Month of May Schedule Packed with Action, Excitement on IMS Oval, Road Course …

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 27, 2022) – It’s almost time to come Back Home Again.

The Month of May will return to its normal schedule at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with full seating capacity, including the traditional lineup of on-track and off-track activities surrounding the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 & GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14.

Fans can enjoy 11 days of on-track activity on the IMS road course and the historic, 2.5-mile oval. Action on the road course for the GMR Grand Prix will start Friday, May 13, with practice for the Indianapolis 500 starting Tuesday, May 17 on the oval.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will line up to take the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at 12:45 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 29 on the historic, 2.5-mile oval (live on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network). The ninth GMR Grand Prix will kick off the Month of May at IMS at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11 on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course (live on NBC, Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Helio Castroneves will capture the attention of the sporting world as he tries to follow his emotional, record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2021 with a fifth win, elevating him above A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the most successful Indy 500 driver. On the road course, Team Penske will look to continue its hot start to the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season – it has won the first three races – with its sixth GMR Grand Prix victory.

“We have looked forward to a ‘normal’ Month of May for more than two years, and we can’t wait to see all of our loyal fans at the Racing Capital of the World,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “But as anyone who has attended even one Indianapolis 500 or GMR Grand Prix knows, there is nothing ordinary about this magical time of the year at IMS. It’s so special, with action, excitement and memories every single day. We truly welcome everyone back home again.”

Among the highlights of the Month of May at IMS is an exciting new format for PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22.

After Day One of qualifying from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 21, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position.

Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 p.m. to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time.

In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows.

A post-qualifying practice from noon-2 p.m. Monday, May 23 will give fans another opportunity to see NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers hone setups in traffic before Race Day.

Miller Lite Carb Day will feature the final practice before Race Day, with cars on track from 11 a.m-1 p.m. Friday, May 27. The popular INDYCAR Pit Crew Challenge also returns after a two-year hiatus, rewarding the fastest crews in the sport and putting their talent in the spotlight from 2:30-4 p.m.

Month of May action will start on the IMS road course with the GMR Grand Prix, with two full days of on-track action open to the public Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

The GMR Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Only two drivers have swept this event and the Indy 500 in the same year – Will Power in 2018 and Simon Pagenaud in 2019.

A great variety of live music also will complement the exciting on-track action throughout Race Weekend.

Rock’s ultimate supergroup Kings of Chaos and legendary Grammy Award winner Rick Springfield will co-headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 27. Legendary funk and R&B band Morris Day and the Time will open the concert, followed by Springfield and Kings of Chaos. The show starts at 3:30 p.m. on the Miller Lite Stage inside Turn 3 of the IMS oval, a new location this year.

Country music superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, May 28. Special guests Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. (ET) at the TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, further expanding the celebration of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” into downtown Indianapolis.

Superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix will headline a stellar lineup of global electronic music artists at the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light on Sunday, May 29. deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw also will perform at the Race Day concert during the 106^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Performances begin at 8:15 a.m. in the infield adjacent to Turn 3 of the IMS oval.

Tickets on sale now at IMS.com for the ninth GMR Grand Prix & 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Fans 15 and under admitted free for general admission with an accompanying paying adult. No free admission for reserved seats on Race Day for the Indianapolis 500 or GMR Grand Prix.

NINTH GMR GRAND PRIX PUBLIC SCHEDULE

(All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS road course)

FRIDAY, May 13 (General admission $20)

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
8-8:30 a.m.	USF2000 Qualifying
8:45-9:15 a.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying
9:30-10:30 a.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (45 minutes)
10:45-11:30 a.m.	Indy Lights Practice 1
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	USF2000 Race 1
12:45-1:45 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes)
2-2:30 p.m.	Indy Lights Qualifying
2:45-3:35 p.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 1
4-5:15 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES NTT P1 Award Qualifying
5:35-6:30 p.m.	Indy Lights Race 1 (35 laps or 55 minutes)

 

SATURDAY, May 14 (General Admission $40; Reserved Seats Start at $41)

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
8:05-8:50 a.m.	USF2000 Race 2
9:10-10 a.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 2
10:30-11 a.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup
11:15-11:55 a.m.	USF2000 Race 3
12:10-1 p.m.	Indy Pro 2000 Race 3
1:20-2:15 p.m.	Indy Lights Race 2 (35 laps or 55 minutes)
2:40-3:05 p.m.	Silver/Bronze Badge Grid Walk
3:30 p.m.	Ninth GMR Grand Prix (85 laps)
5:45 p.m.	GMR Grand Prix Post-Race Track Invasion

 

106th INDIANAPOLIS 500 presented by Gainbridge PUBLIC SCHEDULE

(All times local, subject to change; all on-track activity on IMS oval)

TUESDAY, May 17 (General Admission $15)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-11 a.m.	Veteran Practice
1-3 p.m.	Rookie Orientation Program, Veteran Refresher Tests
3-6 p.m.	Open Practice

 

WEDNESDAY, May 18-THURSDAY, May 19 (General Admission $15)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
Noon-6 p.m.	Open Practice

 

FRIDAY, May 20 – FAST FRIDAY (General Admission $15)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
Noon-6 p.m.	Open Practice
6:15 p.m.	Qualifications Draw

 

SATURDAY, May 21 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-10:30 a.m.	Pre-Qualifying Practice (Two groups)
Noon-5:50 p.m.	NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying (Setting positions 13-33 or 13-30 if there are more than 33 entries)

