INDYCAR News and Notes

INDYCAR statement on Grand Prix of Boston

INDYCAR was made aware of the news involving the Grand Prix of Boston this evening. We are obviously disappointed with these media reports and are in the process of gathering additional details and will respond accordingly at the appropriate time. At this stage it is premature for INDYCAR to comment further on the situation locally in Boston or the prospect of an alternate event.

1. Drivers show they are athletes and ninjas2. Wilson honoring late brother with Indianapolis 500 entry3. Fans can join private unveiling of 'Tribute to A.J. Foyt' car4. Rucker to sing national anthem at 100th Indianapolis 5005. New IMS Mobile App full of helpful information for 100th running6. Indianapolis' Rock-IN-Roar will have extra Power7. Of note

1. Drivers show they are athletes and ninjas: Three INDYCAR drivers on a mission to prove doubters wrong: Are race car drivers really athletes?

Over two days on a uniquely complex obstacle course in downtown Indianapolis, they not only proved they were athletes, but also ninjas.

Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan competed on NBC's popular "American Ninja Warrior" show, set along Indianapolis' Monument Circle and taped from dark to dusk April 27-28. They were joined by hundreds of other competitors hoping to move past the qualifying rounds and into the finals, which take place in Las Vegas later this summer.

"I hope we showed some of our athleticism, this is obviously a very different sport," Newgarden said. "The discussion is always, 'athleticism and racing' and is that a thing, and for us it very much is. You have to be really prepared mentally and physically to drive an Indy car, but that doesn't mean we can go be NFL wide receivers. And I think that applies a little bit to this, too.

"I thought we did all right representing (INDYCAR), getting through it and showing that we do have a good bit of athleticism."

The show is in its eighth season, and the Indianapolis qualifier episode will air June 13 on NBC, whose partner network NBCSN is home to 10 Verizon IndyCar Series race telecasts this season.

"It's one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I've ever had," said 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Kanaan. "It's the unknown, it's something that I'm not used to. I was definitely more nervous than any Indy 500 starts I've done, and it was a great experience."

Castroneves was the lone driver able to take to the course the first night, as a lengthy rain delay moved Kanaan and Newgarden to the following evening. After arriving at 6 p.m. for a walk-through of the obstacles, Castroneves finally competed near 1:30 a.m. ET April 28.

"It was incredible to be here on the set of 'American Ninja Warrior,'" Castroneves, the Team Penske driver, said. "The goal coming into the competition was to show that INDYCAR drivers are athletes, too, and even though our training is a lot different than the amazing athletes competing here on the show, I am happy with how I performed. It was an unforgettable experience."

Even though he couldn't be on hand the following night to watch his fellow drivers, going early allowed the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner a chance to pass along a few tips. Promptly after both drivers' runs, Castroneves eagerly called to check in on Newgarden and Kanaan, who for at least two nights, were his teammates.

2. Wilson honoring late brother with Indianapolis 500 entry: Stefan Wilson will have a special co-pilot as he strives to qualify and race in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil: his late brother Justin.

KV Racing Technology announced April 26 that it has entered Stefan Wilson as driver of the No. 25 Driven2SaveLives - KVRT Chevrolet for the historic race. The program is run in conjunction with the Indiana Donor Network's "Driven2SaveLives" initiative to promote organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation.

Justin Wilson died in August 2015 from injuries sustained in an incident during the Verizon IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway. Because Justin had previously registered as an organ donor, he was able to save five others' lives through organ donation.

Stefan Wilson will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, something Justin did on eight occasions with a best finish of fifth in 2014. The Wilsons were teammates in Stefan's only Verizon IndyCar Series race to date, on the streets of Baltimore in 2011. In another way to honor his older brother, Stefan will drive the same No. 25 that Justin ran in his final race.

"I want to say it's a little bit bittersweet," Stefan admitted. "I'm super excited for the opportunity to qualify for the race, but now that we've got the deal done and the focus is on the race, there's a part of me that does start to miss Justin as well.

"When I got the deal done, the first person I wanted to tell was Justin and I couldn't. I know he's going to be looking down and know he's proud. I want to make him as proud of me as I was of him."

Stefan and the Indiana Donor Network hope to get 2,500 people across the country to register their decision to donate through Driven2SaveLives. Indiana Donor Network, one of 58 designated organ recovery organizations in the United States, oversees and coordinates organ, tissue and eye donation, and provides public education on donation and transplantation across the state. To register to become an organ donor, visit driven2savelives.org.

Read the complete story at http://www.indycar.com/News/2016/04/04-26-Stefan-Wilson-500-announcement.

