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 NEWS & NOTES

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Feb. 17, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Return of manufacturer competition leads to new engine rules

2. NBC Sports Network to televise all Firestone Indy Lights races in 2012

3. St. Pete builds up to race weekend

4. MSR Indy continues sponsor search

5. McIntosh joins Pabst Racing Services for 2012 season

6. Of note

1. Return of manufacturer competition leads to new engine rules: The IZOD IndyCar Series' consumer-relevant, 2.2-liter, direct-injected turbocharged V-6 engines supplied by Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus make their competitive debut in five weeks at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25. The eighth annual event marks the first of 16 races over a diverse set of street/road courses and ovals to challenge drivers, teams and manufacturers.

The new engine platform, based on a recommendation from the ICONIC Advisory Committee, was made public in June 2010. Similarly, the Advisory Committee made a recommendation to INDYCAR regarding the supplier of the next-generation chassis. INDYCAR last week released its 2012 sporting and technical regulations, and today released its engine regulations.

For INDYCAR, the emphasis is on a level playing field as engine manufacturer competition returns to the IZOD IndyCar Series for the first time since 2005.

"The engine rules developed through the INDYCAR Engine Committee over the past 20 months. The only significant change was the change in capacity (from 2.4 to 2.2 liters)," said Trevor Knowles, INDYCAR's director of engine development. "In the past few Engine Committee meetings, it has been tidying up and clarifications."

The INDYCAR Engine Committee was set up as a consultative group chaired by INDYCAR Vice President of Technology Will Phillips and consisting of representatives from each engine manufacturer, a representative from the sanctioning body plus other invited attendees when appropriate (such as BorgWarner, which is supplying the single and twin turbochargers).

The engine rules will be stable through the 2016 IZOD IndyCar Series season, with any corrections or modifications decided by INDYCAR after consultation with the Engine Committee.

Manufacturers will provide a pool of engines, which INDYCAR officials will allocate to corresponding teams in a random manner. INDYCAR engine support engineers will employ and monitor torque sensors on selected manufacturers' engines to ensure compliance with homologation regulations.

"It's to track that nobody's getting left behind and to track that all their teams are getting equal treatment," Knowles said.

On June 18 and again at the end of the year, manufacturers whose engines are statistically more than 2.5 percent deficient in power may, at the discretion of INDYCAR, make improvements to be homologated. Alterations are allowed to make up 2 percent of shortcomings, and they will be introduced on only new engines being sent to the track. Homologation (sealing of mandated components) will take place next week.

Also, manufacturers can request changes to engine components and McLaren software alterations. Information would be shared with INDYCAR and the other manufacturers.

"If a manufacturer has a problem with a homologated part breaking or there is some operation that they could eliminate to make it less expensive or they have to change suppliers that would lead to changes in how it's made, they can approach us with a request and we would circulate to the other manufacturers for a check that it's not a backdoor way of increasing performance," Knowles said. "If it passes those checks, they would be given the go-ahead to do it.

"Software is similar to an engine modification. They would request a change to get it incorporated. All manufacturers would then have the opportunity to use that software."

Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus have totaled more than 13,500 miles during their phase of on-track development. Team testing is ongoing at Barber Motorsports Park, Auto Club Speedway and Sebring International Raceway. An Open Test is scheduled for March 5-6 and 8-9 at Sebring.

Engine basics

Capacity - 2.2 liter maximum

Cylinders - Up to six, all of equal capacity

RPM - 12,000 as restricted by the Engine Control Unit

Horsepower - Between 550 and 700, suited to type of circuit

Fuel - E85; fuel injection allowed

Oil - Only lubricating oil that is readily available to general public through retail methods

Boost pressure - 155KPa for road courses, 140KPa for short ovals and 130KPa for speedways. Two boost sensors will be fitted and monitored by INDYCAR

Minimum weight - 112.5kg (248 pounds), excluding items such as the clutch, ECU, fluids, turbocharger

Turbocharger - Single or twin featuring water-cooled bearing housing and titanium turbine wheel provided by BorgWarner

Mounting - Common mounting points on bulkhead and gearbox for all three manufacturers

Engine life - 1,850 miles. Each full-season entrant will receive five fresh engines per year

"Push to Pass" - Not to start 2012 season

KERS - No

Pop-off valve - No

Traction control -- No

Anti-stall - Yes

Engine architecture

Bank angle - V6 engines - between 60 and 90 degrees

Bore - 95mm diameter maximum

Engine length - 460mm, measured from mounting face to mounting face

Crankshaft height - 100mm above bottom of chassis (lowest point of sump)

One-piece crankshaft - Homogenous, with no additional non-ferrous inserts or bolt-on balance weights

Main bearing minimum dimension - 48mm diameter

Big end journal minimum dimension - 40mm diameter

Connecting rods - Homogenous, with no welding or bonding

Piston pin - Single piece only

Valve type - Reciprocating circular poppet, return force via coil spring only

Spark plug - One per cylinder otherwise free

Coatings - DLC coatings are not permitted on crankshafts, rods, camshafts, piston skirts or sleeves

Camshafts - Up to four overhead camshafts permitted (2 per bank)

2. NBC Sports Network to televise all Firestone Indy Lights races in 2012: The full Firestone Indy Lights 2012 schedule will be televised by the NBC Sports Network, highlighted by live coverage of the Freedom 100 on May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The June 22 race at Iowa Speedway and July 21 race at Edmonton City Centre Airport will have same-day coverage, while nine races - St. Petersburg, Barber, Long Beach, Detroit, Milwaukee, Toronto, Trois Rivieres, Baltimore and Auto Club Speedway - will be tape-delayed for air at 5 p.m. (ET) the Thursday following each event.

Formerly known as VERSUS, the NBC Sports Network serves as a 24/7 cable platform for NBC Sports' rich heritage of unmatched storytelling, best-in-class production and broad promotional power.

*All times eastern. Schedule subject to change.

3. St. Pete builds up to race weekend: The first of four miles of concrete barriers that outline the scenic Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg street course were put into place Feb. 17.

Barriers and fencing will be moved into place over the next five weeks in advance of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy series race weekend March 23-25. The IZOD IndyCar Series' season-opening race will be broadcast on ABC.

As part of a media event to commemorate the first block being installed, INDYCAR Vice President of Technology Will Phillips was on hand to explain features of the new Dallara chassis that will be powered by engines supplied by Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus. A 28-car field is expected for the eighth annual race.

The 1.8-mile circuit incorporates a runway of the Albert Whitted Airport and a street with Tampa Bay on the left and the new Salvador Dali Museum on the right. Dario Franchitti won the 2011 race and went on to the series championship.

4. MSR Indy continues sponsor search: Michael Shank, whose Michael Shank Racing GRAND-AM team opened the year with a bang by winning the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona, said an expected partnership program for IZOD IndyCar Series team he announced in October did not develop, which could leave the upstart team off the grid for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25.

"We've got the car in the shop and the people we need to go run the car, but at this point we are still working to have the full budget in place to go racing," said Shank, who has teamed with NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger and Columbus (Ohio)-area businessman Brian Bailey to form MSR Indy. "I don't want to be in a position to just go out and make up the numbers. We want to show up and have a competitive presence.

"My main goal is to make this thing work, and if that means working with a technical partner to make it happen or just focusing on particular races then so be it. Obviously, there are folks out there testing right now, and that is the best-case scenario to be in. We've got a little bit bigger hill to climb at the moment, but we are not giving up by any stretch."

Shank and Bailey participated in the State of INDYCAR meetings in Indianapolis earlier this week.

"Randy (Bernard, INDYCAR CEO) is making a lot of moves, and I think there is some very serious opportunity for the series to continue to grow this year," Shank said.

5. McIntosh joins Pabst Racing Services for 2012 season: Shannon McIntosh will compete in the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda for Pabst Racing Services, team officials announced Feb. 16. McIntosh will pilot the No. 18 car sponsored by TrueCar.

"After testing Shannon at Autobahn this past October, we were impressed with her intensity and commitment to work with the team to get results," said Augie Pabst, president, Pabst Racing Services. "We are thrilled to be working with Shannon and TrueCar for the 2012 USF2000 Series season and can't wait to get started!"

McIntosh, a 22-year-old from Miamisburg, Ohio, cut her teeth on dirt and paved ovals in the Midwest through quarter-midgets, micro-sprints, mini-sprints and most recently, midgets under the guidance of legendary team owner Bob East. Given her past, she made a sharp turn in 2011 competing in the USF2000 series for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Despite the fact McIntosh was taking her first bid at road racing, her best result of the season came on a road course.

"After testing at the end of the 2011 season with Pabst, I couldn't be happier to join their team going into my second year of road racing," McIntosh said. "The Pabst team understands my background and developmental needs as a driver progressing into open-wheel. I am 100 percent positive they will give me the best opportunity for success. I have learned that having a team behind you, who supports you and is willing to work toward one common goal is of absolute importance, and I couldn't be more optimistic going into 2012."

McIntosh's pursuit of INDYCAR began when she started racing at age 5. A career that originally started for fun with her family continued as she spent time developing her understanding and ability to leverage the business side of motorsports. Given her modest upbringing, she has worked tirelessly to help raise capital to continue to fund her racing career, recently landing a multi-year sponsorship contract with TrueCar, Inc.

TrueCar, creators of the new car pricing information website TrueCar.com, is leveraging its self-made "Women Empowered" initiative as an extension of the company's efforts to empower women in the new car buying experience.

"Shannon is a fierce competitor with tremendous potential, and a wonderful brand ambassador for TrueCar, our dealer partners, and our key supporters through the 'Women Empowered' initiative," said Charles Kim, TrueCar's director of motorsports. "Her decision to join Pabst Racing Services is another great step in her development through the Mazda Road To Indy ladder system, as Pabst has a long history of winning races and championships. With Shannon, TrueCar and Pabst working together, we're looking forward to a great USF2000 season in 2012."

In addition to TrueCar, McIntosh's effort is also supported by TAG Heuer timepieces, Arai Helmets, Alpinestars, CLEARBook, Mazda North American, Cooper Tires, CrossFit9, Anytime Fitness St. Pete, YogaBlu Studio, and Baker & Daniels.

6. Of note: John Polkis has joined INDYCAR as the VP of Corporate Business Development. Polkis spent 11 years with Callaway Golf in two significant roles - Director, Global Alliances and Director, National Accounts…Alfe Heat Treating is expanding its sponsorship of the No. 14 ABC Supply car driven by Mike Conway for A.J. Foyt Racing to a full-season associate partnership this season. The company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind. … Race car driver, designer and team owner Jim Hall will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club on April 12 as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Feb. 15, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Downforce Racing selected as new Baltimore promoter

2. Goncalvez returns to Belardi Auto Racing

3. Firestone renews partnership with INDYCAR

4. Another honor for Hinchcliffe

5. Third set of new chassis ready from Dallara

6. Of note

1. Downforce Racing selected as new Baltimore promoter: A partnership comprised of two Baltimore-based business entrepreneurs and an Indianapolis-based construction executive with extensive motor racing experience has been selected by Mayor Stephanie-Rawlings Blake to produce the Baltimore Grand Prix starting this Labor Day and continuing through 2016. The Mayor's selection is subject to review by the Baltimore City Board of Estimates.

Downforce Racing consists of Wilkes Lane Racing LLC, whose principals are Felix J. Dawson and Daniel C. Reck, and Dillon Racing LLC, whose principal is Dale Dillon.

Dawson and Reck are founding partners of Wilkes Lane Capital, LLC, which focuses on advisory services and private investing in the energy sector. Both are former executives of Constellation Energy. Dawson served as president and chief executive officer of Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., and Reck was co-head of Origination in the same group.

Dale Dillon owns Dillon Construction Group and Dillon Racing, both based in Indianapolis. He has served as head of operations for Grand Prix races in St. Petersburg and Toronto, and was brought in to manage the operations of the 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix just weeks before the race.

The partners impressed the Mayor with their experienced executive leadership, significant credentials in race operations, and strong financial management capabilities. The goal, the partners emphasize, is to create an event that grows over time to become the premiere street racing event in North America. The 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix, they note, was a successful event for spectators and the local hospitality industry, and persuaded the IndyCar and American Le Mans organizations of Baltimore's potential as a race setting. There is sufficient spectator, business, and civic support for the race to be a profitable event for all parties involved. The race organizers expect last year's $47-million economic impact to increase as the event becomes a staple of the City's Labor Day activities.

Among the race organizers' challenges are landing title sponsors for the event and attracting vendors, many of whom went unpaid after last year's race. Both challenges are already being addressed, they emphasize. The task of lining up title sponsors is expected to be finalized quickly, and a disciplined business plan is expected to ease vendors' doubts.

2. Goncalvez returns to Belardi Auto Racing: Venezuela's Jorge Goncalvez will return to Belardi Auto Racing for his sophomore season in Firestone Indy Lights, joining Israel's Alon Day in the team's 2012 lineup.