 

SUNDAY, May 22 – PPG Presents ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING (General Admission $20)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Last Chance Practice*
12:30-2 p.m.	Top 12 Practice
2-3 p.m.	Last Chance Qualifying (Positions 31-33)*
4 p.m.	Top 12 Qualifying
5:10 p.m.	Firestone Fast Six Qualifying for NTT P1 Award
5:40 p.m.	NTT P1 Award Presentation

* — if necessary

MONDAY, May 23 (General Admission $15; Infield Access Only for Fans)

11 a.m.-2 p.m.	Public Gates Open (Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7, 7S only)
Noon-2 p.m.	Open Practice

TUESDAY, May 24-THURSDAY, May 26

No track activity

 

FRIDAY, May 27 – MILLER LITE CARB DAY (General Admission $40)

8 a.m.-6 p.m.	Public Gates Open
11 a.m.-1 p.m.	Final Practice
2:30-4 p.m.	INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge
4-6 p.m.	Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, Turn 3 infield

 

SATURDAY, May 28 – LEGENDS DAY presented by Firestone (General Admission $10)

8 a.m.-1 p.m.	Public Gates Open
9-10 a.m.	Full Field Driver Autograph Session, Pagoda Plaza
10:30 a.m.	Public Drivers’ Meeting, Tower Terrace
Noon-1:30 p.m.	AES 500 Festival Parade, downtown Indianapolis
7 p.m.	Firestone Legends Day Concert, TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis

 

SUNDAY, May 29 – RACE DAY (General Admission $50; Reserved Seats Start at $55)

6 a.m.-4 p.m.	Public Gates Open
7 a.m.	Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light Gates Open, Turn 3 infield
12:45 p.m.	106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge (200 laps)

Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst Fast Facts …

Race weekend: Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1

Track: Barber Motorsports Park, a 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course (clockwise) in Birmingham, Alabama

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES 90 laps / 207 miles | Indy Lights: 35 laps/55 minutes

Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation

Firestone tire allotment: Six sets primary, four sets alternate, one additional set available for rookies for use in first practice

Twitter: @BarberMotorPark @IndyCar, @IndyLights, #HIGPA, #IndyCar

Event website: www.indyalabama.com

NTT INDYCAR SERIES website: www.indycar.com | Indy Lights website:www.indylights.com

2021 race winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Alex Palou (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

2021 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet), 1:05.8479, 125.744 mph

Qualifying lap record: Pato O’Ward, 1:05.5019, 126.409 mph, April 17, 2021

2021 race winners (Indy Lights): Linus Lundqvist (Race 1); David Malukas (Race 2)

NBC Sports race telecast: 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 1, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.

Peacock Premium Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product. and NBC’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race telecast will be simulcast on the streaming service, while Peacock Premium’s exclusive post-race show – featuring driver interviews, podium ceremonies, and post-race analysis – will be streamed following the race. The Indy Lights Grand Prix of Alabama will be streamed on Peacock Premium with practice and qualifying being shown on INDYCAR Live!, available on the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn and Alex Wollf are the pit reporters. The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race (12:30 p.m. ET), Indy Lights Grand Prix of Alabama (11 a.m. ET) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time):

Friday, April 29

1:45-2:30 p.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practice, INDYCAR Live!

3-4 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, (45-minute session), Peacock Premium (live)

Saturday, April 30

9-10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, (45-minute session), Peacock Premium (live)

11-11:30 a.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires practice, INDYCAR Live!

Noon -1:15 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock Premium (live)

2:35-3:05 p.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires qualifying, INDYCAR Live!

4:20-4:50 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock Premium (live)

Sunday, May 1

10 a.m. – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Alabama (35 laps / 55 minutes), Peacock Premium (live)

Noon – NBC Sports on air

12:08 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”

12:15 p.m. – Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst (90 laps / 207 miles), NBC, and Peacock Premium (live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

• Josef Newgarden kept Team Penske perfect in 2022 by winning his second consecutive race at the Long Beach Grand Prix on April 10. Newgarden, a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, leads teammate Scott McLaughlin by five points heading into the critical Month of May, which has more than 400 points on offer with races at Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and the double points-paying Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
• The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will be the 12th NTT INDYCAR SERIES event conducted at Barber Motorsports Park. Active race winners who are expected to compete are: Helio Castroneves, Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Takuma Sato and Alex Palou.

ACTIVE RACE WINNER	WINS	SEASONS
Josef Newgarden	3	2015, 2017, 2018
Will Power	2	2011, 2012
Alex Palou	1	2021
Takuma Sato	1	2019
Simon Pagenaud	1	2016
Helio Castroneves	1	2010

• Five drivers have won the race from the pole – Will Power in 2011, Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2013, Simon Pagenaud in 2016, Josef Newgarden in 2018 and Takuma Sato in 2019.

