Team Menard asked IndyCar if it would be possible to use the real Chevy engine after all teams got the Chord, I don't know what the answer was. Assuming that Team Menard runs the Chord at Kentucky, will this be the first time Team Menard ever ran an engine in a race they didn't build. I have my doubts, because in the early years I know he ran a Chevy in '82 and a Cosworth in '84 with Herm Johnson. Herm had two decent starting positions, a 14th and a 9th. I was there in 1982, looks like that was Menard's first year, I checked the previous five years. Menard either wasn't there in 1983 or didn't make the show. The Menard name doesn't show up again in an Indy grid until 1990 with Jim Crawford in a "Lola Buick." In '91 the grid list wasn't "owner specific," but usual Menard sponsors Quaker State and Glidden were there, as was Jim Crawford again, all in "Lola Buick's." In '92, Menard cars were still listed as "Lola Buick's." '93 was the first year the engine was listed as a "Menard," we all know the history from there.
1, What year did Menard first start building Buicks?
2, With both John Menard and Herm Johnson both being from Wisconsin, did John just sponsor Herm with some other owner, or did he have a team?
The shame of the Menard/Johnson duo was that they did so well, yet didn't continue, they qualified in the top 15 twice, and finished in the top ten both times, 8th in '84.
In spite of those who seem to "hate the rich guy," I think John Menard is one of the biggest assets to IndyCar there is. I think that the inability to build his own engines, coupled with Paul Menard's efforts in ARCA, BGN, CTS and WC is a serious threat to having a Team Menard in IndyCar racing, I hope that won't happen.
It was fun going back through Indy 500 stats to look this all up and be reminded of all the great "names" in Indy 500 history, whether it be owners, drivers or sponsors. It is great to recall driving up to Indy from Florida in 1982 with my 11-year old son for Fast Thursday/Friday and the first "Q" weekend. It was near the end of the snake pit era, and I walked a tightrope between being in the stands with my son and limiting the amount of "education" he would get from the snake pit, he was "enlightened." That was some year, I have some great stories I can't tell.
1, What year did Menard first start building Buicks?
2, With both John Menard and Herm Johnson both being from Wisconsin, did John just sponsor Herm with some other owner, or did he have a team?
The shame of the Menard/Johnson duo was that they did so well, yet didn't continue, they qualified in the top 15 twice, and finished in the top ten both times, 8th in '84.
In spite of those who seem to "hate the rich guy," I think John Menard is one of the biggest assets to IndyCar there is. I think that the inability to build his own engines, coupled with Paul Menard's efforts in ARCA, BGN, CTS and WC is a serious threat to having a Team Menard in IndyCar racing, I hope that won't happen.
It was fun going back through Indy 500 stats to look this all up and be reminded of all the great "names" in Indy 500 history, whether it be owners, drivers or sponsors. It is great to recall driving up to Indy from Florida in 1982 with my 11-year old son for Fast Thursday/Friday and the first "Q" weekend. It was near the end of the snake pit era, and I walked a tightrope between being in the stands with my son and limiting the amount of "education" he would get from the snake pit, he was "enlightened." That was some year, I have some great stories I can't tell.
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