...and starting us off, Honda is set to become the title sponsor of the Toronto IndyCar race set for 2009...............press release below on the announcement.
~~PRESS RELEASE: HONDA INDY TORONTO SET FOR 10-12 JULY 2009; MARKS NEW ERA FOR INDYCAR SERIES RACING IN TORONTO
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada (September 18, 2009) - Andretti Green Toronto (AGT) announced today it has signed a multi-year agreement with Honda Canada for the title sponsorship rights to the company's Toronto-based IndyCar Series event. The announcement was delivered at a media conference held today at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto.
Scheduled for July 10-12, 2009, the Honda Indy Toronto will be part of next year's 18-race IndyCar Series schedule and will also feature the Firestone Indy Lights Series as part of the weekend's diverse activities.
The Honda Indy Toronto is the most-recent addition to Andretti Green's event promotions business unit. The company began operating the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2005 on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. That event recently received the distinction of being named as the 2009 IndyCar Series season-opener.
Honda employs more than 22,000 Canadians, buys $1.1 billion of goods and materials annually from Canadian-based suppliers, and manufactures about 390,000 vehicles per year. Honda Canada began operations in 1969, selling motorcycles and power equipment. Four years later the Civic was the first car to be sold by Honda in Canada. Today Honda Canada sells more than 170,000 cars and trucks annually, led by the Civic which has been the best-selling car in Canada the past 10 years.
As part of today's announcement, Andretti Green also announced the launch of a new event website, which can be accessed at www.hondaindytoronto.com.
About Honda Canada
Honda is the world's preeminent maker of engines for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. With 135 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda now attracts 23 million customers annually. Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Ridgeline and Civic sedan and coupe, and the Acura CSX and MDX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario. A new engine plant in Alliston, with the capacity to produce 200,000 fuel-efficient, 4-cylinder vehicle engines annually, begins production next week.
About Andretti Green Toronto
Andretti Green Toronto, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Andretti Green Canada, operates the Honda Indy Toronto - an IndyCar Series event scheduled to be run July 10-12, 2009 on a temporary downtown street circuit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Andretti Green Canada is owned and operated by partners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. Founded in 2002, Andretti Green's family of companies includes Andretti Green Racing, which competes in the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights Series and the American Le Mans Series. It also includes Andretti Green Promotions, which operates the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - an annual IndyCar Series event held on a temporary downtown street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla.
2008-2009 IRL Off-Season News............
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2008-2009 IRL Off-Season News............
Last edited by mlittle on Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Upcoming Tests..........
Less than a month after the checkered flag flew on the 2008 IndyCar Series season, teams are heading back to the track for several upcoming test sessions...........
Quoting from indycar.com:
Quoting from indycar.com:
note......the three teams at Richmond earlier this week were NHLR, Andretti-Green Racing and KV Racing TechnologyThree teams participated in a private test at Richmond International Raceway Sept. 23, and six teams are scheduled to test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sept. 29-30. Additional testing is scheduled for Texas Motor Speedway, Sebring International and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Testing on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval includes Dan Wheldon, who will drive the Panther Racing car for the first time since 2002, reigning IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe, Rahal Letterman Racing's Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan, and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Buddy Rice.
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Meira in, Manning out at A.J. Foyt Racing
Here is the press release announcing the driver change at A.J. Foyt Racing......
WALLER, Texas Sept. 25, 2008-IndyCar veteran Vitor Meira has signed to drive A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda/Firestone car beginning with the IndyCar Series event in Surfer's Paradise, Australia next month and continuing to drive through 2009, with an option for 2010.
The race in Australia is a non-points event and will give Meira and A.J. Foyt's ABC Supply team an opportunity to work together in a race before the 2009 season begins in earnest.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with Vitor," said Larry Foyt, who negotiated the deal to sign Meira. "We're looking forward to getting Vitor his first win in the IndyCar Series and getting A.J. Foyt Racing back into victory lane with ABC Supply."
"I am definitely going into 2009 with a little extra motivation," said Meira, who yesterday returned to Carmel (IN) from his native Brazil. "I have raced against the team for many years and have heard cool things about them. Many people would give an arm and a leg just to meet A.J. and I am getting to work with him, I think that says it all."
Foyt won't be requiring any body parts from Meira as A.J. already knows that Vitor puts his heart into every race.
"I've always admired him because he's a hard racer who charges all day long," said team owner A.J. Foyt. "He should have won a lot of races but he hasn't had the best luck. I believe we can change that and I'm looking forward to working with him."
Foyt was the owner when several drivers scored their initial triumphs in the IndyCar Series including Scott Sharp, Kenny Brack, Billy Boat and most recently, Airton Dare. That fact is not lost on Meira who summarized his approach to the 2009 season.
