It Never Hurts to Ask

Recently Direct TV stopped airing the Versus channel because the two companies could not reach an agreement to renew their contract. This made me furious because Versus airs 75% of the IndyCar races for the season. With two races left I was faced with a decision - do I cancel Direct TV and go with Cox or Dish Network in order to see the remaining two races? Or do I keep what I have and avoid the hassle of cancelation fees and switching services?

What I decided to do is give Direct TV a call and see if they had any "ideas" for me. I explained to the customer service representative that I didn't want to miss the races, but I didn't want to leave Direct TV either. She immediately apologized, blamed the situation on Comcast (company that owns Versus), and offered me a $120 credit on my bill. That definitely perked my interest, but was it enough to entice me to miss the last two races of the season? No... Ok, well yes, but I thought I could squeeze more out of the deal.

I told her that is was tempting and reassured her that I did not want to change my service, but she was going to have to do a little better than that. So I asked, "Is there anything else you can do for me?" Silence....

"I can comp your DVR service for 6 months," she said. Do this would be a $6 per month savings on my bill - a total of $36. That's not a whole lot but it's a nice addition to the $120. Then she added that she could throw in some movie channels and extra sports channels as well. Overall, not a bad deal. I was glad I asked further to get that nice little bonus.

Through this whole experience I was really impressed with the representative from Direct TV. She was helpful, positive and willing to work with me through my situation. Even though I am bummed that there is no more Versus, I am glad to know that Direct TV wants to keep their customers happy.

The Need For Speed

I know there are a lot of haters out there, but I love this sport.
Can't wait for the race tonight at Richmond International Raceway!

Indy Immersion

I had a really great day today immersing myself into all things Indy. Mitch and I headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to hang out and watch the Driver's meeting. They also had an autograph session with the drivers and I got to meet Dan Wheldon, my favorite driver! It was fantastic!

After that, we drove downtown to watch the Indy 500 Festival Parade. Along with seeing the drivers, we also got to see "Meredith" and "Jan" from The Office, "Chloe O'Brian" from 24, the Geico caveman, and a few others.

Now, I'm so stoked for tomorrow's Indy 500 race! It's going to be a blast. I rented my radio headset so I can listen in on Wheldon's communication with his team...gotta get the full experience! Can't wait! Go #4!



"Good luck Dan"

Not the Greatest Start

Today was the first day of qualifications for the Indy 500. It didn't start out the greatest for Dan Wheldon, but it's far from over yet! In 2005, Wheldon won the Indy 500 after starting in 16th position. Because of his crash today, he missed the opportunity to qualify for positions 1-11. Tomorrow he will have a chance to earn the 12th position in the lineup.

Race Day

Today is the opening day for the 2009 IndyCar series and I'm excited! Today's race is in St. Petersburg, FL at 11am on VERSUS. This will be the official debut of Dan Wheldon with Panther Racing in his new #4 DELPHI NATIONAL GUARD car. Go #4!!!


There is another race today that just so happens to be immediately following the Indy race on the same exact channel - VERSUS [DIRECTV=CH603,COX=CH69]. This is a cycling race - TOUR DE FLANDERS. I have really grown to appreciate this sport because of my triathlon training. Thus, I am excited to watch my very first pro cycling race on TV.

No More Target #10

I know there aren't many IndyCar fans out there reading this, but I am a huge fan and love the thrill of these cars zipping around a track at speeds well over 200 mph. My favorite IndyCar driver, Dan Wheldon, is leaving the Target/Chip Ganassi team and moving to the Panther Racing Team. He will no longer be driving the Target #10 car, but moving to the Delphi National Guard #4 car. I loved the Target team as Dan and Scott Dixon were great teammates, but now its time to move on. I will be rooting for the #4 car. Dan will debut his new car in the "land down under" on October 26th for the Nixon Indy 300. The car will be ripping through the streets of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Australia. Can't wait for that! For more on Dan's debut, click here.


Dan was also featured on the CBS Early Show where he took Russ Mitchell on a little ride around the most famous oval of all time - Indianapolis Speedway.


Watch CBS Videos Online

I am Indy

This Sunday is the 92nd Indianapolis 500 (10am on ABC). You better believe that I will be watching the excitement as 33 open-wheel cars battle it out at speeds well over 200 mph. Some might say that motor sports are nerdy or "hick" but that is lame. Boring to watch cars circle around and around an oval track? It's no more boring than watching nine innings of baseball on TV.

The #9 and #10 cars of the Target/Chip Ganassi racing team are out front this year as Scott Dixon has the pole while Dan Wheldon (my favorite driver) is in the second position. Sports Illustrated just did an article on Danica Patrick that said she is claiming that this is her year to win Indy. Haha fat chance is what I say, but we shall see. Danica is in the 5th position this year. To see the starting grid, click here.

In preparation of this year's Indy here is a video and some fascinating facts about Indy cars. These machines are truly spectacular! My dream one day is to get to drive in one. That would be sweet!





Did you Know? (taken from indycar.com)

* That the 3.5-liter, ethanol-powered engines of IndyCar Series cars produce more than 650 horsepower, nearly four times that of the average street car?

* That each of the eight pistons in an IndyCar Series engine travels nearly 1 mile up and down in the cylinder every minute?

* That each of the eight pistons in an IndyCar Series engine is subjected to a maximum acceleration of 70,000 times the force of gravity?

* That an IndyCar Series car accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than three seconds, more than nine seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo street car to reach the same speed?

* That a 1,530-pound IndyCar Series cars generates 5,000 pounds of downforce at 220 mph, enough to allow the car to run upside down if that speed is maintained?

* That the tread depth of an IndyCar Series tire is 3/32nds of an inch – slightly thicker than a credit card?

* That a front tire for the IndyCar Series weighs about 18 pounds - slightly less than the average weight of a 1-year-old?

* That, at speed, the tread area of the racing tires approaches the temperature of boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit)? At those levels, the tread area actually becomes tar-like in consistency to help the tires and car adhere to the track.

* That at any given moment on the racetrack, the total area of all four tires that is in contact with the track surface is equal to about 1 square foot? That means that an area not much bigger than a sheet of notebook paper is responsible for transferring all the technology and power generated by IndyCar Series cars into speeds exceeding 220 mph.

* That at speeds of 220 mph, the front tires of an IndyCar Series car rotate at a rate of 43 times per second. That means, over the course of a single lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the front tire will experience about 1,955 revolutions, and the rear tires will experience 1,800 revolutions. Considering a normal fuel stint is 30 laps or more at Indy, each tire could experience more than 60,000 revolutions before it is changed for a fresh set.

* That the draft (or the “hole” in the air) created by an IndyCar Series car extends 25 feet behind the car?

* That while traveling about 220 mph, IndyCar Series cars travel slightly more than the length of a football field every second?