ACTIVE POLE WINNER	POLES	SEASONS
Will Power	4	2010, 2011, 2014, 2017
Helio Castroneves	2	2012, 2015
Pato O’Ward	1	2021
Takuma Sato	1	2019
Josef Newgarden	1	2018
Simon Pagenaud	1	2016

• Scott Dixon has finished on the podium in nine of his 11 previous starts at Barber Motorsports Park – including six runner-up finishes – but he has yet to finish on the top step of the podium at the picturesque road circuit.
• Josef Newgarden can clinch the PeopleReady Force For Good Challenge’s $1 million prize by winning at Barber Motorsports Park – where he has won three times in his career. Newgarden has wins on an oval (Texas Motor Speedway) and street circuit (Streets of Long Beach). A win on a road course would earn him a $500,000 bonus and a matching $500,000 donation for his charities, Wags and Walk Nashville and SeriousFun Children’s Network.
• Five drivers have competed in every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Barber Motorsports Park – Scott Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato. All but Hunter-Reay are entered this season.
• Team Penske has six wins at Barber Motorsports Park (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2018). Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Ed Carpenter Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing are the only other teams to win at the track. Andretti Autosport won in 2013 and 2014 with Ryan Hunter-Reay. Ed Carpenter Racing won with Josef Newgarden in 2015, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won in 2019 with Takuma Sato, and Chip Ganassi Racing won in 2021 with Alex Palou.
• Twenty of the 26 drivers entered in the event have competed in NTT INDYCAR SERIES races at Barber Motorsports Park. Eleven entered drivers have led laps: Will Power 212, Josef Newgarden 133, Helio Castroneves 93, Simon Pagenaud 87, Takuma Sato 74, Alex Palou 56, Scott Dixon 46, Pato O’Ward 25, Graham Rahal 25, Alexander Rossi 3 and Rinus VeeKay 1.
• Six NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year contenders – Tatiana Calderon, Devlin DeFrancesco, Callum Ilott, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, David Malukas – are entered and will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at Barber Motorsports Park for the first time.
• Milestones: Marcus Ericsson will attempt to make his 50th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start … Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 292nd consecutive start, the second-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Notes:

• Indy Lights returns to the track after a two-month layoff. Matthew Brabham took advantage of the misfortune of his Andretti Autosport teammates to win the season opener at St. Petersburg but faces a tough test at Barber, where HMD Motorsports swept the doubleheader in 2021 with Linus Lundqvist and David Malukas.
• The 2022 season features a deep and talented field with race winners such as Linus Lundqvist and Matthew Brabham joining a promising rookie class that includes Christian Rasmussen (Indy Pro 2000 champ), Hunter McElrea (Indy Pro 2000), Kyffin Simpson (Formula Regional Americas champion) and Ernie Francis Jr. (seven-time Trans-Am champion/Formula Regional Americas). Other contenders include returning drivers Danial Frost, Sting Ray Robb, and Benjamin Pedersen.

Qualifying Procedure Expanded for 106th Indianapolis 500 …

Additional Round To Establish First Four Rows, Decide Pole Position

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, April 26, 2022) – The most pressure-filled four laps in racing have become even more challenging for those looking to qualify well and win the pole position for the 106^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

INDYCAR officials have announced adjustments to PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, which sets the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After Day One of qualifying from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 21, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position.

Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 p.m. to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time.

In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows.

“We have an incredibly deep field heading into this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “The timing is right to implement a new and dramatic way to expand one of the most intense weekends on our calendar. Winning pole position for the ‘500’ is an incredible feat, and with this new format, it will be even more challenging.”

2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to 12th fastest (one point).

“Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend always is special,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said “This format will give our fans even more opportunities to see INDYCAR’S world-class drivers compete on racing’s biggest stage. While winning the race is the ultimate prize, capturing pole position for the ‘500’ is one of motorsports’ most prestigious honors and almost a race within a race. I cannot wait to see this expanded format on the final Sunday before Race Day.”

A Last Chance Qualifying session for spots 31-33 is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 22 if there are more than 33 entries competing for a spot in the world’s most prestigious auto race. Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and can make multiple attempts until time expires. If multiple attempts are made, previous times are withdrawn, and the fastest non-qualified car assumes the 33rd spot.

PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Schedule (All times ET, subject to change):

Saturday, May 21

9-10:30 a.m.: Pre-Qualifying Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

Noon-5:50 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying: Setting positions 13-33 (or 13-30 if more than 33 entries) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

Sunday, May 22

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Last Chance Practice (If necessary): Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

12:30-2 p.m.: Top 12 Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

2-3 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying: (Positions 31-33, if necessary) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

4 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Top 12 Qualifying: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

5:10 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

5:40 p.m.: NTT P1 Award Presentation: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

A practice session for all 33 Indianapolis 500 starters is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. Monday, May 23, with live coverage on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Fans will be permitted in the infield only. Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7 and 7S will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bronze and silver badges will be honored for gate admission and corresponding garage and pit access.

Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Peacock Premium, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The full Month of May schedule will be announced later.

The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues Sunday, May 1 at Barber Motorsports Park for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. on NBC, with INDYCAR Radio Network coverage available at 12:30 p.m.

Penske Entertainment Announces Next Phase of Transformational Sustainability Initiatives …

Indy 500 Continues To Set Industry-Leading Pace on Environmental Impact

Firestone To Introduce New Race Tire with Sustainable Natural Rubber
at Indy 500 Carb Day

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, April 22, 2022) – Penske Entertainment announced a robust and innovative lineup of environmental impact initiatives this afternoon, aiming to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and significantly boost sustainability efforts within the sport of INDYCAR. These steps are the latest and most comprehensive elements of a long-term strategy for the organization that has been developed over the last two years.

The announcements made today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway DEX Imaging Media Center coincided with wider efforts across the nation and globe to celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22. They were unveiled in partnership with Firestone, Shell, and additional corporate partners, which have worked with IMS and INDYCAR on a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the venue and sport.

