapolis 500 With An Eye On Making History

Jimmie Johnson poses for a photograph along with his daughters on Might twenty first, 2022 after qualifying for the 106th … [+]
Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
Jimmie Johnson needs to hitch an elite class on Sunday.
His eyes are set on hoisting the Borg Warner Trophy after Sunday’s 106th working of the Indianapolis 500. It’s a uncommon alternative for Johnson to hitch AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti as the one drivers to win this prestigious occasion and the Daytona 500.
Johnson will begin twelfth in his first-ever Indianapolis 500, competing within the No. 48 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. And although he’s a four-time Brickyard 400 winner, this go round at Indy is a special expertise for the record-tying seven-time Nascar Cup Sequence champion, as that is the quickest automobile he’s ever been in at 232.398 mph in Day 1 of qualifying.
“I wish to be aggressive,” Johnson mentioned on Thursday. “I feel we’ll be a participant.
“It might put me in one of the elite golf equipment as a driver to win a Daytona 500 and Indy 500. There’s two [drivers] who’ve achieved it. It might be insane.”
Johnson made the transfer to Chip Ganassi Racing and the NTT IndyCar Sequence final yr to compete solely on street programs after a historic 20-year NASCAR profession. As he turned extra comfy with the quicker and lighter racecars, he determined to try the total schedule, taking a threat and competing on ovals.
Ever since Johnson moved over to the IndyCar Sequence, followers, media and everybody alike wished to know if he would compete within the historic occasion. Now that he’s doing the unthinkable, he can’t get Sunday’s contest off his thoughts.
“I’ve been joking with household and mates that I’ve been on this Indy 500 vortex,” Johnson mentioned. “I’m in my very own little universe up right here. I went dwelling for a few days and it was good to recharge the battery and catch my breath. I had to ensure the remainder of life was so as, and I got here again right here to do it once more.”
All through Johnson’s swap into a special collection — in his mid-40s — he’s studying extra about himself. The month of Might, as he prepares for the Indianapolis 500, helped him perceive who he’s in the case of competing in IndyCar.
“I really feel like I’m seeing a sample that’s acquainted and comforting,” Johnson mentioned. “The sample is my understanding of race craft, vehicles and tracks that I’ve been by since I used to be a child. I all the time felt like I’m a little bit of a sluggish learner, however as soon as I study it, I get it. It took me 5 years of driving inventory vehicles earlier than I had the success that I did.
“I hope I’ve three or 4 extra years to achieve my peak. I definitely see and know the extra time I’ve in these vehicles, the extra aggressive I’ll be.”
Johnson believes he’ll keep within the NTT IndyCar Sequence for a number of extra seasons. His consolation stage in these sizzling rods continues to extend.
Nevertheless, as seen within the Carvana docuseries on Johnson’s season, he’s recovering from a horrific hand damage in the course of the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside weekend. It’s one of many worst accidents he’s ever had in his profession as a racecar driver.
“I’m grateful I had the screw put in,” he mentioned. “It’s been feeling significantly better and I feel I’m again to 100% now. I’ve damaged loads of bones, however that is the primary time the {hardware} stayed in. I had reconstructive knee surgical procedure, the place that they had to return at a later time and take out the pins and such. The screw you noticed stays there for all times.”
As Johnson prepares for the group of properly over 300,000 folks — probably the most he’s ever raced in entrance of — he’s thriving off the strain. He admitted he shall be nervous come race day, however that’s OK given what he does for a dwelling.
“I’m a fortunate man to say the least,” Johnson mentioned. “Chip’s group and the folks he’s put in every place – you get into my teammates and Dario Franchitti (driver coach) – I’m in the most effective place attainable and I’m so grateful for him.”
This weekend, Johnson shall be sporting a particular helmet with the American Legion forward of Memorial Day. He partnered with nation singer Blake Shelton to assist design the helmet, that includes Johnson’s two grandfathers and Shelton’s father and brother.
“Indy is particular,” Johnson mentioned. “Everybody tries to do one thing distinctive. We simply debuted it with Jimmy Fallon, and it seems to be actually good.”
The inexperienced flag for the Indianapolis 500 will wave on Sunday, Might 29 at 12:45 p.m. ET on NBC.

Indianapolis, IN
1 dead, 1 critical in double shooting on Indy's northeast side
INDIANAPOLIS — One person is dead and another is in critical condition after a double shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis Sunday evening, police said.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of person shot in the 10000 block of E. 42nd St.
Upon arrival, officers located two victims with gunshot injuries. Police said one of the victims was pronounced deceased and the second victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
An investigation is underway.
Police have not released any further details.
Indianapolis, IN
Former Colts Defender Says Goodbye to Indianapolis

