Newman's Own: A love of auto racing

It is an understatement to say Paul Newman, who died Friday at 83, was passionate about race cars. Besides being an accomplished driver himself, Newman was a longtime co-owner of the team now called Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing, and tributes poured in today from others in the sport.

"I had the pleasure of driving for Mr. Newman in 1981 and I was richer for the experience," said Bobby Rahal, the 1986 winner of the Indianapolis 500 and now a team owner himself. "He was a man of class and he was also deservedly very highly regarded for his driving skills."

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart said, "we connected as racers, but Paul's ideas of what we should do for charity is what really resonated with me the most."

Newman was a fixture each spring at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, a race on the city's seaside streets that his team came to dominate. With Sebastien Bourdais at the wheel, Newman-Haas-Lanigan won the celebrated event for three consecutive years from 2005-07.

Newman also adhered to his principles, which included sticking with the now defunct Champ Car World Series (formerly CART) when it split from the Indy Racing League under the guidance of Tony George, head of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the mid-1990s, creating a civil war in U.S. open-wheel racing.

But the long split ended early this year when the series reunited, and George was among those saluting Newman today.

"To all his fans worldwide and those close to him in our racing community," George said, "we share a deep sense of loss, but cherish the many fond memories we will forever carry with us."

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Paul Newman with racing legend Mario Andretti in 2000. Credit: Agence France-Presse 

Comments

[Glenn Baxter]

20+ years ago I was a corner worker at Riverside Raceway's Turn 9. During the Trans AM race Paul Newman backed his car at speed into the Turn 9 wall. A couple of us reached down to give him a boost up on to the wall and out of harms way.

We were all busy flagging the corner but we did chat about racing for a few minutes. The tow truck arrived and asked if he would like to ride back to the pits with his car. He declined, saying that the Turn 9 wall was a fun place from which to watch the race.

He wasn't with us for long, however, as one of his crewmen drove up behind the wall and told him that he was needed back in the pits. He shrugged, waved to us and got in the car.

[Jack]

I saw him race at Road Atlanta once. He was a great man and a tough competitor

[Jeri Wilson]

My personal experience with P. L. Newman, (his incognito racing name) was at the 1980 SCCA National Runoffs. When at these amateur racing events, he wanted to be treated as just another driver. He was sitting in his race car waiting to go onto the track when a little girl went up to his car, held out a pen and paper, and asked for an autograph. I wasn't close enough to eavesdrop, but he talked to her for a while and she walked away without an autograph and a big grin on her face. I thought he showed class and compassion that day and throughout his life. He will be missed.

[Daniel Gudsnuk]

We saw PLN at Lime Rock many times. I think he became a better driver as he got older. I think he drove his best the last 2 years. I'll always regret I was never able to thank him for all he has done for Lime Rock and the SCCA. My deepest condolences to his family. Thank You for everything Paul

[WARREN HULTZ]

Over the years I have watch you race or just at the track, you 83 in jan and I was 83 in nov, will allways love seeing you.
Warren Shultz.
Man will I every miss seeing you.