“This will be the most sustainable Indy 500 in our 100-plus year history,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said. “Moreover, through excellent coordination and teamwork with partners who are true innovators in this field, we’re moving INDYCAR toward industry leadership when it comes to environmental awareness and impact.”

Month of May – Fueling Progress & Building Toward a Greener Future

Longtime series partner and tire supplier Firestone will play a key role in efforts surrounding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and throughout the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Firestone is a trailblazer in the charge for alternative and renewable sources of natural rubber and will debut a new and eco-friendly tire this May.

The Firestone Firehawk guayule race tire will be used for the first-time during Miller Lite Carb Day’s INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge and will make its competition debut as the alternate race tire in August at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. It is partially composed of a new sustainable natural rubber derived from the guayule shrub, which requires less reharvesting than traditional sources of rubber.

“It will take partnership and collaboration to combat the impacts of global climate change, and we are proud to partner with Penske, INDYCAR, and IMS to advance the future of sustainable mobility,” said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president, Solutions Businesses, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “The introduction of guayule natural rubber to America’s preeminent open-wheel racing series speaks to the confidence we have in the technology and its promise as a scalable, sustainable and domestic raw material.”

Firestone, IMS, the state of Indiana, and veteran motorsports partner Shell also announced today that all race tires being supplied for Indy 500 practice, qualifications and Race Day will be delivered to the “Racing Capital of the World” from their Central Indiana warehouse using the Freightliner eCascadia from Penske Truck Leasing’s fleet of electric vehicles. To assist with the effort, a 150kW, high-power electric charger is being installed on the IMS grounds, in coordination with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Shell Recharge Solutions. The EV charging station is manufactured by BTC Power (Broadband TelCom Power, Inc.).

“We’re working every day to make sure Indiana is a leader when it comes to renewable energy solutions,” Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “I can’t think of a better way to show our commitment to cleaner energy than by putting it on display during the largest sporting event in the world.”

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway also will take significant steps toward cleaner energy consumption and a lowered carbon footprint across the Month of May. Like in 2021, all electricity consumed throughout the facility in May will continue being purchased via 100 percent renewable energy credits.

In addition, IMS has teamed up with Shell and climate technology company CHOOOSE on the implementation of a new customer program that allows fans to offset their travel footprint through a nominal contribution to the GreenTrees reforestation project. IMS also will offset its entire operational carbon footprint during the Month of May through its contributions to GreenTrees, a vital effort that restores natural habitats in more than 1 million acres across seven states in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

“At Shell, we aim to provide more and cleaner energy solutions in a responsible manner – in a way that balances short- and long-term interests,” explained Dani Silva, Shell vice president of Enterprise Accounts. “We are very pleased to be a part of Penske Entertainment Corp.’s efforts in increasing the sustainability of motorsports and the off-track potential it also enables.”

Other initiatives of note during the Month of May include:

• Increased waste diversion efforts throughout the facility with expanded recycling and food recovery programs.
• Legends, the official IMS retail partner, will open a fully sustainable store inside an electric truck. All items sold in the truck will be reusable or designed from recycled plastic bottles.

Last year, the Indy 500 was certified at the Silver level by the Council for Responsible Sport after achieving 37 social and environmental standards of good practice. The venue implemented facility upgrades to increase both energy and water-use efficiency, calculated a robust greenhouse gas emissions inventory and enhanced its “Bike to the 500” program. IMS is working toward becoming the first sports facility in the world to become a Responsible Sport Certified venue.

INDYCAR’s Sustainable Path Forward

Alongside work with Firestone on expanded use of the guayule natural rubber, INDYCAR also announced today that starting with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear in June, all 26 NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars will be transported by trucks that are fueled by renewable diesel, which significantly reduces travel-related emissions.

“The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and its partners are continually evaluating ways to lower our footprint and create a more sustainable future,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “We’re looking forward to using renewable diesel in our transporters beginning in June and expect to have several more important initiatives to unveil in the near future.”

This year’s Indianapolis 500 at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway takes place on Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The schedule for the 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season can be found here and is available to fans to watch across NBC Sports platforms.

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Newgarden Keeps Penske Perfect with Long Beach Victory …

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Sunday, April 10, 2022) – Josef Newgarden kept Team Penske unbeaten in three NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season with his second consecutive win of 2022, capturing the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in a tight, three-way tussle under brilliant Southern California sunshine Sunday.

Newgarden earned his first career Long Beach victory in the No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, holding off Romain Grosjean in the No. 28 DHL Honda and reigning series champion Alex Palou in the No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Grosjean tied a career-best by finishing second, with Palou rounding out the podium finishers in third.

The race ended under caution after Takuma Sato speared the tire barrier in Turn 8 on Lap 84 of the 85-lap race.

“This was a fight today,” Newgarden said. “This was not an easy race to win. I was working my butt off with Grosjean at the end there on the used reds (Firestone alternate tires). This Hitachi car was on it. I’ve been trying to win a race here for 11 years, so I’m so happy to get it done.”

2014 series champion Will Power finished fourth in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet as Team Penske has claimed at least two of the first four spots at the finish in all three races this season. The last time Team Penske won the first three races of the season was in 2012, and Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020 was the last NTT INDYCAR SERIES team to open a season with three straight wins.

Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, his first top-10 result of the season.

