IndyCar’s VP of Marketing John Lewis resigned yesterday. His list of achievements & contributions over the past 16 years is profound, and far too extensive to cover now. League resignations & such things typically go uncovered here, for that is not our business. But this is different. Because at the absolute very BOTTOM of his list of contributions to IndyCar? The Silent Pagoda.
Indeed, this site was wholly & completely devised by John Lewis. This is HIS baby, really; I’m simply the reluctant au pair. In fact, I was reluctant the day he asked me to write for IndyCar.com:
ME: Are you high? I’ve never watched an IndyCar race in my life.
LEWIS: I know! That’s the beauty of it. THAT’S THE POINT!!!
[awkward silence]
ME: That’s just dumb. That’s what that is. Good day.
From the very beginning, he was the ONLY person who thought this wasn’t a disastrous idea. Of course, I’m not suggesting that it hasn’t been … because a great many people would argue that is has (although not the brilliant & really really good looking ones).
But that is a discussion for a different day. Because this isn’t about the Silent Pagoda, and it’s certainly not about me. This is about IndyCar losing an invaluable asset who was completely hellbent on growing this sport, but doing it with graciousness & class. There may be a more respected & universally well-liked person somewhere in IndyCar, but I doubt it. And if you’ve ever encountered John — even briefly — then I’m guessing you would agree.
But he’s not perfect. Few are. Because let the record show that he’s also a lanky albino caffeine-freak with a very mediocre jumpshot, questionable tastes in 1980s rap music, and a brutally no-nonsense approach to governing us little people who toiled beneath him.
But he’s also my friend, and someone I genuinely look up to. IndyCar is a good bit darker today with his announced departure, but the Lewis Home is set to become a great deal brighter. And that’s the beauty of this move. That’s the point.
It’s the best idea he’s had yet.
The Silent Pagodarchives 
I seem to have lost my Pagoda handbook, so what is the proper etiquette here? Do I tip my hat? Pour our=t a 40? Raise up a snifter of fine brandy? Purchase multiple cannon for a 21 gun salute? Whatever it is, I’m in.
If you have a 40 oz., tip it.
If you have a snifter of brandy, snort it.
And if you have a Lew story (or well wishes for him), share it.
Does this mean that I will actually have to start paying my own way to races? I could have used the heads up so I could have ransacked the IRL offices for tickets before you gave notice.
Your expression when you saw us mingling/hi-jacking the Andretti Green yacht in St. Pete last year will be one I soon not forget. The picture you took of the crew hangs proudly in my office. Thanks very much for the effort!
ANY man who thought The Silent Pagoda was a good idea gets a high 5 from me.
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You were my thrills, you were my pills
You dropped a bomb on me
You turn me out, you turn me on
You turned me loose, then you turned me wrong
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me (But you turned me out, baby)
You dropped a bomb on me, baby
You dropped a bomb on me
Unfortunately I know Mr. Lewis all too well, as I’ve been fouling him every Monday night for 15 years. He might be the best redheaded post player from Seymour, IN ever (and that’s saying something). On top of that he’s an even better guy who has given copious amounts of blood, sweat, tears and pigment to the IRL. If he doesn’t go into male modeling, some lucky company out there is going to get a heaping dose of marketing and operational skills.
Messr. Lewis is greatly loved by all his peoples. He is respected as a man and as a prince far beyond the many realms over which he reigned. The simple dignity of his life, his manly virtues, his sense of duty – alike as a marketing savant and a reluctant servant of the vast spheres and communities for which he bore responsibility – his gay charm and happy nature, his courage in peace or war – all these are aspects of his character which won the glint of admiration, now here, now there, from the innumerable eyes whose gaze falls upon this noble, yet humble man.
This honored body bids adieu to our creator, without whom we would surely roam aimlessly on this digital wasteland, drifting in and out a world of soft core pornography, zucchini bread recipes and Star Wars figurine auctions. Sleep well, my liege.
Mr. Lewis – thank you.
Lew…we will always have Motegi ’05…wax on wax off, Mr. Mayor.
Never met Mr. Lewis but only heard very good things. Good people are hard to find.
And if he built the Pagoda, he is our Thomas Jefferson. We will honor his vision accordingly.
*shoots heroin*
**prank calls Pet Smart**
***tips cap***
I never met the man,but i know we took a loss. I have been an Indycar fan for well over 40 years,to lose your VP of Marketing of 16 years is never a good thing. We need someone that will grab this sport by the bootstraps and market ALL our drivers to the masses, how about….
Roy Hobbson! The Grand Puba of the Silent Pagoda!! All in favor say.. ROY FOR VP !!
How bout it Roy???
Here are a few suggestions that may kick the interest up a notch!! Bacon and cheap Scotch for each and every new fan that comes on board, along with a snifter of high quality “SUGARCANE” Ethanol, for Huffing at there leisure. And at every race, for 10 lucky fans, the chance to snort a line of gunpowder and follow Marco to his place on the starting grid, yelling,
SO IS YOUR FACE!!!!
You have my vote sir.
Mr. Lewis: Never got to meet you personally but thanks for establishing this place. Because of you, I’ve found my people. *pbligatory drunken boob flash of thanks*
John, you will be missed by all of us. Thank you for all your years of dedication and for all you have done for the sport, for the company I represent and for me, directly. I can never thank you enough. You will be greatly missed by the sponsors, drivers and teams.
Silent Pagoda, enjoy. It is very rare that I agree with you. To commemorate, could you send me an autographed picture of John Lewis governing us little people?
Indy Car is now dead to me(ripping shirt sleeve ala Neil Diamond’s Dad in the “Jazz Singer”). Lew has been my John Stockton for over 10 years. He’s the one man who consistently passes the ball back to me on the give-and-go despite my 15% layup shooting percentage. What’s my point? Despite the lackluster results he continues to show great faith in me. Very much like IndyCar. He’s sacrificed much in a continual effort to build back the IndyCar brand. If he can’t resurrect IndyCar through his talents and efforts I truly don’t believe it can happen. I love the sport, but I’ll have a hard time investing as much in it now that Lew is gone. I’ll miss the insight and the access, but I couldn’t be happier for him. I’m also glad I’ll have my assist leader back, b/c Hobbson is a complete ball hog!
Two things:
1) For nobody who’s ever met Hobbson face-to-face, he’s the first guy in white on the right side of the picture. Thought you’d all like to know that.
2) Stories? Nope, but I do have a question aimed at those who know Mr. Lewis better than I do (which means anybody who has met him more than once for 45 seconds): when he’s not wearing them, does he still hang his sunglasses on the back of his shirt collar? I copied a buddy of mine in this habit who in turn had copied it from Mr. Lewis, and it’s been invaluable in keeping my shades free of errant drips of mayo, BBQ sauce, pickle juice, flopsweat, sauerkraut and dozens of other food items and disgusting grossness for years now. So, in addition to “marketing expert”, “pick up basketball legend”, “questionable website generator” and “general all around stand-up guy”, you can go ahead and add “fashion icon” to the mix.
OK, with all of that stalker-y sounding goodness out of the way, it’s back to my basement to clean the lenses of my binoculars and gaze at my collage of IndyCar community personalities that I keep on my walls. Best of luck to Mr. Lewis in his future endeavours.
Yes, Speedgeek, John Lewis still hangs his sunglasses on the back of his shirt collar… Well, when he is not wearing it on his head, backwards… Fashion Icon? All right then.
And I quote:
“IndyCar Nation.. Rader Nation, it’s all the same really. Go get ’em Rainman.”
A quote by Mr. John Lewis