Northern Light IRL: Indy Racing Weekly Notebook
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
April 27, 2001
zMAX to sponsor race, honor U.S. Navy air navigator at Atlanta
INDIANAPOLIS - zMAX, an engine lubricant, was named April 26 as the title sponsor of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series event April 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and zMAX officials named U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Regina Kauffman as the Grand Marshal of the zMAX 500.
Kauffman was the navigator of the American EP-3E Aries II reconnaissance plane forced to make an emergency landing recently in China. She mapped the aircraft's location and helped the pilot determine where to land after a Chinese jet fighter collided with the U.S. Navy plane April 1.
"I've never been to a race," said Kauffman, who will be accompanied by her husband, also in the Navy. "I'm really looking forward to this weekend. It will be a new and exciting experience for me and my husband."
To further honor Kauffman and all of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces, zMAX will offer all military personnel with valid military ID a special ticket price of $15. All military representatives will sit in a reserved section of the North Turn (Earnhardt) Grandstand. Special military tickets can be purchased in advance at the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office or on Race Day at the Military Ticket Window at Gate 15.
"As a representative of the courageous 24 crew members detained for 11 days by the Chinese, zMAX is proud to host Lt. Kauffman here in Atlanta and share in honoring all members of the U.S. Armed Forces," said Sid Morris, president of Morris International, sales and marketing agency for zMAX.
zMAX is a unique micro-lubricant refined from the purest forms of petroleum. By soaking into the metal surfaces of an engine, zMAX protects vital engine parts, disperses carbon and varnish, and lowers operating temperatures resulting in better gas mileage, increased horsepower and improved performance.
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Lazier climbs IROC standings: Defending Indy Racing Northern Light Series champion Buddy Lazier climbed to a tie for fourth in the True Value IROC point standings after finishing third in the second round of racing's "all-star game" on April 21 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Points leader Bobby Labonte won the race.
Lazier is tied with NASCAR Winston Cup points leader Dale Jarrett with 28 points.
At Talladega, 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. finished fifth and is sixth in points. Mark Dismore finished seventh and is eighth in points, while two-time Indianapolis 500 runner-up Scott Goodyear finished ninth and holds ninth in the points.
The third round of the series is June 9 at Michigan Speedway, while the season finale is Aug. 4 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Giaffone wins in Brazil: Indy Racing Northern Light Series rookie sensation Felipe Giaffone warmed up for this weekend's zMAX 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway by teaming up to win the Mil KM de Brasilia endurance race April 21.
Giaffone and co-drivers Flavio de Andrade and Ruyter Pacheco started second and took the lead after Giaffone passed former Formula One World Champion Nelson Piquet, a fellow Brazilian. The 183-lap race was plagued by rain and ended after seven hours and 13 minutes of competition.
"It was a great race, and it is always fun for me to get in endurance races," Giaffone said. "I just love to race. It is especially fun to race with Flavio and Ruyter in my home country of Brazil. This is a special win for me. I hope I can keep up the good luck when I return to the states for my race in Atlanta and then for the Indy 500."
Giaffone is third in the Northern Light Cup point standings after two races this season in the No. 21 Hollywood G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone fielded by Treadway-Hubbard Racing.
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Another Foyt on dirt: A.J. Foyt IV, grandson of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Indy Racing Northern Light Series team owner A.J. Foyt, enrolled in the Jimmy Sills School of Open Wheel Racing last weekend in northern California.
Foyt, who turns 17 next month, drove a non-winged midget and a non-winged sprint car on a dirt track. Foyt has competed in karting and Formula 2000 racing. Foyt is the son of Tony Foyt, A.J.'s oldest son. Tony Foyt has turned his attention from training race horses to managing is son's budding racing career.
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Fisher to visit Regis and Kelly: Indy Racing standout Sarah Fisher is scheduled to appear on the "Live! With Regis and Kelly" television talk show May 4 in New York.
Fisher will talk with co-hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.
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Dismore to speak at Little 500 banquet: Indy Racing star Mark Dismore will be the featured guest at the Little 500 Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on May 24, allowing the city of Anderson, Ind., to salute the first Indy Racing competitor from the area in many years.
Dismore is a lifelong resident of nearby Greenfield, located just a few miles south of Anderson. Early in his career, Dismore raced midgets at Anderson Speedway, home of the famed Pay Less/Delco-Remy Little 500 sprint-car classic.
The banquet is the annual induction ceremony for the Little 500 Hall of Fame, and four Little 500 veterans will be honored at this year's gala, including former drivers Bobby Black, Buzz Gregory and Benny Rapp, and car owner George Rudolph Jr.
Following the induction ceremony, Dismore will address the audience, discussing his career as well as his thoughts on this year's Indianapolis 500.
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Hot laps: Indy Racing ironman Davey Hamilton won a 40-lap USAC Western Sprint Car race April 21 at Madera (Calif.) Speedway. He took the lead for good on Lap 13 ... The Racing for Corey Organization will play host to a charity karting event, the "Racing for Corey Grand Prix," from 7 p.m.-midnight (EST) May 7 at Racers in Union Station in downtown Indianapolis. Proceeds will benefit the Indiana Children's Wish Fund, IRL Ministry, Sam Schmidt Foundation and Racing for Corey. Tickets for spectators are $20, and each spectator will receive a raffle ticket for various drawings. For more information, to purchase raffle tickets or to sign up for a karting team, call (800) 336-5326 or (317) 356-7279 ... Indy Racing standout Robbie Buhl, national spokesperson for Racing For Kids, visited children at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta on April 25 before the zMax 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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On the road: Upcoming appearances by Indy Racing drivers and cars (all times local): ·April 26: A Johns Manville Indy Racing car will be on display from 6-9 p.m. at Planet Hollywood, 218 Peachtree St. NW in Atlanta. Indy Racing drivers Sam Hornish Jr., Jeff Ward, Robby McGehee and Felipe Giaffone will sign autographs from 7-8:15 p.m.
·April 27: A Kroger Indy Racing car will be on display from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kroger store at 301 Jonesboro Road in McDonough, Ga.
·April 27-28: A Johns Manville Indy Racing car will be on display on the midway at Atlanta Motor Speedway during Atlanta 500 Classic event weekend.
·April 29: A Kroger Indy Racing car will be on display from 2-6 p.m. at Jillians, 1200 Jillians Way in Covington, Ky., as part of the Kentucky Speedway's season kickoff party.
·May 2: A Indy Racing Northern Light Series car and an Indy Racing simulator will be on display from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at "The Seventh Annual Auto Racing Car Show" at Terre Haute North Vigo High School in Terre Haute, Ind.
·May 2: A Purex Indy Racing car will be on display from 4-7 p.m. at Fast Times Karting Center, 96th and Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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