"This first race we'll get situated with each other and we'll quickly learn where we're at, then we can know where to go-what we need to maintain and where we need to improve," said Meira. "My goal is to come out and win, and by that I mean to give 100% no matter what is happening. I finished second many times but there were races where I finished fourth or fifth and I felt good about them because I gave 100% and we got the most out of the car that day. Whether it's in races or in the championship, if we are getting top-fives, it's because we are putting ourselves in position to win which is what you have to do before you can win. Then the wins will come."
The 31-year-old Brazilian's IndyCar career began in August, 2002 when he drove for the Menard team; three races and two months later, he won the pole and finished third in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.
He continued with Menard the next year driving a partial season and then joined the Rahal-Letterman team in 2004 for two full seasons. He moved to Panther Racing in 2006 and raced for them the past three seasons. In 93 career starts, Meira won two pole positions, led 424 laps and posted 27 top-five finishes, including two second-place finishes in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and this past May. He claimed 56 top-10 finishes and earned over $6 million in prize money.
Darren Manning, who drove the No. 14 car for the past two seasons, will not be returning to the team in 2009. This season, the amicable Brit finished 14th in the standings after posting a career-best second place finish at Watkins Glen, NY and six other top-10 finishes, including a ninth place finish at Indy.
"We had a good relationship with Darren and I appreciate everything he did with our team," said Foyt. "Towards the end, I felt like things had come to a standstill and we weren't getting the best out of each other. It was time for a change and I was the one who needed to make the changes as hard as it was for us. I really like Darren and wish him well. I hope he remains my friend."
"There's no hard feelings," said Manning. "We had a good couple of years of improvements. Getting me on board was part of making his team better and I think we did that. I wish him well. We had a good relationship and I expect that to continue no matter what I end up doing."
note.......silly season will be updated to reflect the driver change
WALLER, Texas Sept. 25, 2008-IndyCar veteran Vitor Meira has signed to drive A.J. Foyt's No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda/Firestone car beginning with the IndyCar Series event in Surfer's Paradise, Australia next month and continuing to drive through 2009, with an option for 2010.
The race in Australia is a non-points event and will give Meira and A.J. Foyt's ABC Supply team an opportunity to work together in a race before the 2009 season begins in earnest.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity to work with Vitor," said Larry Foyt, who negotiated the deal to sign Meira. "We're looking forward to getting Vitor his first win in the IndyCar Series and getting A.J. Foyt Racing back into victory lane with ABC Supply."
"I am definitely going into 2009 with a little extra motivation," said Meira, who yesterday returned to Carmel (IN) from his native Brazil. "I have raced against the team for many years and have heard cool things about them. Many people would give an arm and a leg just to meet A.J. and I am getting to work with him, I think that says it all."
Foyt won't be requiring any body parts from Meira as A.J. already knows that Vitor puts his heart into every race.
"I've always admired him because he's a hard racer who charges all day long," said team owner A.J. Foyt. "He should have won a lot of races but he hasn't had the best luck. I believe we can change that and I'm looking forward to working with him."
Foyt was the owner when several drivers scored their initial triumphs in the IndyCar Series including Scott Sharp, Kenny Brack, Billy Boat and most recently, Airton Dare. That fact is not lost on Meira who summarized his approach to the 2009 season.
"This first race we'll get situated with each other and we'll quickly learn where we're at, then we can know where to go-what we need to maintain and where we need to improve," said Meira. "My goal is to come out and win, and by that I mean to give 100% no matter what is happening. I finished second many times but there were races where I finished fourth or fifth and I felt good about them because I gave 100% and we got the most out of the car that day. Whether it's in races or in the championship, if we are getting top-fives, it's because we are putting ourselves in position to win which is what you have to do before you can win. Then the wins will come."
The 31-year-old Brazilian's IndyCar career began in August, 2002 when he drove for the Menard team; three races and two months later, he won the pole and finished third in the season finale at Texas Motor Speedway.
He continued with Menard the next year driving a partial season and then joined the Rahal-Letterman team in 2004 for two full seasons. He moved to Panther Racing in 2006 and raced for them the past three seasons. In 93 career starts, Meira won two pole positions, led 424 laps and posted 27 top-five finishes, including two second-place finishes in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and this past May. He claimed 56 top-10 finishes and earned over $6 million in prize money.
Darren Manning, who drove the No. 14 car for the past two seasons, will not be returning to the team in 2009. This season, the amicable Brit finished 14th in the standings after posting a career-best second place finish at Watkins Glen, NY and six other top-10 finishes, including a ninth place finish at Indy.
"We had a good relationship with Darren and I appreciate everything he did with our team," said Foyt. "Towards the end, I felt like things had come to a standstill and we weren't getting the best out of each other. It was time for a change and I was the one who needed to make the changes as hard as it was for us. I really like Darren and wish him well. I hope he remains my friend."
"There's no hard feelings," said Manning. "We had a good couple of years of improvements. Getting me on board was part of making his team better and I think we did that. I wish him well. We had a good relationship and I expect that to continue no matter what I end up doing."
note.......silly season will be updated to reflect the driver change
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New IndyCar team in 2009.......
