By Mark Ambrogi
Bryan Clauson is a bit of a throwback.
The 2007 Noblesville High School graduate races sprints and midgets on the U.S. Auto Club circuit, as well as IndyCars.
He is attempting to compete in 200 races in 2016. The mission is being billed as “The Chasing 200 Tour: Circular Insanity.”
No. 59 will be especially memorable as it will be the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 May 29. Clauson will start his third Indy 500 in the 28th position in the Dale Coyne/Jonathan Byrd Honda.
“I’m as comfortable as I’ve ever been in a car here,” said Clauson, who finished 30th in the 500 in 2012 and 31st in 2015. “I felt I had a strong month here in 2012, although it didn’t end great. Last year was not strong, it was fairly miserable all month long. I’m happy to be comfortable on day one and show some speed.”
The 200 races are something Clauson came up with.
“It was never just about racing 200 races, it was about racing all the marquee events in the different type of cars I race,” Clauson said. “All across the country, there are these premiere, short-track races, and I wanted to be part of ‘em.”
Clauson, 26, is a two-time National Midget Series Champion.
“This (Indy 500) is more glitz and glamorous than that stuff, but nothing is more pure than a sprint car or a midget at a local short track,” Clauson said. “June, July and August are the heavy-lifting months (for races). I think I race every day but two or three in June.”
Clauson moved from California to Noblesville as he was starting fifth grade.
“I grew up watching my dad (Tim) race, and he had an injury when I was about five and had to sit out for awhile,” he said. “I bugged him to get me going in a quarter-midget and finally won out.”
Clauson, who will marry fiancée Lauren Stewart next February, bought a new house in Noblesville in October 2015.
“Every year you see friends or people you went to school with who have been going to the 500 forever,” Clauson said. “There is always a lot of support from the hometown, and that makes it fun.”
