That’s right.  Versus has now started a show for the fans by the fans.  Fanarchy gives 7  fans every week the oppurtunity to discuss and debate about what is going on in the sports world.  Launching June 7 and hosted by Zach Selwyn, Fanarchy features seven sports fans that appear on the show via webcam. These fans discuss such things on air such as what they would have done if they were the coach, bad ref calls, as well as other things that happen on and off the field.  Selwyn stated:

This show is for every armchair quarterback, sports superfan and maniacal critic who has either become your best friend or annoyed you at your local bar.  This is a chance for fans with real opinions to stand up for their beliefs and let the fate of their unique preaching and soap-boxing be decided on television, in front of a national audience. Plus, it sure beats taking your shirt off at Lambeau Field in January.”

 Fanarchy is the first show of its kind.  Every week the two guests on the show that can’t keep up with the antics of the rest of the guests on will be eliminated making way for another two fans.  The top fan on the show will be granted immunity for that week and will appear on next weeks show.  The prize at the end of the show, rewarding the top fan with a brief platform for an unrestrained rant on the topic of their choosing.

 Some of the topics that have been discussed on Fanarchy already are:

• If you were a mid level athlete, would you take steroids to become a superstar?
• Baseball is boring, If you were commisioner, what rules would you change?
• If you were a celebrity athlete who would you pick for a supermodel girlfriend and who would you have in your entourage?
• Terrell Owens was recently denied from renting a house in Buffalo.  Would you be TO’s roommate? 

If you think you have what it takes to be on Fanarchy, you can submit your webcam audition videos to www.VERSUS.com/FANARCHY. That website will also feature highlights from previous episodes, as well as voting for which fan makes it into the “On Deck Circle” to have a chance to be on the show. You can watch Fanarchy Tuesday nights at 10:30 ET on Versus.

As many people know, this year marks the first year of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Centennial era. Back in 1909 plans were laid down to build what would later become the world’s greatest race course as well as home to the Indy 500, the world’s greatest spectacle in racing.  The early work on the first track surface laid down consisted of 3.2 million paving bricks laid down in just about 2 months time. The first 500 mile automobile race, then called the “International Sweepstakes” was held on May 30, 1911, and started what will be 100 years of tradition in 2011.

What most don’t know was that the first race ever held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a gas balloon race.  To commemorate this, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is holding a 3 day Centennial era balloon festival that is presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages.  This will jump start the month of May and be the first of many activities to come before this year’s 93rd running of the Indy 500.  The festival will consist of 33 balloons that will pay honor to the 33 starters of the annual Indianapolis 500 mile race. Scott McClinton, event ballonmeister said,

Just as the Indy 500 showcases the best in motor racing, we have selected a strong lineup of colorful balloons and professional and personable pilots for the Centennial era Balloon Festival.  The pilots are ready to put on a show, both at the evening glows and morning races from the IMS infield, that the public will soon not forget.”

Energizer is also celebrating the Energizer bunny’s 20th anniversary this year.  To commemorate this, Energizer has entered it’s Energizer Bunny “Hot Hare” Balloon, which is the tallest ballon in the world standing at a staggering 166 feet tall.  This ballon is taller than the Statue of Liberty by 15 feet. 

The public is invited to come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield and attend the Friday and Saturday night balloon “glows” as well as the launch of the 100 years race on Sunday morning.  Admission is free and parking is in the IMS infield.  You can visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s site here for more info, a schedule, and list of the Centennial Era Ballon festival activities that are presented by AT&T Real yellow Pages.

photo: Ron McQueeney

Well, not exactly punted.  Helio landed this morning after being aquitted of federal tax evasion charges yesterday in Miami.  He retook the cockpit of the #3 Team Penske car pushing Will Power into the #12.  Penske will be running three cars this weekend. 

Will Power showed his skill on the streets of Long Beach after transfering into the new Dallara.  Sponsorship did not seem like it was an issue with the car having Verizon livery on it.  This does not come as a surprise from Roger Penske.  While some are a step ahead of things he has always proved to be several. 

Helio had a rough day after putting the car attenuator first into the turn 1 wall during qualifying.  He missed the tire barrier by a few feet causing him to hit hard.  Today was his first day in the car since October. 

Will Power started 4th in Long Beach last season and led all but two of the 83 laps to finish P1.  He stated that starting from pole is especially important since Long Beach has very few places to pass. 

You can join us on our reader interactive blog tomorrow during the race.

You can watch the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach tomorrow on VERSUS and VERSUS HD at 3:30 ET.

IRLblog will continue our live coverage of this weekend’s racing events from St. Pete via twitter.  You can follow us HERE.  Don’t forget to watch the race live on Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m. on VERSUS. 

Don’t have access to a tv?  Watch the race on the web HERE.

The smell of Ethanol and the sound of the Honda Indy V8 are definitely things that I missed in the off season.  The Ethanol comes from Apex-Brazil and is now manufactured using sugercane instead of corn.  The new exhaust systems that are installed on the cars this year definitely dial down the sound.  For once I did not feel the need to wear ear plugs during the testing sessions.  The new exhaust consists of a 180 degree bend and then feeds into a non tunable muffler.  It exits the car at the top rear section of the sidepod instead of out the rear under the suspension and gear box.  When I heard about the exhaust change a few months ago I  remember thinking to myself, it’s a race car.  Why would you want to quiet it down?  It is not rediculously quiet but it definitely doesn’t sound as raspy as the cars did during the 2008 season.  As a matter of fact The Firestone Indy Lights made some engine modifications as well.  They now sound more like the big cars in the IndyCar Series instead of stock cars.  This automatically drew me towards them when I heard them at Homestead Miami Speedway.  I don’t know about anybody else but I honestly could not stand the sound that they emitted last season.  Hopefully this will play into the Firestone Indy Lights getting more attention by viewers along with Versus network televising the series.  you will be able to hear the sound of both series at the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg April 5th.

Session one of tonights IndyCar test has been completed.  It has been brought to my attention that tonight we have the most cars on track at an open test since 2002.  Many of the teams are running pretty fast and the speeds overall have leveled off speed wise.  The big surprise has to be Bobby D.  Robert Doornbos placed himself in P4 before the end of the first session.  That is definitely something to talk about since his speeds last night during the IndyCar rookie session.  The yellow has been called out numerous times already for cut rubber.  During the break teams grabbed dinner and made adjustments to the cars while team mates and engineers collaborated on car setups. Testing will end at 10 p.m. tonight.  Stanton Barrett of team 3G has been consistanly the slowest in the field with a fast speed that just over 201 mph which is 10 mph slower than P1 Scott Dixon.