3. Fans can join private unveiling of 'Tribute to A.J. Foyt' car: Race fans can win a limited opportunity to attend the May 10 private unveiling of the No. 35 "Tribute to A.J. Foyt" Alfe Heat Treating Special Honda that Alex Tagliani will drive in the upcoming Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

The car number pays homage to the 35 record consecutive starts that the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner made in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Tagliani will team with Verizon IndyCar Series regulars Takuma Sato and Jack Hawksworth in the AJ Foyt Racing three-car entry for the May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The private unveiling will take place at the Foyt Wine Vault on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., a few blocks from IMS. Foyt, team president Larry Foyt, the three drivers and Kurt Westman, founder and CEO of Alfe Heat Treating, will be on hand.

Fans can enter a Facebook contest May 3 to win a ticket for two to the "35 Unveiling," plus two tickets to the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. A question will be posed hourly on Facebook beginning at noon ET May 3 and alternate between the Alfe Racing and AJ Foyt Racing fan pages, running through 4 p.m. The first person to correctly answer each question wins admission for two to the unveiling (winners must be 21 or older, or accompanied by someone who is) and two tickets to the grand prix.

The five winners will be able to meet and have their picture taken with Tagliani, Sato and Hawksworth at the unveiling, plus enjoy gourmet appetizers and award-winning Foyt wine.

4. Rucker to sing national anthem at 100th Indianapolis 500: Three-time GRAMMY Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Darius Rucker will perform the national anthem before the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

Rucker will sing in the traditional spot on Indy 500 race day before the 33 drivers are called to their cars and the singing of "Back Home Again in Indiana."

"Darius has a unique set of skills as a musical artist and connects on a personal level with fans across the globe," said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. "We know he'll deliver a performance befitting such a monumental day and help ensure this year's pre-race, my own favorite time of the year, is an unforgettable experience."

5. New IMS Mobile App full of helpful information for 100th running: With the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil just around the corner, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has released a new and improved IMS Mobile App.

This free app will be a must-have for all important information and events happening at IMS. To find it on the Apple or Android App Store, search "IMS Mobile" and select the "Brickyard Mobile" app. Once downloaded, everything from buying tickets to parking to daily schedules will be in the palm of your hand. This handy tool will even send up-to-the-minute notifications whenever something major happens.

New features on the app include:

• Point-to-Point navigation, providing the fastest routes to the facility from all directions around IMS. Fans are encouraged to download directions before they begin their journey to IMS to take advantage of faster internet speeds in lower-populated areas• Interactive track maps, allowing fans access to the quickest routes throughout the facility.• Updated photo galleries, news and results sections, delivering more information and statistics.• Refreshed design and an easier user experience with quick access to features.

6. Indianapolis' Rock-IN-Roar will have extra Power: Verizon IndyCar Series driver Will Power will cap off his Fast Friday on May 20 playing drums with a group of 500 local musicians to highlight the Rock-IN-Roar music festival. It kicks off "SPECTACLE: Sights and Sounds of the Indy 500," the racing-themed light show along the Georgia Street pedestrian gathering area in downtown Indianapolis that will continue through the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 29.

Troye Kinnett, keyboardist for rock great and Indiana native John Mellencamp, will lead the group of musicians including Power, the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2015 Indianapolis 500 runner-up, to perform One Republic's "Love Runs Out" in a musical tribute to the spirit of the Indy 500 at 7 p.m. ET May 20. That is just an hour after "Fast Friday" practice for the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to conclude.

Verizon IndyCar Series driver and NBCSN analyst Townsend Bell and local radio personality Kristi Lee will co-host the festival. Other local bands will also play in the free, family-friendly festival that runs from 5-10:30 p.m. that day.

"SPECTACLE" is a perfectly timed light show set to music and memorable radio calls from the first 99 runnings of the Indianapolis 500. It will play four times a night from May 20-29 along Georgia Street, beginning at 9 p.m. and repeating every 20 minutes, to help drive excitement for the 100th Running.

7. Of note: Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe was in Chicago on April 27 to appear on a taping of "Steve Harvey." The entertaining segment with the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver will air on the syndicated show the week of May 16. Visit steveharveytv.com for the time and channel that the show airs in local markets. ... Chip Ganassi Racing driver Charlie Kimball made the rounds April 27 in Detroit, in conjunction with the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. The driver of the No. 83 Tresiba Chevrolet drove a Corvette pace car on the Belle Isle track, helped with some track construction, attended the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association lunch at Comerica Park and spent time with patients at Detroit Medical Center, the official healthcare services provider for the grand prix. "It was awesome to spend some time with the patients at Children's Hospital and, as drivers, we appreciate all the DMC does to support the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix," said Kimball. "Hopefully we can see some of the patients on Belle Isle when the race returns the first weekend in June."


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