The day is moving slowly as the rain still seems to fall forward bringing in the dawn of evening. Not exactly the day I had hoped for, nor a day any driver inside the walls this empire had hoped for. With the days end, not even enough total laps to complete our rookie orientation; let alone reach the third required phase of speed 10 laps with average above 210 mph. The crew has been working like ants preparing for winter, yet much less of a feet to accomplish the required task at hand.

Shortly after 9 am the gates opened to pit road where only a few cars had been waiting to take on the 2.5 mile track. It is such a great experience to walk threw the "Gasoline Alley" opening to a view of the stands that hold the 300,000 open wheel fans on the majestic race day. It is hard to say why this place is so special to everyone you talk to here, something about it for everyone. I am learning all about "INDY", what it is about that name and place which makes everyone passionate to the true form that name brings respect and admiration all who are racers and fans at heart.

Each day as I set my first shoe in my seat and downward nestle in this tight capsule that I call my home on the track. Strapping the belts on, synching them down tightly, gloves slowly grasping the steering wheel, breathing steady and calm, eyes focused and the start switch activated, the thumb sign from my crew to light em up, wham...shift the paddle...1st gear, let the clutch out and burn rubber. What a sound for everyone and the feeling of bliss for a driver. My vision and mind focused to the timing and instincts of my everyday ritual. Taking my car threw the gears, 79 mph, 132, 150, 189, 199, 203 the car feels good, one lap goes by and the tires are feeling it, the changes we made seem to be an improvement, taking time to feel it out, average 199 first lap, second 207, feeling continues to be good, I have felt the car enough. Its time to pick it up, now 211, 210, 211 mph average, thats three laps of ten out of the way above 210 mph, now its comfortable, wide open in turn 3 and turn 4, top speed down the front stretch 220 mph with 211 in turn 1 and 2, happy with the car and my timing.

What, I see something down the track, flashing lights from a truck, but no lights on the track or caution lights in the car, I keep going half way down the straight away. I need these laps today before the weather comes in, yellow flashing everywhere now, inside my car, caution, my thoughts were not good ones at this point. I slow down quickly from 218 mph to make turn three entrance to pit road, the entrance we have to use in practice. I was thinking to myself, why????? Then the answer was in-front of my face as rain sprinkles on my Bell Helmet vizor swiftly went away from the fast moving wind. Not what I needed.

The day will end with these sprinkles turning into rain drops that continued into the evening. For all, both fans and drivers alike this is not what we had hoped of the official opening day of IndyCar practice for the Indy 500. Now that our time was limited and we had not had enough total laps let alone the total laps at the speeds required, we get another hour in the morning to complete the other 6 laps above 210 mph. Conclusion of the day will bring another day tomorrow. I look forward to talking to the drivers again that give me encouragement and valuable advice.

Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to once again climb into my space inside a car built for speed!

Stanton

Today was an awesome experience to have driven on the INDY 500 race track in an IndyCar. A race track with 100 years of heritage and worldwide admiration by both fans and drivers. By the time we resolved several of the issues that we had during the day, the team stayed focus and on track for our goals. Today it was a relaxed atmosphere around the facility, the only cars on the track were rookies or drivers who have not been on the track in some time. Just the whole experience was enjoyable to have stepped on the pavement so many have walked, heading to the place where victory is sought after.

Our number 98 CURB / INTERUSH race car made its way by tow to pit road. Quickly we took action to get on the track, putting on my Bell helmet, Oakley gloves and climbing in the car with only the view of turn one. The vibration and powerful sweet sound a high-performance Honda engine makes, was all you could hear and feel. We had only 35 minutes left in the day to get our first laps. Keeping things in-perspective is not always easy with such little time in the day and so much at stake. We know that intermittent weather is prominent for the week to come, there is allot that needs to be done in the next day of the rookie test. Otherwise I will not get the opportunity to run the month of May.

