Sam Schmidt Motorsports moves into Tony George’s former shop
Old Vision Racing HQ gives Schmidt team room to expand.
Old Vision Racing HQ gives Schmidt team room to expand.
The awards were determined by votes of fans at IRL events throughout the season and on indycar.com.
Fresh off signing deal with Brazilian coffee maker, Indy Racing League executive promises much bigger sponsorship announcement within two weeks.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but industry sources said the multiyear deal is valued at $1 million annually for the open-wheel race series.
Motorsports insiders think the Brickyard 400’s declining fortunes will hasten the Hulman-George family’s decision
on the future of the Indy Racing League, which the NASCAR race has helped subsidize.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but motorsports business experts said it was a six-figure deal.
The racing company’s only operations outside of Italy could create more than 80 new jobs in the Indianapolis area.
Racing insiders say Dallara and Lola are frontrunners to become the new Indy Racing League chassis providers.
Avis will take an active role in promoting the series through e-mail campaigns, displays at select airports, and other large-scale
promotions, company officials said.
New IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard needs to attract more fans as TV ratings slip and networks and sponsors get antsy. Izod,
in the first year of a six-year contract, hopes strategically deployed glitterati will help rev up interest.
Two years removed from his failed try in NASCAR, the Scottish driver holds on with barely a gallon of fuel in the
tank. Meanwhile, the much-touted Penske team falls victim to its own blundering.
An overhaul of the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League, possibly as soon as 2012, could take the legendary race back to
its roots as a bellwether of automotive innovation. Engine and chassis rules for the 500 might be greatly loosened, encouraging
the kind of technological innovation that made the race famous.
Just two years ago, the future seemed as bright for the Indy Racing League. But that was then. This is now.
Ratings for the first three races of the 2010 season have grown 67 percent over last year.
The new deal includes associate sponsorship of Penske’s Indy Racing League drivers Helio Castroneves, Will Power and
Ryan Briscoe.
Tony George, who was Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League chairman until last June, was in China for several
days this month to
attend F1’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai April 18 at the invitation of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Terry Angstadt, who oversees the Indy Racing League’s commercial division, thinks the series could break even in 2011
and be profitable by 2012 despite myriad challenges facing open-wheel racing.
Danica Patrick’s initial thrust into stock-car racing earned her sponsor $230,000 in media exposure, according to a research
firm. Her next race on Feb. 13
should generate much more.
The CEO of the Professional Bull Riders Association has accepted an offer to lead the Indy Racing League. The IRL has been
without a leader since Tony George was ousted last summer as boss of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Unable to raise the $1.5 million to $3 million needed to operate an Indy Racing League team this year, Tony George folded
Vision Racing this morning.