Monday
HVM Racing Finds the Right Stride Both On and Off the Track with Successful Qualifying and Exciting New Partner
Press Release
Heading into Pole Day, the team was cautiously optimistic. Only two days earlier, driver Simona de Silvestro was involved in a monumental crash, injuring both of her hands and destroying the team’s primary No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy car.
The odds seemed stacked against de Silvestro and HVM going into qualifying weekend with less than fifty laps on track, against the toughest field of competitors in years. But perseverance has been the key word so far this season and that, coupled with an incredible amount of talent, was what the brave Swiss driver put forth on Saturday to get the job done. She endured three qualifying attempts, fighting the pain but getting faster with each outing. The first wasn’t enough to get her into the top 24 on day one. The second was, but just barely. De Silvestro found herself on the bubble and then bumped out. Finally, after a solid third run, the time stuck. Even if it was with a little help from the rain shower that just happened to douse the track just as de Silvestro faced the bubble for the second time.
On Sunday, qualifying lap times from other entrants weren’t enough to bump de Silvestro out of the field. She now looks forward to competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing once more.
“This has been quite a week,” de Silvestro reflects. “After Thursday’s accident, I wasn’t sure I was ready to get back into the race car. I was shaken up and didn’t know if we could find the speed in our backup car. But we did it. I want to thank Entergy for supporting me in the Nuclear Clean Air Energy car, and I’m so proud of my crew. They came through for me when I needed them most.”
Qualifying weekend isn’t the only thing HVM Racing is celebrating. The team is proud to announce a new partnership with Dr. Garçon Footwear. Created by Dr. Gregoire Garcon, a licensed podiatrist who has developed a stylish, but comfortable, line of footwear. He believes everyone should wear beautiful shoes and enjoy sneakers that fit your feet. The shoes are designed with a thin layer of cushion to provide comfort for the soles of the feet.
“I’m excited about our partnership with HVM Racing,” says Dr. Garçon. “This is the first of many sports marketing programs that will include the NFL and NBA in 2011, however I’m really looking forward to this one because we have plans to create a specially-designed shoe for both the team at HVM and Simona.”
In addition, Dr. Garçon created a foundation focused on relief efforts in Haiti. Donations and revenues from shoe sales are distributed to that foundation, as well as various other charities. As such, a portion of the proceeds from current lines, and the special-edition HVM and Simona shoes, will be donated to one of the team’s partner charities.
Dr. Garçon has indicated that the team shoes will be available later this season. In the meantime, he plans to offer various promotions for fans and supporters. The existing line of shoes is available now online at www.DrGarcon.com, along with additional information.
About HVM Racing
HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. HVM enters 2011 as its tenth year of competition since forming in 2001 and has earned six victories, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. They earned “Indianapolis Rookie of the Year” honors with driver Simona De Silvestro at the 2010 event and since joining the IZOD INDYCAR Series in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Follow HVM Racing at www.hvmracing.com, on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMracing, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.
About Dr. Gregoire Garcon
Dr. Gregoire Garçon is a native of Haiti who has been in the United States for over 30 years. He is a podiatrist who graduated undergrad in pre-med at Old Westbury University in Westbury NY. He received his medical degree from the University of Des Moines, Iowa, in 1992. His residency was completed at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida, just minutes away from the famed South Beach Miami, which is synonymous with style, beauty and the latest fashions. It is the dream of Dr. Garçon that everyone has access to fashionable footwear, even those who are experiencing some sort of foot problems. After hearing his patients complain about foot pain and uncomfortable shoes over the years, he decided to help relieve that pain while offering people an opportunity to have comfortable shoes that they enjoy wearing. He then went and created a sneaker that is the shoe now known as the DR. GARCON. Dr. Garçon has created a line of beautiful and comfortable sneakers for everyday needs, from the hip and casual to the stylish and sleek, from the simple to the wild and funky, and there are more styles and colors to come.
About Entergy
Entergy is the second largest owner and operator of U.S. nuclear energy plants. They operate or provide management services to 12 reactors at 10 sites. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity and delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees.www.entergy-nuclear.com
- HVM Racing, Press Release
Article Tags: 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, Bump Day, HVM Racing, IMS, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy, Indy 500, IndyCar, IZOD, IZOD IndyCar Series, No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy Dallara / Honda, Simona De Silvestro
