Racing to contribute

MILWAUKEE – You can wish Marco Andretti a happy birthday or chat with Ashley Force.

You can read about Max Papis’ kids, learn about spotting from Matt Kenseth’s eyes in the sky, Mike Calinoff, or wish truck series driver Johnny Sauter good luck. You can rip NASCAR for the prices charged by hotels in Atlanta, and you can even call Charlotte Observer auto racing writer David Poole an IDIOT in capital letters. Don’t worry about his feelings. He has read far worse.

This is the world in which motorsports fans live these days.

Andretti, one of the faces of the IndyCar Series, is on Facebook, and so is Helio Castroneves. Based on Castroneves’ roster of 2,800 “friends,” you’d probably be added in plenty of time to wish him well before his tax trial ends. There’s a Greg Biffle page run by his foundation that’s used to solicit donations for animal welfare initiatives.

If you’re into Twitter – the free mini-blogging tool popular among serious social networkers – you can “follow” the Italian NASCAR driver Max Papis, Ford Racing or racetracks from Slinger to Indy.

Anyone with a computer can blog or offer a whopping two cents on almost anything anyone else writes.

There are hundreds or thousands of outlets with a fans’ perspective, and most reputable news outlets that still have racing reporters provide what we’d hope to be unbiased news and informed opinion.

Curt Cavin’s answers to readers’ questions on the indystar.com site are must-reads for Indy-car fans. Poole’s observations from the center of the NASCAR universe are expertly written and thought provoking, whether you agree or not, and the comments on his thatsracin.com blogs offer insight into readers of all types.

Just remember, sources have various agendas and levels of knowledge and credibility.

Newspapers and Web sites seek to build a following that attracts advertisers. Automakers reach out to potential buyers and loyal customers, alike, and tracks want to sell tickets and Fox wants you to love Darrell Waltrip. That guy pontificating from a folding table in his rec room may be no more plugged in than you are.

There’s more information and all sorts of new ways to access the news and the newsmakers. (Too much, really.) Enjoy it. Use it wisely.