According to the SpeedTV.com article here, not only will be a new team(albeit a part-time one) but with a new driver.......former NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett. An official announcement is expected in Kansas City Friday w/Barrett along with team owners Greg Beck and Steve Sudler.
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Atlantics out, Indy Lights in at Long Beach.......
The Atlantic series, which has been a staple at Long Beach for nearly all of its 34 previous years, is out, replaced by the IRL's Indy Lights development series.
"There was no doubt about it," (Jim) Michaelian, (President, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach), said. "It goes all the way back to Gilles Villeneuve and Kiki Rosberg. and they went off the Linden Leap. They were here a long time. They were a support series for the headliner. We have a new alliance, we have a new agreement and a new partner here. For us to not showcase their series would have sent the wrong message to the racing community."
The American Le Mans Series, Formula Drift and Toyota Celebrity races will all be back. The World Challenge also may return.
"It's the perfect mix," he said of the current alignment.
Link....................http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_10741747
"There was no doubt about it," (Jim) Michaelian, (President, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach), said. "It goes all the way back to Gilles Villeneuve and Kiki Rosberg. and they went off the Linden Leap. They were here a long time. They were a support series for the headliner. We have a new alliance, we have a new agreement and a new partner here. For us to not showcase their series would have sent the wrong message to the racing community."
The American Le Mans Series, Formula Drift and Toyota Celebrity races will all be back. The World Challenge also may return.
"It's the perfect mix," he said of the current alignment.
Link....................http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_10741747
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IndyCar, Indy Lights celebrate championship awards..........
~~PRESS RELEASE: DIXON COLLECTS $1 MILLION BONUS
-----Not many people leave a Las Vegas casino
a million dollars richer than when they arrived. Two-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will walk away with at least that after collecting his $1 million bonus check for winning the 2008 IndyCar Series championship.
Dixon and Firestone Indy Lights champion Raphael Matos - along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers - were recognized during the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration at The Palms resort. The honorees were entertained by iconic comedians and magicians Penn and Teller.
Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series, presented Dixon with a $1 million championship bonus check and his mini IndyCar Series championship trophy. A mini IndyCar Series championship trophy also was awarded to Target Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi.
"To win this title is so much sweeter than the one I won in 2003," Dixon said. "When I won the first championship, I didn't realize what I had won. To win this title, in the way the series was this year with the merge, makes it something I can cherish."
In addition to the championship bonus, Dixon accepted the $25,000 DIRECTV HD Crystal Clear Moment of the Year Award, $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award and received a $100,000 diamond-encrusted champion's timepiece from Ritmo Mundo.
Ricky Davis, chief mechanic for Dixon's No. 9 Honda-powered Dallara, accepted the PEAK Motor Oil IndyCar Series Chief Mechanic of the Year Award and its $25,000 prize.
Hideki Mutoh of Andretti Green Racing accepted the $50,000 Bombardier LearJet Rookie of the Year Award and was recognized with the Firestone IndyCar Series Rising Star award. Vitor Meira accepted the Xtrac Championship Award and its $5,000 prize, while Tony Kanaan won the MAC Tools Lap Leader Award.
Matos accepted the Firestone Firehawk Cup along with a $5,000 award from Lincoln Electric, the $5,000 prize as the winner of the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Award, $5,000 as the winner of the MAC Tools Lap Leader Award and a championship watch from Ritmo Mundo valued at $25,000. Fireston also awarded a paiting by motorsports artist Jim Swintall to Matos to commemorate his title.
"It means a lot," said the 27-year-old native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who will graduate to the IndyCar Series in 2009. "It's my most important (title) and the result of a big effort by AFS/Andretti Green crew and I couldn't have landed the ride with Luczo Dragon without the win."
Jayson Madison, chief mechanic for Matos' No. 27 AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing entry, accepted $5,000 as Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year.
Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing claimed the $5,000 Gregory & Appel Securing Tomorrow Award, while James Davison of Sam Schmidt Motorsports claimed the Sunoco Most Improved Driver and its $10,000 prize for improving the most total positions during the 2008 season.
