Cw 5q: Mel Harder
CW 5Q: Mel Harder
SPECIAL SECTION: BIKES AT THE BRICKYARD
IndyGP insights from the Speedway’s Senior VP of Operations
MATTHEW MILES
MEL HARDER HAS HIS DREAM JOB. THE INDIANA NATIVE BEGAN WORKING part-time at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he was still a high-school student and joined the staff full-time upon graduation from Indiana University in 1990. In the years since, he’s worked his way up the corporate ladder to his current position as Senior VP of Operations. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys riding both onand off-road, Harder is pleased to see two-wheeled racing machines-the 125 and 250cc two-strokes in particular!— making a return to the Speedway after a nearly century-long absence for this September’s inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP
1. Is it true that as a teenager you washed cars for Speedway CEO Tony George?
“That’s where it all started. I was a fan and at the Speedway every day after school each May. After years of seeing the same people, I was lucky enough to be recognized and introduced to Tony. Washing cars led to a relationship with Tony, and I worked for him throughout college doing odd jobs. It’s great to work for a family that is so involved in the business.
2. What attracted you to motorcycling?
Motorcycles have always appealed to me because I could walk into a dealership and buy something that was close to what the professionals were racing. I started out on a hand-medown Honda 50, bought a Yamaha YZ80 and raced a little bit between ages 10 and 12. But as I got older, my family moved and it became harder to travel, so I didn’t race as much. In college, I rode a Yamaha YSR50 around town and in empty parking lots; that was great fun. Currently, I have a Ducati 999, a Suzuki RM-Z250 and a Suzuki GSX-R600 track bike.
3. Can you explain the process that led to IMS hosting a MotoGP race?
Carmelo Ezpeletafrom Dorna visited the Speedway in 1999 when we were preparing for our first Formula One race. At the time, there were so many logistical unknowns that we couldn’t add a fourth event to our schedule, but we stayed in
touch with Carmelo. We looked at other series-the AMA test in 2003 with Jake Zemke and Vincent Haskovec was a major stepping stone for us-and had extensive discussions with everyone before we landed on MotoGR We’re about ready to celebrate our centennial, and we thought that holding a motorcycle race now was a great idea. There is amazing enthusiasm for the event, and we think the fans are really going to enjoy it.
4. From an operations standpoint, where are you with track preparations?
The course sets up like a jigsaw puzzle with movable barriers and fencing. The test in July will have given us a chance to set everything up and make any adjustments. That part is not really difficult. It’s more the finer details:
There is going to be a great deal of Astroturf lining the circuit. The test will also be the first opportunity to get the Astroturf out, cut it, fit it and make sure it is secured properly. We have a really experienced crew, and when we come back to do the final setup after the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, everything will be totally dialed in.
5. What responses to the MotoGP race have you received from the auto-racing community?
Emerson Fittipaldi, two-time Indy 500 champion and twotime F-1 world champion, drove the pace car for the Indy 500 this year. Since he retired in 1996,1 think he’s only been back to the Speedway twice. But he follows MotoGP and says he’s coming to the race. Andy Granatelli, winning Indy 500 car owner in 1969 and famous for so many things, including his turbine cars, comes to the 500 every year. He asked that we make sure his rooms are available for the motorcycle race. A lot of current IndyCar dr follow MotoGP they’re interested in coming to the race, as well. It’s going to be fun.