Leaving pit road was something that made all the reality being a race car driver come to true sight, and an enormous feeling of pride came over me. Keeping that quickly in check to realize there is a whole month of May, of trials, of learning, all in efforts to drive with speed to sit on the grid of the incomparable Indy 500.

Stanton

It is a beautiful day today in Indianapolis. The cars are on the track this morning, the Indy Lights Cars. The sounds of speed are sounds all of us racers enjoying hearing in the morning. You can't help to wonder where the roads will wind this week, where I am to take each step of my journey. You can't help to think that no matter what you have achieved or endeavored upon in racing, that this moment or month in a racers career surpasses all others. Each driver, crew member or team owner that walks through the concrete walls of the Indy 500 garage have set their goals with varying degrees of importance.

Our goal now is to learn today, have a day with out error and to experience that feeling that brings us back each day to strap into a car; no matter the brand or series, but strap into a car that its name is followed by race car. My team focuses intently on what it will take to qualify, that is our goal, a lofty achievable goal. I am used to knowing exactly what I can do or capable of doing, how to achieve it and execute the plan successfully. This year has been new territory completely and I am having to approach each new week with unknowns, allowing for an abundance of trying experiences and uncertain feelings. Relying on 20 years of hard work in racing, with experience and good understanding of racing cars is my strength to embrace this week for everything that the INDY 500 has to offer.

Stanton

The first day at Indy for the Indy Car 2009 Season is something to take note of for myself. I have been here several times in a Cup car, but the nerves and reality of knowing that tomorrow I will have achieved the opportunity that most, well I must say all race car drivers or aspiring race car drivers at one point in their lives have dreamed about. Nothing short of a sense of pride and humbleness for me right now. Success to this point is measured upon at this point to have this opportunity to race here and with overwhelming odds to make it this far in life and having a racing career of 20 years.

Nothing has been handed to me in my career to race and the feeling of accomplishment is present just sitting here amongst where the best of the best in our sport have both been victorious and the ultimate defeat of fate has loomed over the respected 2.5 mile historic monster. Having the opportunity to be apart of a Speedways Centennial celebration will be something to remember for life. I look forward to stepping in the car, letting some nerves go from worrying about how it will all turn out and do what I know I love to do, then just drive.

Stanton

When I left Long Beach California, I headed for Nashville and then Atlanta where I was interviewed on several television and radio news shows for the IndyCar Race League.

Last weekend at Kansas, our car started out good in practice sessions, however our qualifying time was not as good as we had a computer or telemetry problems with our car system which was telling me wrong shift points. We qualified 2 mph off our practice speed in 19th position. Then for the race things started off really good... I passed a few cars and was eager to keep going on a fast pace. Then a wreck happened, so we had to make a pit stop and changed the tires. From that point the car was just terrible, I felt like it was crashing as it entered each corner, and exiting with both a push and loose situation. It was not fun at all and we lost huge amounts of speed. We had to come in and adjust the car, which resulted in a loss of two laps. From then on, we went back out and ran some good laps. However, the gear selections really hurt us from having the speed we needed to run in the top 15. This is something that both the team and I are learning and building experience with both the cars and the tracks we have not run on yet.

The wind was fierce the whole day which resulted in the toughest IRL race many of the other drivers said they have ever raced. With 20 laps to go, the wind was so bad and the handling was just not great, I got a big push and hit the wall in turn four. Nothing bad happened to the car or myself, it just bent the rear wish bone suspension, which ended our racing that day. It was both trying and a positive learning experience. You can imagine how tough professional motorsports is some days.

On Monday my father and I took a flight to Sweden and I am hear now meeting with some potential sponsors and business deals that relate to the racing. Next, I am flying the long flight back to Indy on Sunday and will be having meetings Monday and prepping new seat in the race car for the next day on Tuesday were it will mark the fist laps I have ever taken on the famous Indianapolis 500 race track in an IndyCar. WOWWWW...!

