Jim Guthrie Blogs on IndyProRacer.com

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This Week: Jim Guthrie Shares His Thoughts About the Indy Pro Series Season

May 15th

So far our Guthrie Racing season can be summarized in one word: Ouch! It sure has been character building. I thought we were characters, but now I know we are! It’s been really tough for everyone involved, but if it was supposed to be easy, then everyone would be racing at this level.

We’ve had so many problems this year that we really haven’t had any time to improve on anything – we’ve just been trying to get through each weekend. All we’ve had time to do is get back on the track. That’s not very good for developing our team, or for staying on top of things technically. And it’s certainly not good for us with the level of competition we have around us. Instead of tweaking and fine-tuning, which is what we should be doing at this point in the year, we are just maintaining. We are trying to improve, and have made some progress, but not at the level I’d want because we are always rebuilding our cars.

Jim Guthrie Listens to Sean at Indy. Photo: JanieVogel

It requires a special breed to endure what we’ve had to go through so far this year, and my guys have it for sure. Kudos to them for getting us back on the track after each weekend, and doing so with a great attitude. They’ve never complained once. Hopefully we’re heading for greener pastures. Luck comes in threes, and we’ve had our three shots at the bad – now I’m ready for the good luck to come our way.

We are in no way where we wanted to be at this point in the season, heading into the biggest race of our year. We are at the wrong end of the point spectrum right now, and also at the wrong end of wins and podium finishes, which we thought we’d have by now. Other than not competing, I can’t think of a worse beginning for a team at this level. Roger Penske once said something about effort equaling results, however, that sentiment does not apply to our team situation this year. We have put tremendous effort into every race and day that we prepare for those races, but we have not been able to realize the proper results for that work. But it has not been for lack of trying. The Guthrie Racing crew has to be one of the hardest working groups of people I’ve ever been around – they deserve a win or at least a good finish as much as our drivers do.

We ran two cars last year, and a total of nine drivers were in the seat. Our two-car program this year is organized a lot better because having consistent drivers has taken a lot of variables out of the situation. We get good, consistent feedback from both of our drivers on a weekly basis, which helps our crew as far as what to expect each time on the track. We definitely couldn’t be rebuilding cars like we have had to do while also adapting to new drivers each week. The benefit of running a program with two cars is that we have consistent processes with each driver. There’s a standardization, a rhythm, because of testing who does what on each car – it’s more organized. The two-car operation fits our team culture better.

Sean Guthrie (L) and Jim. Photo: JanieVogel

Turning this program around, starting with the upcoming “Freedom 100” race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, would be a great place to start to rebuild our team and also start building winning momentum for the upcoming summer races. A win or good finish there would virtually erase all of the troubles that have plagued this team since Homestead.

Indy is certainly the biggest race on our schedule, but as far back as we are in points, every race is a big race for us. We just want to win races – at Indy, or otherwise.

It would be so cool to see my son win at the same track I competed on three different times. Very cool. It would be amazing for our entire family – things coming full circle. Winning a race is nice – period - but winning at Indy is extra special.

Despite all of the early-season issues we’ve had, I feel Sean’s chances of winning next week are excellent! I know he’s one heck of a good race car driver – as good as anyone out there – so as long as we can keep potential problems under control and give him a solid race car, he’ll have the opportunity to win that race.

We tested at Indy a few weeks ago, and the test was not as successful as I had hoped it would be, so we have some work to do once we get to the track next week. At this point, I’m not sure we have the setup to give him to win the race, but that’s what practice is for on the Thursday before the race – to find that optimum setup. We’ve got some pretty smart guys working for us, and I’m confident we have all of the necessary information at that time to give Sean a comfortable, race-winning car.