Goncalvez will return to the No. 4 entry, in which he earned 10 top-10 finishes, five top-fives, four podiums and a fifth place finish in the point standings. Goncalvez recently competed in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona with Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian and finished third in the marathon race.

"We are very happy to have Jorge back for a second season in Firestone Indy Lights," team owner Brian Belardi said. "A top five in the championship and the four podiums that Jorge earned last year were such great accomplishments for us as a first-year team, as well as for Jorge in his first year of Indy Lights.

"He has been working very hard during the off-season, as well as continuing his success with his third place finish at the Rolex 24. The guys have also been busy preparing for the season and prepping the cars for testing. I am really looking forward to our 2012 season with Jorge, and we cannot wait to go racing again."

With only 38 days until the season opener in St. Petersburg, Goncalvez will join his teammate, Alon Day, and the team in Florida next week for testing at Sebring International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"I'm really excited to be reunited with my team for my second year in Indy Lights," Goncalvez said. "It looks like I have a great teammate in Alon [Day], and I think we will have a very successful year. I have to thank my family and all my great sponsors for all of their support."

3. Firestone renews partnership with INDYCAR: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) and INDYCAR are pleased to announce that the Firestone brand will remain the IZOD IndyCar Series' Official Tire through at least 2014, and the Firestone brand will also serve as Title Sponsor and Official Tire to Firestone Indy Lights through the 2012 season. As part of this agreement, negotiations are already underway to extend the IZOD IndyCar Series sponsorship and supply contract beyond 2014.

The Firestone brand has competed in every IZOD IndyCar Series race since the series' inception in 1996, and it has been the Official Tire and sole supplier since 2000. In March, 2011, BATO and INDYCAR agreed on a two-year extension that secured Firestone's Official Tire status for the 2012 and 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series seasons. The Firestone Indy Lights contract was set to expire at the end of 2011, but included in the new agreement is a provision for Firestone to continue as the Official Tire of the development series for an additional year.

"As the IZOD IndyCar Series ushers in a new era of competition in 2012 and beyond with the new Dallara DW12 and engine diversity, Firestone Racing is pleased to continue supplying our world-class racing tires to each and every car on the grid for at least the next three years," said Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "And, as we look to identify the next generation of IZOD IndyCar Series stars, Firestone Indy Lights drivers will continue to hone their craft on Firestone Firehawk race tires for another season.

"Our company has actively supported INDYCAR with more than just race tires," Speyer added, "and we'll continue to remain highly visible through our promotional activities and marketing initiatives around the series. It has been great to have the support of INDYCAR and the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams throughout this process as we have extended our long-term, successful partnership for the second time in one year."

In addition to its responsibility as Official Tire of INDYCAR, Firestone will continue to support the series through broadcast, digital and print advertising; at-track hospitality; title sponsorship of the Firestone 550k at Texas Motor Speedway; and Official Tire designation at events. Additionally, with this new agreement, Firestone will also have an enhanced presence at the IZOD IndyCar Series Fan Village, an entertaining, interactive experience for spectators at race events.

"Firestone continues to be a great fit for our sport, carrying on a 100 year-old tradition that began at Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "When our new car takes its first competitive laps on the streets of St. Petersburg in March, all of our drivers will take great pride in knowing that they have a reliable tire designed to maximize performance."

4. Another honor for Hinchcliffe: James Hinchcliffe, the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, has been named Racer Magazine's Rookie of the Year.

Colin Braun, Lewis Hamilton, Joey Logano, Ben Spies and Ryan Dungey preceded Hinchcliffe as the award winner.

"How cool is this? I'm shocked and honored," said Hinchcliffe, who picked up his IZOD IndyCar Series rookie award along with the Tony Renna Rising Star Award at the State of INDYCAR program Feb. 13.

Hinchcliffe, who recorded seven top-10 finishes in 16 races for Newman/Haas Racing, will drive the No. 27 GoDaddy.com car this season for Andretti Autosport.

JR Hildebrand, driver of the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing car who was the Indianapolis 500 runner-up and Rookie of the Year, is the cover story in the March issue of Racer.

5. Third set of new chassis ready from Dallara: Another batch of new chassis, totaling 15, is expected to be picked up by IZOD IndyCar Series teams this week from the Dallara Automobili facility in Speedway, Ind.

Teams trucked away 15 cars to their shops on Dec. 15 and another 16 were ready to be picked up Jan. 16. Team testing is ongoing, with multiple-car sessions at Auto Club Speedway, Barber Motorsports Park, Texas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Infineon Raceway and Sebring International Raceway.

An IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test is scheduled for March 5-6 and 8-9 at Sebring. The season-opening

6. Of note: Travelers spending a few minutes in baggage claim at Birmingham International Airport can check out the new Dallara road course car on display until April 2…Jason Clark, former general manager of the Milwaukee Mustangs (Arena Football League) and assistant athletics director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has joined INDYCAR as senior manager of partner strategy. … Sam Schmidt Motorsports has retained Front Row Marketing Services, a subsidiary of the sports and entertainment firm Comcast-Spectacor, to market and sell the team's commercial rights. … Tickets for the June 15-16 Milwaukee IndyFest go on sale March 1, but fans who would like more details or to be notified when tickets are available can sign up at www.MilwaukeeMile.com.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Feb. 13, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. INDYCAR, Discover, First Bankcard, and Segmint Join Forces to Reward Fans

2. 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series broadcast schedule confirmed

3. INDYCAR Race Control team introduced

4. Drivers honored for 2011 performance

5. Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka joins INDYCAR as partner

6. INDYCAR takes off its hat to LIDS Sports Group

7. Ed Carpenter Racing lands engine deal with Chevrolet

8. Team Viso Venezuela enters Star Mazda with Juncos Racing

1. INDYCAR, Discover®, First Bankcard, and Segmint Join Forces to Reward Fans: INDYCAR announced today it has entered into multi-year agreements with Discover^® Network and First Bankcard, a division of the First National Bank of Omaha, to offer a credit card program designed to provide rewards to fans of the sport. INDYCAR has also entered into an agreement with Segmint, Inc. to deliver the digital analytics for the INDYCAR Discover credit card program.

INDYCAR Discover credit card cardmembers can redeem accumulated reward points for exclusive experiences, including VIP access to Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 and breakfast with legends of the sport. Other rewards include race tickets, driver meet & greets, suite passes, and INDYCAR merchandise.

There will be two card designs for cardmembers to choose from: a vintage look highlighting the start of the 1960 Indianapolis 500 or a modern look featuring the sleek 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series car.

"With this agreement, Discover is able to help the premier open-wheel auto racing series in North America reach their fan base in a new, rewarding way," said Kevin O'Donnell, vice president of credit issuance at Discover. "The INDYCAR Discovercredit card is designed to help drive cardmember loyalty by offering tailored card benefits and exclusive access to events that cardmembers care about most."

"The partnership between INDYCAR and First Bankcard will enhance the fan experience, allowing them to immerse themselves in the sport," said Stephen F. Eulie, president of First Bankcard. "We are excited to offer this exclusive rewards card - the INDYCAR Discovercredit card - that will debut this season."

INDYCAR is working with its corporate partner lineup to provide exclusive discounts on products and services for INDYCAR Discovercredit card cardmembers.

"We are always looking for ways to bring our fans closer to the sport and provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at our events," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "Not only does the INDYCAR Discovercredit card provide an avenue to reward fans with unique experiences, it provides an additional platform for our other partners to provide benefits to our passionate fan base."

Segmint will drive the digital analytics of the INDYCAR Discovercredit card program.

"Segmint's unrivaled analytics framework provides the technology for this innovative collaboration and enables INDYCAR to set a new sports marketing standard for successfully engaging fans, teams and sponsors, " said Rob Heiser, president and CEO of Segmint Inc.

Fans can sign up for the card by visiting www.indycardiscover.com or stopping by the INDYCAR Fan Village at each race during the 2012 season. All approved applicants between the launch and May 31, 2012, will be designated as members of the Founder's Club, which will provide its cardmembers premiere access to additional rewards.

***

2. 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series broadcast schedule confirmed: The IZOD IndyCar Series confirmed today its broadcast designations for its 16-race 2012 schedule, highlighted by six races on ABC and 10 events on the newly rebranded NBC Sports Network.

ABC will carry live coverage of IZOD IndyCar Series races at St. Petersburg, Indianapolis, Belle Isle, Milwaukee, Toronto and Mid-Ohio. The 2012 season will mark the 48th consecutive year that ABC has aired the Indianapolis 500, extending one of the longest relationships between a sporting event and a television network.

ABC's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and the five other IZOD IndyCar Series races will be expanded to include live streaming of ABC's onboard cameras on ESPN3, ESPN's signature broadband sports network.

NBC Sports Network, the IZOD IndyCar Series' exclusive cable network, will air live events at Barber Motorsports Park, Long Beach, Sao Paulo, Texas, Edmonton, Qingdao, Infineon, Baltimore and the season finale at Auto Club Speedway.

Additionally, NBC Sports Network will launch a featured program called INDYCAR 36, which will document 36 hours in the life of an IZOD IndyCar Series driver, taking viewers behind the scenes during select event weekends from the first practice through the checkered flag.

Formerly known as VERSUS, the NBC Sports Network serves as a 24/7 cable platform for NBC Sports' rich heritage of unmatched storytelling, best-in-class production and broad promotional power.

***

3. INDYCAR Race Control team introduced: INDYCAR President of Competition and Race Director Beaux Barfield has welcomed two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk, former Indy car competitor Johnny Unser and longtime CART/Champ Car senior manager of competition Gary Barnard as race stewards for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

Barfield said most Race Control personnel relating to operations roles in 2011 will return, with the functions of the stewards to be altered.

"It takes a group of eight or nine people to do specific jobs, whether that's communicating with corner workers or dispatching the safety team," Barfield said. "All are necessary to provide a good officiating system. The stewards will really take a step back from being so involved in what the Race Director does.

"There have been several schools of thought over the years whether there should be one person making the decisions or three. Should there be a vote? It's my job in a drivers' meeting to communicate exactly what my expectations of the drivers are, so it should be one person. That leaves the stewards to be more in a role of a safety net."

Luyendyk, 58, was the CART and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1985 with Bettenhausen and a three-time pole sitter at the Speedway. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Luyendyk has coached IZOD IndyCar Series drivers the past few seasons and will be the mentor this season. Unser, who competed with Luyendyk on the racetrack and has officiated alongside Barnard, will assist.

"I wished I would have had that kind of help at Indy in '85," Luyendyk said. "I had to find my way around, and the only advice I ever got was from Mario Andretti who said 'Watch out for this place because it can bite you in a hurry.' We don't have to really coach those guys on how to drive. We have to coach them on how to go about dealing with certain situations and keeping calm. It's more mental coaching than driving coaching. We're going to follow Beaux's lead and we'll be another set of eyes looking at the race and trying to keep it safe for everybody."

Unser, 53, a nephew of Al and Bobby Unser, was the Race Director of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2008. He made five starts in CART in 1993 and 1994 with Dale Coyne Racing and competed in 15 INDYCAR events. He's a five-time Indianapolis 500 starter (most recently in 2000).

Barnard, who has held various duties in Race Control for more than 15 years, was a race steward alongside Chief Stewards Wally Dallenbach, Tony Cotman and Chris Kneifel in CART/Champ Car. He also worked in Race Control with Barfield in Champ Car.

"A steward is kind of an overseer of an event who understands a driver, the product, the officiating, and has a broader sense of everything that goes into making a great event," added Barfield, a former Indy car driver. "By being a safety net to me, it leaves us in a better place moving forward. It also leaves someone in that role to serve as a driver coach.

"Arie and Johnny bring vast knowledge and experience to driver-related issues, and more importantly as driver coaches to some of the drivers who need help. Putting together a Race Control team is a big task, and I'm very proud of the team assembled and confident in the collective abilities to officiate effectively."

***

4. Drivers honored for 2011 performance: Dario Franchitti and Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden - along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers - were recognized for their achievements in 2011 during the State of INDYCAR presentation.

Franchitti was presented with the Astor Cup, the IZOD IndyCar Series championship Trophy, and accepted the $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award.

James Hinchcliffe accepted the $50,000 IZOD IndyCar Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, and the Tony Renna Rising Star Award.

Newgarden accepted the mini Firestone Firehawk Cup, $10,000 for Perkin Elmer Rookie of the Year and a commemorative painting from Firestone in honor of his championship. Newgarden also won the Greg Moore Legacy Award Presented by Firestone.

