The IndyCar Series could be racing in China as early as 2012. Terry Angstadt, president of the series’ commercial division, said early talks have began to try to take the series to the Asian country in the next few years.

He said officials have been to China two or three times already for negotiations and met with high-level government officials.

“We are not there yet,” he said.

“It’s something for at least two years in the future, maybe three.”

Angstadt said China makes perfect sense from a strategical point of view because it has a good economy, a relevant emerging automotive industry and a big sports base.

- Malaysia Star

Penske Racing

“Ruby Tuesday provides the finest in casual dining and we are excited to welcome them as a Penske Racing partner in 2010,” said Roger Penske. “Our organization shares Ruby Tuesday’s core values of quality, passion and pride and with Brad behind the wheel, we believe this is will be a winning combination in 2010.”

The specific races where Ruby Tuesday will serve as primary sponsor of the car have yet to be determined, but the No. 22 Ruby Tuesday Dodge is expected to make its debut as primary sponsor at the Richmond International Raceway race on April 30. Ruby Tuesday will be an associate sponsor of the team for the remaining 2010 Nationwide Series races.

“Both Penske Racing and Brad Keselowski have a proven track record of winning and we look forward to being a big part of their continued success this season,” said Mark Young, Ruby Tuesday Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. The partnership with Penske Racing marks Ruby Tuesday’s first entry into NASCAR competition.

After finishing third in the Nationwide Series championship standings in each of the last two seasons, Keselowski is expected to be a top contender for the 2010 title in his first season with Penske Racing. A winner of six series races from 2008-09, Keselowski will compete for the full Nationwide Series season in the No. 22 Dodge for Penske Racing.

“I’m really excited to race in the Ruby Tuesday Dodge and I’m proud to represent their brand, their associates and their restaurants,” said Keselowski. “They are a terrific company with great food and a fun atmosphere. I know our team and I will be visiting their restaurants a lot this season as we travel the NASCAR circuit.”

About Penske Racing

In 2010, Penske Racing will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series with former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, former three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. in the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge and Brad Keselowski in the No. 12 Penske Dodge. The team will also race in the Nationwide Series with Justin Allgaier, the 2009 series Rookie of the Year, in the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge and multiple race-winner Keselowski driving the No. 22 Discount Tire and Ruby Tuesday Dodge. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced more than 310 major race wins, over 370 pole positions and 22 national championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

About Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. has company-owned and/or franchise Ruby Tuesday brand restaurants in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 13 foreign countries. As of December 1, 2009, the Company owned and operated 670 Ruby Tuesday restaurants, while domestic and international franchisees (including Hawaii) operated 171 and 55 restaurants, respectively. For information about Ruby Tuesday, please visit the company website at www.RubyTuesday.com or on Facebook at www.facebook/rubytuesday. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: RT).

- Penske Racing Press Release

Highlights Include SAFER Barriers, Catch Fences, and Paved Run-Off

Watkins Glen International

Among the changes is the removal of gravel traps and grass, modification of the catch fence, installation of SAFER Barriers, and the relocation of guard rails.  The project will be the largest improvement project on the 3.4-mile road course since the installation of new catch fences prior to the first IZOD IndyCar® Series race at Watkins Glen International in 2005. The renovation project will affect all series that race on the 3.4-mile circuit and include improvements to the Inner loop or “Bus Stop”, Turn 5 (known as Turn 9 of the short-course or the “Carousel”), Turn 10 and Turn 11.

“We make it a point to evaluate our entire facility every year and we identified these areas as needing improvement,” said Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International.  “The feedback we received from each of the sanctioning bodies was very positive and in agreement with our recommendations.  We think the drivers will like what they see when they return here and should lead to even better on-track action for our fans.”

Officials from Watkins Glen International and its parent-company International Speedway Corporation (ISC) recognized a need for improvements around the road course.  Shortly after the conclusion of the 2009 season, officials from WGI, ISC, and North American Testing Co. (NATC) convened to discuss ideas of possible improvements.  After an initial list was formed, the track officials met with executives of NASCAR, the Indy Racing League, GRAND-AM, and all of the other series that compete on the road course to gather feedback.  Based upon those discussions, improvement plans were devised that will be completed prior to the start of the 2010 season at The Glen.

Along the portion of the course known as the inner loop or “bus stop,” the existing gravel trap will be replaced with a paved runoff area, which will allow more side-by-side racing throughout the tight turns.  Additionally, a SAFER barrier will be installed along the interior concrete barrier wall and the existing catch fence system will be removed with a modified version installed.

