2022 IndyCar Race #8 Sonsio Grand Prix At Road America

I often think back to one of the first photo meetings I attended at Road America. Our photographer liaison for the track was explaining the usual dos and don'ts in a smallish hut designed to be the photographer's workstation during the current race weekend. Towards the conclusion of the rehearsed speech, he began to praise the venue that was in his charge. It became obvious that his attachment to this racetrack was deeper than an obligation, he felt an enduring reverence for the rich history of motorsports that had graced the asphalt at Road America.

There I sat, attentively wondering if I would see what he saw around the four miles of the racetrack. I stared at the giant topographical map on the wall behind him focusing on the circular orange sticky dots marking photo holes in the catch fences. I started to imagine the abundant beauty all around the track, hoping I could capture it for others to see.

Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, IndyCar, Road America 2022

In closing the meeting he said these words, "If you can't take great photos here, you need to change professions."

It came off a bit cocky, and perhaps it was a challenge. Years later I think I understand it better.

Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP, IndyCar, Road America 2022

Taking pictures of exotic cars, be it open-wheel, prototypes, historic racers, or sports cars is taking photos of beautiful objects that are dazzling, sexy, and colorful, mixed with speed and danger. Having a great subject usually yields great photos.

Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, IndyCar, Road America 2022

At Road America, it's all that and so much more because of everything around you. The track itself plays an important part in every photo, and discovering the hidden gems along each path makes Road America an exciting and evolving experience each time I work there.

Will Power, Team Penske, IndyCar, Road America 2022

He was right, and I have only scratched the surface of Road America.

The Corvette bridge before turn #6 and the surrounding area provides many opportunities for photos. The above photos were taken during the practice sessions. The overcast conditions muted the colors and contrast of the cars a bit, but it's my job to make them look their best in any condition.

At the end of the front straight, the cars pose nicely in front of either a disappearing Pit Road or next to a few different Road America signs. Something I forget once in a while is that these cars look great going away. Bonus pictures!

RACE DAY!!!

This brings us to Sunday and the Sonsio Grand Prix At Road America. I was in the flag stand for the start and it was quite a thrill to be standing high above the field as they took the green flag. Thanks to an early caution I was still there as Jimmie Johnson came into his pit box for a minor adjustment and Simona De Silvestro pitted for a full tire change. I stayed for a few laps to photograph a little front straight action.

Soon after things got underway I headed to the Corvette bridge again. I don't usually revisit a section of a racetrack that I have photographed earlier during a race weekend, but I had been hoping that I could capture something special and it could not have worked out better. The view through the bridge makes the subject stand out because the background is far away from the racecar. During practice, it can provide a lush green canvas, but I wanted something different. I wanted a crowd, and I got one. Since the crowd was far removed from the subject the out-of-focus background became a sea of colors that gave a stark contrast to the sharp racecars as they crested the hill.

And again (I had to keep reminding myself) these cars look great from behind as well. One of the things I like about this photo specifically is the distortion. Of course, I want every photo to be sharp and in focus but... the haziness from the exhaust plays a key role in this photo. It brings to life the heat of this fire-breathing IndyCar.

Colton Herta - Andretti Autosport w/ Curb-Agajania - Road America - IndyCar - 2022

Next in my plans was another use of this amazing crowd that had gathered to breathe in the excitement at an IndyCar spectacle. After turn #5 the asphalt climbs towards the Corvette bridge. The open area I would be using as my background was full of motorsport enthusiasts, just as I had hoped. Panning cars here is fun because I usually can rest a little bit because I'm seated (or kneeling) on the ground so that I'm close to level with the car which pushes it up in the photo and into the crowd.

Time to tackle turn #5. It's deceptively difficult to take a photo that I like here. The obstacles add up...

1: The pavement is dark and radiates a lot of heat so it often confuses the focus tracking on even the best cameras.

2: The background (crowd) is close to the subject so using depth of field to showcase the subject is limited.

3: Panning with a car that's turning presents a lot of motion that isn't being panned at all.

4: The cars aren't moving that fast here so to get enough motion in each pan means using quite a low shutter speed.

5: Waiting until the driver accelerates is very important because the movement of the suspension will distort the car even more.

