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INDYCAR: Series news and notes
POWER WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT ON STREETS OF SAO PAULO
SAO PAULO, Brazil (Sunday, April 29, 2012) - Will Power hopes a shower of April victories can lead to a quart of milk in May.
    The Team Penske driver won the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle to score his third consecutive victory of the season and the third in a row at the Anhembi circuit.
    Power, driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, held off Hunter-Reay on a Lap 71 restart and won by 0.9045 of a second. Takuma Sato, who started 25th because of an unapproved Honda engine change and overcame a Lap 12 pit lane speed violation penalty, earned his first IZOD IndyCar Series podium finish.
    Power is the first driver since Scott Dixon in 2007 to win three consecutive races (Watkins Glen, Nashville, Mid-Ohio).
    Power inherited the point when Dixon pitted under caution on Lap 64, held off Hunter-Reay on the Lap 67 restart, which quickly turned into a Turn 1 parking lot that collected, among others, Dixon. Recognizing possibly his final opportunity to overtake Power, Hunter-Reay moved to the outside in Turn 1 of the Lap 71 green flag.
    Helio Castroneves overtook front-row starter Dario Franchitti on that restart to finish fourth. Franchitti's No. 10 Lexar Media car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing was bumped from behind on a Lap 26 restart in Turn 1 to drop to 22nd.
    James Hinchcliffe, JR Hildebrand and Charlie Kimball -- rookies in 2011 -- finished ahead of E.J. Viso in ninth and Barrichello in 10th.
Source: IndyCar
INDYCAR PLACES GRAHAM RAHAL ON PROBATION
INDIANAPOLIS (April 17, 2012) - INDYCAR officials have placed IZOD IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal on probation through the next six race events for blocking and initiating avoidable contact during the race on the Long Beach temporary street circuit April 15.
    On Lap 22 of 85-lap race, Rahal made contact with the No. 26 car driven by Marco Andretti in Turn 8, which launched Andretti's car into the air before it made contact with the tire barrier. Andretti climbed from the car without assistance from the Holmatro Safety Team.
     "Due to the inability of the No. 38 car to continue the race, a review of the on-track actions of Graham Rahal became a post-race issue," said Beaux Barfield, INDYCAR president of competition and IZOD IndyCar Series Race Director.  "All stewards have reviewed the incident and have decided that the on-track actions of Graham warranted probation because of driving that endangers on-track safety and adversely affects competition."
    The probation period will end following the IZOD IndyCar Series event June 23 at Iowa Speedway. If the improvements are not met, INDYCAR may impose other penalties at its discretions.
     Per Rule 9.3.2 of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, a driver must not alter his/her racing line based on the actions of pursuing drivers to inhibit or prevent passing. Blocking will result in a minimum of a black flag "drive through" penalty.
    Rule 9.3.3 states a competitor must not initiate or attempt to initiate avoidable contact that results in the interruption of another competitor's lap time or track position.
    The probation penalty may be protested pursuant to the rulebook.
Source: IndyCar
POWER SURGES TO BACK-TO-BACK WINS WITH LONG BEACH WINS
4/15/2012: LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Will Power, who started the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Row 6 because of a penalty assessed on all 11 Chevrolet-powered cars for unapproved engine changes, overcame the deficit by stretching 18.5 gallons of E85 the last 21 laps on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit, all the while being chased down by Simon Pagenaud.
    It was Team Penske's first Indy car victory at Long Beach since 2001 (Helio Castroneves), while Power won the Champ Car finale on the course in 2008 with KV Racing Technology.
    Pagenaud, who pitted the No. 77 Honda-powered car for the final time on Lap 70 of 85, finished 0.8675 of a second back. Over the final three laps, he ran lap times 1.5-2 seconds quicker than Power (1:10.4941 to 1:12.0333 for instance on Lap 84).
    Pagenaud, who led laps for the first time since 2007 in Belgium, also gave Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports its highest finish since Jaques Lazier at Nashville in 2001 (as Sam Schmidt Motorsports). Seven different teams were represented in the top 10.
    James Hinchcliffe, driving the No. 27 GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport, finished third as teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay incurred a 30-second penalty on the final lap for avoidable contact with the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car. It was his first podium finish in his IZOD IndyCar Series career. Sato, seeking his first IZOD IndyCar Series podium, finished eighth. Hunter-Reay checked in sixth.
    Tony Kanaan, who started 19th, finished a season-best fourth and JR Hildebrand was fifth -- his best since placing fourth at Iowa last June.
Source: IndyCar
POWER BREAKS TRACK RECORD, WINS POLE FOR HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ST PETERSBURG
3/24/2012:  Will Power says claiming the pole for the eighth Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a "good start," which he hopes six months down the road will lead to a championship finish.