One of the Indianapolis Colts‘ biggest Day 3 draft hits is moving on.
On Saturday, former Colts starting linebacker E.J. Speed agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the AFC South division-rival Houston Texans. Speed grew up in Fort Worth, TX, about 260 miles outside of Houston.
The Colts selected the little-known Speed out of tiny Tarleton State University in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In that time, he worked his way up from core special teamer to the unenviable task of replacing former All-Pro Shaquille Leonard in the middle of a season.
On Saturday, Speed took to social media to say goodbye to Indianapolis.
“Thank you INDY, I LOVE YALL,” Speed posted to Instagram and X, including a highlight video of his career with the Colts.
What happens next for the Colts? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Colts news delivered to your inbox daily!
Speed’s posts received positive messages and well-wishes from former Colts teammates such as Laiatu Latu, Bobby Okereke, Dezmon Patmon, Jake Funk, and Jabaal Sheard.
Since coming to the Colts, Speed started 32-of-92 games, totaling 354 tackles (27 for loss), 2.0 sacks, 4 QB hits, 6 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and 12 pass breakups. He also blocked a punt in 2020 that was recovered for a touchdown, and he recovered two blocked punts for touchdowns in 2021.
Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and X, and subscribe on YouTube for multiple Colts live-stream podcasts per week.
Indianapolis, IN
New Midwest Jazz Collective tour makes stop in Indianapolis; aims to bring more artists to the region

A new Midwest collaboration between venues aims to create a more economically viable tour route here and bring more national jazz artists to the region. The Midwest Jazz Collective tour launched this month, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it makes its inaugural tour stop at The Jazz Kitchen in South Broad Ripple this weekend.
Founding member Kyle Knoke said he was inspired by the success of a Central Wisconsin collaboration he co-founded, the Jazz Coterie.
“We have the same desires in sharing the music of touring artists, but are always up against the financial challenges of being able to to make the booking happen,” Knoke said. “Working together again, I think that whole price point scenario and expense scenario shifts into the realm of something being possible.”
The collective started with emails and calls to clubs in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota.
Owner of The Jazz Kitchen David Allee was in one of those calls.
“I mean, it’s a no brainer,” Allee said. “We want to bring more and more artists into the area.”
Allee said the collaboration helps everyone financially and also allows the sharing of ideas and resources to promote performances.
“To have a little extra help from everybody making that happen, certainly is a plus, and it’s great for the artists too, because they can get a consistent amount of work,” he said. “It’s also maybe a beneficial thing for us to be able to leverage the fees.”
The roughly three week tour keeps travel time between clubs between two to four hours. The string of venues together, with short drives between each show, is similar to tours in Europe. It is also similar to the way touring was historically done in the U.S.
“Back in the day there was a lot more artists like piling in the car, you know, putting the drums in the back seat and going from town to town,” reflects trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III. He is the Midwest Jazz Collective’s first artist to do the route.
“But the reality of the economics of everything, it just really became, you know, not feasible,” Benack said.
He also described how even well known musicians can struggle to break even on a tour.
“It comes out where the artists are saying, ‘well, we’re lucky to break even, you know, if we need to sell out every show just to cover our expenses.’”
He said the partnership between venues helps reduce potential financial losses, as clubs have shows on week nights that might otherwise be difficult to book. The tour also includes educational workshops, including one at Butler University, with the touring artist.
“So not only do we come to the students and go into the schools and do a workshop, but also I’m encouraging a lot of the students to then come to the gigs and sit in,” said Benack.
Midwest Jazz Collective founding member and organizer Kyle Knoke said he hopes to learn from the inaugural tour what works and what might need adjusting.
“I am actually planning on taking the tour with the band,” Kanoke said. “It sounds a little crazy, but I would like to, first hand, be able to meet these presenters and these club owners and take kind of a real time temperature on everybody’s spirit with this collective idea.”
Kanoke said he sees the collective putting together a tour once a quarter.
For Indianapolis local jazz musician Rob Dixon, he hopes to see future collaboration with other jazz organizations and possibly have Midwest artists perform the tour route.
“I’ve always strived for, like, to have a lot of Indianapolis artists just be involved more in the national scene,” Dixon said. “I’m just really on that, supporting, you know, getting Indianapolis more involved in traveling and touring.”
The Midwest Jazz Collective is in Indianapolis this weekend with Benny Benack III quartet performing at The Jazz Kitchen Saturday and Benack teaching a masterclass at Butler University Sunday.
The tour runs through April 10 and ends in Chicago.
Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org.
-
News1 week ago
Musk Offers $100 to Wisconsin Voters, Bringing Back a Controversial Tactic
-
News1 week ago
How a Major Democratic Law Firm Ended Up Bowing to Trump
-
Education1 week ago
ICE Tells a Cornell Student Activist to Turn Himself In
-
News1 week ago
Were the Kennedy Files a Bust? Not So Fast, Historians Say.
-
News1 week ago
Dismantling the Department of Education will strip resources from disabled children, parents and advocates say | CNN
-
News6 days ago
Washington Bends to RFK Jr.’s ‘MAHA’ Agenda on Measles, Baby Formula and French Fries
-
Politics1 week ago
Student loans, Pell grants will continue despite Education Department downsizing, expert says
-
News4 days ago
Trump Is Trying to Gain More Power Over Elections. Is His Effort Legal?