Good Spark Garage

Meet Mel Harder: Indy Motor Speedway VP of Operations

(Update: Mel has been named senior vice president and general manager of the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. We congratulate him on his new direction and wish him the best of luck. -GSG)

Mel Harder is a motorcyclist. He’s a listener, an observer, and a doer. He grew up in Speedway, Indiana, beginning a lifelong involvement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 2002, he took the reigns as Senior VP of Operations at IMS and later helped secure a deal that brought MotoGP racing to Indy in 2008.

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MotoGP Riders Playing Football at Lucas Oil Stadium

Ten of the best motorcycle racers in the world tried their hand at punting, passing and kicking a football at the Home of the Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium. The folks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway gathered riders from the MotoGP, Moto2 and 125 classes and fitted them with personalized Colts jerseys. IMS invited former Colts players to help instruct the riders that weren’t as familiar with American football.

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AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series: Expect Great Racing at Indy

The legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the historic Harley Davidson brand for two races during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend. Racers in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series will be battling hard for the last pass over the yard of bricks on Saturday and Sunday (Aug 27 & 28th).

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Racers’ Perspective: Racing Motorcycles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

We dropped in on the Moto2 and XR1200 test at IMS to talk to the riders about their role in the upcoming Indianapolis GP weekend. When moving around the garages, it’s easy to marvel at their lifestyle and full immersion into the sport. Their job is to find the fastest way around a track, regardless of what city it’s in, whatever the layout is and however old it may be. At Indy, it’s different.

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Valentino Rossi: The Motegi Mask

Aside from being engrossed in the now dissipating Stoner-Lorenzo points battle in MotoGP, we’ve curiously tuned in to the wavering opinions on Motegi. The original date for the Japanese Gran Prix (April 24) was postponed due to the horrific tsunami that pounded the ports of Japan.

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Behind the Scenes with Nicky Hayden at Indy Motor Speedway

MotoGP champ Nicky Hayden had the honors of testing the newly paved turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Our cameras were rolling as the Ducati Superbike 1198 SP came in and out of the garage for adjustments made by Ducati Indianapolis’ mechanics and techs.

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