Wiedemann GTP Fitzlaff LMP 2015 Champs

The 2015 ISF season came to a close Thursday with the crowning of two champions.
John Wiedemann won his first GTP title and Mike Fitzlaff won his second LMP title.

Fitzlaff finished out his impressive 2015 campaign with another win in the LMP division. While not quite as dominate in the LMP division as he was in the F1 division (he only won 10 races out of 12 he entered), there wasn't much doubting he would win the title. He did so by winning the pole and main event as other drivers tried but couldn't keep up with the pace of the veterean.

Wiedemann had a harder time putting the cap on his championship. He came into the event with a one point lead on Everet Kamikawa and two points on Mike Lack. One challenger fell off when Kamikawa didn't advance from his heat race. Lack won the pole position meaning Wiedemann would have to fight to keep him behind him in the points. Wiedemann and Lack both won their heat races so going into the final Wiedemann still had his two point advantage. Rookie Pete Dorn would help end Lack's challenge as the rookie raced clean and fast and overtook Lack for a career high second place finish. Lack had to settle for third with Dean Strom fourth and Fitzlaff fifth, while Wiedemann took his second GTP win this year to seal his first title.

The 2015 ISF season saw one veteran win his first title, one veteran having the most dominate season in league history. Four rookies took part including the win by one.
The 2016 ISF season will be a strong one!
Until next time...it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

 

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1.  Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. Mike Lack-Peugot
3. Pete Dorn-STP Peugot
4. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
5. Bill Black-Police Peugot
6. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 5.231
Heat Winners: Black, Fitzlaff
Semi Final:Lack

GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2.  John Wiedemann-Silkcut Jaguar
3. Everet Kamikawa-Shell Marlboro Ferrari 
4. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP 
5. Pete Dorn-STP Toyota GTP  
6. Bill Black-Police Peugot

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 5.173
Heat Winners: Kamikawa, Lack
Semi Final:Lack

Handicapping The 2015 Austin Award Chase

Anyone can be a pundit and chime in two cents on who will be or should be a champion in the HO Indy Slotcar league. It takes a real handicapper to be able to pick the winner of the Austin Award for best comedian during the season.
I may not be the best prognosticator, however that isn't going to stop me from trying to predict the winner this year!

3. Everet Kamikawa: his addition of the announcer Lee Skippy was a welcome addition, however he wasn't as throughly explored during this year. His usual  list of characters like Harri Karri were welcome but he needs another new puppet. 

2. Dean Strom. Deano Bravo is great and Sergio is outstanding.
Dean's salted nuts take was a classic of all time.

1. The Winner:

Amy Butler: She hugs Sergio and then does an episode about driuver shoes. Consistantly the one announcer that the fans clammor to see. Funny as they may be, broadcasts aren't the same without her!


Congratulations Amy!

Until next time
It's not bad being in the pits!

Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett

Fitzlaff 2015 F1 Champ : Wins Rapids Invite

There are 15 events on the ISF schedule in 2015.
13 of them featured F1 races.
Mike Fitzlaff entered 12 of the 13 F1 events.
He won all 12 races and won the pole position in all 12 events!
"Unbelievable!" was defending champion Everet Kamikawa's comment. 
"My hat is off to him. It wasn't as if the rest of us were slow, we just couldn't hold him off. 
I've never seen anything like that, not even by John Shea."
The new champion was humble in victory as he has been all season,
"Shea is still the king and had the best season ever in 2009."
That may be the opinion of the 2015 champion, but it is hard to see how it is true.
A great accomplishment by a great driver.
He will see if he can add the LMP title at the last event of the 2015 season.

Mike Lack won his second GTP race of the season to vault into contention for the GTP title. With one race to go John Wiedemann has a one point lead over Kamikawa, who has a one point lead over Lack.

