2022 IndyCar Race #9 Honda Indy 200 At Mid-Ohio

When I had finished laying out my 2022 schedule, I wondered about the three consecutive weekends I would spend at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course. I pondered the monotony, the repeated landscape, and the long drive from home.

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One of the challenges of photographing motorsports is having the same subject each week. From a sponsor's viewpoint, it makes sense for companies to make their products recognizable. Repetition of logos and names builds familiarity for all brands and products.

Every long-time NASCAR fan remembers the #3 Goodwrench car when the name Dale Earnhardt is mentioned. When I started working in motorsports, Jimmie Johnson would forever become equated with Lowe's and the number 48. Just like when I picture Kyle Busch, in my mind, he is holding packs of M&M's standing next to his #18 racecar. I even use these relationships to remember things like combinations or addresses. For example, if a lock combination is 11-88-23, then I only have to remember Denny-Jr-Bubba (Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Bubba Wallace) and don't have to worry about the numbers. Repetitive experiences create relationships in our minds.

Advertisers know that if I admire Scott Dixon and think he is a great race car driver, I subconsciously begin to feel the same thoughts about the brand he represents, PNC Bank. Just as I'm pretty sure if Will Power needed a new cell phone, he would be shopping at a Verizon store. At least, I'm sure that's what Verizon wants me to think.

I don't mind if Petronas, FedEx, NTT, Menards, Target, or anyone else is funding motorsports. They want people to buy their products, and the more effective their advertising is, the more money people spend. If that's what promotes motorsports, then great. The more people talk about the Monster Energy motorcycle, the Red Bull car, or the Bass Pro Shops #19, the better it is for each brand and motorsports.

My brother-in-law won't go to Home Depot because he's a Jimmie Johnson fan. His brand loyalty comes from honoring the company that his favorite driver had all over his car. The funny thing is that the reverse is far less comparable. I have rarely heard a fan swear off a product because they hated the driver of that car. It's improbable that even the much-maligned Kyle Busch would deter a fan away from M&M's.

People like familiarity. It's a comfort in an ever-changing world. It's buying the same Brawny paper towels or stopping at the same Sunoco gas station. We know what to expect. We know old John will be behind the counter waiting for us after grabbing our morning coffee. That was made in the same Bunn pot with the same Peet's coffee beans for years. The cups are always in the same place, as are the lids, the stirrers, and the cream. Reliability and predictability bring order to our lives.

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How much is all of this brand loyalty and familiarity worth? That's a problem I'm sure a lot of research has gone towards solving. Is an ad on TV during the Super Bowl worth the expense? $6.5 million is a lot of money for 30 seconds, yet I don't remember any gaps in the television coverage. That large amount of money could buy a spot on the rear fender for a whole racing season. How fast do you think Dorito's made back the money they invested in their commercial?

One nice thing about how expensive it is to sponsor a car for an entire season is that not many companies decide to do it. Different sponsors bring different colors, designs, and art. So it was a real treat for me to see other liveries this weekend. Romain Grosjean driving the Forever Lawn #28 at Mid-Ohio was great. What a welcome change from the yellow and red DHL paint that has lingered for many seasons. The black and the green captured my heart at every turn, and I found myself lingering for another pass of the car before changing locations. During the weekend, Marcus Erickson piloted the Honda Ridgeline #8 car with a rich, multi-faceted green complexion that amplified its curves and arches

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It's also wonderful when a brand realizes there is room for new expression and design, like the red fading to black on Will Power's Verizon car. It is a welcome change from the tired old muted silver of years past and a beautiful update to the hum drum black with red accents of last year.

I've said how racecars can be beautiful with their curves and aerodynamics, spoilers, and shiny paint, but let me augment that by reminding you how amazing your girlfriend looks in her sexy new red dress with the black stiletto heels. She isn't a different person or unrecognizable, but eye-catching, beautiful, and memorable. I hope more sponsors begin to take advantage of this not-so-subtle surprise factor to shine over their competitors while their advertising waits for action.