Turn 5, also known as the “Carousel Turn” will include the removal of the existing grass to pave an extended runoff area and the installment of a rumble strip built to FIA specifications along the track edge of pavement.  The existing guard rail system will be modified to install a crash attenuator system, to help absorb the impact when a car makes contact with the wall.

Similarly, the project in Turn 10 will include the removal of a portion of the current gravel trap, which will be replaced with another paved runoff area. Additionally, the current FIA rumble strip will be extended along the track edge of pavement.

Finally, Turn 11 improvements will feature the installation of a SAFER barrier in front of the exterior guide rail system.  Additionally, all grass areas between the new SAFER barrier and the track will be paved to help provide better traction when a driver is attempting to bring their car to a stop.

Tickets for the entire 2010 season including the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, August 5-8, and Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 2-4, weekends are on sale now!  Fans can take advantage of advanced sale prices and new options by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com.  Tickets, gift certificates and track merchandise can all be purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen.  The Shop is open Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4, and is closed Sunday.

- Watkins Glen International, Press Release

IZOD IndyCar Series Logo

1. FAZZT Racing Team unveils partners for 2010 opener

2. Patraeus to serve as Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg grand marshal

3. Castroneves receives his third Baby Borg

4.      Olinger heads to Haiti

5.      Vote for Franchitti’s Long Beach win

6.      Patrick to appear on episode of CSI: New York

7.      Baby makes four

1. FAZZT Racing Team unveils partners for 2010 opener: FAZZT Race Team announced Jan. 14 a partnership with Bowers & Wilkins, the world’s leading producers of reference quality hi-fi and home theater speakers, and unveiled their livery for the inaugural race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series.

Team firesuits, pit equipment and uniforms also will carry B & W branding for the Sao Paulo Indy 300 in Brazil on March 14.

“Our partnership with FAZZT is a great opportunity for Bowers & Wilkins to promote our expanding range of multi-media products to the Brazilian consumer and the global IZOD IndyCar Series audience,” company owner and chairman Joe Atkins said. “We feel strongly that the profile of this event and the entire series fits very well with the demographics of the new digital consumer and provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase our new products and to support this exciting new team.”

Team principals Andre Azzi and Jim Freudenberg joined driver and Montreal native Alex Tagliani at the unveiling of the No. 77 car’s livery a day before the public opening of the 42nd Montreal International Auto Show.

“It is an honor and the fulfillment of a longtime dream to unveil the FAZZT Race Team No. 77 in my hometown of Montreal,” Azzi said. “It has been a huge process to get our team to this point and we are excited to not only be a part of the grid in 2010 but to be a competitive entity in the IZOD IndyCar Series.”

The team, which conducted a successful shakedown test last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway and will test at Sebring International Racing next week, will begin the season with the B & W livery and then continue the campaign with additional partners and liveries.

“The Montreal Auto Show is a wonderful opportunity for us to unveil our livery and B & W partnership to a worldwide audience in anticipation of the 2010 season opener,” team COO Freudenberg said. “The global marketing platform that we are able to provide our partners through the IZOD IndyCar Series will be showcased with B & W in Sao Paulo in March.”

B & W will be joined on the No. 77 FAZZT Race Team car by associate partners TorcUP (makers of hydraulic and pneumatic bolting tools and a division of Edmonton-based Cantorque), Fast Eddie Racewear (the Canadian-based official clothing supplier for FAZZT Race Team), Inner City Promotions (a loyalty and card marketing agency that has begun production of the FAZZT Race Team fan loyalty card), La Capsule Sportive (a Quebec-based retailer of sports merchandise, including the FAZZT Race Team apparel), and Sharp Business Systems (an Indianapolis-based office equipment and electronic systems provider).

2. Patraeus to serve as Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg grand marshal: Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of U. S. Central Command, will be the grand marshal of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 28.

Gen. Petraeus will give the traditional command to start the race and will participate in pre-race ceremonies and the awards presentation. Event organizers also are planning a broader program with McDill Air Force Base and area military and their families. Special tickets programs are being developed for active military and their families and the traditional Honda Grand Prix Kick-Off Luncheon, which will be held March 25, will include a special salute to wounded veterans.

“Gen. Petraeus is one of the most respected leaders in the world and it is an honor to have him as the Grand Marshal of the Honda Grand Prix,” said Tim Ramsberger, general manager of the event. “There is no one better to give the traditional drivers’ command on Sunday of race weekend than Gen. Petraeus.”

Before his 2008 appointments as the Commander of Tampa-based U. S. Central Command, Gen. Petraeus was the Commanding General of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, where he oversaw all coalition forces in the country. A recipient of countless honors and awards, Gen. Petraeus was named near the top of Foreign Policy Magazine’s “Top Global Thinkers” in 2009 and last October Esquire magazine tabbed him as one of “The 75 Best People in the World.”