2011 IZOD IndyCar Series award winners

Championship driver: Dario Franchitti

Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Dario Franchitti

Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch valued at $100,000): Dario Franchitti

Championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing

Championship team sponsor: Target

Championship team managers: Scott Harner and Barry Wanser

Chief Mechanic of the Year Award: Kevin O'Donnell

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): James Hinchcliffe

Second place championship driver: Will Power

Second place championship team: Verizon Team Penske

Third place championship driver: Scott Dixon

Third place championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing

Tony Renna Rising Star Award: James Hinchcliffe

BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Dario Franchitti

Raybestos Road & Street Course Challenge ($25,000 cash or product): Will Power

2011 Firestone Indy Lights award winners

Championship driver (mini Firehawk Cup): Josef Newgarden

Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $4,000): Josef Newgarden

Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (watch valued at $25,000): Josef Newgarden

Championship team (mini Firehawk Cup): Sam Schmidt Motorsports

Chief Mechanic of the Year: Sean Birmingham

Second place championship driver: Esteban Guerrieri

Second place championship team: Sam Schmidt Motorsports

Third place championship driver: Stefan Wilson

Third place championship team: Andretti Autosport

Firestone Painting Award: Josef Newgarden

Greg Moore Legacy Award: Josef Newgarden

Gregory & Appel "Securing Tomorrow" Award ($5,000): Josef Newgarden

Raybestos Road & Street Course Challenge (10,000): Josef Newgarden

***

5. Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka joins INDYCAR as partner: INDYCAR announced today that Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka will be the Official Vodka of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.

Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka will activate in all domestic race markets in 2012 and develop the signature cocktail of INDYCAR, which will be featured at all INDYCAR events.

"This new partnership with Fuzzy's is a great cross-promotional opportunity to introduce our sport to a new demographic," INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard said. "We look forward to working with the team at Fuzzy's Vodka on these activation opportunities to drive attendance at our events and grow our sport."

Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka has previously sponsored the 2010 season finale Firestone Indy Lights race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was the Official Vodka and presenting sponsor of the IZOD INDYCAR World Championships at Las Vegas in October.

In 2012, Fuzzy's will serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 20 Fuzzy' s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet-powered car for team owner/driver Ed Carpenter, the most recent winner in the IZOD IndyCar Series at Kentucky Speedway in October.

"We're looking forward to adding INDYCAR as a partner," said Fuzzy Zoeller, a Masters and U.S. Open champion. "Now, we've got an outstanding foursome with Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet and INDYCAR. We have a passion for racing and Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka is going to tee it up at the track to share the spirit of racing with INDYCAR fans."

***

6. INDYCAR takes off its hat to LIDS Sports Group: INDYCAR announced today that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Indianapolis-based LIDS Sports Group, in which their LIDS Clubhouse division will manage the online and trackside merchandising efforts of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights beginning with the 2012 season.

The partnership will increase INDYCAR's retail presence at-track at North American events, giving fans more opportunities and easier access to INDYCAR merchandise each race weekend. LIDS also will offer fans an opportunity to purchase the same merchandise online. LIDS' in-house production capabilities will help ensure that inventory levels are maintained and that products accurately reflect the current landscape of team rosters and driver sponsors.

"Our expanded relationship with LIDS Sports Group gives us the opportunity to provide our fans with quality merchandise and allows them to express their support of INDYCAR, their favorite teams and drivers in top notch fashion," said Marc Koretzky, COO, INDYCAR. "LIDS has been a very loyal partner for years, therefore this increased involvement is a welcome progression which will benefit everyone, most especially our fans."

INDYCAR has had a relationship with LIDS Sports Group for more than 14 years. LIDS Sports Group had been an important retail partner selling IndyCar merchandise in select outlets. Through this agreement INDYCAR Nation fan club members will have access to the LIDS Club, a special membership that offers generous discounts on hats and custom embroidery, special-valued apparel and accessories and VIP access to new products and the hottest trends.

Fans will also have the opportunity to enjoy in-store driver appearances, promotions and VIP events courtesy of LIDS Sports Group.

***

7. Ed Carpenter Racing lands engine deal with Chevrolet: Ed Carpenter made his IZOD IndyCar Series debut in 2003 with PDM Racing at Chicagoland Speedway in a car with Chevy power. He'll make his series debut March 25 at St. Petersburg, Fla., as a series owner/driver in a car with Chevy power.

Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that the first-year IZOD IndyCar Series team's No. 20 entry will be powered by Chevrolet's 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine.

Carpenter, 30, announced the new team on Nov. 4, 2011, along with Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka as the primary sponsor. Carpenter, co-owner of the team with INDYCAR founder Tony George, will drive the new Dallara chassis throughout the 16-race season. Carpenter, who has made 113 IZOD IndyCar Series starts, also competed in a Chevy-powered car for Red Bull Cheever Racing in 2004 following his three races for PDM in '03.

"We are extremely excited to partner with Chevrolet for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series," said Carpenter, who earned his first series victory at Kentucky Speedway in October. "Chevrolet has been an American legend for over a century and a winner in all forms of competition. It will be great to have the famed Bowtie back in the IndyCar Series.

"Being an American driver with an American engine makes me very proud to represent the Chevrolet brand. I can't wait to have the Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet-powered machine on the track."

Chevrolet has recorded 104 Indy car wins, including six series championships and seven Indianapolis 500 victories. The 2012 Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 will have an aluminum block and cylinder heads, direct injection and twin-turbochargers.

"We are proud to announce Ed Carpenter Racing has now joined the Chevrolet family and that Ed will compete with the new Chevy Indy V-6 beginning in 2012," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet's vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "Ed and his family have a long history with Chevrolet. Ed is a winning driver and we hope he'll put the new Chevrolet engine back in victory lane this year. We are anxious to see Ed's new car on the track with our new partnership."

Team Penske, Andretti Autosport, KV Racing Technology and Panther Racing also are Chevy-powered teams for the 2012 season.

***

8. Team Viso Venezuela enters Star Mazda with Juncos Racing: Juncos Racing has signed Venezuelans Bruno Palli, 20, and Diego Ferreira, 18, to compete in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear.

Both will be representatives of "Team Viso Venezuela," an initiative founded by their Venezuelan manager, IZOD IndyCar Series driver E.J. Viso.

"Team Viso Venezuela" is a program that promotes bringing young talents from the South American country to compete in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder with the help of Venezuelan supporters. Juncos Racing currently runs teams in the top two steps of the ladder, the Star Mazda Championship and Firestone Indy Lights.

"After talking with Ricardo (Juncos) for a long time, we concluded that we would start a partnership to bring young drivers into the Mazda Road to Indy and Star Mazda Championship," Viso said. "On my side, I thought about the best drivers in Venezuela to bring to the series. I believe that Bruno and Diego will get the job done. I'm very proud to say that I started Team Viso Venezuela. I created the program to promote young drivers coming from my country so that they can have a bright future in auto racing. My idea is to manage them and give them all the tools I can for them to have successful careers."

Palli and Ferreira have had somewhat similar career paths. Both started racing go-karts and winning titles in Venezuela at a young age. In 2008, they each made an appearance in the Venezuelan Formula Ford 1600 Championship along with fellow countryman and Star Mazda Championship competitor Carlos Linares.

In 2010, Palli finished fourth in the European Formula 3 Championship, and last year he was the Venezuelan Formula Ford 1600 National Champion as well as the Pan American Easykart Champion.

In 2011, Ferreira competed in the Latam Challenge Series Formula 2000 powered by Volkswagen finishing fourth in the novice category, the Venezuelan Rotax Max Challenge (DD2 Senior) finishing fourth, and the Florida Winter Tour (Rotax DD2) finishing fifth.

Palli and Ferreira already have completed several successful tests with Juncos Racing this year.

"It is an honor for us to be working with E.J. Viso and the Team Viso Venezuela initiative," team owner Ricardo Juncos said. "This partnership is going to be huge for everyone involved, and it is going to give a lot of opportunities for Venezuelan drivers to race in the U.S.A. I'm excited that Bruno Palli and Diego Ferreira will be some of the first drivers to represent Team Viso Venezuela, and I'm so glad to have signed them to be part of the Juncos Racing team this season.

"We have been testing with Bruno and Diego, and they have really impressed the team so far. They improved a lot over four days and clearly showed that they will be fighting for the top this season. This is the beginning of really good things for Juncos Racing and Team Viso Venezuela. We can't wait to get the 2012 season started."

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Feb. 8, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. If you missed it: Bobby Rahal and Takuma Sato Conference Call

2. Hinchcliffe to field questions at Canadian Motorsports Expo

3. HVM welcomes new team manager

4. Open Test set for Barber Motorsports Park

1. If you missed it: Bobby Rahal and Takuma Sato Conference Call: Rahal Letterman Lanigan co-owner Bobby Rahal and IZOD IndyCar Series driver Takuma Sato were guests on an INDYCAR conference call today to discuss Sato's signing with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. A full transcript and a broadcast-quality MP3 are available at www.indycar.com/media. Selected quotes from the interview are below.

Q. Bobby, talk about the team's recent news. How excited are you to add a driver of the quality of Takuma and how did your relationship start?

BOBBY RAHAL: I'm excited that Taku has joined us for our 2012 IndyCar season. I had a chance to see Taku not when he first started racing but when he was Europe in England in Formula 3 in 2001 when I was over there with Jaguar Formula One. I managed to watch Takuma win a lot of Formula 3 races. I think Formula 3 has always been considered a very good judge of talent.

Of course, you know, I kept an eye on him when he was in Formula One. So I've known his competitiveness, his speed. I've seen that many times over the years.

I was very pleased that we were able to come together. We've spent some time together. Taku spent a lot of time in England, so he's got a lot of English slang and colloquialisms, so it's almost like being back in England when you're around him.

I think we all look forward to having him with us because, as I said earlier, he's shown his pace over the last couple years in IndyCars. As I said in the beginning when we reentered IndyCar racing, it was important for us to do so with someone who was going to be competitive. I had no real interest in just being here. Taku certainly fits that bill.

I think we are quite excited for the start of the year. We have testing to do yet. We've done a little bit already in December which went I think pretty well. So I think everybody's just anxious to get going.

Q. Obviously adding Takuma to your driver lineup isn't the only change for your team, which is going to base its IZOD IndyCar Series operations in Brownsburg, Ind. Why move the operation to Indianapolis?

BOBBY RAHAL: This has actually been under consideration for a number of years. It's really become the center of IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis area. You look at the resource that exists here within the area, both the human resource, but the subcontractors, what have you, that can provide services for an IndyCar team.

It just seemed to me that we needed to be in sort of the epicenter of IndyCar racing now that we were going to come back into it on a full-time basis. So we managed to lease the space that Gil de Ferran used to be in from my friend Don Prudhomme. It's a nice shop up here in Brownsburg. This is a start for us. But the IndyCar team will certainly be headquartered here for many years to come because we think this is the place to be both for now and in the future.

Q. Taku, it has to be a relief for you to get your plans for 2012 settled after what has been a pretty long off-season.

TAKUMA SATO: Yes and no. Obviously I'm very excited to be announced I'm joined with Bobby's big project. I'm extremely pleased and extremely excited.

As Bobby said, I made the first contact immediately after the season ends last year. When I heard from Bobby, it was such an excitement project for his 2012 restart with the IndyCar project.

We talk about lots of various options, the great stories, what could be the scenario. It was just a matter of all the preparation.

It was a long winter. But I was always confident that we could do a great deal with it. Suddenly the announcement this February, very excitement. But I've known it's going to be happen from very early stage of the end of the season last year, so I'm extremely pleased.

Q. This will be your third year in the IZOD IndyCar Series. What led to your decision to change teams and do you feel that Rahal Letterman Lanigan can help you get the first win in the series that you've been so close to getting?

TAKUMA SATO: Yeah, sure. As a driver you have to look at the options, the various options, after the season ends. As I said, Bobby gave me a great offer. I believe very strongly this team is going to be huge potential.

I mean, Bobby's team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan team, it's shown great history. The numbers in racing is very impressive winning record. It's just great success. Okay, the IndyCar Series wasn't entering full-time in a couple years, but they showing great speed last year every single time they were entering IndyCar. So I was very confident.

Of course, with the new operation, (indiscernible) very experienced, and such a great opportunity to see all the possibility for the great performance. When I discuss with Bobby how it's going to operate with the new team, I was very excited.

My expectation is ever so high. I was very confident we could do a great job this year.

Q. Bobby, I know you talked about not only having Taku, but having a second car. Since you're coming back into the series, have you gone over with the series how Leaders Circle money might be allocated? Is there a date where you need to have the second car confirmed or else that engine contract, you might not have that?

BOBBY RAHAL: First off, on the Leaders Circle situation, I'm not quite sure what the situation is there. We certainly made a presentation to them, as did many other teams.

I think we bring some unique assets to the equation that can really help IndyCar. I think we've already utilized many of those, thanks to David Letterman. But that process is still going on as far as I know. We've not heard one way or the other.

We certainly hope to receive one of the Leaders Circle memberships and believe we deserve to be, frankly. But, again, it's out of our hands at this stage and we'll just have to wait like everybody else. I think it is important for us to be one of the members of the Leaders Circle, so we're certainly hopeful.