    Power set a circuit-qualifying record of 1 minute, 1.3721 seconds in winning the pole for the IZOD IndyCar Series' season-opening race March 25.
    Power has started from the pole in the race on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit for three consecutive years. He won in 2010 and was runner-up to Dario Franchitti in 2011.
    Ryan Briscoe will start alongside his Team Penske teammate on the front row, while Andretti    Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe will occupy Row 2. It's the best start in the race for all three (Hinchcliffe didn't compete in 2011).
     Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud qualified fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Firestone Fast Six. But because Pagenaud's Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports team made an unauthorized Honda engine change in practice a day earlier, he will be penalized 10 spots on the starting grid.
    Scott Dixon, who was 0.0022 of a second out of qualifying for the Firestone Fast Six, will join Castroneves on the third row on the racetrack.
     Pagenaud was fifth on the time chart in the first practice session. After Pagenaud shut off the car and guided it into the pit box in the afternoon session, general manager Rob Edwards decided to end the practice early to allow the team and Honda engineers to analyze data and prepare the car for qualifying.
    Honda Performance Development engineers decided an engine change was in order, but it fell outside the parameters of an approved engine change (not meeting its mileage limit or is damaged), which triggered the penalty. Pagenaud was quickest of the 26 cars in the morning session (1:01.8929).
     Also on March 24, Tristan Vautier  avoided on-track issues with other competitors, handled three restarts flawlessly and went on to a 1.0391-second victory over Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammate Esteban Guerrieri. Sebastian Saavedra moved up one position to claim third place in the No. 27 Team AFS car and Oliver Webb was fourth in his series debut in the No. 7 Lucas Oil Sam Schmidt Motorsports car.
     Vautier is the 10th driver to win his debut race in the series and the sixth who has won his debut at St. Petersburg (Marco Andretti, Raphael Matos, Junior Strous, J.K. Vernay and Josef Newgarden).
IZOD INDYCAR SERIES POST QUALIFYING QUOTES:
WILL POWER (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, IZOD IndyCar Series pole winner): "I'm very happy to get the first pole for Chevy as they return to the series. I'm really happy for the Verizon Team Penske team. We worked hard over the winter. Roger (Penske) has been pretty keen on winning this championship after the last couple of years. It's a good start. It's only the beginning of the weekend. We need to have a good strategy for the race and see what comes.
RYAN HUNTER-REAY (No. 28 Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda Chevrolet, qualified third): "Yeah, it's certainly fun with all the engines in the new car, all the manufacturers going head to head so St. Pete always puts on a good show and we're really happy to be here. It was a good day for the DHL/Sun Drop car, we had to go to work on it this morning, we weren't really happy with it, and to see where we ended up in the end is not only a testament to the crew and the team, but always to the teamwork and the drivers sharing information and I've got to thank James and Marco also for all their input, which helped make quick cars today. We're proud of Chevy being in the top 5, it's a good way to start the season in the beginning to a long trek, but it was the right way to start off and we're looking forward. Tomorrow's the only real day that counts, and who knows what to expect, so should be exciting for the fans."
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE (No. 27 Team GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, qualified fourth): "I made a little bit of a mistake on my quickest lap, maybe there was a tiny bit left in there, but at the end of the day my first start here and first start of the season, it's a great way to kick it off. So big thanks to everyone at Andretti Autosport and Team GoDaddy. It's nice to be at the sharp end of the first turn in St. Pete."
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Shell V-Power Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske Chevrolet, qualified fifth): "Yes, definitely the Shell VPower boys did an incredible job fixing my car for qualifying, unfortunately was having problems with communication. I couldn't understand anything on the back straight or any straight at all, I kept asking them what position am I in and what's going on, and nobody was giving any information at all. I could see they were trying to communicate but it wasn't working. So I just starting pushing and pushing as hard as you can because nobody is saying anything. So, unfortunately I went over the limit of the car and end up hitting Turn 9, and I thought it was over. And we weren't able to get in the top three, but the guys came fully focused to fix the car and rear suspension and in seven minutes they switched the entire suspension and we were able to go back there. But certainly happy for Team Penske having three cars in the top 5, and Chevrolet as well."
Source: IndyCar

DIXON TOPS TIME SHEETS AGAIN AS SEBRING TEST CONCLUDES
3/09/2012: For the second day in a row, a Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver topped the time sheet as the IZOD IndyCar Series completed its four-day Open Test at Sebring International Raceway.
    Scott Dixon was quickest (on his final lap of the afternoon session) at 51.7938 seconds over the 1.67-mile, 11-turn short course as drivers, teams and manufacturers prepared for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He was the only driver to post a sub-52-second lap during the Open Test, which was divided into two groups (10 cars in the first group and 15 in the second).