~~~AWARDS WINNERS(IndyCar Series)
--Championship driver: Scott Dixon
--Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Scott Dixon
--Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch
valued at $100,000): Scott Dixon
--Canon USA Championship Award (Prize package valued at $2,000): Scott Dixon and Ricky Davis
--Championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
--Championship team sponsor: Target
--Championship team manager: Scott Harner and Barry Wanser
--PEAK Motor Oil Chief Mechanic of the Year Award ($25,000): Ricky Davis
--Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): Hideki Mutoh
--Second place championship driver: Helio Castroneves
--Second place championship team: Team Penske
--Third place championship driver: Tony Kanaan
--Third place championship team: Andretti Green Racing
--Firestone IndyCar Series Rising Star: Hideki Mutoh
--DIRECTV Crystal Moment of the Year ($25,000): Scott Dixon
--BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Scott Dixon
--Xtrac Championship Award ($5,000 for driver who won most Xtrac Awards during 2008): Vitor Meira
--MAC Tools Lap Leader Award (assortment of tools worth $25,000): Tony Kanaan
--Manufacturer Recognition Awards: Honda, Firestone, Delphi, Dallara, Xtrac and K&N Filters
~~~AWARDS WINNERS(Indy Lights)
--Championship driver (mini Firehawk Cup): Raphael Matos
--Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $4,000): Raphael Matos
--Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (watch valued at $25,000): Raphael Matos
--Lincoln Electric Company Championship Driver Award ($5,000): Raphael Matos
--Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year ($10,000): Raphael Matos
--MAC Tools Lap Leader Award (assortment of tools worth $10,000): Raphael Matos
--Championship team (mini Firehawk Cup): AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing
--Lincoln Electric Company Championship Team Award (welding product): AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing
--Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year ($5,000): Jayson Madison
--Second place championship driver: Richard Antinucci
--Second place championship team: Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Lincoln Electric Company Second Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Third place championship driver: Ana Beatriz
--Third place championship team: Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Lincoln Electric Company Third Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Firestone Indy Lights Rising Star: Ana Beatriz
--Ethos for Earth Hard Charger Award ($5,000): Sean Guthrie
--Mesco Building Solutions Building for the Future Award ($5,000): Team E
--Firestone Consistency Bonus ($5,000): Brent Sherman
--Gregory & Appel "Securing Tomorrow" Award ($5,000): Dillon Battistini
--Sunoco Most Improved Driver ($10,000): James Davison
-----Not many people leave a Las Vegas casino
a million dollars richer than when they arrived. Two-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will walk away with at least that after collecting his $1 million bonus check for winning the 2008 IndyCar Series championship.
Dixon and Firestone Indy Lights champion Raphael Matos - along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers - were recognized during the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration at The Palms resort. The honorees were entertained by iconic comedians and magicians Penn and Teller.
Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series, presented Dixon with a $1 million championship bonus check and his mini IndyCar Series championship trophy. A mini IndyCar Series championship trophy also was awarded to Target Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi.
"To win this title is so much sweeter than the one I won in 2003," Dixon said. "When I won the first championship, I didn't realize what I had won. To win this title, in the way the series was this year with the merge, makes it something I can cherish."
In addition to the championship bonus, Dixon accepted the $25,000 DIRECTV HD Crystal Clear Moment of the Year Award, $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award and received a $100,000 diamond-encrusted champion's timepiece from Ritmo Mundo.
Ricky Davis, chief mechanic for Dixon's No. 9 Honda-powered Dallara, accepted the PEAK Motor Oil IndyCar Series Chief Mechanic of the Year Award and its $25,000 prize.
Hideki Mutoh of Andretti Green Racing accepted the $50,000 Bombardier LearJet Rookie of the Year Award and was recognized with the Firestone IndyCar Series Rising Star award. Vitor Meira accepted the Xtrac Championship Award and its $5,000 prize, while Tony Kanaan won the MAC Tools Lap Leader Award.
Matos accepted the Firestone Firehawk Cup along with a $5,000 award from Lincoln Electric, the $5,000 prize as the winner of the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Award, $5,000 as the winner of the MAC Tools Lap Leader Award and a championship watch from Ritmo Mundo valued at $25,000. Fireston also awarded a paiting by motorsports artist Jim Swintall to Matos to commemorate his title.
"It means a lot," said the 27-year-old native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who will graduate to the IndyCar Series in 2009. "It's my most important (title) and the result of a big effort by AFS/Andretti Green crew and I couldn't have landed the ride with Luczo Dragon without the win."
Jayson Madison, chief mechanic for Matos' No. 27 AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing entry, accepted $5,000 as Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year.
Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing claimed the $5,000 Gregory & Appel Securing Tomorrow Award, while James Davison of Sam Schmidt Motorsports claimed the Sunoco Most Improved Driver and its $10,000 prize for improving the most total positions during the 2008 season.