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
3. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari 
4. Mike Lack-Red Bull F1 
5. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
6. Bill Black-Williams Mechachrome

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 5.045
Heat Winners: Wiedemann
Semi Final:Lack

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1.  Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. Mike Lack-Peugot
3. Pete Dorn-STP Peugot
4. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
5. Bill Black-Police Peugot
6. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 5.231
Heat Winners: Black, Fitzlaff
Semi Final:Lack

GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2.  John Wiedemann-Silkcut Jaguar
3. Everet Kamikawa-Shell Marlboro Ferrari 
4. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP 
5. Pete Dorn-STP Toyota GTP  
6. Bill Black-Police Peugot

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 5.173
Heat Winners: Kamikawa, Lack
Semi Final:Lack

Lack Track Produces 3 Nacho Cheese Winners

13  races into the 2015 ISF season and an event finally produces a different winner in each division of F1, LMP, GTP. Previous events in 2015 had produced the same winner across the divisions in almost all cases. Usually that name was Mike Fitzlaff. 

 Fitzlaff was again at the top of the F1 division but this time just barely as he just finished ahead of John Wiedemann and Mike Lack. While no one would say Fitzlaff, who has been winning races in utterly dominant fashion this year, has lost anything (after all he still won) in pursuit of his perfect season, it is fair to say that the Mercedes and Red Bull programs of Wiedemann and Lack have stepped up the program as they have been Fitzlaff's main challengers over the last several races. Everet Kamikawa had been making that challenge however his Ferrari failed to start and he had to switch to a backup car and failed to get it out of the semi final. That gave rise to rookie Bill Black to make his debut in a final. The rookie drove a smart conservative race to learn racecraft from the elders to finish fourth on the night. Pete Dorn continued his steady performances in his rookie year to show the he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Keith Lindbeck finished seventh while Andrew Black missed practice and qualifying to finish eighth.

Fitzlaff pipped Wiedemann in F1, the favor was returned as Wiedemann pipped Fitzlaff in the LMP division taking his first win of the season for him. Lack again took third and Kamikawa fourth, ending his title defense as he was eliminated from championship contention. Bill Black took fifth, Dorn his consistent sixth, Lindbeck and Andrew Black again seventh and eighth.

GTP proved to be the most topsy turvey division of the night. While the fastest cars, for the rookies they also seem to be the easiest to drive. A veteran won as Lack took the win foiled by Jaguar teammate Wiedemann. Kamikawa in the Ferrari was third followed by Lindbeck won his heat race to advance proving to himself he can finish well. Andrew Black moved to fifth while Fitzlaff's Nissan didn't have the pace or the handling. Pete Dorn and Bill Black took the final two places on the night.

The next ISF race is the Rapids Invitational.

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
3.  Mike Lack-Red Bull F1 
4. Bill Black-Williams Mechachrome
5. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
6. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
7.  Keith Lindbeck-Mercedes
8. Andrew Black-Williams Mechachrome

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.720
Heat Winners: Kamikawa, Wiedemann
Semi Final:Lack

LMP Category -- 12 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
2.  Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
3. Mike Lack-Peugot  
4. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black
5. Bill Black-Police Peugot
6. Pete Dorn-STP Peugot
7.  Keith Lindbeck-Audi R15
8. Andrew Black-Audi R15

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.969
Heat Winners: Lack, Wiedemann
Semi Final: Kamikawa

 

GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2.  John Wiedemann-Silkcut Jaguar
3. Everet Kamikawa-Shell Marlboro Ferrari 
4. Keith Lindbeck-MercedesGTP
5. Andrew Black-Butler Shell GTP 
6. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP 
7. Pete Dorn-STP Toyota GTP  
8. Bill Black-Police Peugot

Pole position: Mike Lack 3.847
Heat Winners: Lindbeck, Lack
Semi Final: Wiedemann

JW & Fitz Win Tosa GP

The ISF raced at a new track for the first time in five years as the Shrine Desert Road Course made it's league debut in the Wauwatosa Grand Prix. While the drivers agreed that the F1 and GTP cars made a stunning debut on the new track, half of the results were the same with two suprises.


 
The F1 championship edged closer to completion as Mike Fitzlaff won again and moved even closer to the title. His string of victories continues as he strives to be undefeated in all of his F1 starts in 2015. 