Live Free and Fast,
Stanton

I was in California all last week to prepare for all the events around the 35th Annual Long Beach Grand Prix. The course is about a 1.9 mile street course with 11 turns, and the race is 85 laps The weather for the entire week could not have been better. I really enjoyed the week at such a great track that I had gone to many times as a spectator with my godfather Paul Newman and my dad. Since it is the closest track to Los Angeles, I considered this my home track.

Practice was a long process of testing and adjustments. After the second practice, Honda asked us to swap out the entire engine for a new one. This was in addition to the crew's changes to the gearbox, springs and brakes!

Learning these new style of cars is something that is very challenging. I am fortunate to have Al Unser Jr available to help coach me on the IndyCars and this challenging track. (Al Unser Jr is the six-time Long Beach Grand Prix Champion).

We got our race car up to speed a lot faster than we had for the St Petersburg race. We qualified 21st of 23 entries. The track was extremely rough and steering this track was much tougher than St. Petersburg. By making mechanical adjustments and working hard on my driving, we were able to run some very competitive times during the race. By the end of the race we ended up in 17th position, ahead of many very experienced drivers and teams, so we were very pleased with this.

During the race I went off the track on turn 9, which cost us a lap and otherwise would have resulted in a 14th place finish. But overall for the weekend if that was the biggest mistake I made as a rookie who never have driven these cars in such a competitive series with the world's best drivers, then I am pleased!

Live Free and Fast,

Stanton

By Stanton Barrett

After 5 years of competitive kart racing, 18 years of professional NASCAR racing, and 20 years of doing all kinds of stunts in movies, I just wasn't prepared for what an incredible experience it would be to drive in an IndyCar race. There are so many significant differences and adjustments that I need to learn, practice and master as a driver, to become competitive with the field. There are so many things that are not the same race procedures or car procedures as in the NASCAR racing series.

It's very cool to be an IndyCar Rookie and at the same time, have 18 years of professional experience from over 200 NASCAR races; but with everything that I have done in my life, I have found the premier experience that tops it all... racing in an IndyCar!

Over the next few weeks and months I'm going to share my learning curve and experiences with you online.

Sunday April 5, 2009 - St. Petersburg, Florida Grand Prix

Now the St. Petersburg course is a street course and I have never raced any of these in the NASCAR Cup or NASCAR Nationwide series but I have raced in many road course races at Watkins Glen, Sonoma, Montreal and in Mexico. Then in IMSA, the 24 hours of Daytona, and Road Atlanta in a GT-1 car where we had great finishes.

In my first ever IndyCar race which was in the streets of St Petersburg, the course had 12 turns over a 1.8 mile course. This means constant rapid acceleration, turning in both directions, precisely timed shifting and tough braking. The track offers very little, to no room for error whatsoever. The timing involved is intense and the walls run close on each side of the car, from one wall to the next, outside wall, to the inside of the corner of another wall. The cars have such a different feel with a down force that comes into play that I am simply not used to. I am accustomed to a mechanical grip from stock cars. So, when you think you're getting into trouble, the down force comes into play and can help to save you.

Of course, I really, really enjoyed my first IndyCar race and the small amount of testing and practice I got to do before this first race never prepared me for just how incredible it would be to race with all the experienced IndyCar drivers. (Fortunately I had some valuable discussions with IndyCar legend Al Under Jr and also with Roberto Merano who both did their best to help prepare me prior to the race).

The whole team, including me, really made big gains over the last two days in St. Petersburg as we picked up several seconds in practice lap time from day 1 to day 2, and then we shaved a few more seconds off our best lap time during the actual race. This race had several cautions and a total of eight cars went out of the race due to high-speed contact. Fortunately my reflexes have been developed from all my years of NASCAR racing and I was able to stay clear of these.

I was in 11th place with two laps to go and had a missed cue with the race control when they said there was a full course caution.

I backed off and this cost me my 15 second lead and my first top rookie of the race standing this week. But I am very pleased with a 12th place finish. That puts us in a good position for next week's race, another street course, at the Long Beach California Grand Prix. I'll do my best to continue my learning curve, stay out of trouble, and then head to the oval track where I think all my NASCAR experience will help and give us additional benefits.