~~~AWARDS WINNERS(IndyCar Series)
--Championship driver: Scott Dixon
--Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Scott Dixon
--Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch
valued at $100,000): Scott Dixon
--Canon USA Championship Award (Prize package valued at $2,000): Scott Dixon and Ricky Davis
--Championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
--Championship team sponsor: Target
--Championship team manager: Scott Harner and Barry Wanser
--PEAK Motor Oil Chief Mechanic of the Year Award ($25,000): Ricky Davis
--Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): Hideki Mutoh
--Second place championship driver: Helio Castroneves
--Second place championship team: Team Penske
--Third place championship driver: Tony Kanaan
--Third place championship team: Andretti Green Racing
--Firestone IndyCar Series Rising Star: Hideki Mutoh
--DIRECTV Crystal Moment of the Year ($25,000): Scott Dixon
--BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Scott Dixon
--Xtrac Championship Award ($5,000 for driver who won most Xtrac Awards during 2008): Vitor Meira
--MAC Tools Lap Leader Award (assortment of tools worth $25,000): Tony Kanaan
--Manufacturer Recognition Awards: Honda, Firestone, Delphi, Dallara, Xtrac and K&N Filters
~~~AWARDS WINNERS(Indy Lights)
--Championship driver (mini Firehawk Cup): Raphael Matos
--Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $4,000): Raphael Matos
--Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (watch valued at $25,000): Raphael Matos
--Lincoln Electric Company Championship Driver Award ($5,000): Raphael Matos
--Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year ($10,000): Raphael Matos
--MAC Tools Lap Leader Award (assortment of tools worth $10,000): Raphael Matos
--Championship team (mini Firehawk Cup): AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing
--Lincoln Electric Company Championship Team Award (welding product): AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing
--Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year ($5,000): Jayson Madison
--Second place championship driver: Richard Antinucci
--Second place championship team: Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Lincoln Electric Company Second Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Third place championship driver: Ana Beatriz
--Third place championship team: Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Lincoln Electric Company Third Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
--Firestone Indy Lights Rising Star: Ana Beatriz
--Ethos for Earth Hard Charger Award ($5,000): Sean Guthrie
--Mesco Building Solutions Building for the Future Award ($5,000): Team E
--Firestone Consistency Bonus ($5,000): Brent Sherman
--Gregory & Appel "Securing Tomorrow" Award ($5,000): Dillon Battistini
--Sunoco Most Improved Driver ($10,000): James Davison
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8's the charm......
(from IndyCar.com)..............Tony Kanaan teamed with Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Giaffone, Renato Russian and Luciano Burti to win Nov. 15 the Granja Viana 500 - a 500-mile kart race in Sao Paulo, Brazil - for the eighth time in its 12 years.
The event, held at the Giaffone family's venue, featured 65 karts. IndyCar Series drivers Vitor Meira, Mario Moraes and Raphael Matos also competed. A second Kanaan kart included co-drivers Cristiano da Mata and Antonio Pizzonia.
"Each time I win, I feel a different emotion," said Kanaan, who finished third in the 2008 IndyCar Series championship with Andretti Green Racing. "The team was very dedicated during the race and in the end this helped us to win the trophy. This is my eighth victory, and I have a great history with this race that I can tell my son about.
"It was a really tough race, physically, in the beginning, when I was driving for three straight hours in the sun. I am really old now, but I was able to get through it."
Kanaan, whose No. 72 kart started from the pole, also will be competing in the International Challenge Of Go-Kart Champs on Nov. 30 in Florianopolis, Brazil - a charity race organized by Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa.
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Dallara to lower costs for IndyCar Series teams
In an effort to control and lower costs, Dallara, which currently supplies all of the chassis' in use for the IndyCar Series, announced earlier today that they will reduce costs to teams in order to help them weather the current economic times. Here are some quotes from the announcement..........
~~Andrea Tosa, Dallara/IndyCar Series Project Manager,
~~Andrea Tosa, Dallara/IndyCar Series Project Manager,
~~Brian Barnhart, IRL President of Competition,Everybody knows that this is a difficult time, and we have to do our best now to help the teams. If we can help the teams go through this difficult time, it is in the best interest of the manufacturers, the series and the teams. If we don’t do anything now, maybe one year from now it’s too late. We hope that all suppliers and partners will understand this initiative and follow suit.
In light of the current global economic crisis, to see the effort Dallara has made to help all of our teams with an across-the-board cost reduction is truly the definition of a partner. They are just going out of their way to do what they can to ensure the stability of the IndyCar Series beginning in 2009. The ability to ramp up and supply equipment on that late of notice after unification showed their commitment to the series as well, and now what they are doing from the business side is a tremendous gesture and hopefully one that can be followed by other suppliers in the series.
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IMS Connecting with fans through social networking sites....
PRESS RELEASE: IMS CONNECTS WITH FANS THROUGH TWITTER, OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS
INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009 -- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is providing news and other information through Twitter, the popular, worldwide social networking and micro-blogging service.
Fans can follow these three simple steps to receive IMS information for free at either their personal Twitter Web page or on mobile devices:
1) Visit the Community section of the IMS Web site, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/community .
2) Click on the “Follow Us on Twitter” logo, which will take users to the IMS Twitter page, called IMSTalk.
3) Click on the Follow button underneath the IMS Centennial Era logo to receive the IMS Twitter feed.
IMS plans to provide regular information about events, tickets, promotions, IMS trivia and much more through its Twitter feed, with opportunities for interaction with fans.
Twitter allows its users to send and read other users' updates, often called tweets, which are text-based posts up to 140 characters long. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.