    Teammate Dario Franchitti was 0.2219 of a second back, and Rubens Barrichello of KV Racing Technology had a best lap of 52.2242 seconds (0.4305 of a second behind Dixon). Mike Conway, driving the No. 14 ABC Supply car for A.J. Foyt Racing, had another strong outing (52.2243) to place fourth, and Graham Rahal was fifth (52.4692) in the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing car.
    A total of 688 laps were recorded on the day, and 4,107 laps for both groups without incident. Among both groups of drivers, Barrichello ranked fourth on the time sheet -- Helio Castroneves' lap of 52.1413 seconds on March 6 only two-tenths of a second better.
DAY 4 QUOTES:
SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): "Overall it was a good day for Team Target. We got started late because of some issues, and probably didn't get accomplished what we needed to in the first part of the day. We made a big suspension change at lunch time, and I actually didn't like all of that stuff, but we came out around 3 p.m., and didn't have time to go back on those things, so we stuck with it. We made steering changes and damper changes and seem to find a bit of a compromise for what we had. Today was more a day of learning about the new car and trying to soak up as much as we can before St. Pete." (About his fast lap at the end): "We did the work on the car and as the sun went down a bit and the clouds came in, the track picked up some time. We definitely worked to make the car better as well. I was good to do something for the lads at the end and it worked out."
DARIO FRANCHITTI (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): "The team always does a good job, they're very, very good. We're trying to learn these new cars. We're trying to learn the new car, what might break on them, where the weak spots are, how to make them go fast. Honda is learning very quickly too so we're just trying to get through all of this stuff just now. I'm very happy with the two days we've had, obviously the first two days for me right from break-in, we had a lot of questions coming in to this test and we got answers to most of them, so hopefully we can put the pieces together for St. Pete and onwards."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO (No. 8 KV Racing Technology Chevrolet): "We were able to run a good amount of laps again today and look at some different setups. We also practiced pit stops which will served me well. I was able to see how the car reacts coming in on warm tires and leaving on cold tires and seeing where to position the car, all things that are very different to what I am used to. Overall though we have had a very good two days of testing."
MIKE CONWAY (No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing Honda): "We struggled all day to find speed. We need to go quicker because 4 tenths is massive around here. We learned some things but we have more work to do. We just have to keep working at it."
CHARLIE KIMBALL (No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): "We made progress today, probably a little bit more that we did yesterday when we got a little bit frustrated. We found a lot things that didn't work yesterday. We found a lot things that did work today, especially towards the end of the day. We had an issue that cut the day short at the end, so we didn't get to use our last set of new tires. Made progress and we're excited to get the first race."
GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): "We worked through a lot of things, which is the goal here. We're really happy with the performance of the car and the team. We're really bonding and things are working really well. We're right there. We're not far off. At the end of the day, the timesheets may not resemble how competitive we are. Certainly we have improvement to do, but we're creeping up on and getting closer. The track here at Sebring doesn't really resemble any place that we go. It's bumpy like a street course, but it has so much grip that it's not realistic. We're pleased with the performance and looking forward to going to Barber and St. Pete. I think we'll be awfully competitive, so it's good."
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 6 Dragon Racing Lotus): "Now we're just having to deal with balance issues and fixing stuff, so it's more what I'm used to and what my job is rather than worrying if we're going to get the car on the track. So, nothing is ideal, we would have loved to get more done, but at least I will show up in St. Pete having done some laps in the car. And knowing a little bit, making sure the car was right and was doing everything it was expected to do, and to get the communication going with the engineers is what we need to address and to get the communication going with Lotus as well. Just slowly starting, really."
DAY 4 NOTEBOOK:
    Gerry Hughes, joining Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at the Open Test at Sebring International Raceway as race engineer, is a reunion with team co-owner Bobby Rahal, technical director Jay O'Connell and driver Takuma Sato.
    Hughes has 24 years of trackside engineering experience in series such as Formula One, GP2, A1GP, British Touring Cars, Formula 3 and Opel Lotus.
    "Gerry worked for me when I was at Jaguar Formula One and he worked with (O'Connell) as well," Rahal said. "I have known Gerry since 2000 and we have always stayed in touch. He went on to bigger and better things and was involved with Takuma at Super Aguri in F1, and when Honda stopped that program they were a bit adrift. He was looking at making the move to come to the United States long term and so we talked.
    "It is particularly good timing because since he had worked with Takuma there was a comfort level there and a level of communication that usually takes time to build up between two people. For Takuma it's good to have someone he is familiar with and had confidence in. He has a lot of experience in a lot of different formulas and that will be of value to us as a team."
Source: IndyCar
BARRICHELLO AND KANAAN TO DRIVE FOR KV RACING TECHNOLOGY FOR 2012
SĀO PAULO, BRAZIL – MARCH 1, 2012 -- KV Racing Technology announced today that Formula One legend Rubens Barrichello and IZOD IndyCar superstar Tony Kanaan, who often refer to themselves as “brothers”, will both contest the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season for the team.