3. Castroneves receives his third Baby Borg: On Jan. 13, reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves accepted his third BorgWarner Championship Driver’s Trophy – affectionately known as the Baby Borg – from BorgWarner chairman and CEO Tim Manganello during a ceremony as part of the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. It will join the others in his Florida home.

“They’re like on a pedestal,” Castroneves said of the 14-inch replica of the Borg-Warner Trophy that rests on a beveled black marble base inscribed with the winner’s name and year of victory. “I have not only the ‘Baby Borgs’ but also the ‘Dancing With The Stars’ trophy. You gotta have that. It was a lot of hard work. It’s a different sport but it’s still a champion. I’ll put them together and look at them every day. It’s an unbelievable accomplishment.”

Castroneves, who turns 35 on May 10, will attempt to join four-time Indy 500 winners A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears on May 30. Opening Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is May 15, with Pole Day scheduled for May 22.

“My car number is three so getting the third Baby Borg it is a perfect fit,” said Castroneves, who also won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2001 and ‘02. “But I don’t want to stop right there.”

Team owner Roger Penske, who will be honored Jan. 16 with induction to the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, and Penske Racing president Timothy Cindric (also Castroneves’ race strategist) received the BorgWarner Championship Team Owner’s Trophy. Penske Racing has recorded 15 Indianapolis 500 victories.

4. Olinger heads to Haiti: Indy Racing League director of medical services Dr. Michael Olinger is among the medical professionals the U.S. government is sending Haiti to assist with the recovery efforts following the major earthquake near Port Au Prince on Jan. 12.

Olinger, who has worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a variety of disasters, will serve as a deputy medical director on FEMA’s Red Incident Support Team.

“When I joined the IRL as medical director, I resigned my spot on (Indiana) Task Force One, but was placed as a medical support member on an alternate list,” Olinger said before joining his team Jan. 15 at Homestead Air Force Base where it will deploy to Haiti.  ”I was the next to last guy on the list and they got all the way, to me so I’m on the way there.”

Olinger will be in Haiti from 10-14 days offering support the medical resources deployed by U.S. government.  In all, Olinger and his team will support the medical units of the 10 FEMA Task Forces on site and help develop a medical action plan for them.

5. Vote for Franchitti’s Long Beach win: Dario Franchitti’s victory in the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – the first IZOD IndyCar Series race on the scenic street course – has been nominated in the motorsports category of the LA Sports Council’s “2009 Greatest Moments.”

The winner will be chosen by fan voting at www.lasports.org through Jan. 31 and be announced Feb. 19 during the fifth LA Sports Awards.

The LA Sports Council is a private, non-profit organization that supports economic and community development through the promotion of spectator sports programs in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, including support of our local teams and the attraction of events to the area.

Franchitti will seek to successfully defend his title at Long Beach on April 18 in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car.

6. Patrick to appear on episode of CSI: New York: Andretti Autosport driver Danica Patrick will appear in an episode of “CSI: NY” on CBS with a scheduled air date of Feb. 10.

The series is a crime drama inspired by “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and is about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in the Big Apple. “CSI: Miami, “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA” also are CBS shows of a similar vein.

A few days earlier, Patrick will be featured in GoDaddy.com commercials to be aired during the Super Bowl. One ad will feature Patrick replicating scenes from movies such as “Flashdance,” “Weird Science” and “The Seven Year Itch.”

7. Baby makes four: Justin and Julia Wilson welcomed their second daughter, Jessica Lynne, on Jan. 12.

Justin, who drove for Dale Coyne Racing during the 2009 IZOD IndyCar Series season, exited the season preview meeting at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway quickly and quietly to be with his wife at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colo.

He made it just in time.

Jessica Lynne arrived at 7:12 p.m. (MT). She checked in at 5.13 pounds and 18 inches long. and joins her older sister Jane.

- Indy Racing League, Press Release

WALLER, Texas Jan. 11, 2010—Jeff Britton, of Indianapolis, has joined A.J. Foyt Racing as chief engineer of the No. 14 ABC Supply Indy car driven by Vitor Meira. Britton will be renewing an alliance with Meira as the two men worked together in 2005 when Meira finished second in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.

“I’m very excited to be joining the A.J. Foyt Racing family,” Britton said. “I’m looking forward to being able to rely on the wealth of experience that A.J. has and also working with Vitor again. He makes things very easy for engineers because he can boil down the problems of the car to the biggest problem. He enables you to work on one thing at a time to really make progress in setting up the race car.

“The other thing is his attitude; he has the most positive attitude of any driver I’ve ever worked with. He never gets upset in the car, always has his emotions in check and is constantly trying to push the team in a positive direction.”

