Four-time Ed and his BFF Jules were at Indy to check out the MotoGP track. image: thanks, indy

MOTORCYCLE LEGEND LAWSON IMPRESSED BY NEW IMS ROAD COURSE

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008

Motorcycle racing legend Eddie Lawson visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Jan. 29, giving the new road course his stamp of approval.

Lawson, a native of Upland, Calif., won the 500cc World Championship in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. The 500cc class preceded the MotoGP World Championship as the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing.

Lawson toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and was treated to several passenger-vehicle laps of the famous IMS oval and road course. The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP will take place Sunday, Sept. 14 on the road course.

"It looks they've been working really hard, for sure, and I wish I could have raced on something like that when I was racing," Lawson said. "It looks like they're going to have a lot of fun out there. I was wish I was back (and) was racing."

The visit was not Lawson's first to the Speedway - he previously attended the United States Grand Prix Formula One race. But there's no doubt he'll return to the track Sept. 12-14 as bikes return to IMS for the first time since 1909.

"To have the bikes back, and a MotoGP race to boot, I'll be here, that's for sure," he said. "You hear about (the Speedway), but when you're actually standing here you just go 'Wow.' I've been all over the world and raced on a lot of racetracks, but you come into this place, and it's awe-inspiring."