On the whole, I was disappointed with what I kept from the exercise, and these two were by far my favorites.

I would only have time for a couple of quick stops before heading to Victory Lane for the end of the race so I headed for the exit of Canada Corner (Turn #12). The picnickers along the elevated backdrop enjoying the blue skies and green foliage set the scene perfectly for racecars.

And then it hit me, the skies I was missing from the overcast practices the day before could be photographed again. This time welcoming the picture-perfect clouds and bright blue sky would invite a sun-soaked view of this beautiful track that is Road America.

And then it was over. I hurried to Victory Lane for the celebration and confetti. Until next year.

2022 Race 4 The NASCAR Daytona 500

The Daytona 500

The hype is real! If you're an American and know nothing about racing, you've surely heard of a few worldwide motorsports events: the Indy 500, LeMans, and the Daytona 500. Growing up, I always thought that this monumental day must be the culmination of the stock car racing season, only to learn that it doesn't mark the end, but the beginning and beginnings are times for celebrations.

The Daytona International Speedway's self-proclaimed "World Center of Racing" moniker displays its hubris for motorsports fans of all types. Of course, depending upon what kind of racing you identify with will determine its accuracy. However, I will firmly attest that great things happen at Daytona each racing season. And for stock car racing, Daytona is hallowed ground.

I was there as part of a team of seven people this year, and my primary job was to sort, caption, and edit photos from twelve different photographers during the event. So I didn't get to push the shutter button a lot, but I got a few chances to mingle with the racers.

Please enjoy a few of my favorite photos I captured while there. All images © GavinBaker/NKP 2022

2022 Test 1 Testing for the Road to Indy at Homestead

The best thing about testing is that it often occurs in a warm climate before the racing season starts, which means a least a few days away from the usual bone-chilling winter weather in the Philadelphia region. Homestead - Miami was just such a place in February for the first of two Road to Indy pre-season testing sessions this year.

I like to think of testing as the first annual dip into a pool. I see three types of testing mentalities displayed in their subtle (or not so subtle) nuances at every test session. I believe these are windows to the mindsets of individuals that should bear some psychological exploration.

1.) The person that jumps into the pool regardless of the temperature without testing the water (I am not one of these people, but I understand the allure). Self-confidence is strong in this type of person. They know they can handle whatever challenges arise and are equipped to deal with them. In addition, they feel that their talent and training are more than adequate for the task.

2.) Dipping toes into the water and then sitting on the side of the pool dangling legs in the water. This mindset can come from different thought patterns. Sometimes it's a lack of confidence, demonstrating a person's acceptance of why they are at the pool (or the track in this case) to get wet, to get accustomed to a surrounding that can be awkward and newish. Think back to your second Summer at the pool growing up. You remember the experiences from the first season, but it was a long time ago, and you remember that one perplexing choking episode when you tilted your head somehow and took on water you didn't intend to. Sometimes these little unknowns lurk beneath a confident exterior in drivers (like they can for everyone). Not knowing why something went amiss is a recipe for disaster. Imagine having a crash towards the end of last season at a track you felt comfortable driving. Something happened, and what you thought would happen didn't, and you don't know why. Not understanding decays confidence. It gives birth to imaginary forces that can pick at a person's psyche.

3.) The poser. Stylish and chic, dressed for hanging at the pool. Just going to the swimming pool is the real thing. It's cool. It's their brand. It defines them. They are a racer. Or at least they like to be thought of that way. New helmet, new firesuit, new coach, they are ready, and they want the world to know it. But why? Because this is an excellent way to intimidate potential competitors. Whoever thinks that all races are won and lost on the racetrack is wrong. I would wager that far more races are lost in the mind before the green flag falls, and now is the time when the mental game of racing hits full speed.