Two-time series champion Newgarden took the series points to lead with his 22nd career INDYCAR SERIES victory. He leads teammate Scott McLaughlin, who won the season opener at St. Petersburg, 118-113. McLaughlin finished 14th in the No. 3 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet.

Newgarden took the lead for good on Lap 55 when leader Palou made his final pit stop for fuel and primary Firestone tires. Newgarden pitted for the last time two laps later, also taking fuel and Firestone primary tires, and upon pit exit narrowly stayed ahead of Palou, who was screaming down the main straightaway on Shoreline Drive trying to win a drag race for the lead.

The two series champions went side by side in a duel for the lead on Newgarden’s out lap after his pit stop, making slight hip check contact in Turn 5 of the 11-turn, 1.968-mile street circuit. But Newgarden stayed in front.

“I think the out lap with Palou was riskier,” Newgarden said. “We got together in T5 going in deep, and that almost didn’t work out when we were side by side in that corner. We were side by side in Turn 6.

“That was the difficult battle. But I think Grosjean, overall, just had a better shot of getting it done. But fortunately, we just held on.”

Grosjean was on a different strategy than all the other leading cars, as he took Firestone alternate tires on his final pit stop on Lap 56, the lap between Palou and Newgarden’s last stops. The “red” tires offer more traction with their softer rubber, but they wear more quickly.

Still, Grosjean was able to save his grippier but less durable tires over the final stint because two of the race’s four caution periods took place between his final stop and the race-ending caution after Sato collided with the tire barrier in the No. 51 Nurtec ODT Honda on Lap 84 after a joust for a position with Rinus VeeKay’s No. 21 Alzamend Neuro Chevrolet.

Grosjean took advantage of the extended tire wear to pass Palou with an outside move into Turn 1 on Lap 70. He then set his sights on Newgarden, pulling close while using all his available push-to-pass boost.

A caution triggered by Jimmie Johnson spinning into the tire barriers in Turn 8 on Lap 76 in his No. 48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and collecting the No. 18 HMD Honda of rookie David Malukas bunched the field one last time and gave Grosjean his best chance at passing Newgarden.

Newgarden got a strong jump on the restart, but an alert Grosjean also got a great restart and stayed on Newgarden’s gearbox, with Palou in tow. But Grosjean never got close enough before the race-ending caution.

“Very close, but not close enough,” Grosjean said. “That was fun. With the right tire strategy and with the last caution, I thought it was going to be great. He (Newgarden) did one mistake, but I just couldn’t use it.”

NTT P1 Award winner Colton Herta led 28 laps – just four shy of Newgarden’s race-high total of 32 – but his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda was eliminated from the race in a crash in Turn 9 while running third on his in lap to the pits on Lap 56.

Newgarden is just one step away from winning the PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge with his victory. The challenge offered by the industrial staffing giant is a bonus of $1 million to be awarded to the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver who can win on all three unique styles of tracks – street circuits, road courses and ovals – this season. The reward, if earned, will be divided, with $500,000 shared by the driver and his team and $500,000 presented to their chosen charity.

Newgarden already has won this season on an oval (Texas Motor Speedway) and a street circuit (Long Beach). His first opportunity for a road course victory comes at the next event, the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst on May 1 at Barber Motorsports Park, where he has three career INDYCAR SERIES victories (2015, 2017, 2018).

PeopleReady is offering an additional $10,000 to the winner of every race this season, also to be split with their selected charity. Newgarden is splitting his award from today’s race with SeriousFun Children’s Network and Wags & Walks Nashville.

Honda IndyCar Toronto Returns to Exhibition Place, July 15-17, 2022 …

— Public ticket sales begin this Thursday —

TORONTO (April 11, 2022) – The Honda Indy Toronto makes its much-anticipated return to this summer’s events calendar in downtown Toronto, July 15-17. Public tickets sales will launch for all 2-Day tickets on Thursday (April 14) at 10 a.m. EDT online at hondaindy.com.  

After fans and festival goers missed out on this Toronto tradition the last two summers, the 34th edition of the annual gathering resumes. The 2.874-kilometer (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary course around the Exhibition Place grounds has a long and storied history on the INDYCAR annual schedule, ranking second only to this past weekend’s Long Beach, Calif. stop in years run amongst street courses and the U.S.-based series’ only international race. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Sunday, July 17th again headlines the weekend filled with on track and off track activities. 

“It’s great to be able to say this. The Honda Indy Toronto returns!” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Honda Indy Toronto. “This is one of the must-see and do events on Toronto’s annual calendar. We thank our partners led by Honda Canada and our fans for sticking with us and their patience as we get back to racing at Exhibition Place.” 

Thunder Alley will be filled with displays and activations again, plus food and fun for all ages. Access to the “locker room of motorsports” will be possible with the purchase of a Paddock Pass, and those looking for any even closer experience to the action can add a Pit Pass. More announcements will be forthcoming about Honda Indy Toronto weekend features including Honda Fan Friday which offers complimentary admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers. Any health and safety protocols advised as necessary by local health officials at the time of the event will be implemented.  

Pricing starts at $75 for 2-Day General Admission for Saturday and Sunday. Bronze-level 2-Day Grandstand seating is $95. Silver and Gold levels are available for $155 and $220, respectively. The Gold 2-Day Grandstand seat also includes a Paddock Pass. For full ticket pricing and 2022 event information and news, visit hondaindy.com or follow Honda Indy Toronto on social media using #indyTO.