The GTP event went to John Wiedemann as the GTP title tightened between he, Fitzlaff, and Everet Kamikawa. The pleasant surprise of the event was Mike Kristof's pole position, the first of his ISF career.

The next ISF event is the It's Nacho Cheese It's My Cheese Grand Prix by RacingNation.com at Lack Track.
Until then...it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve The Wrench Ratchett

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2015-11
Wauwatosa Grand Prix presented by RacingNation.com 
 February 27, 2015

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. Mike Kristof-Jordan Peugot  
3. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
4. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
5. Mike Lack-Red Bull F1 
6. Bill Black-Williams Mechachrome
7. Andrew Black-Williams Mechachrome
8.  Keith Lindbeck-Mercedes
9. Pete Dorn-Mercedes

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 4.029
Heat Winners: Lack, Wiedemann
Semi Final: Kamikawa

GTP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. John Wiedemann-Silkcut Jaguar
2. Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
3. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
4. Mike Kristof-Audi R15
5. Pete Dorn-STP Toyota GTP  
6. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black
7. Bill Black-Police Peugot
8. Keith Lindbeck-MercedesGTP
9. Andrew Black-Butler Shell GTP

Pole position: Mike Kristof 4.357
Heat Winners: Wiedemann, Lack, Dorn
Semi Final: Wiedemann

2015 Indyslotcar Raven 250 and Rapids Oval Debut in Pictures

Turtle Trot Two for Fitzlaff 2015

Turtle Creek Raceway Park has a new home for the Turtle Trot, but it was the same result as it was all the other races this year...anothger two wins for Mike Fitzlaff as he again swept the F1 and LMP races. He set new track records and dominated both events that again it wasn't even close. He did make some season history by picking up his first penalty in F1. Even dominate racers have a chink in their armor sometimes.

Nick Bartolone made his first appearance of 2015. He won a F1 heat race to advance to the final where he finished fourth. Previously he sold his inventory of cars because his career is part-time and it would be easier to rent rides than maintain a stable of cars. Everet Kamikawa finshed second in F1 and John Wiedemann finsihed second in LMP to deny the championships to Fitzlaff for at least one more race. Mike Lack had the worst finish of his F1 career with a ninth. Bill Black took his first career heat win with a victory in the LMP division. Mike Kristof was competitive in his third start of the season. Keith Lindbeck had the lead in two races before falling back. Pete Dorn continued getting better as the rookies continued their impressive forms.

The next ISF event is the St. Francis/Maxim Grand Prix at Southshore Speedway.
Until then...it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve The Wrench Ratchett

INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2015-10
Turtle Trot Grand Prix presented by RacingNation.com 
 February 12, 2015

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
3. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
4. Nick Bartolone-Williams Honda
5. Bill Black-Williams Mechachrome
6. Mike Kristof-Jordan Peugot 
7. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
8. Keith Lindbeck-Mercedes
9. Mike Lack-Red Bull F1

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.463
Heat Winners: Bartolone, Kamikawa
Semi Final: Kamikawa

LMP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
3. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black
4. Mike Lack-Tamiya Peugot
5. Bill Black-Police Peugot
6. Mike Kristof-Audi R15  
7. Pete Dorn-Hot Wheels Peugot
8. Nick Bartolone-RacingNation.com Peugot
9. Keith Lindbeck-Pabst Peugot

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.552
Heat Winners: Wiedemann, Black
Semi Final: Kamikawa

Fitz's Double Deckertring Victories

It is rare that you get a chance to watch a legend being born.
Sometimes you see that legend for many years before you realize it's greatness.
Mike Fitzlaff is definitely a legend.
There is no doubt he has always been a star and hero of the ISF.
He's won titles and races like no other, except John Shea.
In fact he was the one to consistently battle Shea in the later years, even spoiling his bid for a perfect season in 2009 by being the only driver to beat Shea.
With Shea gone for the last three seasons Fitzlaff's star is left unimpeded to shine and it is obvious for all to see that the legend has been walking among them for several years.

