The result wasn’t pretty, but the photos sure are.
Justin Wilson and the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America IndyCar finished 22nd in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. That’s a disappointing result for the Dale Coyne Racing team, especially after last year’s fifth-place finish.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, a 33-year-old from Dallas, won the 2014 Indy 500.
Congrats to Ryan, but I was more interested in seeing Justin and the BSA car, which was covered in BSA logos and branding and is owned by Scouting benefactors Dale and Gail Coyne. Fortunately for us, John R. Fulton Jr., former director of photography for Boys’ Life and Scouting magazines, was at the race and sent in the photos and captions below.
He even managed to find Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock, an invited guest of the Coynes.
Early morning and the #19 Boy Scout car is being prepped for the Indianapolis 500.Mechanics work methodically to get the #19 BSA Dale Coyne Racing car ready for the Indianapolis 500. The early morning light is still so low that it shines in the garage all the way to the back lighting the mechanics AND the BSA logo on the tool chest at back of garage.The BSA Dale Coyne Race #19 car is wheeled out the garage and is ready for the track. The front nose assembly is raised so it can go over any bumps on the way to the track.The BSA Dale Coyne Racing car is in the pits and has many admiring Boy Scout fans looking at it.A sunny day in Indianapolis and the BSA is on the grid for the Indianapolis 500. The umbrella helps keep driver Justin Wilson’s cockpit cool.Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock is with the Scout car on the grid. He said it was his first 500 Mile Race and he was having a terrific time.Justin Wilson with his wife Julia and one of two daughters are all attentive to the ceremonies before the 500 Mile Race.It’s all business as driver Justin Wilson adjusts his ear pieces prior to donning his balaclava and helmet. An umbrella below him keeps his driver seat cool.Justin Wilson is in the BSA Dale Coyne Racing car just prior to the command to start engines.First pitstop and Justin Wilson is in the pits for a change of four tires and a fill-up of the fuel tank. Minor chassis adjustments can be made, too, if necessary.Justin Wilson zooms out of the pits after a quick pit-stop.Justin is in the pits for his second pit-stop of the 500 Mile Race in the Dale Coyne BSA car.The four tires are changed. A crew member rushes to pick up a used tire. The car is still being refueled so there’s time. The fuel’s flow rate is regulated and fills the car slower than the four tires can be changed.Justin Wilson exits the pits and is on the pit apron between turn 1 and 2. He will join the race track on the back straight.Justin Wilson in the BSA Dale Coyne car is at speed coming out of turn 1. The wires and fence in the picture protect the race fans in case of an accident.The front straight and first turn of the Indianapolis 500.A very rare sight is a red flag being shown near the end of the race so debris from an accident can be cleaned up. By stopping the race they could then start it again under green and let the race drivers finish the race at speed.During the red flag stop one mechanic could go to the car to give the driver liquid hydration and an umbrella to keep cool. No work could be performed on the car during the red flag period. When it was time to race the BSA car could not start and had to be pulled back to the pits for mechanical work. A probably top ten finish became a finish in 22nd position.The mood is subdued in the pits after the race for car owner Dale Coyne, left, and driver Justin Wilson.It was jubilation for Dallas-born Ryan Hunter-Reay after winning the 98th Indianapolis 500. With him is wife Beccy and son Ryden. On right (not) looking like his team just won the race is car owner Michael Andretti.
An important reminder about BSA Racing
To, hopefully, stave off any misconceptions, I’ve started including this reminder with all of my posts about BSA Racing, which includes the IndyCar team and the NASCAR Nationwide Series team:
In past blog posts about BSA Racing, some commenters intimated that the Boy Scouts of America was investing heaps of its own money to support these cars. That’s not true. In fact, the program is a royalty-free arrangement, meaning that thanks to the generous support of Dale Coyne Racing, IndyCar and Scott Lagasse Racing, there’s no cash investment from the BSA.
Instead, in return for the support from those three groups, the BSA lists them as national sponsors in its promotional materials — that’s it. It’s the kind of relationship where everyone sees the checkered flag.
All photos copyright John R. Fulton Jr. and may not be reused without permission.
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The result wasn’t pretty, but the photos sure are.
