Ron Hemelgarn, the Cincinnatti-based multiclub operator and racing team owner who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1996, saw his dreams of a repeat win sputter and stall this year--his car crossed the finish line in 18th place during the annual running, in May, of the Indy classic. “What can I say?” reflects Hemelgarn. “The 500 has been good to me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have finished first; second (in 1998 and 2000); fourth (1997); and seventh (1999).” But this year’s chances were dashed when mechanical difficulties left driver Buddy Lazier’s car operating on just seven cylinders. “We knew that we had a problem with an injector in our sixth cylinder,” he says, “but we knew that we couldn’t fix it.”

Lazier, the defending Northern Light champion, had raced well enough to earn a 10th-place starting position at the Indy Brickyard; and, in the Coors Carburetion Day final practice run, he posted the third-fastest lap, at 222.392 mph. Unfortunately, losing a cylinder slowed things down considerably. “We were going down the straightaway at 201-202 miles per hour, when, normally, we’re running 220,” reports Hemelgarn. “We’ll be back next year, but, for now, we’re focusing on winning the 2001 series championship.”

Hemelgarn and his partners own several hundred health clubs in the U.S. and overseas, operating under such brands as Better Bodies, Super Fitness, Silhouette Health, and 21st Century. Among his racing sponsors: Tae Bo and Life Fitness.