Britton’s respect for Meira is mutual. The 33-year-old Brazilian revealed, “Jeff was the first guy that I had big results with—the first time that I finished second at the [Indy] 500 was with him. We had three cars on the team, Buddy [Rice] and Danica [Patrick] were in the other two cars and we were much faster than both of them so I always thought that we worked well together. I like the way he works. He’s very quiet, you tell him what the car is doing and what the problems are, then he asks you to leave and he thinks about it and comes up with a solution. It’s very simple. I think it will be good, very good.”

Team director Larry Foyt interviewed several candidates before hiring Britton who brings 15 years of Indy car experience to the team.

“In the end, I liked the fact that Jeff worked well with Vitor and together they had some good results,” said Foyt. “With the limited practice time that you have on race weekends, it really helps to bring in someone who can communicate well with Vitor, so we aren’t starting from square one. With Jeff having been around the IRL since its inception, he and A.J. have a lot of common experience and that also was important in our final decision.”

Britton’s experience includes stints with Treadway Racing, Kelley Racing (when driver Scott Sharp won the 2001 pole at Indianapolis), Access Motorsports (Greg Ray), and Mo Nunn Racing (Tora Takagi). In 2005 he joined Rahal-Letterman Racing where he worked with Meira in 2005, Rice in 2006 and Sharp in 2007. Britton moved to Vision Racing in 2008 where he spent the past two years working with Ed Carpenter.

Following tomorrow’s IndyCar Series meeting in Indianapolis for drivers and owners, both driver and engineer will travel to Texas for several days of meetings. The IndyCar Series begins its season with an Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park outside of Birmingham, AL Feb. 24-25. The first race of the season will be in Meira’s home country of Brazil; the street race in Sao Paolo is set for Sunday, March 14.

- A.J. Foyt Racing, Press Release

IZOD IndyCar Series Logo

1. Firestone test at Miami signals start of  2010

2. Wheldon takes on bobsleds

3. Howard gets back on the track

4. Fisher invites Ellen to Indianapolis 500

1. Firestone test at Homestead-Miami signals start of  2010: The sounds of IZOD IndyCar Series cars returned to South Florida as Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske participated in the first day of the first Firestone tire test of the 2010 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The two-day test features reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti and Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe. Though it was 40 degrees cooler than it was the last time the drivers toured the Homestead-Miami Speedway ’s 1.5 oval, everyone seemed excited to get back on track and get to work.

Franchitti said he’s enjoyed the off-season (only two visits to the shop in Indianapolis), which included the wedding of his brother, Marino, to Holly Mason (daughter of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason).

“He’s still in one piece and the wedding came off,” Franchitti said. “It was an amazing wedding and I really enjoyed that a lot.”

The Franchitti brothers will be at Daytona International Speedway this week for Rolex 24 At Daytona testing. They’ll be driving separate Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates prototypes. The race is Jan. 30-31.

“I’m looking forward to being on the same team with him again, though it’s not in the same car,” Dario said.

Also back to work was Briscoe, who was married last month in Hawaii where he said everything went off without a hitch.

“It was absolutely perfect,” said Briscoe, who wed Nicole Manske. “We had all our closest friends and family there. It actually was a big turnout for being a destination wedding; we had about 100 guests. We’re really happy.”

2. Wheldon takes on bobsleds: IZOD IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon will be among the racing stars attending the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge – an annual event hosted by the former NASCAR star to raise money for the USA Olympic Bobsled team.

While there are no scheduled plans for the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series champion to race a bobsled, the thought is that his natural competitive fire combined with some good ole fashioned peer pressure from his friend in the National Guard could sway the Panther Racing driver into making a run in a sled.

“I’m really excited about it,” Wheldon said. “It’s certainly a form of racing that I’m not terribly familiar with, but I’m sure we’re going to learn a lot this weekend with our friends from the National Guard.”

Bodine, a former Daytona 500 champion and winner of 18 other stock car races, has held the event in Lake Placid, N.Y. for the past four years. Wheldon will join other drivers from NASCAR and the NHRA as the event kicks off this weekend in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The event is being supported by the National Guard, which is having some of its soldiers work as brake men on the sled during the race. In addition to Bodine, the event will feature Joey Logano, Boris Said, Johnny Benson, Ron Hornaday, Morgan Lucas and others.

3. Howard gets back on the track: Jay Howard, the 2006 Firestone Indy Lights champion who will compete in four IZOD IndyCar Series races this season for Sarah Fisher Racing with backing from Tire Kingdom, will be back in a go-kart for the CKI Florida Cup at the circuit adjacent to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Round 1 of the Florida Cup is scheduled for Jan. 29-31. The others are in February and March. He’ll compete in the Rotax Senior Division at the Florida Cup in addition to select WSK North American Series events.

Also, Howard has formed an on-site engine building, repairing and service support program with a recent partnership with British and European champions Ogden Racing Engines of the UK.

“I am excited to get back in a kart,” said Howard, a Florida resident. “I try and do select events each year and with the way the CKI program is headed, I had to jump at the opportunity on my off weekends from the professional circuit. I am very excited about the opportunities and possibilities in 2010.”

4. Fisher invites Ellen to Indianapolis 500: Sarah Fisher wants day-time talk show host Ellen DeGeneres to be her guest at the Indianapolis 500 and is taking a unique approach to invite her, via the social networking site Twitter.

Fisher, the only female owner/driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series, has started a twitter account, @ellen2Indy500, and invited race fans to support her grassroots campaign to get DeGeneres to come to the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

“1 of my resolutions is 2have @TheEllenShow (DeGeneres) n my book & n return give her tix 2 the Indy500 this May. Follow how we reach her @ellen2indy500,” Fisher wrote on her own twitter account, @sarahfisher67.

Fisher also hopes to include a quote from DeGeneres in her book, “99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before You Got Behind The Wheel Of Your Dream Job,” which will be published in May. In the book, Fisher includes quotes from pioneering women who have made a name for themselves in their chosen field.

- Indy Racing League, Press Release

ROLLS OUT INITIAL PLANS FOR HUNTER-REAY’S 2010 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES SEASON

Andretti Autosport

The initial focus of Hunter-Reay’s effort in the #37 IZOD entry will be the 2010 Indianapolis 500 and will also include a number of other key series events before and after the month of May. The total number and location of those races has not yet been finalized.

The second phase of Hunter Reay’s Andretti Autosport program is targeted at running the full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule and is still in development.

Today’s announcement deepens the relationship between IZOD and Hunter-Reay, which dates back to the 2008 season and Hunter-Reay’s first IZOD IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International. Hunter-Reay was named 2008 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, and claimed 2007 IZOD IndyCar Series rookie of the year honors despite joining the series only mid-season.

In 2003, Hunter-Reay became the first American rookie in 20 years to win an Indy car race when he took the checkers at Surfers Paradise, Australia. He later set the record for most laps led (250) in a single race when he lapped all but the second- and third-place cars at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2004. He has also competed regularly in the Rolex Sports Car Series at the annual Rolex 24 at Daytona and also in the American LeMans Series, Baja 1000 and A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

ALLEN SIRKIN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PHILLIPS-VAN HEUSEN:
“Our involvement with Ryan Hunter-Reay began in the 2008 season with a memorable win at Watkins Glen International, and he’s continued to develop into one of the league’s top young drivers. Our new partnership with Andretti Autosport gives the #37 IZOD car the best possible chance of winning the 2010 Indianapolis 500. Since becoming the title sponsor of the IZOD IndyCar Series, we’re thrilled at the level of excitement that has been built for 2010. An incredible schedule of races, a talented roster of championship drivers and a number of dedicated teams all vying for greatness will make for a thrilling season of IZOD IndyCar Series racing.”

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
“We are excited about what we’ve put together with PVH and Ryan, and believe we can grow this program substantially over the next several months. We felt it was important to announce what we know and what we’ve secured, which is a great partnership under the IZOD brand name and a program that we feel will give Ryan an excellent shot of winning at Indianapolis. How far we take him into 2010 is still in the works, but we feel good about the potential that we will add Ryan to our driver lineup for the full season.”

RYAN HUNTER-REAY, DRIVER, #37 IZOD CAR:
“Joining a team of Andretti Autosport’s caliber has been my goal for the entire 16 years of my racing career and being able to strengthen my ties to everyone at IZOD through this effort is tremendous. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am ready to give 120 percent to the program.

“I have never met a group of people who are more determined to win races, and especially the Indianapolis 500, than the people I am working with at Andretti Autosport. When the folks around you share the same enthusiasm and determination you do the prospect for success is high, which is why, Andretti Autosport is one of the winningest teams in IZOD IndyCar Series history.

“Michael Andretti is as hungry to win races today as he has ever been and it is an honor and a privilege to drive for the same person I looked up to as a young karter.

“Through its entitlement of the IZOD IndyCar Series, IZOD has positioned itself as the biggest supporter of our sport. To personally have IZOD’s endorsement as a driver is truly an honor.”

