1. Construction begins at new SFHR Facility
2. Get the scoop (of ice cream) from Carpenter
3. Edmonton mayor named grand marshal
4. July Birthday greetings
5. Organizations benefit from Toronto fund-raising efforts
1. Construction begins at new SFHR Facility: Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman drove shovels into the frozen earth Dec. 15, 2011, in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the team's standalone race shop. On July 12, heavy equipment moved onto the lot on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., to really get the project moving.
The IZOD IndyCar Series team co-owners back in December unveiled plans to construct a two-story, 37,000-square-foot race shop adjacent to Dallara Automobili's new U.S. headquarters that will include a visitor area and training facility. Earlier in the day, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing took delivery of their new Dallara chassis for driver Josef Newgarden.
"The new SFHR headquarters in Speedway will allow us the ability to further include our fans and promote our team as it grows into the future," said Hartman, who was announced as a team co-owner in early December. "Having gift shop and interaction areas on top of a first-class business center and training facilities will contribute to the support of our current and future partners as well as demonstrate our long-term goals to everyone who walks through the front door.
"It will be a vital asset to our team as we look into the future."
And Fisher, who retired from the cockpit of an IZOD IndyCar Series in 2010 to focus on building the team, is looking forward to the asset of the facility in the team's race preparation.
"We look to really increase the competition side of our team after moving several departments of our everyday preparation under one roof," she said. "I am very grateful for the opportunity that our partner, Wink Hartman, has given us to expand in this capacity. It will certainly enhance the ability to deliver an on-track product that rolls off the trailer ready to win races. The excitement of the location is infectious at all levels of our organization, knowing that we are the team next door to 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' "
Architect Scott Perkins of Indianapolis-based Blackline met with the construction project manager at the site July 12 as site excavation was in full swing.
"Every project is unique and we enjoy all our projects. This is particularly exciting because it's racing-related and is right on Main Street in Speedway," Perkins said.
2. Get the scoop (of ice cream) from Carpenter: IZOD IndyCar Series team owner/driver Ed Carpenter will scoop ice cream for a cause and likely partake, too, at the 23rd Ice Cream Social on the Circle on July 13 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
The event, hosted by the American Dairy Association of Indiana, celebrates National Ice Cream Month and Indiana's No. 2 ranking in the nation in ice cream production. It's also a fund-raiser, with this year's beneficiary the Diabetes Youth Foundation of Indiana, which supports, educates and encourages young people with type I diabetes.
3. Edmonton mayor named grand marshal: Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel will be the grand marshal for the Edmonton Indy on July 22 at City Centre Airport.
"As a proud Edmontonian and true believer in the potential of his city as host of major international sport events, Mayor Mandel never missed the opportunity to acknowledge the value of the Edmonton Indy in this area," said Franois Dumontier, CEO and president of event promoter Octane Motorsports Events.
4. July Birthday greetings: IZOD IndyCar Series rookie driver Katherine Legge of Dragon Racing celebrates her 32nd birthday on July 12. Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing turns 32 on July 22.
Oriol Servia turns 38 on July 13. Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl joined Jeff Alexander of sponsor Valspar in presenting Servia a cake during the Honda Indy Toronto race weekend.
Justin Wilson celebrates his 34th birthday on July 31 (an off weekend), while Dale Coyne Racing teammate James Jakes turns 25 on Aug. 4 (during the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio race weekend).
5. Organizations benefit from Toronto fund-raising efforts:More than $485,000 was raised for charitable organizations during the Honda Indy Toronto race weekend.
The total included more than $35,000 for Make-A-Wish Canada by fans, Honda Canada and the Ontario Honda Dealers Association, more than $400,000 for Sunnybrook's Women & Babies Program and the Bay Street Grand Prix through go-kart racing and dinner, and more than $50,000 for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign through the YMCA Relay for Strong Kids on the Exhibition Place circuit.
***
The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series race continues with the Edmonton on July 22 at Edmonton City Centre Airport. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 2:30 p.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Edmonton 100 on July 21 at Edmonton City Centre Airport. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network on July 22 before coverage of the Edmonton Indy.