Live Free and Fast!

Stanton

I have been really busy the last week working on rigging stunts for a
new film in New York City with Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant.
And I also took lots of time to work-out and train for upcoming
racing.

This week I have getting ready for my first IndyCar race this weekend
in St. Petersburg, Florida!

I have been in Indianapolis since last Thursday helping the 3G Team
get ready for their first race as well this year. We have had to
overcome allot of problems this year, and my attention and expertise
was needed this week. Everything got finished and a new sponsor also
jumped on board. The IndyCar is loaded up and heading to Florida to
West Palm Beach track so we can test in the morning and then head to
St. Petersburg on Wednesday afternoon to start the weekend for the
race.

I am a little nervous and very excited at the same time. Not sure
what to expect and something all new to me, but something I have
wanted to do more than anything was race IndyCars. Now I can say that
my dreams have come true in every regards. This week I was just
reflecting how hard work really pays off, never giving up, believing
in yourself and giving everything you know and have to what you set
out to do in life against all odds. It truly is gratifying to know
after 20 years of focus I am still on a path of living a dream and
doing what I love to do. Great support from special people and
companies like INTERUSH have made it all possible so, I hope you all
share in my pride with me this weekend.

I am on my way to Florida today, then I'l be up early for a busy day
of testing and preparation for my first IndyCar race.

Live Free and Fast!

Stanton

Last weekend I went to Birmingham, Alabama where I observed the new IndyCars being tested at a great facility, Barber Motorsports Park. I learned allot of important things while I was there with Roberto Merano as he coached me on some very important aspects of IndyCar racing. I also had a very good meeting with the head of the IndyCar Race League, Brian Barnhardt. And I also got to meet a legend of racing Dan Gurney, who is a close friend of my father and was there at my father's rocket car run and he set the world land speed record.

Last night I flew to New York City to work on a new film, rigging a stunt for a girl climbing from one building balcony to another, 60 meters up in the air. I will be working on the film again tomorrow and then off to Indianapolis to our IRL Team race shop to prepare for the first race. We will be testing this weekend on the road course in the Interush IndyCar.

Photo caption: New York City from 60 meters above ground, setting-up movie stunt.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I had a very good and a very long day today. It was a lot more fun on the race track today as we continued to adjust the car set-up. Now I realized how bad the car was last night and loose it was with no grip. This made me very nervous yesterday that if this is the way the cars drive, I am not going to like it. I took Al Unser Jr's advise yesterday to just know it is a race car like any other one you drive, it gives you the same information and you want it to feel the same way any good race car does. That is why I kept believing we have to make this better and figure out a way to do it and keep sticking with it. As a result, the better set-up came to us through constant adjustments.



I really had a great day and got a lot of confidence in the car and know what it takes to drive them and feel what it takes to put a decent set up under you. We got to an average speed of 206 mph and within just 0.6 seconds of the fastest car! We are still taking small steps to get to where we need to be without over doing it or being too aggressive since I am a rookie with the open wheel cars. So, we still have several things to do to reduce the drag in the car and pick up some better speed.



Tomorrow I look to be running at the middle of the pack in times and still maintain a very comfortable mechanical grip in the race car. Getting to run with so many drivers that I have never run with before and in such a cool racing series is super exciting for me and that this is now my reality, and not just a dream!



Today our top speed today was around 215 mph and had great coaching by Al Unser Jr. who I really admired in the past and have seen race many times. Plus my crew chief was his old crew chief during many of his wins! Now tomorrow is our last day of testing and I'm looking forward to getting back into the IndyCar and improving even more. I am the only real rookie to open wheel cars this year as the other three rookies are from the Champ Car Series and have won races there or had significant times in them and one rookie has also raced a season of F-1 just two years ago. So it's very cool that I am in such good company and getting the opportunity to race such a series thanks to the support of Interush and all of our other sponsors as well.


Live Free and Fast,

Stanton

PS: Here are some additional photos of the testing