    Barrichello will pilot the No. 8 BMC | Embrase – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone machine.  Kanaan will drive the #11 GEICO | MOUSER ELECTRONICS – KV Racing Technology car for 10 races, the MOUSER ELECTRONICS | GEICO KV Racing Chevrolet/Firestone entry at four and the ITAIPAVA – KV Racing Technology
Chevrolet/Firestone machine at Brazil.  GEICO and MOUSER ELECTRONICS will be co-primary sponsors at the Indy 500.  Barrichello and Kanaan join E. J. Viso, #5 CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone, in a three-car effort for the team in 2012.
    “I was at Sebring when Rubens first got into an Indy car.  The smile when he got out of the car was a great moment and lasted for three days.  Rubens ended up the fastest at the end of the test, showing the speed he is capable of and his experience setting up a car.  Teamed with his “brother” Tony Kanaan this is going to be an exciting and successful season for the drivers, the team and the fans,” said KVRT co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven.  “
    Jimmy Vasser, the V in KVRT said.  “We are very excited to have both Rubens (Barrichello) and Tony (Kanaan) competing for our team in 2012.  Rubens is going to be a great addition and last year Tony, once again demonstrated his leadership abilities and his proven ability to compete for wins and the championship.  The addition of Rubens and the return of Tony along with E.J. (Viso), gives KVRT a very strong driver line-up and one I am sure can compete for podium finishes and race wins.  I would also like  to thank all the sponsors for making this deal possible and KVRT General Manager Mark Johnson for his tireless work getting all the parties together.”
    Barrichello, whose Formula One career spanned 19-years (1993 – 2011), is the most experienced driver in Formula One history with 322 starts out of 326 races entered.  The 39-year-old native of Brazil was the runner-up in the Formula One championship in 2002 and 2004.  He has earned 11 victories, 14 pole podiums, 68 podiums performances, 106 top-five finishes and172 top-10 showings.  Barrichello, despite his vast racing experience, will now become a rookie in the IZOD IndyCar Series, entering his first season in U.S. based open-wheel competition and starting a new chapter in his career.
   “I am thrilled, it is something very new to me,” Barrichello said.  “I need to thank everyone involved, especially Tony because he has been involved for a long time.  I would also like to thank my sponsors, BMC, Embrase and Locaweb for their help.  This is a new experience, but I am very very happy.  With all my experience I will start as a rookie, but I think I will get better as the year progresses.  My main thing is to be an addition to KV Racing Technology.  They have been doing very well and Tony brought the team to a different level last year, so I hope with my contribution we can build on this and take the team to another level.  I am extremely happy and have a big smile on my face."
    Kanaan, the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series Champion, will contest his 15th U. S. based open-wheel season, 11th in the IndyCar Series (ran one race, the Indy 500 in 2002) and second with KVRT.  One of the most consistent and fearless drivers in the Series, Kanaan is a perennial title threat.  The 37-year-old Brazilian, who finished fifth in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship in 2011, has placed in the top-six in the championship every year he has run the full IndyCar season, a total of nine consecutive seasons.  Kanaan, who holds the IndyCar Series record for consecutive starts at 148, has made a total of 149 IndyCar starts (242 career) earning 14 victories (15 career), 52 podiums (58 career), 85 top-five top-five finishes (101 career) and 111 top-10 showings (160 career) with 11 poles (15 career).
    “I am very excited to be returning to KV Racing Technology not only with a two year deal but also to have Rubens Barrichello as my team mate,” Kanaan said.   “We have always dreamed about racing together but never imagined it would actually happen and certainly not in the near future or in IndyCars.  So I am looking forward to the start of the season, I think its going to be a very exciting year.”
    General Manager Mark Johnson commenting on the addition of Barrichello and Kanaan to the KVRT stable said, “Speaking for the entire KV Racing Technology organization this is truly an exciting time for all of us. The saying ‘Good Things Come to Those That Wait’ could not be truer.  With Rubens addition to the team being just slightly more timely than Tony's situation last year we are ecstatic we could get the deal put together for all of us.  Just as it happened last year Kevin, Jimmy, myself and Rubens (with extensive encouragement from Tony) shook hands and said lets make this happen after the initial Sebring test. Every individual involved has given 150% effort over the last two weeks to insure we were able to push the deal over the finish line. I believe as a team we are very well positioned entering the 2012 IndyCar season.”
Source: KV Racing
Chevy test day at Infineon draws a crowd
By Dave Lewandowski
2/25/2012: About 1,500 fans flocked to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., to get a close-up look at the new IZOD IndyCar Series car on the 2.303-mile road course during a test session for Chevrolet teams. They received considerably more.
