America’s heroes in first ‘Pro vs. GI Joe’ Xbox live competition

In celebration of Independence Day and the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, America’s Heroes and IndyCar Series drivers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a unique and exciting challenge as they go head-to-head in an interactive video game competition. A real-time Xbox Live video game match will be set up via the internet on Thursday, July 3rd at The Corning Museum of Glass in New York and at Camp Virginia in Kuwait.

            IndyCar Series drivers Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson and Vitor Meira and Firestone Indy Lights drivers Dillon Battistini and Brent Sherman will challenge military men and women stationed overseas in the first official “Halo 3” video game competition. The drivers will play in front of a live audience in New York and will be equipped with a large projector playing screen and several TV monitors to interact live with the troops playing at Camp Virginia. Prior to the video game competition, the drivers will create hand-crafted glass flowers at The Corning Museum of Glass “Your Own Glass” studio that will become “trophies” to be awarded to top competitors.

            National Guard and 10th Mountain Division soldiers currently stationed in the Middle East will engage in the challenge from the USO Center at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. The 10th Mountain Division soldiers will have the unusual privilege of leaving their post in an Iraqi combat zone to take part in this event. The troops and drivers will communicate through a headset hooked up to the Xbox and webcam monitors as they compete in the popular Microsoft Game Studios video game.

            Additionally, the troops’ families and friends stationed at Ft. Drum in upstate New York will be invited to attend this event with the drivers and speak to their loved ones via webcam once the contest is completed. Fans are also invited to join the drivers from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium for the video game challenge. Admission is free.

The IndyCar Series is proud to partner with Watkins Glen International, Pro vs. GI Joe and the USO to make this remarkable opportunity possible. National Guard soldiers and IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira, who is sponsored by the National Guard, will take part in this patriotic occasion. Firestone Indy Lights driver, Brent Sherman, who spent six years in the United States Air force will also participate. Sherman served four years conducting combat, surveillance and instructional missions on an AWAC airplane.