The Twitter feed continues IMS efforts to connect with fans through online social networks. IMS also has pages on the hugely popular MySpace and Facebook networks:
•MySpace: www.myspace.com/kissthebricks
•Facebook: Type Indianapolis Motor Speedway into search field at www.facebook.com
INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009 -- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is providing news and other information through Twitter, the popular, worldwide social networking and micro-blogging service.
Fans can follow these three simple steps to receive IMS information for free at either their personal Twitter Web page or on mobile devices:
1) Visit the Community section of the IMS Web site, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/community .
2) Click on the “Follow Us on Twitter” logo, which will take users to the IMS Twitter page, called IMSTalk.
3) Click on the Follow button underneath the IMS Centennial Era logo to receive the IMS Twitter feed.
IMS plans to provide regular information about events, tickets, promotions, IMS trivia and much more through its Twitter feed, with opportunities for interaction with fans.
Twitter allows its users to send and read other users' updates, often called tweets, which are text-based posts up to 140 characters long. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.
The Twitter feed continues IMS efforts to connect with fans through online social networks. IMS also has pages on the hugely popular MySpace and Facebook networks:
•MySpace: www.myspace.com/kissthebricks
•Facebook: Type Indianapolis Motor Speedway into search field at www.facebook.com
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance.
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere....
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Rather than try to explain it all, here is the Team Penske press release on their hiring of Will Power to drive the #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda in 2009.............
~~PENSKE PR - WILL POWER JOINS TEAM PENSKE'S INDYCAR SERIES TEAM
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 13, 2009) – Penske Racing announced today that driver Will Power will join the Team Penske IndyCar Series program in preparation for the 2009 racing season.
Power, 27, is coming off an impressive rookie season in the IndyCar Series where he established himself as one of open-wheel racing's rising stars. The native of Toowoomba, Australia will pilot the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda during preseason test sessions. The balance of the year's driving responsibilities for the No. 3 car, including the IndyCar Series season-opening race at St. Petersburg on April 5, will depend on the timing and outcome of Helio Castroneves' pending court case.
"We remain hopeful that Helio's situation will have a positive outcome and the team is fully behind him," said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing, "While Helio prepares for his court case, we're excited to welcome Will Power to the team. Will has already proven that he's a terrific racer and we think he's going to be a good fit with Team Penske."
Power will work closely with fellow Aussie driver Ryan Briscoe, driver of the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda, as the team contends for the 2009 IndyCar Series championship.
"It is a tremendous opportunity for me to join one of the best teams in all of racing," said Power. "I'm looking forward to the start of the season and assisting Team Penske in its preparation for 2009."
Beginning his rise up the open-wheel ranks by emerging as one of Australia’s top young talents, Power also excelled in European competition. He produced strong performances in the British F3 and World Series by Renault championships before moving to the United States in 2005 to compete in the Champ Car World Series. He captured the series Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2006 and claimed three wins and six pole positions in two plus seasons in Champ Car. In 2008, Power won on the streets of Long Beach in Champ Car’s final race, and after joining the IndyCar Series, he earned his first series pole in front of his home crowd at Surfers Paradise, Australia.
Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 306 major race wins, 363 pole positions and 22 National Championships. The team has also earned 14 Indianapolis 500 victories. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com .
~~PENSKE PR - WILL POWER JOINS TEAM PENSKE'S INDYCAR SERIES TEAM
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 13, 2009) – Penske Racing announced today that driver Will Power will join the Team Penske IndyCar Series program in preparation for the 2009 racing season.
Power, 27, is coming off an impressive rookie season in the IndyCar Series where he established himself as one of open-wheel racing's rising stars. The native of Toowoomba, Australia will pilot the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda during preseason test sessions. The balance of the year's driving responsibilities for the No. 3 car, including the IndyCar Series season-opening race at St. Petersburg on April 5, will depend on the timing and outcome of Helio Castroneves' pending court case.
"We remain hopeful that Helio's situation will have a positive outcome and the team is fully behind him," said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing, "While Helio prepares for his court case, we're excited to welcome Will Power to the team. Will has already proven that he's a terrific racer and we think he's going to be a good fit with Team Penske."
Power will work closely with fellow Aussie driver Ryan Briscoe, driver of the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda, as the team contends for the 2009 IndyCar Series championship.
"It is a tremendous opportunity for me to join one of the best teams in all of racing," said Power. "I'm looking forward to the start of the season and assisting Team Penske in its preparation for 2009."
Beginning his rise up the open-wheel ranks by emerging as one of Australia’s top young talents, Power also excelled in European competition. He produced strong performances in the British F3 and World Series by Renault championships before moving to the United States in 2005 to compete in the Champ Car World Series. He captured the series Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2006 and claimed three wins and six pole positions in two plus seasons in Champ Car. In 2008, Power won on the streets of Long Beach in Champ Car’s final race, and after joining the IndyCar Series, he earned his first series pole in front of his home crowd at Surfers Paradise, Australia.
Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 306 major race wins, 363 pole positions and 22 National Championships. The team has also earned 14 Indianapolis 500 victories. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com .
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance.
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere....
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mlittle
- Forum Hall of Fame
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Family celebration........
While people were filing into Raymond James Stadium for last Sunday's Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, Dan and Susie Wheldon were welcoming the birth of son Sebastien Daniel, born on Super Bowl Sunday. Sebastian Daniel (6 pounds, 12 ounces) was born at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla., two weeks ahead of schedule. Both mother and son are "doing well." Quoting the new father,
Congratulations on the birth of your son, Dan!It was just the most unbelievable experience of my life. It's one of those things that, until you experience it, you'll never be able to put into words how great the feeling is. The first time I saw the little baby, and I've just met him, I was amazed by the amount of love you can feel for one human being at that moment.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance.
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere....
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mlittle
- Forum Hall of Fame
- Posts: 11205
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IUPUI Renews Partnership with Sarah Fisher Racing
----Press Release from Sarah Fisher Racing(dated 6 Feb. 2009)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -Feb 06, 2009 Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) today announced a partnership with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), an urban research and academic health sciences campus with 21 schools and academic units, which would sponsor IndyCar Series driver and team owner, Sarah Fisher for the upcoming 2009 IndyCar Series season.
"It's wonderful to have IUPUI back at SFR and to be a part of the educational platform to inject new engineering blood into open-wheel racing," said Fisher, who accepted the Spirit of Leadership Award last week from the Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI). "We are really excited to see all the enthusiasm the students have that want to be a part of the program. As another returning partner of SFR, we are continuing to grow and build in our sophomore year as a business."
IUPUI returns to SFR after partnering with the first-year team at the 2008 Indianapolis 500, with the announcement of the first four-year Motorsports Engineering program in the nation. To further the partnership, Fisher visited campus on several occasions to talk with undergraduate students about her real-life experience in the field. Early in Fisher's career, she was a student in the EDDP program, a joint venture between the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI and Butler University.
"We are thrilled to be one of Sarah's sponsors for this year's IndyCar Series. We see this sponsorship as an investment in opportunity for our students, and Sarah couldn't be a better role model as she was once a student here at IUPUI," said Dr. Yurtseven, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. "This sponsorship shows support for motorsports and dedication to advancing our Motorsports Engineering program. Our hope is that this educational partnership will inspire students to be proactive and enable them to connect and engage with the motorsports industry in new and exciting ways."
The IU Schools of Liberal Arts, Physical Education & Tourism Management, and the Kelley School of Business have all collaborated with the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology on this sponsorship. The successful collaboration with these schools exemplifies IUPUI's unique cooperative advantage.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -Feb 06, 2009 Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) today announced a partnership with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), an urban research and academic health sciences campus with 21 schools and academic units, which would sponsor IndyCar Series driver and team owner, Sarah Fisher for the upcoming 2009 IndyCar Series season.
"It's wonderful to have IUPUI back at SFR and to be a part of the educational platform to inject new engineering blood into open-wheel racing," said Fisher, who accepted the Spirit of Leadership Award last week from the Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI). "We are really excited to see all the enthusiasm the students have that want to be a part of the program. As another returning partner of SFR, we are continuing to grow and build in our sophomore year as a business."
IUPUI returns to SFR after partnering with the first-year team at the 2008 Indianapolis 500, with the announcement of the first four-year Motorsports Engineering program in the nation. To further the partnership, Fisher visited campus on several occasions to talk with undergraduate students about her real-life experience in the field. Early in Fisher's career, she was a student in the EDDP program, a joint venture between the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI and Butler University.
"We are thrilled to be one of Sarah's sponsors for this year's IndyCar Series. We see this sponsorship as an investment in opportunity for our students, and Sarah couldn't be a better role model as she was once a student here at IUPUI," said Dr. Yurtseven, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. "This sponsorship shows support for motorsports and dedication to advancing our Motorsports Engineering program. Our hope is that this educational partnership will inspire students to be proactive and enable them to connect and engage with the motorsports industry in new and exciting ways."
The IU Schools of Liberal Arts, Physical Education & Tourism Management, and the Kelley School of Business have all collaborated with the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology on this sponsorship. The successful collaboration with these schools exemplifies IUPUI's unique cooperative advantage.
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Versus announces pre-season ICS programming schedule........
When Versus was announced as the IndyCar Series' exclusive cable broadcast provider, one of the things they promised was 10 hours or so of ancillary programming on top of the extensive season-long coverage(3-hr. raceday broadcasts, 1-hr. preview shows, FIL race broadcasts, etc.). Well, they decided to get a jump on the season......... 
More from the announcement btwn. Versus and the IRL..........
~~~PRE-SEASON BROADCASTS..............
----The lineup (each airing at 2 p.m. ET):
March 7 -- Danica: Five Years Running will include highlights of Danica Patrick's career, including her 2008 IndyCar Series victory, and her thoughts on the upcoming season.
