Indy 500 Field Filled & The Business of Vintage Racing with Mike Lashmett and Kevin Krauss
The month of May is officially here and the field is set! This week on The Pits Are Open, we dive into the latest testing news from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the exciting confirmation that Jacob Abel and Katherine Legge have filled the 33-car grid. We also explore the dramatic disappearance of entry depth since the 109-car high-water mark of 1982 and discuss what IndyCar needs to do to bring back the thrill of bumping.
Beyond the track, we are talking about the enterprise of racing. From Mike Lashmett's incredible journey from a VW Beetle to working for racing royalty like Parnelli Jones, to Kevin Krauss's masterclass in networking and brand building with Krauss Meats and Seventh Gear Overdrive. We are breaking down how drivers and teams can build financial sustainability by owning their audience and leveraging their intellectual property.
OUR GUESTS TODAY:
- Mike Lashmett: President of Vintage Indy, Mike is a lifelong motorsports professional who began his career on the front lines as a pit crew member for icons like George Bignotti and Parnelli Jones. Today, he leads the nation's premier organization dedicated to preserving the history and culture of American open-wheel racing.
- Kevin Krauss: A seasoned American race driver, entrepreneur, and host of the Seventh Gear Overdrive podcast. Kevin is the founder of Krauss Meats and a professional driver for brands like Mercedes-AMG and McLaren, bringing a unique perspective on the intersection of high-performance driving and business growth.
INSIDE THIS EPISODE:
- 00:00 - Welcome to the Pits: Indy 500 Entry Updates
- 02:30 - Speedway Venture Studio: Financial Sustainability for Drivers
- 07:30 - Mike Lashmett on the History of Vintage Indy
- 11:30 - The Journey from Illinois to Bignotti's Shop
- 17:20 - The Heritage Invitational & IROC Revival
- 31:00 - Kevin Krauss: Networking and Krauss Meats
- 37:30 - The State of IndyCar: Why We Need a Third Engine Manufacturer
- 42:50 - Seventh Gear Overdrive & The Month of May Specials
SPONSORS:
- Schaeffer Manufacturing: Performance is non-negotiable. Learn more at schaefferoil.com
- Redline Ace: Command attention with high-performance graphics at redlineace.com
- America’s Christian Credit Union: Banking grounded in mission. Visit americaschristiancu.com/pits
- SpeedSport 1: The best in racing diversity. Watch at speedsport1.com
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- Sign up for our newsletter: thepitsareopen.com
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