    Spectators were able to watch from the main grandstand, wander the garage area and received guided pit tours. During the noon hour, drivers participated in a Q&A session about the new car and engine manufacturer competition, the Infineon course and the depth of competition in the series before signing autographs.
    The IZOD IndyCar Series will make its eighth visit to the scenic venue Aug. 24-26 for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.
“Had a great time with the fans. Great crowd. What support. Feels like a race weekend," said KV Racing Technology's Tony Kanaan, who wasn't driving the No. 11 GEICO KV Racing Technology car but watched Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello put mileage on the car.
     Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe and Will Power, JR Hildebrand of Sausalito, Calif., (National Guard Panther Racing), E.J. Viso (KV Racing Technology), Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) were series regulars who put in miles on the course.
    “It’s great to see so much interest for the new car and INDYCAR and it’s going to be a lot of fun and good racing around here,” said Power, the 2010 and '11 race winner. "I think people can expect a good race here (in August).”
     Briscoe led the pack with a best lap of 1 minute, 17.49 seconds over the 12-turn, course for drivers using the 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 Chevy engine. Power (1:17.83), was second quick, while Hunter-Reay (1:18.43) was third. Viso had a best lap of 1:18.50. Hildebrand checked in at 1:18.73.
    Power earned the Peak Performance Pole Award last August with a best lap of 1:18.6017 in the FIrestone Fast Six (a 10-minute shootout for the top six drivers who advanced from two preliminary rounds based on lap time).
    "Good first day of testing (and) lots to get done tomorrow as well," Hunter-Reay said. "Thanks to all who came out. Huge crowd."
    Barrichello (right), who tested a KV Racing Technology car in late January at Sebring International Raceway, experienced the vertical G forces on the natural terrain course for the first time. Barrichello, who is close to finalizing a move to the series with the team co-owned by Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven, had a best lap of 1:18.91. Kanaan, a countryman and longtime friend, also would be a teammate.
    “We had a lot of fun today learning a different circuit,” said Barrichello, who will give way to Kanaan for the afternoon session at the track Feb. 26. “Physically, this track is very demanding with a lot of medium and high speed corners. Right now, I’m just learning the car and the circuit.”
Source: IndyCar
Honda to power Fisher-Hartman team
By Dave Lewandowski
2/24/2012: Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing's wait for an engine deal for the full IZOD IndyCar Series season is over, and the team can thank a series competitor for its assistance.
    Josef Newgarden, the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion, will drive the No. 67 car for all 16 races, starting with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25. He'll be on track for the first time during an IZOD IndyCar Series test March 8-9 at Sebring International Raceway.
    “Everyone at SFHR is ecstatic about competing in the entire 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season with Josef behind the wheel and with Honda engines,” team co-owner Sarah Fisher said. “We couldn’t have done it without the support of our loyal fans, who mobilized on our behalf through email, social media, texting and phone calls. Their voices were heard.
     "We had been in discussions with Honda since last season, and I'm delighted that it finally came together. My heart has been in IndyCar for several years, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to enter a season as a full-time owner. Honda saw an opportunity and has given our team a chance to be on the grid in St. Petersburg. I’m really proud of the hard work by so many to pull this package together.
    “I’d also like to give special thanks to Indy 500 winner and IZOD IndyCar Series team owner Bobby Rahal for helping us initiate our 2012 partnership with Honda. Bobby once again personified the definition of a gentleman and sportsman, remembering how we helped his son Graham. This is a wonderful example of paying it forward.”
    Fisher stepped from the cockpit of her team’s car for four IZOD IndyCar Series races in early 2010 so Graham Rahal would have a ride. That helped Rahal stay on a career arc that would land him a seat with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2011 and would eventually make the introduction to his current sponsor, Service Central.
    The addition of the team to the Honda lineup was made possible when Bobby Rahal, team principal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan, agreed to the transfer of the engine contract for his second full-season entry to SFHR. Honda and HPD will continue to field 10 full-time IndyCar entries this season.
    The second Rahal Letterman Lanigan entry was to complement the No. 15 car of Takuma Sato, but commercial partnerships didn't come to fruition in time for a full-season deal. Luca Filippi, the 2011 GP2 championship runner-up, has been tied to the effort. Rahal Letterman Lanigan concluded four days of testing Feb. 24 with Sato at Barber Motorsports Park and Sebring International Raceway.
    “Sarah Fisher is a class act and so is everyone at Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing,” said RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal. “The team did great things for Graham when he didn’t have a program, and I am happy we were in a position to help her. We are disappointed that we couldn’t put our second program together in time for the start of the season and hope to have that resolved by the Indianapolis 500.
    "Either way, like the many fans of the team, we are happy that SFHR and Josef Newgarden will compete for a full season in 2012.”
