Speedway Buzz: Driving with diabetes
By Randy Covitz & Cole Young
Saturday, April 24, 2009
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Charlie Kimball, the only American open-wheel race driver with diabetes, will drive the No. 35 car in the Kansas Lottery 100 Indy Lights race on Sunday. Kimball was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October 2007 and returned to the cockpit last year.
In his first race back in April 2008, he finished second in a field of 30 at the Formula Three Euro series in Germany.
“That was the real proof that diabetes wasn’t going to slow me down,” said Kimball, 24.
“It still allowed me to be the same racing driver before I was diagnosed. I had the same drive, the same motivation and same passion for it.
“Diabetes doesn’t have to be a roadblock or slow you down.
“I can show I can be a positive role model.”
Kimball monitors his blood sugar counts before and after every race and keeps a bottle in his car that has orange juice or another glucose-rich liquid that he can take through a tube as needed.
“It makes me more aware of having to check my blood sugar, and I’m always conscious of what diabetes is doing to my body,” Kimball said. “But it makes me a better athlete because I’m so much more aware of what I’m eating and how important my physical training regimen is.”
Scott has top speed
Brian Scott posted the fastest practice lap in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice session on Friday at 165.664 mph.
Ricky Carmichael was second at 165.375, and Mike Skinner third at 164.820.
Art Institute gets plug
The Kansas City Art Institute will be represented in the IndyCar Series Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 on Sunday.
Stanton Barrett has donated space on his car to promote the Institute’s Art of the Car Concours, a fund-raiser for scholarships at the Art Institute.
Barrett, who owns an art gallery, became connected to the school through sports. At a running of the Daytona 500, art institute trustee Brad Nicholson passed Barrett’s motor coach and noticed Kansas City Chiefs chairs outside of it.
Barrett and Nicholson, both Chiefs fans, met from there and the relationship grew.
The third Art of the Car Concours, a show featuring vintage cars, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 27 on the art institute campus at 45th and Oak Streets.
Randy Covitz, rcovitz@kcstar.com, and Cole Young, ceyoung@kcstar.com