In regards to the second car, we're very close on that. All of our efforts are being split right now between getting Taku's car ready for the Barber test. This last week we did not go to the Sebring test because we felt it was more important for us to understand the car, what we have a little bit better, so we spent several days on the seven-post rig up in Canada, which we've used quite extensively in the past in IndyCar Series and ALMS cars. We came away with a lot of good information from that.

Quite frankly, there's plenty of time. You're limited to 1,000 miles per driver pre-season anyway. So by doing Barber, Sebring and Sebring again, we'll be able to accomplish 1,000 miles.

I think right now it's getting Taku's car ready for those tests and working hard to finalize our second driver. The second car is being prepared as we speak. As far as we're concerned, we're going to have two cars, two drivers, and that's really our focus at this point in time.

Q. Bobby, what is the importance of having multiple cars, with your new car? Do you have more chance to find out more about them?

BOBBY RAHAL: For sure having multiple cars within a team is better I think up to a point. I think ideally a two-car team is probably the right number. We've run three in the past and been successful with that. But, nevertheless, organizationally it's a much tougher deal. That's part of the reason why we want to be a two-car team.

Having said that, I had my best years, some of my best years, on a single-car team. We've gone to Indy the last several years as a single-car team and done I think pretty well.

While a single-car team may not be ideal, I think your ability to be competitive is just as good there as anywhere else because you're able to focus all your efforts on one driver, one car, a small group of people tightly knit. That can do a lot of good things.

In the end, if we have our options, we want to be a two-car team. We're working hard for that. I think we will be. So that's how we're going forward at this stage.

2. Hinchcliffe to field questions at Canadian Motorsports Expo: Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe, the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, will be on the Mazda Stage from 12:45-1:30 p.m. Feb. 12 for a Q&A session at the Canadian Motorsports Expo at the International Centre adjacent to Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

Hinchcliffe will then head to the Inside Track Motorsport News booth to sign autographs and chat with the show goers.

"It's been a couple of years since my last visit and I know it's grown in stature since then, which is fantastic to see," said Hinchcliffe, 25, a native of suburban Toronto. "Canadian fans are truly passionate about their motorsports and it's always a great experience to hang out with them."

The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to the streets of Exhibition Place July 6-8 for the Honda Indy Toronto.

3. HVM welcomes new team manager: Lotus HVM Racing has added Shane Seneviratne as the team's new manager. Seneviratne, former principal of US RaceTronics, has an 18-year history in Indy Lights and Atlantics, amassing multiple championships.

He worked with Simona de Silvestro in Atlantics in '09.

"I'm excited to be part of HVM Racing and happy to help Simona once more continue her remarkable racing career," he said. "The new IndyCar brings new challenges to teams that have not had to be dealt with for many years. I'm looking forward to contributing to this team in overcoming these challenges, and in strengthening the great chemistry that exists within HVM Racing."

4. Open Test set for Barber Motorsports Park: Firestone Indy Lights and the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear will share Barber Motorsports Park on March 19-20 for an Open Test. Each series will have seven sessions on the 2.38-mile road course.

Both series will be part of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 23-25 and return to Barber Motorsports Park on March 30-April 1 as part of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Feb. 7, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. IZOD IndyCar Series to feature new rules for 2012

2. Busy days ahead for Pagenaud

3. Cape cars cover field at Sebring round of Cooper Tires Winter Fest

4. Freiberg joins Star Mazda with JDC Motorsports

1. IZOD IndyCar Series to feature new rules for 2012: Sporting and technical regulations that comprise the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook were distributed electronically to teams today by INDYCAR.

INDYCAR President of Competition and IZOD IndyCar Series Race Director Beaux Barfield said the goal was to re-format the 2012 rulebook for ease of use in conjunction with the debut of the Dallara DW12 chassis and participation by three engine manufacturers.

"A rulebook is written to protect the rights of its competitors and empower the officials," said Barfield, who joined INDYCAR in January after several years as Race Director of the American Le Mans Series. "It's that balance you're trying to strike when you're writing rules, and it's very important in generating the product we long for on-track. I'm confident that we've created the proper balance with this rulebook moving forward this season."

Highlights include:

• An instant messaging system during events between Race Control and officials, individual entrants or the entire field to communicate track conditions, warnings, penalties or other information. Team managers also will be able to directly contact Race Control. The system will complement radio communication.

• Standard INDYCAR tech bodywork parts must be able to fit a team's car during technical inspection.

• A minimum of two Track Condition Radio steering wheel lights are standard. They will act in unison with dash lights and complement audio and trackside visual caution warning systems.

• Manufacturer points will be awarded on a race-by-race basis and added throughout the season to crown a Manufacturer Champion between Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus. The highest-finishing engine manufacturer earns 9 points; the second highest-placing manufacturer earns 6 points and the third-highest manufacturer receives 4 points.

• An oval Open Test has been added March 13 at Texas Motor Speedway to complement the private test Feb. 19-21 at the 1.5-mile oval and supplement the March 5-6 and March 8-9 Open Test at Sebring International Raceway.

Barfield said his intent was to review instead of rewrite. He will take notes throughout the season for points of discussion relating to the 2013 rulebook.

"For me, it's important that certain rules make sense for my style, but be careful to not cut out too many elements that have value," Barfield said. "There's a lot of heritage to these rules that you want to preserve and make sure you don't create any pitfalls by getting rid of items. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, this rulebook will be the base and we'll start immediately on 2013."

INDYCAR Vice President of Technology Will Phillips and the technical officiating group have been reviewing regulations since autumn with 2012 and beyond in mind as multiple aerodynamic bodywork kits will be introduced for 2013. INDYCAR also has added engine support engineers to aid Director of Engine Development Trevor Knowles and police the Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus programs.

The comprehensive technical inspection process, which measures, weighs and checks more than 100 items of the car, now will include matching INDYCAR standard car parts to an entrant's car.

"Our goal is to ensure as quickly as possible that everybody is following the letter of the law and the intention," Phillips said. "INDYCAR officials started with a clean sheet when developing the 2012 technical regulations, and through the diligent enforcement of the rules we can help maintain an environment of safety and fair competition that benefits the participants and fans."

2. Busy days ahead for Pagenaud: Simon Pagenaud and his engineer with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Ben Bretzman, have been almost inseparable the past few weeks as they process, plan and prepare for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25.

"We just had another deep conversation about the car; it's something we talk about every day," said Pagenaud, who will take the No. 77 Honda-powered Dallara DW12 out for a test drive Feb. 20-21 at Barber Motorsports Park (where last April he competed in his first of three IZOD IndyCar Series races). "It's a very interesting time right now because the car is very interesting and different from the old car driving-wise and setup-wise. It's just a matter of the group needing to have a certain chemistry to be ready for St. Pete. We're in the right direction.

"I'm happy with the car to be honest already."

To a degree, so is Bretzman, a veteran of open-wheel and sports car racing who joined the Schmidt organization in July. He and Pagenaud worked together at Highcroft Racing in 2010, when Pagenaud co-drove the American Le Mans Series championship-winning car.

"If you read the Internet, the first couple of months the car came out everyone was down on it and worried about speed," he said. "It's just been so long since people had new car. There are a lot of people in IndyCar that never had a new car. So it's getting used to learning about a new car and what it takes to get up to speed. It will be learning all year; the fundamentals of this car are much different than the old car. Every time you get on the racetrack it will be something new.

"Between the three engine manufacturers and the competition it will be a clean slate. The competition is so high in IndyCar right now. With an equal playing field of cars now and the manufacturers it will be interesting to see where it goes. I think you'll see multiple teams win this year."

Scheduled to join Pagenaud at the 2.38-mile Barber road course that features 80 feet of elevation change will be Mike Conway of A.J. Foyt Racing, Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Alex Tagliani of Bryan Herta Autosport, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Graham Rahal of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing, Charlie Kimball of Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing and Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing. James Jakes will also be testing with Dale Coyne Racing.

On Feb. 23-24, Pagenaud, Tagliani, Sato and the four Chip Ganassi Racing drivers will be joined at Sebring International by Lotus Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Oriol Servia.

Additionally, Alex Tagliani (Feb. 19-21), Tony Kanaan (Feb. 21) and the Team Penske trio of Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and Will Power (Feb. 21) will test at Texas Motor Speedway. JR Hildebrand will be at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 22. Feb. 25 is the homologation deadline - when Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus must submit final specifications to INDYCAR for their 2.2-liter, turbocharged V-6 engines.

"It's a big gain for us for Simon to have driven car already (in mid-January at Sebring), to hear what he thinks of the car," Bretzman said. "It will be a very busy week on track for four or five days straight in two different states. At Barber, our focus is much more on permanent road courses (Barber, Mid-Ohio and Infineon). That's a lot more grip racetrack, a faster racetrack so we focus on those situations. Sebring is a pure street course and we have seven or eight of them on the schedule so that's why everyone is living in Sebring right now.

"The setup of the car and the mentality of the car changes between the two, so there's a lot to learn and figure out where we should take it."

3. Cape cars cover field at Sebring round of Cooper Tires Winter Fest: Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing drivers Spencer Pigot and Matthew Brabham each brought home a race win as the Cooper Tires Winter Fest concluded a two-day race meeting at Sebring International Raceway.

Pigot, who claimed Race #1 on Feb. 6, held off the hard-charging Brabham in damp conditions to win the first of two races on Feb. 7.

Pigot, who finished second to Petri Suvanto in the 2011 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda season, took the lead from pole sitter and teammate Trent Hindman on the opening lap and built a three-second advantage.

Brabham got past Hindman and began to close on Pigot, who held on by .079 of a second. Hindman finished third to sweep the podium for the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing squad.

Brabham, by virtue of his fast lap in Race 2, started on pole in Race 3 and led flag to flag. Pigot, who started third, was able to pass Hindman again, but couldn't challenge Brabham for his third win.

Hindman finished third for the third-straight race with Matthew DiLeo and Thomas McGrgor rounding out the top five.

The Cooper Tires Winter Fest concludes with three-races on Feb. 11-12 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

4. Freiberg joins Star Mazda with JDC Motorsports: JDC MotorSports will add American Ashley Freiberg to its driver line-up for the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season. Seeking to repeat as series champion, the Minnesota-based squad will have the talented rookie behind the wheel in the Mazda Road to Indy series via the newly created TrueCar, Inc. "Women Empowered Initiative."

The former Skip Barber Racing champion, who has four Star Mazda races on her resume, including a top-five finish in 2010 at the Autobahn Country Club, will contest the entire upcoming 18-race campaign, partnering with fellow up-and-comer Juan Piedrahita under the JDC awning.

"We are really excited about working with Ashley during the 2012 season," stated JDC MotorSports team principal John Church. "The opportunity to work with Ashley and TrueCar is a real honor, and we look forward to a great season."

"It's hard to express how excited I am for this opportunity that TrueCar has given me," Freiberg said. "I have an awesome team around me, with TrueCar, JDC, Burke Harrison, and Mike Zimicki. I am thrilled for the chance to work and learn with all of them this season. The only way to describe all of this coming together is like a 'dream come true'. Let's go racing!"

The 2012 season is just the latest step on Freiberg's on-going quest to reach the top echelon of motorsports. The Illinois native, who currently resides in Vermont, first made her mark in the karting ranks, winning multiple races and championships. In 2007, she made the transition to car competition in Skip Barber.

Freiberg made history in 2010, becoming the first female to win both a Skip Barber National race and championships, capturing two Barber Series titles via a 25-win season. Thanks to this success, she was selected as one of six female racers in 2011 for the inaugural TrueCar 'Women Empowered Initiative," a multi-year commitment to support rising female racers in several series.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 30, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Barrichello completes successful test with KV Racing Technology

2. Rahal, Andretti join Super Bowl promotions

3. By the Super numbers

4. Wilson still reveling Rolex win

5. Helping Hands for Freedom event at Panther Racing

6. Panther Racing CEO receives medal for outstanding service

1. Barrichello completes successful test with KV Racing Technology: Rubens Barrichello apparently was having so much fun driving the No. 5 KV Racing Technology car that he decided to stay an extra day.

The Formula One veteran was scheduled to leave Sebring International Raceway after testing Jan. 30-31 of the new Dallara DW12 chassis powered by Chevrolet's 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. He canceled an appointment in Brazil to get in more laps Feb. 1 before turning over the No. 11 entry to longtime friend Tony Kanaan for the remainder of the session.

"It's been a really good morning," said Barrichello, who totaled 334 miles over the three days. "I was able to do a lot of laps in Tony's car and very happy to be in the No. 11. It's been my favorite number all my life. My feedback I think will be very beneficial to Tony and the whole team and I am satisfied with what we have achieved. I leave Sebring now with a good taste in my mouth."

Barrichello's smile at the completion of the first two days was an apt display of the sense of accomplishment. He had positive thoughts about the car, the atmosphere of the IZOD IndyCar Series and his abilities after a four-month layoff.

