Brad Keselowski takes throwback theme to new levels with drive in 1901 Ford
BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Team Penske ace Brad Keselowski joked about his first laps around Michigan International Speedway on Friday.
“This is the new, new, low, low downforce,” said Keselowski, who averaged about 30 mph in his second lap at MIS in a replica of the famous “Sweepstakes” race car that Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford drove to victory over Alexander Winton at the then-fairgrounds in Grosse Pointe on Oct. 10, 1901.
Keselowski had managed to slow down in victory lane before running over track president Roger Curtis, who was there to meet him in a slightly outdated suit, white shirt and suspenders.
Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup champion, took off his riding hat and googles and broke into a big smile as Curtis presented him the Michigan Heritage Manufacturers Trophy, which Ford won at the June race here.
“I’m glad to be in Michigan,” said Keselowski, who grew up in Rochester Hills. “Happy to be here.”
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Keselowski will be in the cockpit of a different Ford - his No. 2 - in Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network) as drivers will be running NASCAR’s new lower downforce aerodynamic package in a third and final test of the season. But before regular duties, he turned the clock back over a century to take the wheel of “Sweepstakes,” to record a pre-race spot for the network.
“Motorsports certainly has changed a lot,” said Keselowski, who said he’d gotten up to “about 50 or 60” mph with his riding mechanic – NBC pit reporter Kelli Stavast – holding on for dear life.
“I had Kelli and I didn’t want to get anyone hurt but we still got it going pretty good,” added Keselowski, climbing down from the step of his historic ride.
Keselowski is second in Sprint Cup points to Kevin Harvick and has scored four victories in 2016, but is looking for his first Cup win at his home track.
“We’ve been right on the door,” said Keselowski. “I don’t know how many more times I can finish second, third, fourth and fifth here. It’s frustrating and good at the same time. It’s good and bad at the same time. But in motor sports, specifically in NASCAR, if you continue to run up front and finish in the top-five at a track, you will win.”
On Sunday, Keselowski will be depending on a lot more horsepower than his Friday morning ride could provide. The replica produced a top speed of around 72 mph from its horizontally opposed 2-cylinder engine.
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He’ll be looking for better handling too -- maybe.
“The cars are very loose,” said Keselowski of NASCAR’s new aero package, aimed at making for more side-by-side racing. “They are very difficult to drive as they should be. That causes wiggles and bobbles and all those things on the race track that tend to lead to a lot of excitement. Hopefully, more than anything, it gets the cars to where we can run closer and tighter as a pack and have even more passing.”
In an effort to widen the racing groove at MIS, which was repaved for the 2012 season, the track introduced what NASCAR is calling the “tire dragon” to lay down rubber on the high groove at the 2-mile oval.
The machine consists of four tires connected on a common axle that is dragged behind a tractor. Bristol Motor Speedway did the same thing before its race last weekend, but for the lower groove.
“This track (Michigan) is one of the tracks that we have repaved with an aggregate that has not been advantageous to the style of racing where the track widens out and opens up for a lot of passing,” Keselowski said. “The only thing we have really found to kind of combat that has been the tire dragging thing. It goes out there and tries to put rubber down in the track and open up the groove. Sometimes I think it works great. Other times it is a good effort that doesn’t work. I am not sure what it will be here.”
Brudenell writes for the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Follow him on Twitter @MikeBrudenell
