Indy Car pronunciation guide -

some long forgotten names on that list...

 

Guaranteed that was done as a goof on Paul Page who would routinely Americanize
foreign driver's names intentionally, as if it was some sort of inside joke that only he
got.

BHW

 

+1

 

That list of names goes back a fair amount of years. And, notice no Unsers or Andrettis
on it.

The era I worked in CART, Page "Americanized" the great Stefan Johansson's name to
"Stevie Johnson" for example. It was pretty rude really especially since Page knew all the
drivers personally, had breakfast, lunch and dinner with them in team hospitality, etc. but he
seemed to take some weird pleasure in doing this during broadcasts when not completely
mis-identifying drivers completely which he also did on a regular basis.

Of course, since Page was one of the owners of the production company, he thought he
was bigger than the events themselves so he could do whatever he wanted.

When Patrick Carpentier replaced Johansson in the Alumax Bettenhausen team in 1997, I
mentioned to the late great Tony Bettenhausen how long it would take Page to pronounce
his name "Pat Carpenter".

Bettenhausen smirked, shook his head and then looked very contemplative. Let's just say Tony
had words with Page on the matter and aside from calling Patrick "Pat" as nearly everyone was
doing, the word "Carpenter" was never uttered.

When Tony spoke, his words had weight and no doubt Page felt it.

BHW

 

IMS announcer Tom Carnegie took great care to enunciate every syllable of a driver's name.

 

Yeah, a clear shot across Page's bow.

One in a long line of obnoxious jackasses who've we had to endure in U.S. racing media
over the years.

He finally wore out his welcome in NHRA too I hear.

BHW