INDYCAR ANNOUNCES PANEL TO HEAR NEWMAN/HAAS RACING, TARGET CHIP GANASSI RACING NEW HAMPSHIRE PROTESTS

 Brian Barnhart, INDYCAR's President of Competition and Operations,  named Jerry Gappens, Rollie Helmling and Jeff Stoops to serve as the three-person panel that will hear the protests regarding the results of the IZOD IndyCar Series MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The protest hearing will take place Aug. 23 in Indianapolis, and the proceedings will be closed to the public and media.

Protests on behalf of the No. 2 car fielded by Newman/Haas Racing and the No. 9 car fielded by Target Chip Ganassi Racing were received by INDYCAR following the Aug. 14 race. Andretti Autosport has been invited to participate in the hearing because of its No. 28 car's interest in the outcome of the protests.

In his role as Senior Official and pursuant to Rule 12.4, Barnhart has selected Gappens, Helmling and Stoops to resolve the protest.

·         Jerry Gappens - Gappens is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Gappens spent 15 years working in public relations, marketing and events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, most recently serving as Senior Vice President.   He also worked with National Speed Sport News and served as a pit reporter for ABC Sports' coverage of the Indianapolis 500; various CART, NASCAR and IROC races.

·         Rollie Helmling - Helmling currently serves as Director of Automotive Business Development and the Governor's Motorsports Initiative for Indiana Economic Development Corp. He is the former president and chief executive officer of the United States Auto Club (USAC) and former team owner for drivers such as Jeff Gordon, John Andretti and Tony Stewart. Helmling serves on the Rules and Appeals Committee for World of Outlaws racing series.

·         Jeff Stoops - Stoops currently serves as Chairman of the Board for USAC. He is former car owner whose achievements include the 1987 and 1988 USAC National Sprint Car Owner championships. Stoops is an INDYCAR team sponsor through his company Stoops Freightliner.