Indy car driver makes 'friendly' pit stop in Danville

By Tracy Moss, News-Gazette (Champaign, IL)
May 20, 2009

DANVILLE – On Monday, race car driver Paul Tracy stood in Herald Square in New York City for a photo shoot outside Macy's with the rest of the Indianapolis 500 field of drivers, who all hope to be drinking milk by Sunday afternoon.

Less than 24 hours after the Big Apple media blitz, Tracy stood in Danville among a field of drivers who may be much smaller in stature and driving experience but who are no strangers to milk.

Tracy signed autographs for about 25 Garfield Elementary School students at Friendly Town in Danville's Lincoln Park on Tuesday after the kids pedaled cars around the child-sized streets.

While the kids were taking their spin, Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer walked around the Friendly Town grounds with Tracy and his agent, Danville native Doug Barnette, explaining to the two men this summer's planned renovations that are being funded by Barnette.

As a kid growing up in Danville, Barnette said Friendly Town was one of his favorite places to be in the summer, driving the then-gas-powered cars around the winding streets.

"All I wanted to do was go to Friendly Town," said Barnette, who was emotional talking to the students, friends, family, co-workers and others who gathered Tuesday morning to rededicate Friendly Town before its renovation this summer.

"It means a lot for me to be here. And it means a lot to bring Paul here. We've raced around the world together."

Tracy, who has known Barnette for several years now, said he's grown accustomed during their frequent phone conversations to hearing Barnette, who's often on the road traveling, say that he's on his way back home to Danville.

Tracy complimented Barnette for appreciating his roots and told the kids they are lucky to have Friendly Town, where you can learn to drive and learn the safety rules that go with driving.

"I never had anything like this when I was a kid," Tracy said.

With Barnette's contributions of about $15,000 over the last three years, children in the Danville area will continue to enjoy Friendly Town.

Eisenhauer said Barnette's generosity will enable renovations that will rejuvenate Friendly Town for the next 10 to 15 years.

Eisenhauer said that in difficult budget times, programs like Friendly Town are often the first to be eliminated.

"We have struggled to keep it alive," said Eisenhauer, who explained how Barnette called him three years ago in search of a way to give back to his community. "I couldn't think of a better way to link a guy so ingrained in the racing community."

During Tuesday's gathering, Barnette announced that he would match any additional donations from the community to Friendly Town, up to $5,000. With $10,000, he said, the community can make this a phenomenal place to be.

Danville police Officer Doug Weaver, who has dedicated his summers to keeping Friendly Town going by running the program for the police department, said he has seen a lot of programs come and go, but Friendly Town has remained through all the changes and ups and downs.

"It's quite an honor for (Barnette and Tracy) to donate their time and money," he said.

Friendly Town

Friendly Town in Danville's Lincoln Park started in 1970 with gas-powered cars initially, then electric cars and now has pedal cars for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, to drive around the winding streets and learn about driving safety and pedestrian safety.

The Danville Police Department runs the Friendly Town summer program and sends notices home with students throughout Vermilion County schools, explaining the program to parents and giving them the opportunity to sign up their children.

If a parent of student in kindergarten through fourth grade did not receive a form, call the police department at 431-2250.

Indianapolis 500

You can watch Paul Tracy race for the checkered flag in Sunday's "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on ABC, which begins its live coverage at 11 a.m. CST. The Indy 500 follows at noon.

For information, go to www.indy500.com.