2021 Circuit of the Americas

Anyone who knows motorsports, and also knows that I photograph motorsports professionally, asks if I have ever gotten to take photos at an F1 event. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege to be at the Circuit of The America's in Austin TX during the American GP weekend and had access to some of the event.

F1 never disappoints. From the excitement and crowds to the gallantry and spectacle. I'll be posting a few of the images I captured during the 2021 event over the next few days. Enjoy.

First, the iconic hill-crest tower photo from Circuit of the Americas. Nothing announces this venue like the observation tower hovering 251 feet above the racetrack. That's 417 stairs for a weary photographer if the elevator isn't working. I know, I've counted, multiple times. Looming that large in the sky sets this monolith in perfect perspective when a racecar crests the top of turn #9. From where this photo was taken it's almost 2/3 of a mile to the base of the tower. Navigating the Circuit of the Americas takes some practice.

Second,

This event was the premiere of this view. This pedestrian bridge over the racetrack is new for F1 this year. I have been a fan of this location for the past few years because it's a great "going away" photo. The bright green out-of-bounds area and the red and white rumble strips leading to the racecar lead the eye into the image. Racers often run wide here, entering this short straight from the left and bouncing over the rumble strips.

If there's no drama in the sky, the photo can be interesting as a closeup. Fortunately, I had some beautiful puffy clouds to bring another primary color into the scene. Also, seeing silhouetted people on the bridge brings an element of juxtaposition to the photo as they appear close to the racetrack. In reality, after the hillcrest, the angle down ensures plenty of space under the bridge. Even enough to snap the photo I posted yesterday, which was taken through the gap under the bridge.

Third,

One of the best parts of experiencing the Formula 1 circus at the Circuit of the Americas is the extra stuff that appears for the entertainment of the spectators. Every year that I have been to the event, first-rate concerts embellished this high-energy weekend. Performances by P!NK, Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Billy Joel, to name a few. Additionally, there are food stands, outdoor works of art, and even amusement park rides assembled around and in the center of the racetrack.

The view outside of turn nine sets a nice scene to show Max Verstappen's #33 RedBull exiting the uphill left-hander. The grandstands are filled with fans, and the Ferris wheel in the background adds to the spectacle. Unfortunately, I don't often get to photograph race cars with fairground rides in the same frame. Often in the morning, if there's rain or even the threat of rain, fog and mist crowd out the distant view reducing it to a car on a track with a white background. So I try to take advantage of a clear day whenever possible.

Four,

Photography is a lot about thinking and planning.

For this picture, I wanted to include the iconic tower letting everyone know it was taken at the Circuit of the Americas, as well as the red, white, and blue stars and stripes painted around the circuit.

But how to direct the viewer to the subject? Panning, it's a great way to separate the subject from the background.

This is taken from the outside of the track just as the car enters the esses.

#motorsport

#motorsportphotography

#f1

Five,

Sparks, yeah, they happen. Are they cool in a photo? I guess sometimes, but there's a lot more information in a picture like this than small flashes flying behind a race car.

The pictures I take at a racetrack show different things to different people, and sometimes I'm hired to deliver photos to team engineers so they can study what happens to their chassis under conditions that can only be assessed during practice or race situations.

A photo like this, or a burst of photos capturing how the suspension moves and the numerous stresses or flexes of how the chassis reacts to the track surface, can give loads of data to racecar designers to alter the physical make up of a car to achieve higher speeds or better handling through portions of a race.

Sometimes a picture can be more than just a photograph.

Six,

The importance of the crowd. It's a double edge sword in my profession—the crowd breaths life and energy into all the high tension moments of a race weekend. There is an electric pulse generated by the hopes and emotions of the fans. It's hard to put into words what advantage a driver or team gains from a devoted following of cheering, flag waving, loyal fans.