About IZOD and Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation

IZOD, one of the best-known and best-selling apparel brands in the United States, is known for its sport-inspired, clean designs and colorful product lines. With a history in the United States dating back to the 1930s, the IZOD brand is licensed to 21 companies in the U.S. and 17 other countries. IZOD brand products include apparel and accessories for men, women, and children, soft home goods and men’s fragrance. The IZOD brand offerings include products sold under the IZOD PerformX (technical and performance fabricated sportswear), IZOD Jeans, and IZOD LX (a luxury sportswear collection sold exclusively at Macy’s) sub brands, which are sold in over 6,000 retail venues worldwide, including department, specialty and company-operated stores. For more information visit www.izod.com.

Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel companies. It owns and markets the Calvin Klein brand worldwide. It is the world’s largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, IZOD, ARROW, Bass, and G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands including Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, unlisted, A Kenneth Cole Production, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Attitude, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, and Timberland.

About Andretti Autosport
Based in Indianapolis, Ind., Andretti Autosport is led by racing legend Michael Andretti. Andretti Autosport, which is the winningest team in Indy Racing League history, fields multiple entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and also campaigns multiple cars in Firestone Indy Lights in a joint venture with AFS Racing. Andretti Autosport boasts three IZOD IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005 and 2007), two Firestone Indy Lights titles (2008 and 2009) and has won the Indianapolis 500 twice (2005 and 2007). For more information, please visit www.andrettiautosport.com.

- Andretti Autosport, Press Release

Five-time Daytona 200 By Honda champion, Indianapolis
500 champion taking part in karting racing at DIS

Daytona International Speedway Logo

After retirement from motorcycle racing, he went from two wheels to four wheels with sports cars from the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and competed for the first time in the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona, the prestigious sports car classic.

Now, the Conyers, Ga., native is trying his hand at another form of racing at Daytona International Speedway – karting in the annual Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket.

The three-day event, which began Monday, showcases the World Karting Association on three courses – the 3.56-mile Daytona road course, the Sprint track in turns 3 and 4 and the newly constructed quarter-mile dirt track outside turns 1 and 2.

“It’s Daytona for me, it’s a great place to me,” said Russell, who is behind the wheel of a No. 4 kart on the Sprint track. “It’s a new experience. I want to come out here and see where I stand up against some of the top guys in karting, more or less having fun with it.”

Russell just took karting up a few months ago and is using it as a way to ease the transition between motorcycles and sports cars.

“What a great tool this is,” Russell said. “We’re learning everyday with the setup of this thing, just learning how to drive. Going from two wheels to four wheels, there wasn’t a whole lot of crossover there, just the track knowledge that I had in the past. It’s a whole different animal.

“This is definitely going to help me. I’m back in the GT class (in the Rolex Series) with Paul Edwards and a Corvette. I think this will apply to that. Anything that I can do to make it better on that end, that’s what I’m doing.”

Russell is also feeling out a new course at Daytona. He has plenty of laps on the 3.56-mile road course and the 2.9-mile motorcycle course, but he has never turned a lap on the half-mile Sprint course.

“What a neat little course that they made out here,” Russell said. “It’s really a lot of fun with the way it’s set up. It’s tough. It’s slippery out here. Daytona is typically slippery in the infield and it has transferred into this as well. Getting the kart set up right and learning a new track is great experience.”

Open-wheel star Wheldon in attendance:

Like Russell and NASCAR stars Jamie McMurray and AJ Allmendinger, IZOD IndyCar Series star Dan Wheldon is also competing on the half-mile Sprint track during Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket.

Wheldon, who drives for Panther Racing and lives in nearby St. Petersburg, loves racing karts whenever he gets the opportunity in his schedule.

“I just love it,” said Wheldon, the 2005 Indianapolis 500 champion. “Any kart race that I can do, I will try to do and when you’ve got one going on at Daytona, that’s certainly one that you want to compete in. It’s like all of these kart races, it’s very competitive.

“It’s very nice to spend Christmas with my wife and my son but she knows that if I sit at home too long, that I will probably drive her mad. You don’t get the time to do this as much as you would like. Anytime that you do get time, you definitely want to utilize it.”

Wheldon, who began karting at the age of 4, has been behind the wheel at Daytona before turning laps in both IZOD IndyCar Series testing as well as competing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

He has a strong passion for karting and believes it’s a great developmental series for anybody interested in racing.

“I think it is the only way that people start nowadays,” Wheldon said. “Whether it’s on a road course in a go-kart or whether they race on some dirt, I think karting is the stepping stone to any form of motorsport. It’s very competitive in America. I think America is a great place to start a karting career.

“From what I’ve seen, there’s huge competition but there’s also a very nice atmosphere. I think that it’s a great environment for children to grow up in but also where they can learn the fundamentals of racing and learn how to respect people and share great family time.”

