MAY 14, 2025

(Photo by Matt Fraver for Penske Entertainment)

Alex Palou (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda) won the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, his fourth victory in five NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season. It was the Spaniard’s third consecutive victory in this race, an event record, and he became the first driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the first five races of an INDYCAR SERIES season. “I cannot describe the amazing season we’ve had so far,” Palou said. “I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable.” NTT P1 Award winner Palou finished 5.4840-second ahead of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward. That margin may have been considerably larger if not for a late caution period – the first in the series since Lap 1 of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding – bunching the field before Palou ran away again. Two-time series champion Will Power finished a season-best third in the No. 12 Team Penske Verizon Chevrolet, 8.4529 seconds behind Palou. Scott McLaughlin was fourth in the No. 3 Team Penske Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon rounded out the top five in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi PNC Bank Racing Honda. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)

(MotoGP.com)

It was a day Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Castrol and a record-breaking Michelin Grand Prix of France crowd of 300,000 will never forget. For the first time since 1954, 71 years ago, a French MotoGP rider won on home turf after a wet tire gamble from Zarco (No. 5 LCR Castrol Honda) beat second-place Marc Marquez (No. 93 Ducati Lenovo Team) by nearly 20 seconds. Marc Marquez gains important points in the title chase, as both Alex Marquez (No. 73 BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (No. 1 Ducati Lenovo Team) fail to score points on a hugely dramatic Sunday afternoon, which saw Fermin Aldeguer (No. 54 BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) claim a debut MotoGP rostrum. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to MotoGP.com)

(Porsche images)

From the Porsche Press Release:

Atlanta. Porsche mourns the death of Jochen Mass. The former works driver died on May 4, 2025 at the age of 78 in Cannes, France. With his death, the brand not only loses a special driver, but also a person who shaped motorsport, and enriched and inspired Porsche with passion, experience and precision.

“We are very saddened by the news of his death. Jochen Mass was a driver with depth. One who could understand the car like few others”, says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “He had an excellent feel for technology and for everything that makes a team strong. We are losing a remarkable driver and a trusted companion who was with us for many years. His legacy extends well beyond his success – it lives in memories, in stories and in his way of thinking about motorsports. Our thoughts are with his family”.

Jochen Mass was born on September 30, 1946 in Dorfen, Upper Bavaria. His journey into motorsport did not begin in the cockpit, but rather on the high seas: as a young sailor, he circumnavigated the world for three years. Only after this was he drawn to technology – and to the race track – and completed an apprenticeship as a car mechanic. When the regular driver at the Alfa Romeo dealer Hähn was absent due to illness in 1968, Mass stepped in and proved his talent. It was not a long-planned debut, but marked the spontaneous start of an extraordinary career.

His success speaks for itself: European Touring Car Champion in 1972, European runner-up in Formula 2, from 1973 he competed 105 times in Formula 1 – and won the Spanish Grand Prix in 1975. Until the Schumacher era, he was one of the most successful German Formula 1 drivers by points.

But Mass was to find his true home in endurance racing – and at Porsche. Between 1976 and 1987, he was a permanent member of the works team. He drove racing cars such as the 935, 936, 956 and 962 with passion, courage and precision. Together with fellow drivers such as Jacky Ickx, he celebrated consecutive victories, shaped championships – and his name was synonymous with reliability, not only due to his constant close contact with race engineers such as Norbert Singer. When the partnership with sponsor Rothmans was formed, it was Mass who helped establish it with vision and finesse.

In 1992, Mass ended his active career. His sporting record is impressive: More than 400 races, 105 Grand Prix starts, 71 World Championship points, winner of the German Racing Championship, European Touring Car Champion, Porsche Cup winner, German Sports Car Champion, Le Mans winner with Sauber Mercedes.

Even after retiring, he remained connected to racing – as a popular speaker, heritage ambassador and bridge builder between generations. Whether at trade shows such as Retro Classics, classic car events or media events organized by Porsche Heritage and Museum, people of all ages listened gladly to his unique stories.

Jochen Mass is survived by his wife Bettina and four children. Porsche mourns the death of one of the family – with gratitude, respect and deep affection.

   

Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG