Vision Racing to Rock the 90th Running of Indianapolis 500; New Faces Bring New Vision to Expanded Effort
Townsend Bell to Drive #90 Car for Vision Racing and Debut New Team Sponsor Rock & Republic for Greatest Spectacle in Racing
INDIANAPOLIS, May 6 -- Ready to rock the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500, Vision Racing is pleased to report the following announcements:
* Vision Racing owners Tony George, wife Laura George and actor Patrick
Dempsey are pleased to welcome leading premium lifestyle designer and
L.A. fashion industry icon, Rock & Republic, who will join Vision
Racing for the month of May as the primary sponsor on the #90 car and
also as the primary sponsor of the #2 and #20 cars for the 90th running
of the Indianapolis 500. The #90 car will feature a unique paint scheme
reflecting the image of fashion industry icon, Rock & Republic.
* Vision Racing and Rock & Republic will commemorate the 90th running of
the Indianapolis 500 with a third entry in the #90 Rock & Republic
Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone.
* Townsend Bell will pilot the #90 Rock & Republic Vision Racing
Dallara/Honda/Firestone along side full-time Vision drivers Tomas
Scheckter and Ed Carpenter, in the Nos. 2 and 20 Vision Racing
Dallara/Honda/Firestone, respectively.
* Bombardier Learjet, Elrod Corporation, Futaba and United Auto Insurance
Group extend partnerships while Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace
join Vision Racing for 2006.
"We are extremely excited to have this opportunity to partner with such a progressive and dynamic company as Rock & Republic," said team co-owner Tony George. "Their association with Hollywood and the entertainment industry is a natural link between motorsports entertainment and premium consumer interests."
George's sponsorship agreement with Rock & Republic allows the team to field a third entry in this year's Indianapolis 500. In their own words, Rock & Republic means edgy, progressive lifestyle clothing and accessories inspired by Rock & Roll and with an emphasis on modern silhouettes and a sleek sexy fit! Each piece in the collection is designed for sexy, confident men and women who live the lifestyle and understand the look.
Defining the meaning of the rock 'n roll style, Rock & Republic is known for it's cutting-edge fashion and appeal amongst A-list celebrities. Along with Vision Racing, Rock & Republic plans on bringing that same Hollywood appeal to the Brickyard.
As stated by Rock & Republic CEO and Head Designer Michael Ball, "What's cooler than an IndyCar doing 200+ miles an hour around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... nothing."
Sponsored by an icon in the fashion industry, it's only fitting that the #90 Rock & Republic Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone boasts a unique paint scheme more than fit for the occasion. The #90 features a cool grey, orange and white color-combo, graced with the Rock & Republic logo and images, which transcends all things Rock 'n Roll, high-energy, sophistication and premium living. In a word, it's "hot!"
Veteran driver and California native, Townsend Bell, will race the head-turning machine. "We've developed a good friendship with Rock & Republic and obviously an exciting program in a short time," Bell reflected. "I introduced Vision to the company after the team signed me and Mr. George really took it from there. Rock & Republic is a hot brand in fashion and it's cool to have some attitude on the car."
At age 31, Bell's IndyCar Series resume features 11 starts (10 in 2004 and one in 2005), five top 10 finishes and one top five finish. As a candidate for the JPMorgan Chase Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, Bell will be competing in his first Indianapolis 500 mile race and is excited about his new opportunity with Vision Racing.
He said, "The best part about the commitment from Vision Racing is that they are doing everything they can to give me a top-shelf program for the month. I have the proper amount of time to prepare, we'll run as many laps in the month as available, and I know I can count on the team to push everyday for the best result. In the end, I want to drive a solid, smart race, be there for the last stint and then we'll maximize what we have."
In a year that has seen Vision Racing add famed actor and fellow racer Patrick Dempsey to the team ownership, expand the full-time driver line up to two cars with Carpenter and Scheckter, strengthen the engineering department with head engineer, David Cripps, feature a new team look and paint scheme, record their best finish ever (9th/Scheckter - Homestead) and lead their first laps under green (Scheckter - Japan); there is yet more for the team to be stoked about.
George has successfully extended and expanded sponsorship agreements with Bombardier Learjet, Elrod Corporation, Futaba and United Auto Insurance Group as well as formed a new relationship with Viansa Winery and Marketplace. He stated, "We have been fortunate to have the loyal support from our sponsor base that has allowed us to go out together and grow this team. To those who have been with us from the beginning, we are grateful for their continued support, and to the new sponsors joining us, we look forward to the exciting times ahead."
About Rock & Republic: Rock & Republic is the market leading premium fashion brand that inspires music and fashion industries alike. The edgy rock styles and classic sexy fit has attracted rave reviews world-wide and captured a celebrity fan base like no other brand in the world. For more information on Rock & Republic visit http://www.rockandrepublic.com/.