Fitzlaff has won all of the F1 races and all except one LMP races he has entered this season.
The only reason the titles are not his already is he missed two events and so mathematically other drivers are still in the title fights.
I've run out of superlatives to describe these races.
The epic battles of Larry Rotter and Jim Iverson were followed by Shea vs. Fitzlaff.
Now who will step up to challenge Fitzlaff?
That legend could be walking among the drivers in the paddock right now.
We can't see him right now though.
Fitzlaff's star is shining too bright.

Until next time...It's not bad being IN THE PITS!
Steve The Wrench Ratchett



INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2015-10
Waukesha Grand Prix presented by RacingNation.com 
  January 29, 2015

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Jordan Peugot
2. John Wiedemann-Jaguar
3. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari  
4. Mike Lack-Red Bull
5. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
6. Bill Black-Catheram
7. Andrew Black-Virgin F1

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 4.718
Heat Winners: Wiedemann
Semi Final: Wiedemann

LMP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan LMP
2. John Wiedemann-RacingNation.com Peugot
3. Mike Lack-Tamiya LMP
4. Everet Kamikawa-Audi R15 Black
5. Pete Dorn-Peugot LMP
6. Bill Black-Peugo tLMP
7. Andy Black-Audi R15

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 4.904
Heat Winners: Kamikawa
Semi Final: Wiedemann

Lack Wins Indyslotcar Raven 250 on Rapids Oval Debut

(Milwaukee, WI) -- On a cold night in Rapids, defending Husarsbilt Cup champion Mike Lack turned up the heat on his championship challengers Thursday night at the Raven 250 at the Rapids Oval. With the win at the new oval, Lack took his second win of the season and extended his points lead to 33 from ten before the event as hometown favorite Ev Kamikawa was caught out on the tricky trapezoid, crashing early and ending the night sixth. Meanwhile a resurgent Mike Fitzlaff continues to climb the steps of the podium to second, with Matt Hayek back in a final in third. Lack's teammate, hoping to get back in the Husarsbilt Cup hunt crashed out in fourth place.

The night was challenging for all the drivers as they faced a new oval they had driven before and only seen on video. The adapted track built over the top of more than a few annoyed businesses in the town of Rapids. Rapidians are used to having IndySlotCar take over the streets of their town for a classic street course that has been changing routes for as long as the race as existed. This year mayor and racing czar of the town, Ev Kamikawa, constructed a modified oval that used some of the streets and then built bridges over some of the building to come up withe trapezoid shaped oval.

Qualifying proved to be too much for more than a few drivers, including Mike Kristof who nearly parked it during his four lap effort, winding up eighth but joined at the back by his Target Fitz Ganassi Racing teammate Mike Fizlaff at the back. Dean Strom used a smooth and steady approach to run four clean quick laps and land his third pole position of the year, the most by any driver this season. 

The heats were grouped fastest to slowest and this anticipated a battle of points leaders to make the final, however early on it became obvious the speed and shape of the track were going to challenge even the best pilots, as in quick succession veteran Dan Margetta, pole sitter Dean Strom and hometown hero Ev Kamikawa all crashed out allowing Mike Lack to advance to the final and wait. The second heat race turned out to be a much more courteous affair as the drivers knew three of the four of them knew they would be advancing to the Raven 250. Mike Fitzlaff quickly advanced forward from his seventh starting position with Lack's Lack-Wiedemann Motorsports teammate challenging for the lead early on. Matt Hayek struggled in the inside lane while Target Fitz Ganassi's second driver Mike Kristof stayed in the mix until the midway point, once he moved to the inside lane it became obvious he would not be moving on and a late crash-out guaranteed that the front three had nothing to worry about with Fitzlaff scoring the championship point for the heat win.