He left with an open invitation to compete in the series, and with options. Racing on ovals (there presently are four on the schedule, with the Indianapolis 500 on May 27 the first after four road/street course events) isn't a deal-breaker. An oft-repeated statement to that effect was made without consideration of ever competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

"I never thought I could come over to this side because I thought I would race 25 years in Formula One and I should be over and couldn't come this way," said Barrichello, who has made 332 F1 starts. "I did say that. It came out of my mouth. It is a not a big issue. It is not a problem. There are so many different situations that I could run. I could run on the road tracks; I could run Indy. There are so many options available, and I'm thankful for the choices at age 39 and still going fast in the car. That's all I could pray for when I was a kid.

"(He and wife Silvana) I'm sure we'll be talking about it. I'm not putting pressure on it; I have to think it through. If you go purely from joy, it wouldn't be a problem. I still have so much passion for the speed and I'm quite young in my mind and I'm not up to my top level of fitness. I'm just getting better and better.

"I'm just a kid enjoying myself. I woke up a few times before the alarm and wondered if I was on time because I was excited to get behind the wheel."

Another option for Barrichello, of course, would be a return to Formula One with another team. He said the move to replace him in the second seat at Williams F1 was precipitated by team economics and not his driving.

"I have an open mind," said Barrichello, who broke into F1 with the Jordan team. "I've been living there for 19 years and have been a fan of the Indy series for a long period as well. I've been to Indy, Milwaukee, Sao Paulo and many tracks. I like what I saw always; it's a great atmosphere with great racing."

Team co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven said "his feedback is amazing."

"Whatever happens for the future, all I said is I want Kevin, (co-owner) Jimmy (Vasser) and Tony to remember the day that I was here and say that Rubens tried it, made us go faster and let's try that at different circuits," Barrichello said. "I'm truly happy with the times I set and like what I saw."

Kanaan won't necessarily lobby his compatriot.

"Knowing Rubens, his timeline will be pretty short," said the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, who is entering his second year with the team. "You can tell by his face he's having a lot of fun."

2. Rahal, Andretti join Super Bowl promotions: Graham Rahal isn't concerned if he's upstaged by a celebrity Bulldog.

Rahal and Butler Blue II, the Butler University mascot, both spent an hour in front of the lights last week in filming "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials," which will be broadcast at 8 p.m. (ET) Feb. 1 on CBS.

It was an opportunity to showcase the IZOD IndyCar Series and the City of Indianapolis, which is playing host to the NFL championship game Feb. 5.

Rahal's segment was filmed with celebrity fitness expert Jillian Michaels. Blue II shared the camera with Michaels and model Adriana Lima.

"Maybe I am taking second place," said Rahal when informed of the canine's on-camera companions. "I got a call from Robert the producer last night and he said mine was going to be the best part of the show, so I hope it is."

The segment was filmed at the new Dallara Automobili facility on Main Street in Speedway, Ind.

"It was fun and great to be with Jillian Michaels," Rahal said. "I must say she was awesome. I came to find that she's quite the gearhead actually; she loves cars, motorcycles and is a big Indy car fan. (For the conclusion of the scene) she got in the two-seater and had to go burning out of the building into the parking lot. She did an amazing job for someone who had never driven a race car with a clutch and all. For her to launch out of that I think she had some fun.

"I'm excited to see it."

Marco Andretti is also involved in a Super Bowl cross-over promotion between the Speedway, the IZOD IndyCar Series, the NFL and entertainment outlets this week in Indianapolis.

"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" taped a segment, featuring Marco Andretti "racing" his Indy car against a Chevy Malibu with Fallon. The episode airs on the show at 12:35 a.m. (ET) Feb. 2.

3. By the Super numbers: Super Bowl XLVI will be contested Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, which is synonymous with another annual event that's been contested a tad bit longer: the Indianapolis 500.

There are multiple tie-ins between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IZOD IndyCar Series and the NFL in the days leading up to the big game at Lucas Oil Stadium, including the Speedway playing host to a party for media from around the world.

So here are some numbers they can chew on relating "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" to the 46th title game:

• Car No. 46 has appeared in the Indianapolis 500 13 times (1911, 1929-30, 1932-36, 1947, 1960, 1967 and 1979-80).

• The best finish for car No. 46 was third in 1980 with Gary Bettenhausen driving.

• The best start for car No. 46 was 11th in 1932 with Luther Johnson driving.

• A lap time around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track of 46 seconds is an average speed of 195.652 mph.

• An average speed of 46 mph around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway would take 3 minutes, 15.65 seconds.

• Bobby Unser ran the first sub-46-second qualifying lap. It was his second qualifying lap on May 14, 1972. His final two laps were also under 46 seconds.

• 46: Emerson Fittipaldi's age when he won in 1993.

• The 46th Indianapolis 500 was won by Rodger Ward in 1962.

• The 1946 Indianapolis 500 was won by George Robson.

• 46: Combined starts for brothers Al (27) and Bobby Unser (19).

4. Wilson still reveling Rolex win: Justin Wilson was more than happy to tell people the time.

The Dale Coyne Racing driver arrived at Sebring International Raceway about 24 hours after co-driving the winning Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian entry in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona. He teamed with AJ Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri Jr. and John Pew.

Of course, Wilson was sporting the winner's watch from the title sponsor (though he'll have to withdraw a few links in the band for it to fit properly). Wilson took in the completed Honda-powered No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing car, which he'll be shaking down Jan. 31 on the Sebring short course, for the first time.

Wilson, twice at runner-up in the endurance race on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway course, earned the victory in his fifth attempt. It was the first for Shank, who will enter a car in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

"It's a fantastic feeling to finally do it," said Wilson, whose final stint in the early morning lasted more than 3½ hours. "It was flat out. We gave it everything on every lap and took every opportunity."

Six teams with INDYCAR drivers finished in the top 10 of the race.

5. Helping Hands for Freedom event at Panther Racing: Helping Hands for Freedom, a military charity that supports military children of fallen and wounded soldiers, will host its "Touchdown for Heroes Championship Party" from 5-10 p.m. Feb. 4 at Panther Racing. It's open to the public.

The party will feature live music, silent auctions, racing simulators, appearances by professional athletes and a stand-up comedy program that will include nationally recognized comedian Mark Viera.

Proceeds from the event will be used to help military children in Indiana through Helping Hands for Freedom. Tickets start at $100. For more information, visit www.hhffparty.com. Panther Racing is located at 5740 Decatur Blvd. in Indianapolis.

6. Panther Racing CEO receives medal for outstanding service: Panther Racing CEO and managing partner John Barnes last week was presented the Arizona Adjutant General's Medal for outstanding service and unwavering commitment to the United States National Guard.

The National Guard returns as the primary sponsor of the No. 4 Panther Racing car to be driven by JR Hildebrand in the 2012 season.

"I'm just unbelievably humbled by this honor and have to thank my good friend Gen. (Hugo) Salazar for everything he's done for Panther," Barnes said. "I say it all the time, but we're just doing what we feel is right for the soldiers who serve this country. I feel like every honor we receive as a team is more a testament to the hard work they do and how eager we are to help support those efforts."

Said Salazar: "Patriot citizens such as yourself have made the National Guard a proven operational force that is always ready and always there to defend America both at home and abroad. Your efforts reflect great credit upon yourself, your family and the Panther Racing team."

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 30, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Barrichello samples IZOD IndyCar Series with KV Racing

2. Wilson helps Shank team win Rolex 24

1. Barrichello samples IZOD IndyCar Series with KV Racing: What began as a pick-me-up message from Tony Kanaan two weeks ago has developed into serious consideration by Brazilian Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello to join the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2012 season.

"We'll see," said Barrichello, who drove a second car prepared by KV Racing Technology. "I don't have anything else (competitive driving), so we'll see."

Kanaan, who sent the note to his good friend after Barrichello was replaced by Bruno Senna at Williams F1, welcomed Barrichello with a dinner attended by Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Oriol Servia ("he noticed the atmosphere; how we all get along") on Jan. 29. Kanaan was happy to have Barrichello accept the invitation to join him at Sebring.

"Over the winter we talked about it, but it became serious when I was testing (at Sebring) and they announced that he wouldn't be with Williams, and I tweeted a picture of my car saying 'It's ready for you,'" said Kanaan, who is godfather to one of Barrichello's sons and vice versa with his son, Leonardo. "Then I called him up and said, 'Hey, you want to come test at the end of the month?' And he said yes, so I called Jimmy (Vasser).

"It's great to have a guy I can call a brother with us. (His future) is in his hands. Right now, it's just an invitation for him to help us out as far as his feedback. Nineteen years in Formula One, the guy has so much knowledge we need to take advantage of . What goes beyond that, it's up to him.

"Knowing Rubens, his timeline will be pretty short. By the time he gets out of the car (Jan. 31), he'll have a pretty good idea what he wants to do. Right now, we don't have anyone signed for the other two cars. You can tell by his face he's having a lot of fun."

Barrichello, who has recorded 11 wins, 68 podiums and 14 pole positions in F1, is not ready to hang up the helmet. He was joined at the facility by his family, who were greeted by INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard.

"If Rubens joins the IZOD IndyCar Series, it continues to strengthen the caliber of drivers that we're attracting," Bernard said. "His record alone is the type of excitement that we want to build within the series and give our fanbase. When you look at the history of Indy car and the greats such as Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi, it only helps the stature of Indy car. If there is a transition, I want him to know that we're here to help him."

Servia (in the Lotus development car), Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe (Andretti Autosport), JR Hildebrand (National Guard Panther Racing), and the Team Penske trio of Ryan Briscoe, Castroneves and Power also were on the track Jan. 30 preparing for the 2012 season, which kicks off March 25 on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing), who co-drove the winning entry in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 29, Mike Conway (A.J. Foyt Racing), Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), Graham Rahal (Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing) and Charlie Kimball (Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing) join them Jan. 31.

2. Wilson helps Shank team win Rolex 24: Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson teamed with AJ Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri Jr. and John Pew to win the 50th anniversary endurance race in the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian. The entry won by 5.198 seconds over the Starworks Motorsport team anchored by Ryan Dalziel.

Michael Shank Racing's previous best finish in the event (second place) came in 2006 with Wilson, Allmendinger, Negri and Mark Patterson co-driving. Overall, six Daytona Prototype teams with INDYCAR drivers finished in the top 10.

A second Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian Daytona Prototype entry, with Firestone Indy Lights drivers Gustavo Yacaman and Jorge Goncalvez among the co-drivers, finished third as the only other car on the lead lap (761) in the twice-around-the-clock race on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn course.

Wilson was competing for the first time since early August when he suffered fractured vertebrae during a practice incident at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which forced him to miss the final six IZOD IndyCar Series events.

"We all managed to comprise enough to get by between all four of us in being comfortable and being able to push the limit every single lap, because this was a tough race," said Wilson, who will be returning to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2012 season that begins March 25 with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

A day to recuperate and it will be back behind the wheel for Wilson, who'll be able to stretch his legs in the new Dallara DW12 chassis at Sebring International Raceway. A dozen other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will join him on the short course, including Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon of the fourth-place Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates car in the Rolex 24.

Shank also will have few hours to revel in his first Rolex 24 victory in nine attempts before he focuses on wrapping up details of entering the IZOD IndyCar Series with MSR Indy and likely Paul Tracy as the driver.

"We are so close to being able to run our car at St. Pete and I'm not giving up," Shank said before the green flag. "This is about passion for me and business. First passion, then business. We have a great relationship with Ford and the Grand Am series and I could make a living here just fine. But it's been my dream and my intention since I was 7 years old to get in the Indianapolis 500, so when there's opportunity - like I believe there is in INDYCAR right now - we decided to go for it.

"In a perfect world, I could announce (now) what I'm doing. We're going to work as hard as we can to make it happen. The interest has been great and we have a lot of new fans."

Tracy, who confirmed he's working with Shank to finalize a deal, was among the drivers of the Doran Racing car that finished seventh overall - one spot behind the 2011-winnnig Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates car co-driven by Graham Rahal.

"We need to put together an engine program this week and tie up a couple of other lose ends of some other contractual stuff, and if we can do that, then we'll get the car put together and try to get to Sebring to test," Tracy said following a twilight stint.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, who looked to be out of the endurance race when sponsorship for a second Starworks Motorsport car fell through five days earlier, rejoined the team before the initial practice of the weekend and then qualified ninth.

More last minute was the addition of Marco Andretti, Hunter-Reay's teammate at Andretti Autosport, to the driver lineup. Andretti was granted a late license (he had never driven a Daytona Prototype) and fared well, though he became dehydrated.

Another Andretti Autosport teammate, James Hinchcliffe, co-drove a SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 that finished seventh in the GT class and 16th overall.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 25, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. INDYCAR Stars headline Rolex 24 at Daytona

2. Honda to power Dale Coyne Racing

3. Hunter-Reay's fishing excursion benefits Racing For Cancer

4. Of note

1. INDYCAR Stars headline Rolex 24 at Daytona: Justin Wilson says the fractured vertebrae he suffered during an IZOD IndyCar Series practice session in August at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is but a distant, albeit painful, memory.