About Honda Indy Toronto: Honda Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.89-kilometer, 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays, and activities, and supports local charities. Honda Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association. Over $820,000 has been raised in ten years for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario’s largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest racecar drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens, and more. Canadians Dalton Kellett and Devlin DeFrancesco will be in this year’s starting field. Honda Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR races, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (Feb. 25-27, 2022), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 1-3, 2022), and Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 2-4, 2022).

INDYCAR Moves New Hybrid Powertrain Debut to 2024 …

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 3, 2022) – Due to ongoing global supply chain challenges with some hybrid system components, INDYCAR announced it has adjusted the debut of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology to the 2024 season.

In consultation with engine partners Chevrolet and Honda, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue to use the current 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 powerplant for the 2023 season.

“We are pleased with the pace of the technical development of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 hybrid as we prepare it for competition,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “We are very encouraged by the progress our team and our partners have made, but an immediate decision needed to be made to ensure we are prepared for the 2023 season utilizing our current 2.2-liter engine package.

“Thanks to our great partners at Honda and Chevrolet for working through this challenging supply chain situation. We are going full speed ahead with the 2.4-liter hybrid engine and cannot wait to have it on track in 2024.”

The development of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology involves cutting-edge innovations unique to INDYCAR. The new engine will give the most exciting and competitive racing series in the world a roaring and powerful 800 horsepower as a baseline. The addition of the hybrid system will provide an additional boost of 100 horsepower to ultimately produce 900.

“We are proud of the hard work and level of commitment by our engine group, along with our teams and partners, in the development of the Chevrolet 2.4-liter engine for our INDYCAR program,” said Mark Stielow, director, GM Motorsports Competition Engineering. “We were certainly excited to have it on track next season. Chevrolet remains fully committed to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and we look forward to debuting our future engine package in 2024.”

“We are very excited to get the electrified era of INDYCAR SERIES racing underway,” said David Salters, president, and technical director, Honda Performance Development. “We have finished development and dyno testing of our new internal combustion engine. Once the hybrid system component supply chain issues are sorted, we’ll begin track testing of the new hybrid power unit.”

J.R. Hildebrand To Drive the No. 11 ROKiT Chevrolet on Oval Tracks in 2022 …

INDIANAPOLIS (March 11, 2022) — J.R. Hildebrand has been signed to drive the No. 11 ROKiT Chevrolet on the oval tracks in the NTT INDYCAR Series this season. The 34-year-old Boulder, Colorado resident will share the car with Tatiana Calderón, of Bogota, Colombia, who is driving the No. 11 ROKiT Chevy on the road and street circuits.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity to get back in the car, do a little more racing, and work with the AJ Foyt Racing squad again,” said Hildebrand. “Although the results may not have looked special on paper, I was really impressed by what we accomplished last year at the 500 and look forward to attacking these other ovals on the IndyCar schedule alongside Kyle and Dalton.”

The first of five races for Hildebrand will be the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 20. He will also compete in the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Hy-Vee doubleheader at Iowa Speedway in July, and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway in August.

Last year, Hildebrand signed with AJ Foyt Racing to drive the team’s fourth entry in the Indianapolis 500 with sponsorship from Foyt’s longtime sponsor ABC Supply. He qualified 22nd and finished 15th, the highest finisher on the four-car team.

A.J. Foyt shares an anecdote with J.R. Hildebrand last year in the Foyt garage at Indy.

“We had a great experience working with J.R. last year, and there is no doubt he is very competitive at Indianapolis,” said Team President Larry Foyt. “He is still very motivated to drive Indy cars and is a setup-savvy, technical driver who will be a strong addition at our oval races this year.”

Hildebrand scored his career-best finish of second as a rookie in 2011, the Centennial Running of the Indianapolis 500. It was a bittersweet finish for the then 23-year-old who had taken the lead with two laps to go. Passing a lapped car, his car pushed high and tapped the outside wall which slowed him enough to allow Dan Wheldon to win the historic event. In 11 Indy 500 starts, Hildebrand has qualified in the top-10 four times and posted four top-10 finishes.

The 2009 Indy Lights champion has started in 66 INDYCAR races and claimed 17 top-10s including seven top-5s, three of which were on the podium.

The XPEL 375 will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 12:30 p.m. ET. Qualifying will be held on Saturday and streamed on Peacock starting at 2 p.m. ET.

Hildebrand drove the No. 1 ABC Supply Chevrolet in last year’s Indianapolis 500. The livery was designed to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Foyt’s first of four Indy 500 victories in 1961.

Famous Blue Envelopes of Indy 500 Tickets Racing to Global Fans …

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 10, 2022) – Indianapolis 500 fans across the globe will soon see another milestone in the countdown to the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as the highly anticipated blue envelopes featuring Race Day tickets are mailed Thursday, March 10 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.

The initial ticket mailing of more than 150,000 tickets includes shipments to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 36 countries around the world as race fans eagerly await Indy 500 Race Day on Sunday, May 29.

Countries, where tickets will be mailed, include Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, France, Colombia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Japan and Denmark – all home countries for drivers expected to compete for a starting spot in this year’s Indy 500.

It takes approximately nine weeks to package all pre-ordered tickets for mailing, from orders the day after the previous year’s race up to current orders. Hard work from employees in the Ticket Office and other IMS, INDYCAR and IMS Productions departments ensures the ticketing process runs smoothly and on schedule.

