Racing

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series drivers will sign autographs during sessions Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 during the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Four separate autograph sessions will take place between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, July 27 at Chalet No. 4 in the Pagoda Plaza during Chevy Day, with Nationwide Series drivers taking part in an autograph session from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 28 in the East Chalet No. 2 in the Pagoda Plaza.

Among the drivers scheduled to participate Friday are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick. Check www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com for a list of Nationwide Series drivers participating Saturday.

Ticket holders are eligible to participate in the autograph sessions by picking up wristbands, while supplies last, for the autograph session of their choice. Only one wristband will be distributed to each ticket holder, first come, first served.

Wristband distribution will begin at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday in the East Chalet adjacent to the Pagoda Plaza, with wristbands distributed only for that respective day’s sessions. All adults and children must have wristbands to be admitted to one of the autograph sessions. There is a limit of one autographed item from each driver per person. All autograph sessions on Friday, July 27 will take place in Chalet No. 4 on Pagoda Plaza.

Friday Autograph Session Schedule

Session 1 (11-11:55 a.m.): Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Danica Patrick
Session 2 (12:50-1:45 p.m.): Austin Dillon, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman
Session 3 (1:10-2:10 p.m.): Jeff Gordon
Session 4 (3-4 p.m.): Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart

A number of GRAND-AM Road Racing drivers and selected NASCAR drivers will sign autographs from 6:45-7:15 p.m. Thursday, July 26 during the Hauler Parade on Main Street in nearby Speedway, Ind.

Fans also can hear from many of their favorite drivers during Q&A and interview sessions on the Chevy Stage during the Kroger Super Weekend located in the parking lot just east of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

Q&A Session Schedule

Friday, July 27

11:45-11:55 a.m.: Austin Dillon, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman
12:45-1 p.m.: Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Danica Patrick
4:05- 4:20 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart

Saturday, July 28

11:45 a.m.: Justin Allgaier
2:30 p.m.: James Buescher

Sunday, July 29

9:15 a.m.: Jamie McMurray
9:30 a.m.: Paul Menard, Regan Smith
9:45 a.m.: Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya
10 a.m.: Kevin Harvick
10:30 a.m.: Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson

Interesting Entry List For The Indiana 250

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

The entry list for the inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana 250 on Saturday, July 28, features an interesting mix of drivers.

A handful of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars will race in the 100-lap event, including 2011 Brickyard 400 winner Paul Menard, 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne.

Also included are two female drivers, 2005 Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick and Johanna Long (photo above)*.

Two Indianapolis 500 veterans are entered, Patrick and 2006 winner Sam Hornish Jr.

Other interesting entries include action sports superstar Travis Pastrana and Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of 1995 Brickyard 400 winner Dale Earnhardt.

The Indiana 250 starts at 4:50 p.m. Saturday.

*Funny side note. While I was out at IMS back in March to meet with Stéphan Grégoire, Johanna Long happened to be there as well while they put up the flags. I snapped a few photos since I was there already. The next thing I know, they think I am there to interview Johanna (understandable of course), but I had no clue who she was…that always makes for an awkward interview, right? So that didn’t occur, but I made sure I was informed as soon as I got back to my office. So who knows, maybe we’ll catch up with her now that I do know who she is.

Fans Send 117 Indiana-based Soldiers To The Brickyard 400

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

Thanks to generous fans and the combined efforts of Wish For Our Heroes (W4OH), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indiana National Guard, 117 Indiana-based soldiers will attend the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fans donated $10,000 to the W4OH campaign that is providing reserved seats for military members for the 19th annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at IMS. A national, non-profit organization based in Noblesville, Ind., Wish For Our Heroes coordinated the purchase and delivery of the tickets to the participating soldiers.

For the first time, Wish For Our Heroes provided fans with the opportunity to help send active United States military or veterans to the Indianapolis 500, the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com or the Red Bull Indianapolis GP in 2012.

The “Wish Fund” program is accepting donations to send soldiers to the 2012 Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race Sunday, Aug. 19 at IMS.

Wish For Our Heroes provides fans three ways to salute American service members through contributions or donations at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/wish4ourheroes or www.wish4ourheroes.org:

Contribute funds: Contribute $5 or more toward the purchase of a 2012 IMS event ticket for an active-duty service member or veteran.
Purchase tickets: Purchase a 2012 IMS event ticket for an active-duty service member or veteran.
Donate tickets: Donate extra or unused 2012 IMS event tickets to an active-duty service member or veteran.

Fans may also make donations to send soldiers to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP during the pre-race infield concert before the start of the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com on Sunday, July 29. Ten active-duty soldiers will be in the concert crowd accepting donations.

Fans who donate the purchase price of a ticket to the “Wish Fund” can designate the service branch and service status (active, reserves, National Guard, veteran, wounded veteran) of the ticket recipient. “Wish Fund” contributors who donate tickets or the purchase price of a ticket also can receive a picture of the military recipient and learn more about their dedicated service to the country.

Wish For Our Heroes strives to relieve the burdens of family separation, reintegration for deployed soldiers, hardship circumstances and other means of assistance not covered by existing military charities. W4OH is a tax-exempt charity under Code Section 501(c)(3).

Brickyard 400 Flyover: Two V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotator Aircraft

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

Two V-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft used by the U.S. Marine Corps will perform the flyover shortly before the 19th annual Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 Powered by BigMachineRecords.com NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The versatile Ospreys land vertically like a helicopter and fly like a plane by tilting wing-mounted rotors that function as propellers. The Osprey is used by the Marines for a variety of purposes, including troop and cargo transport, amphibious assault, special operations and search and rescue missions.

The flyover will be the culmination of pre-race ceremonies that pay special recognition to 100 years of U.S. Marine Corps aviation, acknowledging its growth in the early 20th century and distinguished service to the nation through to the present day.

Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks, will sing the national anthem while rising country star Sunny Sweeney will sing “America the Beautiful.”

Indiana native singer-songwriter Corey Cox will sing the national anthem before the Indiana 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday, July 28 at IMS.

INDYCAR and NASCAR Stars to Race in GRAND-AM Brickyard Grand Prix

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

An impressive list of Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 veterans will compete in the GRAND-AM Brickyard Grand Prix on Friday, July 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It’s the inaugural GRAND-AM race at IMS, as Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype and GT cars will race for three hours on the 13-turn, 2.534-mile Grand Prix road course.

Indianapolis 500 veterans include 2000 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, 2008 winner Scott Dixon, Paul Tracy, Eliseo Salazar, Scott Pruett and Sebastien Bourdais. Brickyard 400 veterans include 2010 winner Jamie McMurray, Montoya, Pruett, Boris Said and Andy Lally. Montoya, McMurray and Dixon are forming an all-star team of Indianapolis winners, sharing the No. 02 Chevron BMW/Riley fielded by Chip Ganassi.

The three-race North American Endurance Championship presented by VISITFLORIDA.com also will be decided at this event, with the Daytona Prototype champion team earning a $100,000 bonus. The special series started with the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January and continued with the Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen on July 1 at Watkins Glen International.