TICKETS

Tickets for Daytona KartWeek By Cometic Gasket can be purchased at Ticket Booth E located above the Turn 1 tunnel. Single-day passes are $15 and children under seven are $10.

- Daytona International Speedway, Press Release

CASTRONEVES AND HENAO WELCOME BABY GIRL, MIKAELLA

ATLANTA, Ga. (December 28, 2009) – Penske Racing IndyCar Series driver Helio Castroneves and his girlfriend, Adriana Henao, received a very special gift this holiday season as Henao gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Monday, December 28. Mikaella Castroneves was born at 4:15 p.m. ET Monday in Atlanta, Georgia.

Baby Mikaella, the couple’s first child, weighed seven pounds and three ounces at birth and measured 19 inches long.

“We are so happy that Mikaella is finally here!” said Castroneves, the three-time Indianapolis 500 champion for Team Penske. “She is absolutely beautiful and she already has dad running around like crazy. Adriana and the baby are both doing great and we want to thank everyone for their good wishes. This is one holiday season we will never forget!”

– Penske Racing, Press Release

Milka Duno

Duno was one of several female drivers taking part in the three-day ARCA RE/MAX Series test at the 2.5-mile oval, where she set the 13th fastest time during her only full day of running among 60-plus drivers.

The Venezuelan was more than happy with her test at the wheel of Braun Racing’s #90 Toyota, which she drove for a full day on Saturday but only for a few laps on Sunday due to an engine problem.

“I think I adapted to the car pretty quick, although it was not easy,” Duno said. “I think the times show that.

“The car moves around a lot and you have to be very gentle. But I’m happy with the result although I think I could have done better on Sunday, if not for a broken piston on the engine.”

- autosport.com

Danica Patrick, No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala SS for JR Motorsports

Patrick announced today that she will run a limited NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 – including a February visit to Auto Club Speedway. The Izod IndyCar Series driver will drive the No. 7 Go Daddy Chevrolet for JR Motorsports and team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick.

February won’t be her first visit to Auto Club Speedway. The then-rookie competed in the IndyCar Series at Auto Club Speedway in 2005. In the IRL TOYOTA Indy 400, Patrick qualified 4th, and finished 18th.

Fans can witness NASCAR history for as low as $30 as general admission tickets for the Saturday NNS event begin at that price point. With free admission for children 12 and under in effect for events on Friday and Saturday of race weekend, race fans can attend the Stater Bros. 300 NNS event on Feb. 20, 2010 for as low as $30 and the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR, Feb. 21, the Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 for as low as $35.

Fans experiencing Auto Club Speedway can also take advantage of free parking, bring in their own food, or partake in the unbelievable menu items on site as well as other cost-savings opportunities while enjoying a full day of entertainment and fun at a fantastic family value.

Patrick will begin her stock car career at an ARCA Series test at Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 18-20. The plan is to enter Patrick in the ARCA opener in February at Daytona and get approval by NASCAR for the Nationwide opener. She is expected to run around 12 races.

Call 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com to be part of NASCAR history in Southern California.

- Auto Club Speedway Press Release

Milka Duno

Word came out last week that Milka Duno has signed to drive an ARCA car for established Nationwide Series team-owner, Todd Braun, this coming season.

From there, who knows how the stock-car future of the 37-year-old Venezuelian will go. Or where it will go.

Duno is a veteran of the IndyCar Series. Just like Danica.

Duno is scheduled to make her ARCA debut at Daytona during Speed Weeks next February. Just like Danica.

Some will say that is where the similarities between Patrick and Duno end.

Some say that Patrick is clearly the better driver, the more experienced driver, the more worthy driver. And they will say that Duno is just cashing in – shirt-tailing as it were – on the Danicamania which has descended like lake-effect snow upon the stock-car racing world.

And it could be that Duno will just squeeze her 15 minutes – or 15 laps

- RacinToday.com

“Flogs Help Fans Follow Schedules of Team and Series”

Indianapolis, Indiana (December 14, 2009) - HVM Racing and IndyCar Series fans will always know when the green flag waves. Flogs.com now offers downloadable digital calendars for the team and the series, allowing fans to incorporate racing schedules onto their own calendar platforms.

Flogs offers a free service that supports all popular calendar devices. When using Flogs, users can download the team or series racing schedules to their computer, phone or social platform and connect them with Outlook, Facebook, Apple iCal, Windows Live, Gmail calendar or any other popular device.

Each event, such as an IndyCar race, will then show up on the user’s own calendar. Any changes to a schedule after it’s downloaded are added to the user’s calendar automatically.

The HVM Racing and IndyCar Series Flogs can be downloaded directly off HVMracing.com on the bottom of the “Schedule” page.