The IZOD IndyCar Series race winner will return to competition this weekend in the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Wilson, who's anxiously waiting to wrap up his IZOD IndyCar Series deal for 2012, will co-drive the No. 60 LiveOn.com Daytona Prototype with AJ Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri and John Pew.

"It was a long six months. It was frustrating; you want to get back in the car," said Wilson, who competed in 11 events (best finish of fifth just five days before the practice incident) for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2011.

Wilson is among a dozen IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights drivers entered in the twice-around-the-clock endurance race Jan. 28-29. The No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team of Graham Rahal, Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Joey Hand is the defending champion. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time Daytona 24-hour winner A.J. Foyt is the grand marshal.

Wilson, who was recently cleared to drive by INDYCAR medical officials, says he's fit for the rigors of multiple driving stints on the 2.56-mile, 12-turn circuit in the Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian car.

"To take it easy; that was the only prescription," he said of the recovery and rehabilitation. "About five weeks they said I could start to swim and I just built that up, and at about 12 weeks I added cycling. I was fortunate that there was no surgery so that made life a lot easier. I just had to concentrate on getting the movement and strength back and make sure I don't damage anything in the meantime."

Michael Shank Racing's best finish in the event (second place) came in 2006 with Wilson, Allmendinger, Negri and Mark Patterson co-driving. Of course, drivers and the team principal believe they have a great opportunity to climb one step on the podium.

"The key is working out some of the changes we made and making sure we really understand and know what we're doing," Wilson added. "The conditions change so much. Obviously, the middle of the night is much colder than the middle of the day so it's just getting a good handle on that so we can attack in every condition and situation and I think we've made some good changes on the car that allows us to do that."

A second Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian Daytona Prototype entry will be co-driven by Firestone Indy Lights drivers Gustavo Yacaman and Jorge Goncalvez, plus Michael McDowell and Felipe Nasr.

"We're as ready as we can be and we're eager to get going," said Shank, whose MSR Indy team is expected on the grid of the IZOD IndyCar Series season opener March 25 in St. Petersburg, Fla. "I'm very proud of the effort this whole team has put in, and I'm very excited about our chances this year. We've got an exciting line up of guys, and we know that this race will be as much about performance as it will be about patience."

Other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers competing in the Daytona Prototype class are Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti in the No. 02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates car, Ryan Briscoe in the No. 10 SunTrust Racing car and Paul Tracy in the No. 77 Doran Racing.

James Hinchcliffe, the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, will compete for SpeedSource in the No. 70 Mazda RX-8 in the GT class. Raphael Matos will co-drive the No. 62 Ferrari 458 for Risi Competizione.

Other Indy car drivers scheduled to compete: John Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, Davy Jones, Max Papis, Eliseo Salazar and Scott Sharp (the 1996 Indy Racing League co-champion).

"It's a fun weekend," said Franchitti, the four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion who is among three Indy 500 winners competing this weekend. "You try not to take it too seriously, then you take it seriously when you get into the car."

2. Honda to power Dale Coyne Racing: American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power a two-car effort from Dale Coyne Racing in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to all Coyne entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and at the Indianapolis 500.

"Dale Coyne Racing has been one of IndyCar's most durable teams, with a history that extends for nearly 30 years." said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics, for American Honda. "It's great to have them racing with us in 2012. Dale's team has made great strides in recent seasons, and he has made moves this off-season to further improve. We're looking forward to continuing our association with him in 2012."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine is now being tested on the race track. Dale Coyne Racing joins Chip Ganassi Racing - winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships - A.J. Foyt Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports as Honda-powered teams in 2012.

"We have felt a part of the Honda family from their first days in CART back in the early 1990s till today," commented DCR team owner Dale Coyne. "We are very pleased to enter this next stage of IndyCar history with a company so dedicated to winning and rich in successful motorsports heritage like Honda. Together we hope to accomplish great things in 2012."

3. Hunter-Reay's fishing excursion benefits Racing For Cancer: Ryan Hunter-Reay participated in the Florida Fish for Life/Buccaneer Cup over the weekend in the Atlantic Ocean off Palm Beach, Fla. The annual event raises awareness of colon cancer through sport fishing, and Racing For Cancer was among the fundraising beneficiaries this year.

Hunter-Reay, who enters his third IZOD IndyCar Series season with Andretti Autosport, is the Global Ambassador for Racing For Cancer -- a registered 501(c)(3) organization that was formed to unite motorsports fans around the world to help those afflicted with cancer and to promote early detection and prevention initiatives that support the global fight against cancer.

4. Of note: Banana Boat sun care announced a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams in which it will sponsor the car of Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti during the 2012 season. As part of the partnership, Banana Boat sun care will host fan experiences at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race…Attendees of the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Feb. 10-12 at the International Centre in suburban Toronto will have an opportunity to see the new IZOD IndyCar Series car at the Honda Indy Toronto booth. ... Andretti Autosport Star Mazda Championship driver Zach Veach of Stockdale, Ohio, used four race wins and four pole positions to capture the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series championship for the second consecutive year. … Chip Ganassi Racing is featured in the January issue of Professional Pilot magazine. The team owner utilizes a Citation X and Learjet 35 from the base at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 20, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Legge's long journey pays off

2. USF2000 Champion Suvanto joins Team Pelfrey

3. Israeli driver to compete in Firestone Indy Lights

4. Iowa Corn returns as race sponsor for sixth year

5. Of note

1. Legge's long journey pays off: Katherine Legge re-adjusts the diamond ring on her left hand and smiles when talking about her fiancé. Among former DTM driver Peter Terting's qualities are patience and support, which she appreciates more than can be expressed with an interviewer.

"We haven't done anything about the wedding really because I've been so focused on racing," says Legge, who earlier in the week was confirmed as the teammate to Sebastien Bourdais with Lotus Dragon Racing. "It's really difficult to take your focus away from something, and I'm not one of those people who won't do everything properly. When I do something, I have to commit to it 110 percent, and I've just been committed to racing."

So any invitations to the wedding back in the UK won't be sent until after the IZOD IndyCar Series season.

"Priorities, right?" she says. "He understands."

Competing in the top level of motorsports has been Legge's priority - her passion, really - for as long as she can remember throughout her 31 years. Achievements and notoriety came swiftly in open-wheel racing in Europe, and continued in the Atlantic Championship in North America. She graduated to the Champ Car World Series in 2006 with PKV Racing (Oriol Servia of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was her teammate) and competed the next year with Dale Coyne Racing - both seasons garnering mixed results.

When Champ Car came under INDYCAR sanction for the 2008 season, Legge found herself on the sidelines. When doors shut and phone calls went unreturned, she returned to Europe to begin a new chapter in touring cars. But throughout her three years in DTM, Indy car remained the goal.

At the beginning of January 2011, Legge moved back to the States to pursue opportunities.

"I thought I'd come back and was sure I would get a ride," she says. "I didn't realize how difficult it would be."

Undaunted, she teamed up with new sports management and consulting firm GRand Solutions to re-introduce herself to the INDYCAR community at race venues and team headquarters. A wry smile in the paddock masked disappointment of not competing on the racetrack.

"Once I decided that I was going to come back to INDYCAR, I had to find a way to make it happen," she says. "I've had a very hard year of work and I had sleepless nights, but it's my dream and I've followed it and I'm very happy it's paying off.

"There have been a lot of people I respect that have given me advice to the contrary because they didn't know it was going to be possible (to race in Indy car). Nobody really expected it of me, but when I set my mind to something I'm like a dog with a bone and don't let go. I laser focus in on that point. My all-time favorite saying is if you want something badly enough you'll find a way to make it happen."

She realizes it's only the beginning to making the most of the opportunity.

"It's a change of focus now," Legge says. "You concentrate on the business side and you tend to put the driving side almost away a little bit. It will take me a few days to get back into it since I haven't been in an open-wheel car for four years. But all I can do is take out all the unknowns by preparing myself as well as I can and do the best job I can inside the car and out."

Bourdais, who won his fourth consecutive Champ Car title in 2007 and has 31 Indy car victories, will be a major asset, according to Legge, in her transition from DTM and developing the new Dallara chassis for the diverse set of road/street circuits and ovals on the calendar.

"I am so lucky to have Sebastien as a teammate," she says. "I will try to learn as much from him as I can. There are probably only three or four drivers in Indy car that I would have loved to have as my teammate and he's definitely one of them. His experience and talent in developing a car will be a massive advantage for us."

Legge also has the backing of primary sponsor TrueCar, an online automotive solutions provider that publishes new car transaction data, through its Women Empowerment motorsports initiative. It also sponsors Ashley Freiberg (Star Mazda) and Shannon McIntosh (USF2000) in the Mazda Road to Indy program, Shea Holbrook (Pirelli World Challenge), Verena Mei (Rally America) and Emilee Tominovich (MX-5 Cup).

Legge, the FIA female driver ambassador, says the program "comes from a deep-seated belief and want for the girls to do well."

"This idea has evolved into something I would say is groundbreaking and very special," she says. "There hasn't really been anybody that's been given the opportunity, apart from Danica (Patrick), who was in really good equipment. No other female has been in top equipment and been given the opportunity to win races.

"They've given me and all the girls throughout the ranks the opportunity to shine. We don't want it to be a gimmick. We don't want it to be the 'girl' driver. We want to be competitive race car drivers, taken seriously in what we do. And the only way we can do that is compete with the guys, and the only way you can compete with the guys is if you're given the opportunity on a level playing field.

"It is empowering to women, and it should stand as an example that you can do anything you put your mind to and not limited by anything."

Much like Legge's return to IndyCar racing.

"I have a very never-give-up attitude and now here I am," she says.

2. USF2000 Champion Suvanto joins Team Pelfrey: Team Pelfrey announced the addition of 2011 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda champion Petri Suvanto to compete in the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear.

The team made a stunning series debut last March when Connor De Phillippi won the opening race at St. Petersburg, Fla., just a few miles away from its home base. De Phillippi maintained the momentum by adding three race wins, and together with teammate Nick Andries claimed a total of three poles and 13 podium finishes en route to second and third positions in the drivers' championship. The team also finished first and second in the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to clinch the Team Championship.

Suvanto will join American Gustavo Menezes, who finished eighth in the 2011 Star Mazda series as a rookie with Juncos Racing, and Englishman Jack Hawksworth, a race winner in last year's Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship.

"Winning is our obsession, so who better to drive for us than the defending USF2000 champion," said Team Pelfrey team manager Geoff Fickling. "Petri is the perfect driver for a results-oriented team. He's extremely focused, self-motivated, and bloody quick! Some of his wins last year were shockingly impressive. We know the step up to Star Mazda is a big one and there's a learning curve that needs to be met in order to even utter the word championship, but I've laid out the most extensive preseason testing program I've ever been a part of in order to get all three of our young drivers' learning curves accelerated as quickly as possible prior to the opener at St. Petersburg. Jack, Gustavo, and Petri, I couldn't be happier with our lineup."

Suvanto was impressive in winning last year's Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda title as a rookie and is now able to reach one step closer to his goal of competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, courtesy of the Mazda Road to Indy scholarship ladder.

"It feels great to finally announce that I will be racing for Team Pelfrey," Suvanto said. "It's been very difficult to hold back the exciting news for so long while we finalized all the details! I have had a chance to get to know the team a little bit over the winter and I'm very excited to work with such a professional group of people again.

"Moving up to Star Mazda isn't going to be easy but I'm welcoming the challenge with open arms. The theme of the year is learning, and the more I learn the better the results are going to be. Things have changed a lot over the last 12 months. Last year at this time I was wondering whether I would be able to ever race again, but from the moment I learned about the Mazda Road to Indy, I knew what I wanted. It worked out pretty well. 2011 changed my life and I'm very thankful to all the people who were part of it, especially everyone at Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Now it's time to start a new chapter full of new challenges. I'm already counting the days until the first race."

Suvanto, 19, is currently completing his mandatory military service in his native Finland. Once his National Service is completed, he will join the team in a busy schedule of testing in preparation for the first race of the season, which will be held in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series opener, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, on March 25.

3. Israeli driver to compete in Firestone Indy Lights: Belardi Auto Racing created motor racing history by signing Alon Day, the first Israeli driver to compete in the United States, to its Firestone Indy Lights roster for the 2012 season.

"I am very excited to welcome Alon to the Belardi Auto Racing family for the 2012 Indy Lights season," team owner Brian Belardi said. "Alon really blew us away when he came down to test with us at Palm Beach in December. His very first time in an Indy Lights car could not have gone better, and we are very lucky to have him join our program. I think with Alon's natural talent and determination, he will have a really great season as a rookie in the Firestone Indy Lights series."

Day started his driving career, like many others, by karting. After earning more than 60 titles and trophies, he moved up to the 2-liter cars in Formula Renault in Asia and Hungary. In 2009, the 17-year-old clinched the Asia Formula Renault Championship with 13 podiums, eight poles and six wins.