A few facts and figures about this year’s initial ticket mailing:

• Number of tickets sent: More than 150,000 Race Day tickets and more than 180,000 products (includes Race Day tickets, parking, concert tickets, etc.)
• Number of blue envelopes sent: More than 25,000
• Number of U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate envelopes: More than 580
• Weight of all ticket envelopes and trays in first mailing: More than 5,000 pounds
• Hours needed to fill envelopes by hand: More than 880 person-hours
• Number of working days to package envelopes: 43
• Number of Penske Entertainment employees who fill envelopes: 34

Federal postal inspectors came to IMS with a large truck for the first mailing. Many IMS employees pitched in to help load the trucks for delivery Thursday. This year, they were joined by 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi, who helped load the truck with tickets so race fans can see him compete for his second Indy 500 win in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda in person.

Receiving an eagerly awaited blue envelope in the mail is a rite of spring for thousands of fans of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” But why are the envelopes blue?

In the 1970s, Indianapolis 500 tickets were mailed in brown envelopes with the IMS return address in the upper left corner. In the 1980s, a heavier-stock, gray-colored envelope was introduced to mail the tickets, with just the IMS Post Office box number in the upper left corner. A computerized printer also was used for the first time in the 1980s to print ticket customers’ name and address on each envelope.

When the NASCAR Cup Series was added to the IMS schedule in 1994, the Ticket Office needed a way to distinguish between the envelopes containing tickets for the Indianapolis 500 and the annual NASCAR race, especially if the Postal Service returned the envelope as non-deliverable.

So, the IMS Ticket Office decided to color-code the ticket envelopes for each event. Indianapolis 500 ticket envelopes became blue, Brickyard Weekend envelopes became purple, GMR Grand Prix envelopes became green, and ticket envelopes for other IMS events use a variety of colors, including red, cream, gray and yellow.

Tickets for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29, the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14, and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.

Premier Entertainment Lineup Announced for Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend …

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (March 7, 2022) — Hy-Vee, Inc. and INDYCAR announce that four award-winning music acts will perform live during Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend, July 22-24, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Tickets for Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.hyveeindycarweekend.com or by calling the race ticket office at (641) 417-6007.

Three-time Grammy award-winning country music superstar Tim McGraw will perform prior to the start of the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 presented by DoorDash NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on Saturday, July 23. Following Saturday’s race, Billboard record-holding country music duo Florida Georgia Line will take to the stage at Iowa Speedway. On Sunday, July 24, three-time Grammy award winner and multi-platinum artist Gwen Stefani will perform prior to the start of the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 presented by Google NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. A performance by nine-time Grammy-nominated country music artist Blake Shelton will provide a memorable ending to the turbocharged weekend following Sunday’s race.

Both pre- and post-race concerts are included with Saturday and Sunday Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend tickets as each artist will perform on stage trackside, in front of the main grandstands at Iowa Speedway. Both pre-race concerts will feature 50-minute performances while each post-race concert will feature a 90-minute show. Ticketholders can also purchase a Post-Race Concert Pit Pass for both the Florida Georgia Line (Saturday) and Blake Shelton (Sunday) live performances. The Post-Race Concert Pit Pass will provide access to an exclusive area near the start/finish line for an up-close view of the live performance. To purchase a Post-Race Concert Pit Pass, visit www.hyveeindycarweekend.com.

“We want this event to be one of the most talked-about events of the year by providing race-goers with an unforgettable experience,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman and CEO. “We are thrilled to work with our sponsors to bring this caliber of musical entertainment to Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway. Iowa will be the place to be this summer with these live music acts coupled with nationally televised INDYCAR races and a festival-like atmosphere that has something for everyone to enjoy.”

In addition to premier on-track action with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as the rising stars of racing competing in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend will include a festival-like atmosphere with three days of music, food and family-focused entertainment, including:

A Food Truck Village featuring dozens of Midwest food trucks
Kids’ games and activities on Saturday, July 23
Special activities to honor the nation’s farmers on Sunday, July 24
… And much more!

“What an incredible music lineup for fans to enjoy during Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend,” said Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, which owns INDYCAR. “With some of the biggest names and best performers in music, combined with great racing at the ‘Fastest Short Track on the Planet,’ the weekend is going to deliver an experience unlike one we have ever seen in INDYCAR. Thanks to the continued support of our partners at Hy-Vee, fans in Iowa will be part of something special during Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend.”

Special thanks are extended to the following Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend sponsors: Accenture, ACI Worldwide, Carrier Access, EMC Insurance Companies, GK Software, Holmes Murphy & Associates, Hussmann, Iowa Lottery, John Deere, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, MercyOne, Mittera, Musco Sports Lighting, Pella Corporation, POET, Prairie Meadows, Principal Financial Group, RSMUS LLP, Salesforce, Seneca and Sukup Manufacturing Co.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee first became involved in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES when the supermarket chain was the primary sponsor for Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing’s No. 15 car in Race 2 of the 2020 Iowa Speedway doubleheader. In its third year of sponsoring RLL, Hy-Vee provides primary sponsorship of RLL’s No. 45 car, which will be driven by Jack Harvey, and associate sponsorships of Graham Rahal’s No. 15 car and No. 30 car, which will be driven by newcomer Christian Lundgaard.

