F1 legend Ken Tyrrell would have been 90 today - MotorSportsTalk

When we use the term “legend” in Formula 1, it is ordinarily about the drivers that win the races and championships on track having risked life and limb in the process. However, occasionally, it can also encapsulate the personnel working behind the scenes, and particularly the team owner. Sir Frank Williams is one, and Ken Tyrrell – who would have turned 90 today – is unquestionably another.

Tyrrell was the driving force behind three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart’s success in Formula 1, with each of the Scotsman’s titles coming when working with him. After using a Matra chassis for the first of their title victories in 1969, Tyrrell built his own car from then on which took Stewart to titles in 1971 and 1973, and the team also won its sole constructors’ title in 1971.

From then on, the team failed to attain much success, claiming its final win in 1983 with Michele Alboreto before eventually being sold to British American Tobacco in 1997 which subsequently became BAR.

In fact, the team was perhaps best known for the P34 car in 1976 which had six wheels instead of four (pictured). As crazy as it may sound, it wasn’t totally ridiculous, and even won the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix.

Tyrrell died in 2001 from cancer at the age of 77. The legacy that he left in Formula 1 was huge, having played such an important part ever since the late 1960s.

In fact, his legacy is still being felt today. Tyrrell became BAR, which raced in F1 until 2005 before being bought by Honda as a works team. Honda pulled out of the sport at the end of 2008 and sold the team to Ross Brawn, who christened the team Brawn GP.

In one of the greatest fairytales that the sport has ever known, the team swept to both titles with Jenson Button claiming the drivers’ title. This attracted the attention of Mercedes, who bought the team from Brawn at the end of 2009 and have been front-runners ever since.

So, on May 3rd, let’s wish Ken a very happy birthday. Nearly 50 years after he started in Formula 1, his legacy is still clear for us all to see.

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”