For me they turn boring backgrounds into colorful pallets focusing attention on the subject. They also create an enormous amount of frustration by way of logistics and crowded pathways, not to mention the health restrictions that now dictate much of public events.

But I wouldn't want to loose the audience ever again. They are an integral part of the panoply, the atmosphere, the raison d'etre.

Seven,

Looking up to turn one at the Circuit of the Americas there's a spot that is race car dependant. Meaning that different types of cars that race at the circuit follow unique racing lines based upon how each vehicle is engineered.

A driver's choice of trajectory through part of a race track is often based upon tire condition, traction control, throttle mapping, weather, and countless other details. The shortest path is rarely the quickest, and that's where experience trumps bravery.

Atop turn one, there are many choices for a driver to make. Entry to the corner has lots of room on the track, but the exit is a different story. If someone runs a car deep into turn one, there's a fraction of a second when you can see the sky beneath the vehicle during the exit.

World Wide Technology Raceway with Road to Indy

It was my first time visiting WWT Raceway and also St Louis. With a very busy schedule, I still can't say that I visited St. Louis, but I can check off Gateway from the racetracks I have never been to. Here's a few of the Road to Indy photographs that I liked from the weekend.

Indy Lights 2021 Mid-Ohio

Earlier this year I accepted the position of series photographer for Road to Indy. I won't go into details but suffice it to say, it has been a wonderful experience. This past weekend the series had its seventh event of 2021 that I covered at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. We had a full day of testing at the venue before the escapade got underway on Thursday which gave me time to explore the landscape and spend some creative moments experimenting with ideas that had been lingering in my mind. Let me explain in the photographs that follow. Doubtless, the subtle fact that I need to elaborate with words about the images I was endeavoring to capture means that at some level I've failed to deliver pictures that "are worth a thousand words", or photos that tell a story so complete that no utterance of words is necessary. Well, I try, but I'm still honing my craft. As usual all images are © Gavin Baker 2021

There's a ridge that the cars crest at turn two. I'm told that long ago this was an ideal angle for photos capturing the charge of racecars after taking the green flag. Over time the track has changed a bit and the vantage point for watching this onslaught is below the rise of the asphalt, making a full-field image impossible from the ground. But what it does provide is a unique view of the head on racecar as it emerges into sight. It reminds me of a shark as it breaks the surface of the ocean when the glimmering light reflects off the nose of the car. With a shallow depth of field and the haze from the tarmac the background distorts and changes objects into shapes. The catch fence above and to the right of the bright orange Global Racing Group #24 driven by Benjamin Peterson gives the effect of cradling the subject and directs the eye back into the focus of the photo.

The downward righthand "keyhole" at Mid-Ohio is often a challenge for newbies and aggressive racers. This corner has a tendency to collect dirt from drivers cutting the apex too close. The loss of grip coupled with the fact that the outer half of the turn is off-camber makes a small mistake escalate quickly into an off-track excursion. Many racers bear their teeth in out-breaking maneuvers to force rivals wide and into the waiting trap. Elevation changes add to a photograph in so many ways, showing more cars on the track and crowds being allowed to return to events after last year's pandemic. The fact that our tire sponsor is on the billboard is an added benefit to me and the series.

Leading up to the exit of the keyhole is this landscape that really sets the scene for Mid-Ohio. What's needed is the excitement in the sky. On an overcast / rainy day it's hard to make this photograph work. I had a few moments while the track was in the soft glow of a cloud-filled sky to capture the casual green countryside flow of Ohio.

The exit of the "keyhole" onto the long back straight begins full-throttle acceleration for the #59 HMD Motorsports Indy Lights car driven by Nikita Lastochkin. The yellow reflection from the paint onto the brightly lit letters of the rear wing announces this gladiator by name as he squeezes every drop of speed from his racecar, careful to not waste any by running wide into the dirt. The brown Earth against the yellow of the paint and the green of the grass draws focus to the massive girth of the slick tire hovering over the edge of the rumble strip and makes the static image exciting in its own right.