In March of the following year, however, Day's racing career was halted when he was asked to join the Israeli Army for three years. After being pardoned because of his unique career and accomplishments, he competed in the German Formula Three Championship in 2010. It was that year, following a promising season, that Day was selected by ex-Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz to be one of 12 FIA Ambassadors as part of the FIA Institute Academy Initiative.

Signing with Belardi Auto Racing will mark Day's first race season in North America, where the 20-year-old will compete in 12 events across the U.S. and Canada.

"I am so delighted to announce that I will be competing with Belardi Auto Racing for the 2012 Indy Lights Championship," he said. "I had a great test with Belardi in December, and I got to have a real think about things over Christmas, and I decided to make a commitment with Belardi in the Lights Championship. Brian (Belardi) and John (Brunner) have been great; they have accommodated for us on every level.

"I'm really excited with the package that we've got to enter the season. We certainly feel that we're going to be in a great position to fight for the championship, which is why we're all here. I'm absolutely delighted and very much looking forward to working with everyone at Belardi and look to try and bring them the championship."

Day and the team will test at MSR Houston on Jan. 23-24.

4. Iowa Corn returns as race sponsor for sixth year: The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board will be the title sponsor of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway for the sixth consecutive year.

The IZOD IndyCar Series race on the 0.85-mile oval will be held under the lights June 23.

"This year will be exciting as INDYCAR moves to E85," said Craig Floss, CEO of Iowa Corn. "Consumers can fill up their flex fuel vehicles with E85, and drive just like the pros, except with a speed limit of course."

IZOD IndyCar Series cars have been fueled by ethanol since 2006, with an estimated savings of 20,000 gallons of fuel per season. In 2012, the new 2.2-liter, turbocharged V-6 engines of Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus will utilize E85 fuel - another way the series is relevant to motorists.

"Iowa Corn has been sponsoring this race since our inaugural season, a sponsorship which is now entering its sixth year," Iowa Speedway president Stand Clement said. "It's been a tremendous relationship, and we value their partnership, both with us and our race fans."

5. Of note: Michael Shank Racing, which will enter the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2012 season, is featured in the documentary, "Through the Tale of Teams," which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona. For more info, go to www.3WideLife.com. … Team Penske's Helio Castroneves is featured in an NBC Sports segment taped last week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Check it out at 5 p.m. Jan. 22 on NBC. ... Erwin Dazelle is the Official Artist for the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. His artwork will be featured on the Grand Prix poster, program, tickets and fan guides. ... Paul Tracy will compete in the Rolex 24 At Daytona for Doran Racing in the Daytona Prototype class. "I drove my first Rolex 24 in a Doran JE4 design back in 2005, and it was a great experience," Tracy said. Ten other INDYCAR drivers are scheduled to participate. … Brandon Reed of Elkhart, Ind., will join Team Stange on a partial schedule in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season. The team hopes additional sponsorship will allow Reed to compete the full season.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 17, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. DW12 chassis shows its mettle in wind tunnel

2. Servia joins Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

3. Calendar aims to raise money for Japanese earthquake victims

4. Virginia International Raceway fills USF2000 slate

1. DW12 chassis shows its mettle in wind tunnel: A two-day wind tunnel test last week proved that the Dallara DW12 chassis is up to the task on ovals, according to INDYCAR vice president of technology Will Phillips.

Questions arose during testing in November at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the chassis achieved only an average lap speed of 215.6 mph on the 2.5-mile oval. INDYCAR and Dallara Automobili arranged the full-scale, rolling test at Windshear in North Carolina to discern what could be done to increase aerodynamic performance.

A 2011 Target Chip Ganassi Racing IR11 chassis in qualification trim that recorded a 227.34 mph lap speed at the Speedway in May was utilized as a baseline reference.

"We then compared the 2012 car as it was run at its fastest during the (November) testing at the Speedway," Phillips said. "We showed that aerodynamically the car was limited to 218.4 mph, so the (drivers/teams) did a good job of reaching its potential. We then compared the production car, which is slightly different from the prototype in terms of different mirrors, different rear wheel fairings, subtle differences in chassis construction and better integration of the Zylon (side intrusion) panels.

"Basically, the car is more slippery (moves the air better). That lifted the speed as the car was run. We then looked at how could we improve the aerodynamic force of the car. Basically, by optimizing the aero set-up, re-balancing the car and then putting on some aero development parts, it showed that using a nominal assumed horsepower of 575 the car is easily capable of 225 mph."

Fifteen IZOD IndyCar Series teams picked up their first DW12 chassis on Dec. 15, with 17 additional chassis being picked up Jan. 16-17. On-track engine development for manufacturers Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus continues this week at Sebring International Raceway. The season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is March 25, and the first oval race is the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.

"Same test at same venue using an '11 car and '12 car, and that's the only data we're using to compare," Phillips said. "It's about as clean as we can make it for a two-day test."

With the introduction of multiple aerodynamic body kits in 2013, the potential of higher speeds will be an item INDYCAR officials will have to address.

"As we look at aero kits for 2013, the car could be exceeding expectations as they reduce drag further," Phillips said. "But it's not always about aerodynamics. You have to mechanically set the car up to drive it, so it's always a balance. Aerodynamically, we've proven that it can happen but we haven't proven mechanically that we can set the car up to go that speed yet."

2. Servia joins Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Oriol Servia, who finished fourth in the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series championship after a year's absence, will join Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the 2012 season.

Servia, a native of Catalonia, Spain, posted 11 top-10 finishes with a high of second at New Hampshire and Baltimore for Newman/Haas Racing. He also started seven races in the top 10, highlighted by a front-row start in the 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500.

Servia led all drivers in laps completed (2,103 of 2,011) and was the only driver to finish in the top 10 in the first five races of the season. He was among three drivers to be running at the finish in all 17 races.

"With a new engine, new chassis and a revamped engineering department, we believe it is crucial to have a highly talented veteran driver to be able to develop these new components," Dreyer & Reinbold co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. "Oriol has always been a smart driver and has always put himself and his team in a position to win races. We are going to have to be well-prepared to take advantage of his abilities and we look forward to the challenge."

Servia, 37, was runner-up in the 2005 Champ Car World Series standings and was the 1999 Indy Lights champion (finished second in five races and earned three pole positions).

"I couldn't be more excited, for many reasons," he said. "DRR is a team that I raced against since 2008 and they've always shown to be very professional at the racetrack. Although I knew the owners, I didn't know them very well, to be honest. Before signing with the team, like everybody else, I did my research and I couldn't find one individual that didn't speak highly of Dennis or Robbie (Buhl), which gave me a lot of confidence.

"I went to the team's sponsor summit last week (in Florida) and met all of their partners that they have been involved with for many, many years, which was another clear sign that they are good people."

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is a Lotus partner team. Servia is eager to begin testing in the new Dallara DW12 chassis. The season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is March 25. Last year, he gained six positions relative to his starting spot of 15th in the street course race.

"I'm at the best point in my career and it was very important to partner with the right team," he said. "When I visited the DRR facility in Indianapolis, I couldn't have been more impressed. We are starting with a new engine and chassis, and I have confidence in Lotus and our ability to develop a quality product in 2012. When you have everyone pulling in the same direction like we are now is when we can accomplish our goals."

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing continues to work toward a second full-time entry for the 2012 season.

3. Calendar aims to raise money for Japanese earthquake victims: Japanese journalists and brothers Kazuki Saito and Hiroyuki Saito have created a calendar using some of their favorite images from the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series to raise money for charities supporting the families affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which struck Japan on March 11, 2011.

This photo calendar was created to support recovery in the areas affected.

The brothers cover the IZOD IndyCar Series via their website US-RACING.net. Chief editor Kazuki Saito and his brother, motorsports photographer Hiroyuki Saito, both grew up in Tagajo city, Miyagi Prefecture, one of the areas worst affected by the disaster.

The tsunami came within a half-mile of their family home. Not only did it cause unprecedented loss of life, it also destroyed the homes and jobs of many of the survivors. Following the earthquake Kazuki and Hiroyuki travelled to their hometown and saw for themselves the true destruction that had occurred that day.

They realized just how long the road to recovery would be for the region, and that long-term support will be required to move forward.

"At US-RACING, we learned that no one is immune to natural disasters and felt more people around the world could learn from this," the brothers wrote in their calendar. "As our way of contributing to the recovery, we decided to launch the 'USRACING Photo Aid Appeal', making a selection of our photos available for purchase and download, in the hope that the people affected in this disaster will not be forgotten."

Proceeds will be donated to charity organizations that support families in the affected areas who have children suffering from disabilities.

The calendar can be purchased via the following link. http://www.dlmarket.jp/product_info.php/products_id/182153/language/en

4. Virginia International Raceway fills USF2000 slate: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda added the finishing touches to its strong 2012 race schedule - which was announced last week - by today confirming a pair of season-ending events at Virginia International Raceway on September 14 and 15 in support of the American Le Mans Series. Both series will be making their first appearances on the 4.1-mile, 21-turn 'Grand Course' road course configuration at the Alton, Va., circuit.

"I am thrilled to be able to confirm our events at VIR," said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. "This was the final piece to an exciting schedule in support of INDYCAR and the ALMS that will showcase the incredible talent we have in place this year. VIR is a first-class facility, and it is one of the best road courses in America. It is scenic, challenging, fan-friendly and will make a great site for our season finale.

"We currently have 20 confirmed drivers with more announcements expected. As the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, our goal is to provide the right mix of circuits to offer the best training ground. We now have four permanent road courses, two street circuits and one oval event - all at high-profile venues - I couldn't be more pleased with our schedule for this season. We are looking forward to some great racing."

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 13, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Dan Wheldon Memorial Auction raises more than $600,000

2. Barracuda Networks partners with Herta team, Tagliani

3. Castroneves visits North American International Auto Show

4. Bowl with stars to benefit Indy Family Foundation

5. Veach moves full-time to Star Mazda in 2012

1. Dan Wheldon Memorial Auction raises more than $600,000: An online auction of memorabilia dedicated to the late Dan Wheldon raised more than $600,000 for a memorial trust established for his family after the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner died from injuries sustained in an accident in October.

The organizers of the Dan Wheldon Memorial Auction released a final total of $627,203 on Jan. 13 after all items had been officially sold and the funds collected.

"From the very beginning, I have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy and the unwavering support of Dan's friends, his fans and from the racing community," Wheldon's wife Susie said in a statement. "When Graham (Rahal) reached out to me with the auction total today, I was very touched by everyone's generosity. I want everyone to know how grateful I am and how much I appreciate everyone's kindness and their love. It means the world to our family, and I hope one day to personally thank all those who donated and purchased the auction items."

Rahal, a competitor in the IZOD IndyCar Series, started the auction when he announced that he planned to auction off his helmet, shoes and gloves from the Las Vegas race and donate the proceeds to Wheldon's family.

As word spread about his gesture, personalities from the sports and entertainment world began donating items for Rahal to auction off. Within just a few days, the auction grew too big for Rahal to handle alone. It was taken over by eBay, which waived all fees, and Auction Cause, an auction management agency.

"We're beyond floored with the outpouring of love you have all shown," the organizers said via their Twitter account. "(We) couldn't have done it without you all! Words can't express our gratitude! Every little bit helped and will make a difference for the family."

2. Barracuda Networks partners with Herta team, Tagliani: Bryan Herta Autosport has partnered with Barracuda Networks Inc. as the primary sponsor for Alex Tagliani's 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series entry.

Tagliani, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter, joined the 2011 Indianapolis 500-winning team earlier this week.

"Bryan Herta Autosport is well-known for its leadership, drive and focus on innovation," said Michael Perone, executive vice president and CMO of Barracuda Networks. "This partnership gives us an amazing opportunity to communicate our shared philosophy, expand our brand footprint and demonstrate our technology leadership around the world."

Barracuda Networks' products protect organizations from threats over both email and Web. With a strong security heritage, Barracuda Networks offers networking products that improve application delivery and network access.

"Barracuda Networks is an industry leader known for performance, integrity, and quality. These are the same qualities we strive for at Bryan Herta Autosport," said Herta, whose team will compete full time in the IZOD IndyCar Series for the first year. "They have shown tremendous confidence and vision in partnering with us as primary sponsor for the 2012 season. We are thrilled to welcome them to the team and look forward to delivering results both on and off the track."

3. Castroneves visits North American International Auto Show: Helio Castroneves tweeted photos of exotic and concept cars Jan. 12 as he toured the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit with an NBC Sports camera crew in tow.

"I always like coming to the auto show here in Detroit," said Castroneves, who toured the Chevrolet display with Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "The cars and the technology are really cool and I was happy to get a chance to see all of the great products GM and Chevrolet have this year and the concept cars for the future."

Twenty-seven new vehicles were introduced during press day, and more than 500 vehicles are on display at the show that runs through Jan. 22.