    The partnership with Honda is another step forward for SFHR, which was formed in 2008 as Sarah Fisher Racing and earned its first IZOD IndyCar Series victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway. The Indianapolis-based team announced in December a partnership with businessman Wink Hartman, the hiring of Newgarden as its IZOD IndyCar Series driver and plans to build a new race shop and offices in Speedway, Ind., in the shadows of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    Newgarden, 21, of Tennessee, also will have other private tests scheduled before the season opener.
    “I’m thrilled to get the chance to race the entire season,” Newgarden said. “This is a dream come true, thanks to Honda and the unwavering support of Sarah’s fans. I can’t wait for St. Petersburg.”
Source: IndyCar
IndyCar: Baltimore selects new race operator
2/15/2012: Downtown Baltimore will again come alive Labor Day weekend with the sound of turbocharged IZOD IndyCar Series cars.
    Mayor Stephanie-Rawlings Blake announced Feb. 15 that she has selected Downforce Racing to produce the Baltimore Grand Prix through 2016. Downforce Racing -- a partnership comprised of two Baltimore-based entrepreneurs and an Indianapolis-based construction executive with extensive motorsports experience -- replaces Baltimore Racing Development, which organized and ran the inaugural event in 2011.
    Dale Dillon, who owns Indianaolis-based Dillon Construction Group and Dillon Racing, and Wilkes Lane Racing's Felix J. Dawson and Daniel C. Reck are the promoter principals.
    Dillon has served as head of operations for INDYCAR races in St. Petersburg and Toronto, and was brought in to manage the operations of the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix just weeks before the Sept. 2 race. Dawson and Reck are founding partners of Wilkes Lane Capital, which focuses on advisory services and private investing in the energy sector. Both are former executives of Constellation Energy.
    The partners impressed Mayor Rawlings-Blake with their experienced executive leadership, credentials in racing operations and strong financial management capabilities.
    Dillon, who's also seeking to stage an INDYCAR race weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2013, said the group expects last year’s $47 million economic impact to the city to increase as the event becomes a Labor Day staple. The race weekend also was a promotional home run for the city with an estimated 160,000 spectators , including 41 percent from outside Maryland, flooding the fan-friendly venue.
    "(St. Pete and Toronto) are great events with great attendance," he said. "It's a model we'll be fortunate enough to learn from. These races can be successful and they can be money-makers. There's a passion side to it, and they go hand in hand."
    The NBC Sports Network will broadcast the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races (taped). Will Power of Verizon Team Penske won the inaugural race.
    “The new promoter brings a proven track record in motorsports operations and event management to the race," said INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard, who will join Lotus HVM Racing driver Simona de Silvestro in Baltimore Feb. 16 for a promotional event. "We are confident that this new team will continue to grow the event and make it a success for all those involved.”
Source: IndyCar
IndyCar Series broadcast schedule confirmed
2/14/2012: The IndyCar Series confirmed today its broadcast designations for its 16-race 2012 schedule, highlighted by six races on ABC and 10 events on the newly rebranded NBC Sports Network.
    ABC will carry live coverage of  IndyCar Series races at St. Petersburg, Indianapolis, Belle Isle, Milwaukee, Toronto and Mid-Ohio. The 2012 season will mark the 48th consecutive year that ABC has aired the Indianapolis 500, extending one of the longest relationships between a sporting event and a television network.
    ABC's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and the five other  IndyCar Series races will be expanded to include live streaming of ABC's onboard cameras on ESPN3, ESPN's signature broadband sports network.
    NBC Sports Network, the  IndyCar Series' exclusive cable network, will air live events at Barber Motorsports Park, Long Beach, Sao Paulo, Texas, Edmonton, Qingdao, Infineon, Baltimore and the season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
    Additionally, NBC Sports Network will launch a featured program called INDYCAR 36, which will document 36 hours in the life of an  IndyCar Series driver, taking viewers behind the scenes during select event weekends from the first practice through the checkered flag.
    Formerly known as VERSUS, the NBC Sports Network serves as a 24/7 cable platform for NBC Sports' rich heritage of unmatched storytelling, best-in-class production and broad promotional power.
March 25 Streets of St. Petersburg ABC
April 1 Barber Motorsports Park NBCSN
April 15 Streets of Long Beach NBCSN
April 29 Streets of Sao Paulo NBCSN
May 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway ABC
June 3 Raceway at Belle Isle Park ABC
June 9 Texas Motor Speedway* NBCSN
June 16 The Milwaukee Mile ABC
June 23 Iowa Speedway* NBCSN
July 8 Streets of Toronto ABC
July 22 Edmonton City Centre Airport NBCSN
Aug. 5 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course ABC
Aug. 19 Streets of Qingdao, China NBCSN
Aug. 26 Infineon Raceway NBCSN
Sept. 2 Streets of Baltimore NBCSN
Sept. 15 Auto Club Speedway* NBCSN
Source: Indycar
INDYCAR Race Control team introduced
2/14/2012: INDYCAR President of Competition and Race Director Beaux Barfield has welcomed two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk, former Indy car competitor Johnny Unser and longtime CART/Champ Car senior manager of competition Gary Barnard as race stewards for the 2012  IndyCar Series season.