The Raven 250 at Rapids final sorted out into a bit of a parade as Mike Lack started to take control over his teammate, but Wiedemann pushed too hard to try and keep pace and found himself crashing out right at the midway point finishing fourth. A sloppy pitstop by Lack-Wiedemann Motorsports allowed Mike Fitzlaff and Matt Hayek to briefly believe they were going to have a shot at challenging the leader, but Lack stayed smooth and eventually opened an insurmountable lead and Fitzlaff eventually found himself well clear of Hayek. With Kristof lasing almost his entire heat, he would place fifth, Kamikawa disappointing the paying fans in the stands in sixth, with Hayek's Out Of The Box Racing teammate Strom winding up seventh and Bargetta Racing's Margetta, who was scolded by league officials following pre-race practice for attempting to tamper with the league supplied tires, bringing up the rear.

The haulers and drivers will stay in Rapids for an extended stay as round nine is contested on the streets of Rapids for the Too Clean Laundry Grand Prix in two weeks.

2015 Larry Rotter Memorial

Turtle Creek Raceway Park has a new home and the spirit of Larry Rotter is alive and well in his memorial grand prix.
Also alive and well are Mike Fitzlaff's chances of winning both the F1 and LMP divisions. Fitzlaff swept both events to keep alive his streak of winning every event he has entered this season, except for one LMP race.
Fitzlaff won both pole positions and immediately transferred to the final race. This left the remainder of the largest field of the season for the ISF scrambling to see who would be the cannon fodder for the Fitzlaff onslaught.

It was the rookies who shone the way. Pete Dorn in his first start in both divisions qualified fifth and had a reasonable run in the first heat against veterans Mike Lack, John Wiedemann, and winner Everet Kamikawa.
The second heat featured all rookies as Bill Black, Andrew Black, Mike Kristof, and Keith Lindbeck battled to the end with Andrew Black beating Kristof by 1/2 of a lap. Both advanced to the semi-final where Andrew Black couldn't keep up the pace of the earlier heat and finished last.

Kamikawa, Wiedemann, Kristof went on to face Fitzlaff in the final. He may have won, but Fitzlaff had to earn this victory in a tough fight as the three hounded him until the waning moments of the race.

LMP was much the same story. Fitzlaff again on pole with Lack winning the first heat and advancing over Kamikawa and Dorn. The second heat appeared as if it would be another win for the Black family as father Bill had the lead. He was being pressured throughout the race by Kristof. In the last minute Kristof overtook Black and went on for the win. 

Black, Kristof, Lack, and Wiedemann fought in the semi-final with Black again being beaten by Kristof only this time it was for the transfer spot into the final. Kristof and Lack would encounter handling problems and were never a factor after the first half. Wiedemann did his best to keep Fitzlaff at bay, however the veteran had the race in hand and took the win going away in the last few minutes.

The next ISF event is the Waukesha Grand Prix at Deckertring.
Until then...it's not bad being in the pits!
Steve The Wrench Ratchett




INTERNATIONAL SPORTSCAR FEDERATION
Official Finish, Event # 2015-08
Larry Rotter Memorial Grand Prix presented by RacingNation.com 
  January15, 2015

F1Grand Prix Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan GTP Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
3. John Wiedemann-Silk Cut Jaguar
4. Andy Black-Peugot GTP 
5. Mike Kristof  
6. Mike Lack-Red Bull F1
7. Bill Black-Shell Porsche
8. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
9. Keith Lindbeck-Mercedes

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.760
Heat Winners: Andy Black, Kamikawa
Semi Final: Kamikawa

LMP Category -- 16 Minute Final
Pos. Driver Car

1. Mike Fitzlaff-Nissan GTP Mike Lack-Tamiya Jaguar
2. John Wiedemann-Silk Cut Jaguar
3. Mike Lack-Red Bull F1
4.  Mike Kristof  
5. Bill Black-Peugot GTP
6. Everet Kamikawa-Marlboro Shell Ferrari
7. Pete Dorn-Mercedes
8. Keith Lindbeck-Mercedes
9. Andy Black-Peugot GTP

Pole position: Mike Fitzlaff 3.860
Heat Winners: Kristof, Lack
Semi Final: Lack