NBC Sports taped a segment with Castroneves that will air at 5 p.m. (ET) Jan. 22. Team Penske drivers will be available for a Q&A and sign autographs Jan. 20 (check time, location on show itinerary at Cobo Center) to promote the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

"It's awesome to have the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix back on the IndyCar schedule this season," said Castroneves, who won his first Indy car race on the circuit in 2000. "It's so important to have a race here in the Motor City and we're all looking forward to coming back and putting on a great show for the fans in Detroit the first weekend in June."

The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner will test the Chevrolet-powered DW12 chassis on Jan. 16-17 at Sebring International Raceway.

"I'm big-time excited to get into it and test it out," he said. "It's been a long offseason. We're starting out fresh and hope we can change our luck. Whenever you don't win a championship or a race, you want to make it happen. We had close calls (for wins), but the ones we had something happened, like flat tires, and prevented us from getting it done."

4. Bowl with stars to benefit Indy Family Foundation: The Indy Family Foundation, which seeks to aid those in the motorsports community who find themselves in financial need because of hardship caused by illness, injury or death of a loved one, will be a beneficiary of the Stars and Strikes Celebrity Bowling Bash on Feb. 2 at Western Bowl in Indianapolis.

The event is in conjunction with the NFL championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, NFL players and other celebrities have committed to attend, with the event open to the public to watch and/or bowl.

Visit www.wix.com/saevents/celeb-bowling-bash for information and reserving an alley.

5. Veach moves full-time to Star Mazda in 2012: After getting a taste of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear in 2011, Zach Veach will compete in the series full-time in 2012. Veach will drive No. 77 Team Zakosi Data Backup car for Andretti Autosport.

Veach, a 17-year-old from Stockdale, Ohio, finished fourth in the 2011 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda season. He helped Andretti Autosport secure the team championship title for the second consecutive year with one win, five podiums and three pole positions. He also captured the inaugural USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest title in early 2011 with two race wins.

"I'm really excited to be racing in the Zakosi Data Backup Star Mazda car this season, especially with Sage [Karam] as my teammate again," Veach said. "The time I was able to spend in the car earlier this winter gave me a chance to change my driving style to better suit the Star Mazda car, and I think with a bit more testing I'll be ready to compete for the championship. I would like to thank Michael Andretti, Zakosi Data Backup, my family and the whole team that continues to support me."

During the 2011 season, Veach competed in the final two rounds of the Star Mazda Championship. He secured a third-place finish at the final race of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. He also recently drove to victory in the first two rounds of the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series at Infineon Raceway in November. He earned two pole positions and led every lap during the race weekend.

Away from the track, Veach stays active as a spokesperson for FocusDriven, an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using their cell phones, has campaigned for Oprah Winfrey's "No Phone Zone," and even created a phone app to fight texting behind the wheel. He also released a book titled 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16, where he shared his battle with bullying, which later led to his campaign work for the Cyber Safety Academy's No BULL Challenge.

INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES - Jan. 11, 2012

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. If you missed it: Michael Andretti and James Hinchcliffe teleconference:

2. Hinchcliffe signs with Andretti Autosport

3. Tagliani joins Bryan Herta Autosport

4. INDYCAR drivers earn AARWBA honors

5. INDYCAR makes addition to technical staff:

1. If you missed it: Michael Andretti and James Hinchcliffe teleconference: Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti and IZOD IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe were guests on an INDYCAR conference call today to discuss Hinchcliffe's signing with Andretti Autosport.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI: We're really excited to have James join. We feel like he's going to fit right in. I think he's going to be good with the chemistry of Marco and Ryan. He did an awesome job last year. He proved that he can run up front. He's a great personality. I think he's going to be perfect for our team.

Q. You mentioned his personality. How important was it to you as a team owner to get a driver as personable as James is off the track and as talented as he is in the car?

MICHAEL ANDRETTI: When you have a multi-driver team, it's very important that everybody gets along. We feel that the three of them are going to get along really well.

I think James' personality, you can tell he's a team player. And the other guys, asking opinions of Marco and Ryan, they both had high marks for him. That made it a no-brainer.

Q. James, it has to be a bit of a relief to you to get things settled for 2012 after a great rookie season and a difficult end of 2011 for you.

JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: It was a difficult end of 2011 for everybody. On top of that, with Newman/Haas closing their doors the end of December, a little bit of a curve ball.

For me I guess when a door closes a window opens, and this incredible opportunity has come up with Andretti Autosport and Go Daddy. Everybody is looking forward to getting going.

Q. I've seen in interviews you've done so far you have said that you have some big heels to fill. How much pressure do you feel taking that mantle from Danica and a car Dan was scheduled to drive?

JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: A lot of the people and headlines have said, Hinchcliffe replacing Danica in the Go Daddy car. I'm replacing her in the seat in driving it. I don't think in any way we're going to say that I'm trying to replace Danica.

What she did and what Go Daddy did with her was so unique and special, they did a good job with it. I'm kind of lucky that I'm coming in a bit of a different position being a guy rather than a woman in a male-dominated sport. Now they have a whole 'nother set of opportunities.

I think there's some cool possibilities for them to work with someone else other than Danica with them. She's obviously still part of their family with her stockcar program.

Q. A follow-up on the personality question. If each of you could talk about how important it was to get somebody with a personality in the Go Daddy seat because that is a sponsor that can potentially do a lot of good for both the driver, the team and the series.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI: For sure. I mean, obviously Go Daddy had a lot of say, as well, in who they wanted to represent their product. They were very high on James right away when we brought up his name.

As you said, that personality is going to be important, as well, for that because they are a little edgy and fun. I think James can be that way.

Q. James, if you could speak on that.

JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: I think from my perspective, similar comments to Michael there, I'm excited to get a chance to work with a company that likes to be a little bit edgy, pushes the boundaries. I've never been an inside-the-box kind of guy. Anybody that goes to Hinchtown.com can see that. That's why we created that in the first place, to get my personality out there a little bit, to be a little different and stand out.

Ultimately with Go Daddy it's a bit of a match made in heaven. I think we have a lot of the same principles and ideas on that, so it could be cool.

Q. Also the value of developing a young driver's career. What is going to set IndyCar apart in the future is the ability to develop and create and market young drivers.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI: Yeah, for sure. It's always great and he's an example of the young talent we have, trying to develop, get him to be a major personality for the series because I think it's very important to have drivers that stand out in that way as well that are promotable and stuff. I think it's all important for IndyCar.

JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: I think it's an endorsement for the Road to Indy, as well. I came through a bunch of categories there, through Indy Lights. I've made it to this opportunity here. Like I said, it proves the value in that ladder system. I think it shows that young drivers really need to get into that program as quickly as possible if IndyCar is their goal.

2. Hinchcliffe signs with Andretti Autosport: Andretti Autosport announced today it has signed Canadian James Hinchcliffe to a multi-year IZOD IndyCar Series deal. Hinchcliffe, a young, yet accomplished racer, steps into a big role as driver of the GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for 2012.

In his first year in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Hinchcliffe took three top-five and seven top-10 finishes to earn the series' Rookie of the Year title despite missing the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. Hinchcliffe, a 25-year-old from Toronto with both British and Canadian lineage, finished fourth at the 2011 Long Beach, New Hampshire and Kentucky races.

"James is a perfect addition to our team for next year," said Michael Andretti, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Andretti Autosport. "He's got a lot of talent and we believe he will be great for our driver chemistry. He will definitely grow and thrive with Andretti Autosport. Even in his rookie year in IndyCar, he proved to be a great competitor. I look forward to seeing what he is capable of in the next few months."

The well-spoken television and Internet personality makes a great match for Go Daddy, the world's largest Web hosting provider and legendary television advertiser. Hinchcliffe is a skilled driver who has been honored numerous times for his on-track achievements in open-wheel racing. Hinchcliffe was recently a nominee for the 2011 Autosport Rookie of the Year award in England and won the prestigious Greg Moore Legacy Award in 2010 for his efforts in the Firestone Indy Lights. Hinchcliffe becomes the second driver on the Andretti Autosport roster to have won the Greg Moore Legacy Award, joining 2004 winner and new teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay.

"I saw an article that said 'Hinch was a cinch' to drive our Go Daddy car," said Barb Rechterman, senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "I guess the many reasons Go Daddy wanted to put James behind the wheel are obvious ... he's tech-savvy, personable, edgy and 100 percent competitive ... just like Go Daddy."

Hinchcliffe's path to IndyCar began with two seasons in Firestone Indy Lights. In 2009, he secured five podium finishes, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, including a second place finish at Mid-Ohio. The following year he impressed the paddock with three wins, 10 top-five finishes and a series-best four pole positions, ultimately finishing second in the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights championship.

Hinchcliffe began his racing career in karting and captured numerous titles such as the TKC Junior Rotax Class Karting Championship, the Junior Rotax Canada Cup and TKC Winter Series Championship. After earning several more regional and national karting series and championships throughout the United States and Canada, Hinchcliffe moved on to successfully compete in the Bridgestone Racing Academy F2000 series, Formula BMW, Star Mazda series, Atlantic Championship and A1 Grand Prix series.

"I'm so excited to be driving with the Andretti Autosport team and representing Go Daddy next season," Hinchcliffe said. "Go Daddy is one of the best sponsors in sports, in terms of their activation execution ... plus Go Daddy is a world leader in just about everything they do. I have to thank Michael [Andretti] and Go Daddy for providing me this opportunity to compete for the championship and an Indy 500 victory."

3. Tagliani joins Bryan Herta Autosport: Last year's Indianapolis 500-winning team is bringing on board the Indianapolis 500 pole winner for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

Alex Tagliani, who recorded six top-10 finishes and two pole starts on the way to 11th place in the 2011 championship, has joined Bryan Herta Autosport.

Team co-owners Bryan Herta and Steve Newey sought out the Canadian driver because of his experience, technical ability and overall proficiency in the race car.

"We are very proud to have Alex Tagliani join our team for our first full season of IndyCar competition," said Herta, a former IndyCar Series driver. "He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the program, and is the perfect fit for us and our sponsor partners. Together with Todd Malloy and Brian Page in engineering, and the Don Lambert-led crew, Alex has the full support of a very talented group of professionals behind him."

BHA previously announced its status as a Factory Partner Team to Lotus, which will result in the car being run in the iconic black and Gold Lotus livery. An announcement is expected Jan. 12 to reveal the team's primary sponsorship. Veteran race engineer Todd Malloy has been re-signed to lead the team's engineering efforts and focus on the car driven by Tagliani.

"I'm really happy to drive for BHA," Tagliani said. "Having known Bryan for a long time, I recognize that he's a nice guy with genuine integrity. I believe that he and Steve Newey deserve to own a great IndyCar team, and I'm honored to be part of the building of BHA's 2012 program.

"It's also a great honor for me to represent the Lotus brand as a factory partner. Lotus has so much history in the world of motorsports. As a team, we have a lot of work in front of us and while challenging, it will be fun to be at the core of both engine and team development. BHA has a great group of people and I'm looking forward to working with them."

4. INDYCAR drivers earn AARWBA honors: IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, series runner-up Will Power and Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden were honored as first-team members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America team during its annual awards dinner in Indianapolis on Jan. 8

This team is selected by a vote of AARWBA members with the drivers receiving the most votes earning honors on the first team. It was the second straight year that Franchitti and Power were selected as the open-wheel recipients and the first honor for Newgarden.

"I'm very happy to be selected for the third year in a row," said Franchitti, who was unable to attend the awards dinner, but received his award at INDYCAR's headquarters in Indianapolis on Jan. 9. "I can't thank the members of AARWBA enough for recognizing the achievements of Target Chip Ganassi Racing for the past season and I congratulate all the other team members."

Newgarden was selected in the at-large category and helped present the Gorsline Scholarship to NASCAR champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

"It is such an honor to be to be voted into the All-America Race Team by AARWBA members," said Newgarden, who will move up to drive in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2012 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. "To be included on a team with these drivers from other major racing series is very humbling. Hopefully, I will be able to attend the awards again as an IZOD IndyCar Series driver in the future."

Also honored during the course of the evening were Bryan Clauson and Kyle Larson for short track; Austin Dillon and the team of Andrew Davis and Leh Keen in touring series; Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart in stock car racing; the road racing duo of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas and Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. Drag racers Matt Hagan and Del Worsham were honoed while Patrick Long rounded out the group in the at large category.

Tony Stewart ended Franchitti's two-year reign at the Jerry Titus Award winner, while a special award was given by the AARWBA members to Dan Wheldon's family in his memory.

5. INDYCAR makes addition to technical staff: Darren Crouser has joined INDYCAR's technical staff as an engine support engineer.

Crouser, of Dallas, has a broad base of motorsports experience from customer support for Cosworth to management at Patrick Racing. He's also been with Blair Racing and Dale Coyne Racing.

Last May, he headed the Conquest Racing effort for Pippa Mann's IZOD IndyCar Series debut in the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500.

Engine manufacturer competition returns to the series this season with 2.2-liter, turbocharged V-6s from Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus. On-track testing resumes Jan. 13.