XR1200 in front of a trio of other riders during practice for the AMA Pro Road Racing series motorcycle race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.
INDIANAPOLIS — A deep, bellowing engine sound reverberated throughout Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday -- a sign that the great American bike was finally back at the great American track after 102 years.
The last time a Harley was on the track during a race weekend was 1909.
“I love it, the whole aura of coming into this place,” said Jason DiSalvo, a 27-year-old motorcycle racer from New York state. “I was here last year (Moto2), but coming here on an American motorcycle is really cool.”
Really different, too. The last time a non-NASCAR American-made engine was used at the famed Brickyard was 2005.
But the Harleys are kicking off a whole new American revolution at Indy.
Next year, Chevrolet returns to the IndyCar Series. All three races scheduled for next year’s NASCAR weekend -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Grand-Am -- will use American engines, too. And depending on how this weekend’s two AMA XR1200 races play out, and whether speedway and MotoGP officials can reach a deal to come back in 2012, the most distinctive sound in motorsports could be back on next year’s undercard.
Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus thinks it’s a perfect combination.
“We recognize that we’re in the heartland of the United States and it’s a great American brand, so we’re happy to have them,” he said after the first practice session. “It’s a great brand, a popular brand and an important brand.”
The Harley race replaces last year’s U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union event, which ended in tragedy when 13-year-old Peter Lenz was killed in an accident with a 12-year-old rider. All the competitors in the Harley races are older than those two riders, though Belskus insists that’s not why the change was made.
Rather, it was a business decision.
With more than 1 million people belonging to the official Harley Owners Group, HOG, and one of the nation’s most loyal fan bases, Harley-Davidson has the power to give American motorcycle racing a huge boost.
Area dealerships have already lined up to sponsor riders ranging from Shawn Higbee of Milwaukee, where the motorcycle manufacturer is based, to Northern Ireland’s Jeremy McWilliams.
How much of an impact might the American brand have this weekend? The ticket line for Friday’s practice sessions snaked from the speedway’s administration all the way to the street.
“It was so long, I told our people I was going to go out there and start taking orders,” Belskus joked. He said sales for Saturday’s MotoGP qualifications and Sunday’s race should mirror last year’s.
It’s not just fans who are excited. DiSalvo didn’t hesitate to accept the offer from Chase McFarland’s team to hop on a bike this weekend, even though he has never raced on a Harley. And when the 47-year-old McWilliams found a sponsor for this race, he couldn’t wait to get to town.
“It’s a bit of a dream come true,” McWilliams said after testing in Indy last week. “I’ve never been to the Brickyard, as you call it, and it’s lovely to be here. I’m pretty blown away by the size of the place. It’s a pretty good layout, and I’m really enjoying the fast sections.”
The first Harley race on the 2.621-mile, 16-turn road course will be held Saturday afternoon. The second is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, after the day’s three other races finish.
There are plenty of storylines, too.
Besides DiSalvo making his Harley debut and McWilliams’ trying to become the next big Northern Irish winner on American soil, Michigan’s Chris Fillmore will try to maintain his points lead as he chases his fourth win of the season and California’s Shelina Moreda, of California, is expected to become the first woman to compete on a motorcycle in Indianapolis.
No woman has ever won a race at Indy. England’s Pippa Mann is the only woman to win an Indy pole.
“It’s huge, really,” she said. “I can’t believe how many fans are hear for practice and qualifying, but I’m not trying not to focus on that because if I do, it would be pretty overwhelming.”
The most significant part of the weekend: Exposure for the riders and a series that is only its second year.
“It’s really cool to be on this stage and all the spectators that are going to be there,” Fillmore said. “Everybody wins from this.”
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The last time a Harley was on the track during a race weekend was 1909.
“I love it, the whole aura of coming into this place,” said Jason DiSalvo, a 27-year-old motorcycle racer from New York state. “I was here last year (Moto2), but coming here on an American motorcycle is really cool.”
Really different, too. The last time a non-NASCAR American-made engine was used at the famed Brickyard was 2005.
But the Harleys are kicking off a whole new American revolution at Indy.
Next year, Chevrolet returns to the IndyCar Series. All three races scheduled for next year’s NASCAR weekend -- Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Grand-Am -- will use American engines, too. And depending on how this weekend’s two AMA XR1200 races play out, and whether speedway and MotoGP officials can reach a deal to come back in 2012, the most distinctive sound in motorsports could be back on next year’s undercard.
Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus thinks it’s a perfect combination.
“We recognize that we’re in the heartland of the United States and it’s a great American brand, so we’re happy to have them,” he said after the first practice session. “It’s a great brand, a popular brand and an important brand.”
The Harley race replaces last year’s U.S. Grand Prix Racers Union event, which ended in tragedy when 13-year-old Peter Lenz was killed in an accident with a 12-year-old rider. All the competitors in the Harley races are older than those two riders, though Belskus insists that’s not why the change was made.
Rather, it was a business decision.
With more than 1 million people belonging to the official Harley Owners Group, HOG, and one of the nation’s most loyal fan bases, Harley-Davidson has the power to give American motorcycle racing a huge boost.
Area dealerships have already lined up to sponsor riders ranging from Shawn Higbee of Milwaukee, where the motorcycle manufacturer is based, to Northern Ireland’s Jeremy McWilliams.
How much of an impact might the American brand have this weekend? The ticket line for Friday’s practice sessions snaked from the speedway’s administration all the way to the street.
“It was so long, I told our people I was going to go out there and start taking orders,” Belskus joked. He said sales for Saturday’s MotoGP qualifications and Sunday’s race should mirror last year’s.
It’s not just fans who are excited. DiSalvo didn’t hesitate to accept the offer from Chase McFarland’s team to hop on a bike this weekend, even though he has never raced on a Harley. And when the 47-year-old McWilliams found a sponsor for this race, he couldn’t wait to get to town.
“It’s a bit of a dream come true,” McWilliams said after testing in Indy last week. “I’ve never been to the Brickyard, as you call it, and it’s lovely to be here. I’m pretty blown away by the size of the place. It’s a pretty good layout, and I’m really enjoying the fast sections.”
The first Harley race on the 2.621-mile, 16-turn road course will be held Saturday afternoon. The second is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, after the day’s three other races finish.
There are plenty of storylines, too.
Besides DiSalvo making his Harley debut and McWilliams’ trying to become the next big Northern Irish winner on American soil, Michigan’s Chris Fillmore will try to maintain his points lead as he chases his fourth win of the season and California’s Shelina Moreda, of California, is expected to become the first woman to compete on a motorcycle in Indianapolis.
No woman has ever won a race at Indy. England’s Pippa Mann is the only woman to win an Indy pole.
“It’s huge, really,” she said. “I can’t believe how many fans are hear for practice and qualifying, but I’m not trying not to focus on that because if I do, it would be pretty overwhelming.”
The most significant part of the weekend: Exposure for the riders and a series that is only its second year.
“It’s really cool to be on this stage and all the spectators that are going to be there,” Fillmore said. “Everybody wins from this.”
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