About Bombardier Learjet: A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. For more information on Bombardier visit http://www.bombardier.com/.
About Elrod Corporation: Elrod Corporation is a fully integrated, full-service supplier of complete spectator structures -- facilities that may include much more than temporary or permanent seating. Examples include control towers, suites and press boxes, pedestrian bridges, racetrack wall and fencing, giant-screen video boards and an array of custom support equipment. For more information on Elrod Corporation visit http://www.elrodcorp.com/.
About Futaba: Futaba has grown into almost a billion dollar world-wide corporation in the past 50 years. Today, Futaba Corporation is recognized as a world leader in the manufacturing of flat panel Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFD), VFD modules, field emission displays (FED) and industrial and hobby radio control systems. For more information on Futaba visit http://www.futaba.com/.
About United Auto Insurance Group: United Auto Insurance Group is a leader in the auto insurance industry offering specialized solutions at affordable rates. Their goal is to resolve problems that lead to a win-win situation for all their customers. Established in 1979, United Auto Insurance continues to grow each year in response to the dedication and nurturing they provide to their clientele. As a company United Auto Insurance Group takes great pride in their accomplishments, continually finding new ways to better serve customer needs. United Auto Insurance Group has expanded from a small one room insurance center to a large, state-of-the-art facility offering the latest in enhanced automation. Plus, they offer an onsite payment center complete with convenient drive-thru service. For more information on United Auto Insurance Group visit http://www.unitedautoinsurance.com/.
About Viansa Winery and Marketplace: Founded in 1989 by Sam and Vicki Sebastiani, Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace is a destination winery in the Carneros grape-growing region at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley Wine Country. Viansa was created as a way to share a love of good food, wine and Italian heritage with visitors from around the world. Dedicated to the marriage of wine and food, Viansa truly offers visitors a taste of Tuscany in Sonoma Valley. Today, the winery is proud to be the premier producer of Italian varietals in the United States! For more information on Viansa Winery and Marketplace visit http://www.viansa.com/ or call 1-800-995-4740.
About Townsend Bell: Townsend Bell will pilot the #90 Vision Racing Rock & Republic Dallara/Honda/Firestone along side full-time Vision drivers Tomas Scheckter and Ed Carpenter for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. No stranger to IndyCar Series competition, Bell has 11 IndyCar starts between 2004 and 2005 (10 in 2004 and one in 2005) where he has five top 10 finishes and one top five finish. His racing career took off after finishing in the runner-up position in the 2000 Indy Lights championship and winning the championship the following year. He later drove for Patrick Racing in CART in 2002. Bell then participated in F3000 and also was a test driver for BAR Honda and Jaguar Racing in Formula One. In 2004, Bell replaced Mark Taylor for Panther Racing and assisted the team again in 2005, subbing for Tomas Enge.
About Ed Carpenter: Ed Carpenter is preparing for his third season in the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series, and his second year with sophomore-team, Vision Racing. The twenty-four-year old made his IndyCar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing, which made him the first driver to compete in an Indy Racing League Indy Pro Series event and an IndyCar Series event on the same weekend. Carpenter's rookie season with Red Bull Cheever Racing also saw his best start (seventh at Texas Motor Speedway) and his best finish (seventh at Kentucky Speedway). The 2003 graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., is married and currently resides in Indianapolis, Ind.
About Tomas Scheckter: Tomas Scheckter joins Vision Racing this season in a newly added second Indy Racing League IndyCar entry. Scheckter has two wins, eight poles, and 1,311 laps led, in four seasons of IndyCar competition. Scheckter's 2005 performance with Panther Racing was quite impressive with a win at Texas, three poles (Homestead, Texas and Nashville) as well as nine top-five starts and seven top-five finishes. The twenty-five-year old, Cape Town, South African native is the son of 1979 Formula One Champion Jody Scheckter. He enjoys golf, wakeboarding, cycling, remote control cars, and currently resides in Indianapolis, Ind.
About Vision Racing: Vision Racing was formed in February 2005 when Indy Racing League founder Tony George and his wife Laura purchased the assets of Kelley Racing from Tom Kelley. In February 2006, actor Patrick Dempsey, the star of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy," officially joined the team. Dempsey's personal racing endeavors and his passion for motorsports led him to partner with Tony and Laura George. In its second year of existence, Vision Racing has its sights set on consistent top ten finishes and its first win. The team's driver lineup consists of a promising IndyCar Series tandem in Ed Carpenter and Tomas Scheckter and has been expanded for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 with the addition of Townsend Bell.
About The 90th running of the Indianapolis 500: Held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500, 200-lap, 500-mile race starts at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, May 28th and will be broadcast live on ABC Sports, IMS Radio Network, XM Satellite Radio channel 145, and on the web at http://www.indycar.com/.