AUSTIN, Texas — If anyone can get an IndyCar champion to bust out a bit of his favorite hip-hop song, it’s Dave Calabro.
Before the pandemic delayed the start of the racing season and made social-distancing a consideration, Dave traveled to Austin, Texas to chat with the drivers. Instead of just the regular media interview, Dave brought along some milk and cookies for the chat.
Favorite song
Dave: Name your favorite song.
2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon: Vanilla Ice. "Ice Ice Baby."
Dave: Can you sing it?
Dixon: Uhhhh… "Stop collaborate and listen. Ice is back with a brand new addition." And then you know the rest…
Dave: You are a gamer!
Most embarrassing moment
Dave: Most embarrassing moment in your life?
Indianapolis native and driver for Ed Carpenter Racing Connor Daly: Catching on fire before the green flag at the Indy 500. It wasn't great.
Not a good real world driver
Dave: Which other driver would you not ride in a car with? And, why?
2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi: Marco [Andretti]
Zionsville resident and driver for Andretti Autosport Zach Veach: Marco Andretti
Colton Herta, Driver for Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport: Marco Andretti
Two-time IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden: Marco scares the crap out of me.
2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay: Yeah, Marco drives like a nut. Outside of his house they actually changed the speed limit.
Rossi: He has to get from point A to point B faster and more illegal than the next person.
Superstitions
Dave: And are you superstitious?
Graham Rahal, Indianapolis resident and driver for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: I'm not that superstitious. The only thing I do every time is get in from the left side of the car.
Dave: See, I've had guys here that are talking about they got certain underwear they wear.
Rahal: There’s certain underwear I definitely won't wear.
Dave: Really?
Rahal: Oh yeah. I’ve had some bad luck in underwear.
Dave: See, I never dreamed I'd be standing here in a race suit talking about underwear with a race car driver. It’s a thing.
Rahal: It’s a really important part of it.
Food to binge eat
Dave: I know you're a fitness freak, but when you don't care...off-season...what are you going to pig out on?
2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan: Ice cream. All day long. But it’s not like, “Oh, I’m gonna have a scoop.” If you're gonna have it, it’s the full jar. Right? We’re having it.
Dave: If you’re gonna go there, go there.
Kanaan: What is the fun? I’m gonna eat half of the cookie? No, No. You’re gonna eat the cookie, man. Order the whole thing.