    Barfield said most Race Control personnel relating to operations roles in 2011 will return, with the functions of the stewards to be altered.
    "It takes a group of eight or nine people to do specific jobs, whether that's communicating with corner workers or dispatching the safety team," Barfield said. "All are necessary to provide a good officiating system. The stewards will really take a step back from being so involved in what the Race Director does.
    "There have been several schools of thought over the years whether there should be one person making the decisions or three. Should there be a vote? It's my job in a drivers' meeting to communicate exactly what my expectations of the drivers are, so it should be one person. That leaves the stewards to be more in a role of a safety net."
     Luyendyk, 58, was the CART and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1985 with Bettenhausen and a three-time pole sitter at the Speedway. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Luyendyk has coached  IndyCar Series drivers the past few seasons and will be the mentor this season. Unser, who competed with Luyendyk on the racetrack and has officiated alongside Barnard, will assist.
    "I wished I would have had that kind of help at Indy in '85," Luyendyk said. "I had to find my way around, and the only advice I ever got was from Mario Andretti who said 'Watch out for this place because it can bite you in a hurry.' We don't have to really coach those guys on how to drive. We have to coach them on how to go about dealing with certain situations and keeping calm. It's more mental coaching than driving coaching. We're going to follow Beaux's lead and we'll be another set of eyes looking at the race and trying to keep it safe for everybody."
    Unser, 53, a nephew of Al and Bobby Unser, was the Race Director of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2008. He made five starts in CART in 1993 and 1994 with Dale Coyne Racing and competed in 15 INDYCAR events. He's a five-time Indianapolis 500 starter (most recently in 2000).
     Barnard, who has held various duties in Race Control for more than 15 years, was a race steward alongside Chief Stewards Wally Dallenbach, Tony Cotman and Chris Kneifel in CART/Champ Car. He also worked in Race Control with Barfield in Champ Car.
    "A steward is kind of an overseer of an event who understands a driver, the product, the officiating, and has a broader sense of everything that goes into making a great event," added Barfield, a former Indy car driver. "By being a safety net to me, it leaves us in a better place moving forward. It also leaves someone in that role to serve as a driver coach.
    "Arie and Johnny bring vast knowledge and experience to driver-related issues, and more importantly as driver coaches to some of the drivers who need help. Putting together a Race Control team is a big task, and I'm very proud of the team assembled and confident in the collective abilities to officiate effectively."
Source: IndyCar
Drivers honored for 2011 performance
2/14/2012: Dario Franchitti and Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden - along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers - were recognized for their achievements in 2011 during the State of INDYCAR presentation.
    Franchitti was presented with the Astor Cup, the IndyCar Series championship Trophy, and accepted the $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award.
    James Hinchcliffe accepted the $50,000  IndyCar Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, and the Tony Renna Rising Star Award.
2011 IZOD IndyCar Series award winners
Championship driver: Dario Franchitti
Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Dario Franchitti
Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch valued at $100,000): Dario Franchitti
Championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Championship team sponsor: Target  
Championship team managers: Scott Harner and Barry Wanser
Chief Mechanic of the Year Award: Kevin O'Donnell
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): James Hinchcliffe
Second place championship driver: Will Power
Second place championship team: Verizon Team Penske
Third place championship driver: Scott Dixon
Third place championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Tony Renna Rising Star Award: James Hinchcliffe
BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Dario Franchitti
Raybestos Road & Street Course Challenge ($25,000 cash or product): Will Power
Source: Indycar
IndyCar: Revised payout program rewards results
2/10/2012: INDYCAR has modified its Leaders Circle program for 2012, capping the number of entrants receiving subsidies totaling $1.16 million through the year at 20 while utilizing additional funds to enhance race payouts to non-Leaders Circle teams.
    Non-Leaders Circle entrants are eligible for payouts in each race aside from the Indianapolis 500, with the highest-finishing entrant receiving $80,000 through $26,000 for fifth place. Additionally, all entrants in the starting field will compete for bonuses of $35,000 for first place, $25,000 for second, $20,000 for third, $15,000 for fourth and $10,000 for fifth place at each IZOD IndyCar Series race aside from the Indianapolis 500.
    Example: A non-Leaders Circle entrant could earn $80,000 if it's best in class and an additional $35,000 for winning the race. It's quite possible that a non-Leaders Circle entrant could surpass the payout to a Leaders Circle entrant.