Flogs.com has been a personal sponsor of HVM Racing driver Robert Doornbos throughout the 2009 IndyCar Series season and also became a team partner in September.

HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its nine years of competition, the team has earned six wins, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. The team finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car championship standings in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Since joining the IRL Championship in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes with drivers E.J. Viso and Robert Doornbos.

- HVM Racing Press Release

“Duno to participate in ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Test with Braun Racing”

Milka Duno

While no stranger to the Daytona Beach, FL-based track, this will be Duno’s first opportunity to go around the 2.5-mile tri-oval in a metal-skinned stock car. Her No. 90 Camry will have less downforce than either the IndyCar Series cars she’s driven the past three seasons, or the Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes that she competed in for the three seasons before that.

“This will be a new challenge for me and one that I’ve been looking forward to,” said Duno. “I know it won’t be easy – it will be hard work – but work that I’m ready to take on.”

With a second-place finish in 2007, Duno holds the record for the highest finish ever by a female driver in the 45-year history of the 24 Hours of Daytona at Daytona International Speedway.The highest finish by a female driver in ARCA competition at Daytona is second, posted by Shawna Robinson in 2001.

Starting with her four-win season in the American Le Mans Series in 2001 and continuing through her thee-win Rolex Series years, Milka has been offered opportunities to compete in stock cars and in the NASCAR Series virtually every season since.

“My goal was to reach open-wheel racing in the United States and the Indy 500,” said Duno, “I just completed my third season in IndyCar and this year I decided not to once again pass on an opportunity to get behind the wheel of a stock car.”

The most successful independent team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Braun Racing began as an ARCA Racing Series team in 2002. Team owner, Todd Braun, found immediate success in the series, capturing an impressive four wins in his first season. The following year, he moved into the Nationwide Series and has since grown into a four-car operation. Still, Braun keeps an eye on drivers coming through the series in which he got his start.

“When Milka and I met, I expressed an interest in testing her in a stock car,” said Braun. “The interest was mutual and we were more than happy to make it a reality. We discussed that in order to compete in NASCAR a driver must first participate in an ARCA Racing Series test. She is a very talented driver and has experienced success in both sportscar and open-wheel racing. The natural progression would be for her to drive a stock car. I have always enjoyed working with drivers new to stock car racing and I look forward to the ARCA Racing Series test with Milka.”

For more information, visit http://www.arcaracing.com.

Homestead-Miami Speedway

At Richmond International Raceway since 2003, Becherer was integral to the growth of the widely-popular 3/4-mile track into one of ISC’s premier facilities. As vice president of marketing, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of marketing, advertising, promotions, public relations and ticketing. Prior to Richmond, Becherer was the director of marketing for Darlington Raceway and marketing manager for North Carolina Speedway. Becherer will transition with his family to the Homestead-Miami, FL, area over the next few weeks.

“We remain fortunate to have individuals of such excellent caliber to transition into key positions within our organization,” said ISC Vice President of Business Operations Joie Chitwood III. “Matt has been a significant contributor to the success of Richmond International Raceway for over six years, and we believe his leadership will facilitate a smooth transition into his new role at Homestead-Miami Speedway. We congratulate him on his new position and look forward to his continued success.”

International Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of motorsports activities, currently promoting more than 100 racing events annually as well as numerous other motorsports-related activities. The Company owns and/or operates 13 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona International Speedway® in Florida (home of the Daytona 500®); Talladega Superspeedway® in Alabama; Michigan International Speedway® located outside Detroit; Richmond International Raceway® in Virginia; Auto Club Speedway of Southern CaliforniaSM near Los Angeles; Kansas Speedway® in Kansas City, Kansas; Phoenix International Raceway® in Arizona; Chicagoland Speedway® and Route 66 RacewaySM near Chicago, Illinois; Homestead-Miami SpeedwaySM in Florida; Martinsville Speedway® in Virginia; Darlington Raceway® in South Carolina; and Watkins Glen International® in New York. In addition, ISC promotes major motorsports activities in Montreal, Quebec, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Stock-Car Montreal.

The Company also owns and operates MRN® Radio, the nation’s largest independent sports radio network; the Daytona 500 ExperienceSM, the “Ultimate Motorsports Attraction” in Daytona Beach, Florida, and official attraction of NASCAR®; and Americrown Service CorporationSM, a subsidiary that provides catering services, food and beverage concessions, and produces and markets motorsports-related merchandise. In addition, ISC has an indirect 50 percent interest in Motorsports Authentics®, which markets and distributes motorsports-related merchandise licensed by certain competitors in NASCAR racing. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at www.internationalspeedwaycorporation.com.

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