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INDYCAR (VARIOUS LOCATIONS) - SERIES NOTES


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1. Hitachi Power Tools named official power tool of the IndyCar Series

2. Danica listed on Forbes Celebrity 100

3. Fill up, feel good in Iowa

4. Indy Pro Series goes from Indy to Iowa

1. Hitachi Power Tools named official power tool of the IndyCar Series: The IndyCar Series announced a partnership with Hitachi Koki U.S.A., Ltd, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of an extensive line of professional grade power tools and accessories for residential construction, commercial construction, tradesman and do-it-yourselfers, which names Hitachi Power Tools the Official Power Tool of the IndyCar Series. As part of its partnership with the IndyCar Series, Hitachi Power Tools will sponsor the IndyCar Series Technical Inspection Crew, a team of 15 individuals responsible for inspecting all IndyCar Series cars on race weekends. The technical inspection crew as well as the IndyCar Series inspection areas in the paddock and along pit road during qualifying will be branded with the Hitachi Power Tools marks. In addition, Hitachi will sponsor the IndyCar Series Chief Mechanic Award, a $25,000 end-of-year award presented to the championship-winning team’s chief mechanic. The IndyCar Series partnership is part of a multi-faceted activation around the series that includes sponsorship of the No. 20 Vision Racing Honda-powered Dallara driven by Ed Carpenter. “We welcome Hitachi Power Tools to the IndyCar Series and look forward to working with them to market and promote the partnership,” said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division of the Indy Racing League. “The high-tech engineering of Hitachi’s power tool line results in outstanding performance and makes it a natural partner for the speed and technology offered by the IndyCar Series.” Hitachi Power Tools will market and promote its IndyCar Series relationship at retail locations with special promotions. Hitachi Power Tools will utilize the IndyCar Series trademark and logo on advertising and point-of-purchase displays throughout the season. “Working with the IndyCar Series in 2007 as the Official Power Tool sponsor offers Hitachi an outstanding opportunity to promote some of the most technologically advanced, widest array of professional power tools available to fans,” said Tim Young, Hitachi Power Tools Director of Marketing. “The partnership is great because technology is the lifeblood of Hitachi Power Tools and the IndyCar Series.”

2. Danica listed on Forbes Celebrity 100: What does Danica Patrick have in common with Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy?” All are listed among Forbes Magazine “Celebrity 100” list of the world's most powerful and best-paid celebrities. Patrick, the only American race driver to make the list, is ranked 95th on the list which includes athletes, actors, authors and other entertainers. She is one of four racing personalities listed. The others are retired Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, current Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen and MotoGP standout Valentino Rossi. Patrick Dempsey, who co-owns IndyCar Series team Vision Racing, is also listed as part of the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Rankings are generated by combining earnings with other metrics: Web mentions on Google, press clips compiled by LexisNexis, TV/radio mentions by Factiva, and the number of times a celebrity's face appeared on the cover of 32 major consumer magazines.

3. Fill up, feel good in Iowa: Residents of Des Moines, Iowa can follow in the footsteps of the IndyCar Series and make a choice at the pump for energy independence and cleaner air. E10, a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol, will be available for $2.18 a gallon, equivalent to the 218.75 miles that make up the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway. The event will occur from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on June 21 at the Kum & Go located at 141 S. Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Flex-fuel drivers can also take advantage of reduced gas prices as E85 -- a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline -- will also be available for $1.85 per gallon. Kum & Go is the largest provider of E85 in the state of Iowa. No. 17 Team Ethanol IndyCar Series driver Jeff Simmons will be on hand to sign autographs and answer motorists’ questions about ethanol.

4. Indy Pro Series goes from Indy to Iowa: As the Indy Pro Series finished its race at The Milwaukee Mile on June 2, more than a third of the field loaded their trucks and drove 345 miles to Newton, Iowa. Nine drivers spent June 4 feeling out Iowa Speedway, a new 7/8-mile oval that features 12-, 13- and 14-degree compound banking in the turns. Those nine drivers hope to hold an advantage over the rest of the 22-car field entered for the Iowa 100 on June 23. The private test, which was observed by Indy Pro Series Technical Director Butch Meyer, featured plenty of side-by-side and nose-to-tail racing. “It's a really neat track,” said Apex Racing driver Mike Potekhen, who finished second at Milwaukee and recorded two top-10 finishes June 16-17 on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “They did a great job with it. The facility itself is top-notch. “We were able to run two wide, no problem. Plenty of banking there for our cars. And it should make for a really great show.” Also among those who tested at Iowa was series points leader Alex Lloyd. His record-setting fifth consecutive win came at Milwaukee in the No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon Systems/SSM car. "I'm looking forward to getting back onto an oval again,” said Lloyd, who was runner-up in the two road races at Indianapolis. “It's kind of strange that, having been brought up on road courses, that I'd be saying that I'm looking forward to getting back on an oval, but I've been enjoying them this year. “It's a good track, and it's going to be a really close race. It's certainly going to be really difficult. We had a really good car in the test and we'll see how we go in the race. We certainly have high expectations, and we're going to try and get ourselves back into victory lane again after not getting there this past weekend in Indy." Teams will have two 45-minute practice sessions on the morning of June 22 before an afternoon qualifying session. The 115-lap race is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. (EDT) on June 23. *** The 2007 IndyCar Series season continues with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 24 at Iowa Speedway. The race will be telecast at 1 p.m. (ET) by ABC and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio and www.indycar.com. The sixth season of Indy Pro Series competition continues with the Iowa 100 on June 23 at the Iowa Speedway. The race will be telecast by ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. on July 3. ESPN2’s coverage of the Liberty Challenge will be telecast at 5 p.m. on June 21.