INDYCAR News and Notes – Nov. 11, 2015
1. Indy 500 Heroes Also Had Military Legacies: Art Cross was the first driver to be named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 1952, but one item on his life’s biography stands out as more heroic than competing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cross was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in the bitterly cold 1944-45 winter of World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart.
As the nation commemorates Veterans Day, INDYCAR is proud to recognize the contributions of many individuals with ties to Indy car racing who served their country honorably in the armed forces throughout the years. Among the many are: Eddie Rickenbacker, the World War I flying ace who purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1928; Clarence Cagle, longtime superintendent of IMS after the Hulman family took over the facility in 1945; Rolla Vollstedt, the car owner who brought Janet Guthrie to IMS in 1977 to become the first female driver in Indianapolis 500 history; Billy Arnold, the 1930 Indy 500 winner; and Rodger Ward, a two-time Indy 500 champion.
Read an inspiring story on the military legacies of these men and others whose lives were also intertwined with the Indy 500 at http://www.indycar.com/News/
2. Wilson Children’s Fund Auctions Net More than $600,000: Final figures are in for the Wilson Children’s Fund online auction and more than a half-million dollars was raised selling more than 500 items on eBay. Paired with a few private auction items, a total of $637,067.49 has been collected to benefit the wife and daughters of Verizon IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson, who died Aug. 24 from injuries sustained in a race a day earlier.
In all, more than 13,000 bids were made on the 509 items – ranging from racing, sports and entertainment memorabilia to one-of-a-kind experiences – available through the eBay auction over a seven-week span. The winning bids totaled $546,947.09. Another $74,000 was raised through private auctions for race-worn helmets from drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Graham Rahal.
An additional $16,100 came via efforts from NBCSN Formula One and occasional Verizon IndyCar Series reporter Will Buxton, who arranged for a second Lewis Hamilton firesuit to go to someone who lost out on the F1 driver’s firesuit in the eBay auction but agreed to match the winning bid if another suit was made available.
“I am very proud of the effort that everyone put in for the Justin Wilson memorial auction,” said Rahal, who orchestrated the auction in conjunction with Auction Cause and eBay and also donated items for bid. “It is always amazing that in the toughest of times, an entire world of racing, and sports in general, can come together and create something as special as this.
“I know that, for (Wilson’s wife) Julia and the girls, no amount of money will ever reduce the pain they feel, but I hope through this we can create some stability in their lives to help them towards a brighter future. Justin was a special man to all of us, and he will forever be missed.”
The $637,000 figure does not include funds raised through ongoing sales of Wilson tribute T-shirts and decals through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (http://shop.ims.com/indycar) or direct donations made to the Wilson Children’s Fund (http://justinwilson.co.uk/
The National Motorsports Press Association recently awarded its third quarter Spirit Award in honor of Wilson. The award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.
3. Andretti Autosport Talks Turkey to Help Feed Hungry: Andretti Autosport is once again doing its part to help feed the hungry for Thanksgiving.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, and members of his Andretti Autosport No. 28 DHL Honda crew unloaded a tractor-trailer filled with 500 Butterball whole turkeys and 1,000 cartons of stuffing donated by Kroger on Nov. 10 in Indianapolis. The food is destined for the Wheeler Mission, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and various food pantries across the city.
North Carolina-based Butterball, which accounts for 20 percent of the nation’s turkey supply from seven facilities, is an associate sponsor of Andretti Autosport’s Verizon IndyCar Series entries.
“We’re fortunate that we’re in a position that we can help in all the communities where we have facilities, where we have team members, where we have consumers and customers that want to help, then we try to engage,” said Butterball president and CEO Kerry Doughty, an Indianapolis native. “This is something that Michael Andretti and Andretti Autosport brought to us last year and it’s great to be able to give something back to the community.”
With Thanksgiving two weeks off, Hunter-Reay said the timing of the distribution was perfect.
“It’s such a fantastic time of the year and to be able to give back to the community, especially in Indy, is special. This is home not only to the greatest race in the world but home to our crews and our teams, and at this family time of year it’s great to be able to make a difference,” the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident said.
Through Midwest Food Bank, 125 of the turkeys were set aside for Heather Carpenter, president of the Indy Family Foundation and wife of CFH Racing co-owner/driver Ed Carpenter. The turkeys will be paired with non-perishable food items collected from neighborhoods in Noblesville, Ind., and presented to families in the coming days.
4. Hinchcliffe Named Honorary Chairman for Rev 2016: Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe will serve as the honorary chairman of Rev 2016 presented by Fifth Third Bank, the marquee fundraising event for Methodist Health Foundation. The event isMay 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The evening is filled with entertainment, music and driver-inspired cuisine prepared by celebrity and local chefs. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1.
“Rev has become the must-attend party in town,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said. “This is a perfect kickoff to the month of May, especially as we build excitement for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. This signature event will provide an excellent opportunity to welcome James and his fellow drivers back to IMS ahead of such a monumental moment in racing history.”
Through a partnership between Methodist Health Foundation, IMS and INDYCAR, Rev has become the largest fundraiser supporting Indiana University Health statewide trauma programs. Last year, the event drew in more than 2,500 guests and raised nearly $400,000.
5. Tickets on Sale for Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix: Tickets for the 2016 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix are available at www.DetroitGP.com or by calling(866) 464-7749. The June 3-5 race weekend features the only doubleheader weekend on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule – the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. Ticket purchases include roundtrip bus transportation to the venue from public parking lots.
Fans who purchase tickets by Dec. 18 will be eligible to have breakfast Jan. 22, 2016, in Detroit with some of the top drivers expected to compete at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Ten ticket buyers and a guest will be selected at random.
6. Of Note: AJ Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt wed Kelly Curran Nov. 7 in Houston. … Nov. 10 marked the 200-day mark until the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2016. … Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Tony Kanaan, who recently competed in the Ironman 70.3 Miami triathlon, and Carlos Munoz are scheduled to participate Nov. 15 in the Gran Fondo Miami bike ride that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Both are Miami residents. … Verizon IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti will be a guest of Phoenix International Raceway and meet with fans Nov. 15 before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The racetrack will host the Phoenix Grand Prix – the first Verizon IndyCar Series race on the 1-mile oval since 2005 – on April 2, 2016.
Sources: Mike Kitchel/Verizon IndyCar Series PR