Light is what it's all about as a photographer. Upon occasion it's a blessing, and inevitably at other times a curse. The morning light at Mid-Ohio that gently flows across the undulating landscape makes being at the right place a moment to be treasured. Here are some of my favorite photos from the back half of the racetrack during the magical morning hours of practice for the Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

Sting Ray Robb pilots his racecar across the peak of turn number five as the Sun's warming glow lights the Juncos Racing #2. Set against the dark green pine trees in the distance the metallic colors shimmer.

Bathed in the yellow sunlight Robert Megennis glides the #27 Andretti Autosport Indy Lights car past a sleeping campground shrouded in the cover of mid Summer foliage.

A slow shutter speed sets the scene for the #24 Global Racing Group w/HMD Motorsports Indy Lights racecar driven by Benjamin Pedersen to shower the lush landscape with its powerful orange livery.

Exiting the back half of the track is the #68 Andretti Autosport car driven by Danial Frost. The part of the trees and the clouds in the sky give the feeling of emergence and a look into a bright world ahead.

Heading back towards the beginning of the racetrack Kyle Kirkwood pilots the #28 Andretti Autosport racecar into the carousel. I love this view because it's unmistakably Mid-Ohio. With the tower in the background and the matching color of the Armco this scene setter revives memories and nostalgia of the timeless Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

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There are a few other places I find very rewarding at Mid-Ohio. One is on the driver's right, before the bridge approaching turn one. In the afternoon it's lit well and shows off the whole field after taking the green flag. Here Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas lead the field at the start of race #1.

After a lap, the field begins to string out and presents this opportunity. Here is Linus Lundqvist piloting the #26 Global Racing Group w/HMD Motorsports racecar down the front stretch with hungry competitors close at his heels.

Another spot I relish is turn number five. Being on the outside of the track (driver's left) means having competitors drive around your position yielding many opportunities for photos. My favorite from this area needs a crowd in the background so I usually save this spot for race day. It's ok during practice but the magnificent array of colors blurred by an unbridled Kyle Kirkwood racing the #28 of Andretti Autosport demands all of your attention as it speeds through the left-hand turn.

Then there's this human element intertwined with all of the metal, rubber, fuel, and grit. There are people with hopes and dreams, aspirations and determination. They fan the flames of this passion for racing. They give oxygen to fire-breathing machines. They forge the way through speed and endurance. They blaze the path to glory with hard work and commitment. Capturing these moments lights a fire inside of me.

These are just some of my favorites from the weekend, and there have been many more weekends packed full of these moments since the beginning of the year. I wish I had more time to share. See you at the track!

Jimmie Johnson Tribute 3 of 4 "Team"

We all realize that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and Jimmie Johnson's weakest link is hard to uncover. Working with the NKP (Nigel Kinrade Photography) team over the past few years covering Hendricks Motorsports I got to see up close the fanatical obsession needed to be in the top echelon of motorsports.

During the heart-throbbing 8-12 seconds of controlled chaos (the frenetic NASCAR pit stop), fractions of time equal places gained or points lost during a race. The time squandered during a tire change or refueling can never be regained, and races are won by hundredths of a second all the time. A driver relies on their crew to be the best they can be. Not only fast, but precise and meticulous, safe and thorough. A misaligned lug nut or a slip during fule delivery can be disastrous.

Jimmie Johnson spoke about how crucial his team was in his success and how fundamental they are to any long term career and goals. He knew it was the shoulders of the tire changers and engineers that he stood on in victory lane and the hands of his crew chief and gas man that held him high.

This is one of the things that shows the innate character of an athlete, knowing that even if you're the best you can be, you can be exponentially better with a great team working towards the lofty ideal of perfection. Please respect the fact that all images are ©2020