March 14 - IndyCar Series: Top 10 Closest Finishes will feature the top-10 closest finishes in IndyCar Series history, including the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway. The show also will include the last several laps of each race and post-race driver interviews.
March 21 -- IndyCar Series: Crashes and Conflicts will showcase some of the most memorable incidents and conflicts between drivers and several of the most incredible crashes in recent IndyCar Series history.
March 28-- IndyCar Series World Tour 2009 will not only features highlights from each racetrack on the IndyCar Series schedule, but also showcase highlights from the first street-course race in series history in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2005 and top photo finishes from the site of the '09 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
~~Charlie Morgan, President/Chief Operating Officer--IMS Productions,
More from the announcement btwn. Versus and the IRL..........
~~~PRE-SEASON BROADCASTS..............
----The lineup (each airing at 2 p.m. ET):
March 7 -- Danica: Five Years Running will include highlights of Danica Patrick's career, including her 2008 IndyCar Series victory, and her thoughts on the upcoming season.
March 14 - IndyCar Series: Top 10 Closest Finishes will feature the top-10 closest finishes in IndyCar Series history, including the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway. The show also will include the last several laps of each race and post-race driver interviews.
March 21 -- IndyCar Series: Crashes and Conflicts will showcase some of the most memorable incidents and conflicts between drivers and several of the most incredible crashes in recent IndyCar Series history.
March 28-- IndyCar Series World Tour 2009 will not only features highlights from each racetrack on the IndyCar Series schedule, but also showcase highlights from the first street-course race in series history in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2005 and top photo finishes from the site of the '09 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
~~Charlie Morgan, President/Chief Operating Officer--IMS Productions,
~~Marc Fine, Executive VP(Programming, Production & Business Operations), Versus,Indy Car fans have been asking for significantly more coverage of the sport, and with our new partnership with VERSUS we have responded to our fans in a way that we think they will love. With the new VERSUS schedule, it will be a weekend of Indy Car programming with qualifying coverage, expanded race day coverage, and race encores. With so many great drivers, teams and sponsors, the time is right for expanded programming.
It's important to us that racing fans are given more coverage than ever before, and we are very excited about the terrific schedule we put together for the first season of the IndyCar Series on VERSUS. Ancillary programming to launch the season a month early, coupled with Indy Lights events and encores of IndyCar Series races throughout the season are great complements to the in-depth coverage of our 12 live races.
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Indy Racing Weekly begins new season March 30..........
One of the staples of the IndyCar Series season is the IMS Radio Network's weekly broadcast, Indy Racing Weekly(a/k/a IndyCar Weekly), returns to the air March 30th with the first show of the 2009 season. The usual suspects return in the form of host Mike King and analyst Davey Hamilton. Here are some quotes from the IMS announcement..........
~~Mike King, IMS Radio Network,
It's more interactive; that's the best part about it. We want to carry over that momentum from the weekend broadcast. We found last year when we opened up the lines of communication between the broadcast booth and listeners and they were able to e-mail us questions we made instant connections. Now to be able to feature Davey Hamilton in a segment that's live and to be able to have a driver from the IndyCar Series or Firestone Indy Lights that on live it just makes it that much more interactive. What you begin to realize is how many people still follow the IndyCar Series through radio. We also were amazed last year with the penetration in so many countries through indycar.com by having our audio streamed live with the video (for all practice and qualification sessions and Firestone Indy Lights races). At 11 a.m. Pacific time on a Friday practice day at Infineon, we had 250 e-mails from a half-dozen countries. You realize how vast the medium is. That's why we're happy to do this show live on indycar.com and then be able to give it to our affiliates.
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Charity to benefit from pole spot
(quoting from Indycar.com)
~~~A hot lap on the streets of Long Beach will be worth a $2k bonus to the pole winner for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Cholula Hot Sauce will present the pole sitter with the "Hot Lap Award" -- a $2,000 check to be donated to the charity of his/her choice. In addition to being served at condiment stands throughout the race circuit, race fans can pick up a free bottle of Cholula and enjoy games and prizes at the Cholula Booth in the Lifestyle Expo, located in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.
Jim Michaelian, President/CEO, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach,
~~~A hot lap on the streets of Long Beach will be worth a $2k bonus to the pole winner for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Cholula Hot Sauce will present the pole sitter with the "Hot Lap Award" -- a $2,000 check to be donated to the charity of his/her choice. In addition to being served at condiment stands throughout the race circuit, race fans can pick up a free bottle of Cholula and enjoy games and prizes at the Cholula Booth in the Lifestyle Expo, located in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.
Jim Michaelian, President/CEO, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach,
We're proud to welcome Cholula Hot Sauce to our family of sponsors. As a long-time supporter of IndyCar racing, it's entirely appropriate that Cholula should join us as a first-time sponsor at the debut of the series on the streets of Long Beach
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