And should we Glorify these Ageless Warriors…
This riveting No Fenders “thread” first
crystalized in my Noggin’ when reading about Lindsey Vonn returning to
competition at age 40, earlier this year. Before Mike Wallace had His NASCAR
Dance Card rescinded.
Then it really started picking up steam upon
Will Power saying He thinks He can continue racing in Indy Cars for another
five years, upon hiring His first ever agent. With A14 Management led by some
smarmy Spaniard named Frederico Suave, aka Fred Alonso who’s nearly five months
His Junior!
As it should come as no surprise that Will
Power is the elder statesman of Team Penske’s twelve main racing series
drivers, i.e.; IndyCar, Sports Cars and NASCAR.
As William Steven Power turns a robust 44yrs
old on March 1st, and presumably will be hoping for either pole position on His
actual birthday, or winning St Pete as a birthday present the following day! Whilst
Power’s two Team Penske IndyCar drivers XcottyMac’, aka Scott McLaughlin is the
youngest at age 31, just a stitch six months younger than Ryan Blaney. Wit
Josef Schlick’ Newgarden being 34 years old.
Penske’s six Sports Car Hotschues’ vary in age
from 29 to 40. As Nick Tandy’s only four years younger than Power, at age 40.
With Kevin Estr, (36) Laurens Vanthoor, (33) Felipe Nasr, (32) Mathieu Jaminet
(30) and Matt Campbell, (29) following in descending order.
Of Team Penske’s trio of Roundy Round drivers,
ergo NASCAR. Austin Cindric (#2) is the youngest at age 26. Followed by 2023
Cup Champion Ryan Blaney, (#12) age 31. With reigning Cup Champion Joey “sliced
Bread” Logano (#22) being 34 years old.
And for every Ageless Warrior, there’s always a
flip-side example. As now I’m even more cornfuzed’ over why perennial Sports
Car Champion Dane Cameron at age 36 got the Boot from Penske, when Estr’s the
same age and Tandy’s four years older, Huh?
While Sports Car’s “Pro Am” (Amateur) Ben
Keating and George Kurtz are 53 and 54 respectively. But they’re both
“Gentlemen” drivers, i.e.; wealthy businessmen who like to go racing and play
in the big Leagues, albeit in the second tier LMP2 category, primarily…
Meanwhile, perhaps you’ve heard that Mike
Wallace was denied His application to attempt racing in this year’s Day-Toner’
500 at age 65. Which I feel was prudent, since the middle of the three Wallace
racing brothers hadn’t raced on a Super Speedway in ten years.
Yet on the flip-side, the Daytona Beach News
Journal reminded me that ‘Ol Blue Eyes’, aka Paul Newman had won the Rolex 24
at age 70! Competing in a nasty Roush Racing Mustang in the GTS class with Mark
Martin, Tommy Kendall and Mike Brockman. With Newman racing into His 80’s,
Yureka!
Having scribbled
another, typical long form four parts No Fenders tome about ‘Ol Blue Eyes’, sheez,
a few years ago now. With Newman’s racing exploits chronicled below in:
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/07/diving-into-paul-newmans-racing-career.html
With my Cliff
Notes tome about Paul Newman’s A Life book review are located here:
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/07/paul-newmans-life-book-review.html
Whilst I don’t know if it’ll make DJ WillyP’
)Will Power) feel old? Since I can still recall getting His and His two Penske
teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves John Hancock’s at Sonoma
nearly eleven Gory years ago! But as everyone knows, Hulio’, who’ll turn 50 on
May 10th just contested His maiden Day-toner’ 500. While Montoya had a totally
disappointing “One-off” Roundy round RASSCAR’ outing for 23/Xi Racing at
Watkins Glen last year at age 49.
Ro-Ro’, I feel
another No Fenders yarn being spun about this remarkable Team Penske trio’s
accomplishments…
And just to put things into quick perspective.
Jacob Abel, Christian Lundgaard, David Malukas and Sting Ray robb were All born
the year that our current elder statesman of IndyCar, Scotty “Iceman 2.0” Dixon
who turns 45 in July, was born, Yikes!
With Kyffin Simpson being the youngest IndyCar
driver who can’t drink any “bubbly” on the podium until this October, currently
being only 20yrs old. As I could go on
‘n on…
But like I said, it was none other than
decorated Downhill Skier Lindsey Vonn who got this whole story started, and
currently captivates me. As I’d have to Arse-sume the whole notion is for Vonn
to compete in a remarkable fifth Winter Olympics next year in Italy, which she
has since stated.
As the St Paul, Minnesota native says Her
comeback is partially fueled by the likes of Tom Brady, Lewis Hamilton and
Serina Williams All competing professionally in their forty’s. As seven-times
Formula 1 World Champion Sir Lewis turned the Big 4-OH’ on January 7th, and is
set to embark upon His debutante season driving for la Scuderia, ergo Ferrari.
Vonn at age 40, made Her comeback at St Moritz,
with a credible 14th place finish after having last competed some six years
earlier. Gaining everybody’s Attenzione at St Anton with finishes of sixth and
fourth, Momma Mia!
Then I suppose you could say reality struck?
Since Lindsey owns the record for twelve wins at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy.
Yet She only managed finishes of 20th and then crashed out, while tracking
fifth in the Super G event, I believe.
Although Vonn was uninjured, and said She
was actually glad, since it tempers
expectations that were starting to get out of hand. And She’s still rusty and
needs more competition before next year’s Olympics.
Vonn, who retired at age 34 after Her right
knee was simply “gone”, said all She’s thought about the past eleven years is
the knee. And had resigned Herself to living life with a painful knee, before
having reconstructive knee surgery last year. When Her troublesome right knee
was repaired with titanium, which Lindsey said just days after the surgery, She
was pain free!
Thus, as long as it doesn’t take away a younger
skier’s ability to compete at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Milan, 2026. And Vonn’s
inclusion on the US. Olympics Women’s Ski team is merit based, then I’m All for
Her remarkable comeback to succeed! As Vaughan is the oldest female to win a
winter Olympics skiing medal at 33 in 2018 at PyeongChang, South Korea. While
no female has won a major skiing event over age 34.
And as much as Lindsey decorated career of 82
wins, 137 podiums and three Olympic medals shines. She’ll be hard pressed to
compete vs. Mikaela Schiffron, who turns 30 on March 13th. Whose the current
record holder with a staggering 99 victories, 154 podiums and three Olympic
medals to date. With two Gold medals vs. Lindsey having just one.
Although I must say that Vonn’s comeback and
attempt to Cap’ Her career at Cortina d’Ampezzo makes me think of Bode Miller
and His unquenchable thirst for competing, who contested five Winter Olympics
before finally retiring in 2017.
Meaning we should enjoy watching the likes of Lindsey, Serena, Lewis, Power, Dixon, etc. continuing to defy the odds of “Father time” anxiously waiting to say, “Bring Me your Torch!”