But it's not only about the drivers. The mechanics, crew chiefs, team owners, and engineers are all there to glean information, usually for competitive advantage but often to gather unique real-world data. This distinction widens the gap quickly because a team's work ethic reads like an open book if you study it carefully. Tests come with parameters that dictate some of what can be accomplished. A dry track in the hot sun won't tell you how the suspension performs under cool, wet conditions or how adept a new driver's throttle management is during slippery corner exit. Wasting time at a test session is a sure clue to a team's commitment and poor organization. Paramount to the test itself is the knowledge harnessed and then scrutinized and implemented. Making the most of the test is a science that the best in the world hone during every session. Data gained through turning laps is precious and having a plan is the best way to make use of what little track time there is before the season starts.

Beginnings are indeed delicate times.

Here's a small gallery of some of my favorites from Testing with the Road to Indy at Homestead/Miami Speedway.

2022 Race 3 The NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum

2022 Race 3 NASCAR Clashes at the Los Angeles Coliseum

Why not try something new?
NASCAR likes to shake things up and introduce this uniquely American form of racing to as many potential fans as possible. So what better way to shake things up than with a fresh beginning, at a famous venue, in the heart of a city known for its modern influencers?

The opening round in the NASCAR series is like reintroducing old friends at an informal golf outing. You keep score, of course, but it's only the winner that gains from the day, while everyone else gets some exercise, enjoys the views, and catches up on gossip and events from the holidays just past.

The point redundantly inferred on the NASCAR news sights was, of course, the size of the racetrack. At one-fourth of a mile, an oval seems more like a paperclip when imagining 36 full-size race cars trying not to rear-end each other in a continual chain. But whoever was charged with designing the race came up with a brilliant plan that not only solved this dilemma but produced five more Monster Energy Cup Series races than a regular race weekend holds.

Adding to the excitement, this would be the first time the newly redesigned 2022 cars would be available to race before the public at a location where attendance numbers would rise to quantities not seen recently for the sport.

With frequent lulls in the racing entertainment, fans could hashtag their thumbs off about driver introductions (because every NASCAR fan has a favorite driver), the roar of the engines, the burnouts, the aggressive driving skills, the crashes, and not least of all the tangible feeling of excitement that resonates in a new "big city" "home town."

For me, as a photographer, several excellent options came into view early during the weekend.
1.) Perfect weather with no hint of rain.

2.) I would be allowed to interact more closely with the drivers than I had been for the past few years due to CoVid restrictions. The "garage area" that each team used to set up their race car was out in the open, and drivers meandered their way around their respective zones lazily and openly. After all, diehard fans love their heroes in everything they do, not just while performing.

3.) Race cars on city streets are an unusual sight.

4.) Since the event was new to everyone, drivers, crews, and visitors included, most people were a bit more tolerant of misunderstandings and location awareness.

5.) Photographing these cars moving slower than they usually do could be to my advantage.

Was it ideal? No, but then it's never perfect, and of course, every situation is what you make of it. My goal for the event was reasonably straightforward. Document what the clients want to see. What their money paid for, who their money is paying for, making their brand look good. That's always my goal as a pro, and I'm there to do a job. Not everyone likes every aspect of their career, but professionals do their job because they are committed to doing it. And they do it in the best way that it can be done.

Avoidance is often a good starting place for me when designing a plan for photographing an event. First, I ask myself, "What do I NOT want to happen?" After listing a few anxiety-inducing terrors (which I will go into in a later post), I focus on what pictures I find boring at racetracks. Number one offender is parked cars. Nothing screams lazy and uninteresting like seeing a car that looks like it's parked on the racetrack.

The second is having no sense of place in a photo. Racecars are cool all by themsleves. They glitter and shine, can be smooth and graceful, and exude power and strength. But, capturing these details usually doesn't happen during a race. Seeing photos of cars on a track that could be racing at Anywhere, USA is only exciting once or twice.

The third starts to touch on the artistic side of the craft. It is making use of surrounding elements, chasing the ideal lighting, being prepared for a special moment, etc. This is when photography takes on a life of its own and breathes its special gift into the nuances and subtleties of each image. It's about seeing deeply, experiencing fully, and being open to a journey to a new place, at an unknown time, with an open heart and accepting mind.

I thought the event was a great success, but that's only my opinion which in the grand scheme of racing means very little. Hopefully, viewing some of my favorite photos from the weekend will convince you as well. Please enjoy this small gallery, but remember that these photos are copyrighted and may not be captured or downloaded.