     Non-Leaders Circle entrants also will receive a $250,000 bonus for successfully qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, with the highest-finishing entrant receiving a $25,000 bonus.
    The Leaders Circle program was established in 2002 to provide incentives to teams that participate in the IZOD Indy Car Series full time. The program leverages relationships built by INDYCAR with its partners, sponsors and suppliers to provide monetary benefits directly to the teams.
    The confirmed 18 returning members that finished in the top 22 in 2011 entrant points were each awarded Leaders Circle designations.
    As part of the criteria to be considered for the other two Leaders Circle openings, INDYCAR principals heard presentations from IZOD IndyCar Series teams regarding their organizational, promotional and marketing plans for 2012. INDYCAR shared its broad-based marketing, business development and public relations objectives in an effort to develop cross-promotional opportunities. INDYCAR can award the remaining spots at its discretion to reach the 20-car cap.
    Based on these presentations, one entry each from Ed Carpenter Racing and Lotus Dragon Racing were selected to fill out the remaining Leaders Circle openings.
    “We want to make sure we’re laying the foundations for our teams to grow strong into the future,” INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard said. “We feel that Ed Carpenter Racing and Lotus Dragon Racing bring the right mix of organizational stability and commercial reach to the sport so we have decided to award them with Leaders Circle designations.”
    INDYCAR also capped the starting field number at 26 entrants for events in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in April and Qingdao, China, in August. The field will be composed of the top 24 in the 2012 entrant point standings entering the event, the highest finisher in the 2011 entrant point standings and a promoter option for the 26th entrant.
    Each Leaders Circle member is assured approximately $1.1 million for the season if the entrant successfully qualifies for the Indianapolis 500 (a $250,000 bonus) and is among the 26 to participate in the China race (a $68,559 bonus).
    The IZOD IndyCar Series champion and championship entrant will share in a $1 million bonus, with second through fifth place in the final standings receiving bonuses of $250,000, $175,000, $125,000 and $75,000.
    All contingency prizes will continue to be awarded to entrants for individual IZOD IndyCar Series events.
Source: IndyCar
Winning combination reunited.  Justin Wilson and Bill Pappas sign with Dale Coyne Racing
1/27/2012: Dale Coyne is “Putting the Band Back Together,” reuniting his team’s race-winning combination of driver Justin Wilson and engineer Bill Pappas.
    After revealing it has secured Honda powerplants for the 2012 season, Coyne announced Wilson, who scored Dale Coyne Racing’s first win at Watkins Glen, N.Y., in July of 2009, will return to the team.
    “I am really excited as to how all of this has come together,” Wilson said. “Dale is committed to win, and it shows by him bringing back my 2009 engineer Bill Papas, the level playing field of a new car and the much appreciated continuation with Honda engines should make 2012 a very exciting year for all of us.”
    Wilson has shown his prowess over the years. He won two IZOD IndyCar races (Detroit in 2008 and again at Watkins Glen in 2009), as well as multiple wins in Champ Car. He's scheduled to test in the Dallara DW12 chassis Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Sebring International Raceway.
    “We are very excited about 2012 and the team we are assembling,” reflected team owner Dale Coyne. “As to this opportunity, racing is a combination of things, team, dedication, the right equipment, and engineering and of course the driver. This combination knows each other and this coupled with Honda and other improvements in our efforts for 2012 and beyond should make for a break out year for Dale Coyne Racing.”
    Returning to DCR squad in 2012 will be engineer Bill Pappas. Pappas joined DCR in 2009 leading Wilson to his win at Watkins Glen, two other top-five finishes and three front row starts.
    “I want to thank Dale for being able to put this combination back together,” said Pappas. “I think the world of Justin and his abilities and now we can seriously get after the challenge of winning more races.”
    Joining Pappas on the engineering side will be John Dick, who has a long history in the sport and most recently as engineer and technical director at KV Racing.
Source: IndyCar
2012 F1000 Championship Series schedule is finalized.
No other dates will be added.
Orientation Program          May 17                 Mosport (reserved track day)
Rounds 1 & 2                      May 18-20            F1000 Grand Prix of Mosport
                                                                          Mosport (w/ NASCAR & Trans-Am)
Rounds 3 & 4                      June 29-30           F1000 Grand Prix at the Glen
                                                                          Watkins Glen International (w/ Grand-Am)
Rounds 5 & 6                      July 6-8                F1000 Grand Prix of Virginia
                                                                          VIRginia (w/ USGT & Viper SRT Cup)
Rounds 7 & 8                      Aug 3-4                 F1000 Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio
                                                                          Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (w/ Indycar & ALMS)
Rounds 9 & 10                    Sept. 14-16           F1000 Grand Prix at Road Atlanta
                                                                           Road Atlanta (w/ HSR-Historics)
Source: F1000 Championship Series