Hendrickson Expands Partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing …

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (March 4, 2022) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Hendrickson, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of suspension systems and components to the global commercial transportation industry, has entered into a new multi-year agreement with the team for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that will extend their full season associate sponsorship and expand to see Hendrickson become the primary sponsor of the No. 30 entry for Christian Lundgaard at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, July 1-3.

Hendrickson joined the team as an associate sponsor in 2019 and created a purpose-built engineering support trailer that made its debut at the 2019 Indianapolis 500. The trailer enables the team to maximize the information sharing between their three fulltime INDYCAR programs at each of the race events in the interest of performance.

“Hendrickson is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of medium and heavy-duty suspensions systems that keep both LANCO’s and RLL’s transportation safely moving forward,” said Mike Lanigan, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with Bobby Rahal and David Letterman. “Being aligned with a first-class global transportation industry leader is an honor ad we are proud to be representing the men and women of Hendrickson.”

“Hendrickson is excited to continue its relationship with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing into 2023,” added Jeff Sass, Vice President of Marketing for Hendrickson. “The sharing of ideas and RLL’s advanced engineering process has been a real win for Hendrickson. In addition, the interaction between the RLL team and Hendrickson’s customers is first rate on race day. Hendrickson is proud to be associated with the entire Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team.”

The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 25-27. The 17-race schedule includes 13 races broadcast on NBC, with the remaining races on Peacock and USA Network including the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 on Saturday, July 23, and the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 on Sunday, July 24 – both at Iowa Speedway and co-promoted by team partner Hy-Vee and INDYCAR. For more information about the series or team, visit www.indycar.com and www.rahal.com.

Helio Castroneves Unveils Historic Image on Borg-Warner Trophy at Indiana Statehouse …

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 3, 2022) – 2021 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Helio Castroneves unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy for the fourth time Thursday, March 3 at the Indiana Statehouse.

Castroneves, a native of Brazil, became the fourth four-time “500” winner when he captured the 105^th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” last May 30. He etched his name alongside this race’s greatest names in A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears by joining their exclusive club of four-time winners.

“I’m beyond lucky to get to have another face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy,” Castroneves said. “It’s an exciting time to get to celebrate this special moment at the Indiana Statehouse, as well. It’s been such a great experience making my full-time return to INDYCAR with Meyer Shank Racing. Last year was just the start of a really great partnership together, and now we begin the drive for five.”

Among the guests present at the trophy unveiling were Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles and BorgWarner Inc. Global Director of Marketing and Public Relations Michelle Collins.

“This is one of the most historic unveilings of a likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy we’ve ever had as Helio’s image now appears for the fourth time on this beautiful trophy,” Boles said. “It’s exciting to get to celebrate something that only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have done and place Helio alongside those iconic names. While Helio isn’t from Indiana, he definitely knows what it means to be a Hoosier, and we are proud to stand in the Indiana Statehouse today for this very special occasion.”

Said Collins: “Today is a special day for everyone involved as we get to finally unveil the winning driver’s image on the Borg-Warner Trophy. BorgWarner is proud to be able to reward Helio Castroneves’ hard work on the track, winning his record tying fourth Indianapolis 500, with this beautiful sterling silver likeness created by sculptor William Behrends. The unveiling of the winning driver’s image is a fun and memorable annual event that showcases the winner’s likeness, along with all the other past winners of the Indianapolis 500 dating back to 1911 when Ray Harroun drove to victory.

“Helio and everyone at Meyer Shank Racing performed flawlessly on Race Day last May to put their names atop the record book. Helio is a wonderful ambassador for the sport, and everyone at BorgWarner is proud to be associated with him. We recognize his greatness and never-ending smile on and off the track.”

As part of the unveiling ceremony, Holcomb presented Castroneves with the flag flown at the Indiana Statehouse on the day of his historic win. Castroneves reciprocated by giving Holcomb an iconic bottle of milk, the drink enjoyed by all Indy 500 winners in Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Castroneves’s image on the world-famous trophy was created once again by sculptor William Behrends, who has crafted the sterling silver, bas relief images of all winners for the trophy since 1990.

Commissioned by BorgWarner in 1935, the sterling silver trophy stands more than 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds, honoring every winner since 1911 with their sculpted faces affixed to the iconic trophy.

Through a multi-phase process, Behrends begins creating the likeness of the drivers. Castroneves visited Behrends at his studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session to produce a full-scale clay model of his face. While Behrends has sculpted Castroneves’ face three previous times for his wins in 2001, ’02 and ’09, this was the first time Castroneves visited Behrends’ studio. Until 2015, Behrends created the faces on the Borg-Warner Trophy from 360-degree, black and white photos taken the morning after the race.

The life-size clay image is used as a reference when Behrends works on the smaller model, which is created out of a mixture of oil-based clays. The clay model is eventually turned into a mold and then cast in wax, which is sent out to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends ends his process by polishing and buffing the image before attaching it to the Borg-Warner Trophy.

Later this year, Castroneves will receive his fourth BorgWarner Championship Driver’s Trophy, also known as a “Baby Borg,” which is a miniature replica of the Borg-Warner Trophy that will feature a duplicate of his sterling silver image. Meyer Shank Racing also will receive a memento commemorating the victory: its first the BorgWarner Championship Team Owner’s Trophy. Castroneves’ Indy win also was the first in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition for the team.

Tickets for the 106^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the GMR Grand Prix and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.

A Day in the Life of Nichels Engineering … from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Darlington Raceway …