NorthernLight IRL: From the drawing board, Blueprint Racing Team
7 April 2000
Blueprint Enters Indy 500 Blueprint Racing has placed two entries for the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500. The Founders Bank/ZMAX/ Blueprint Racing Special entries, hand-delivered to the Indy Racing League on March 17th, mark the fifth year that Blueprint Racing has entered a car in the “500.” The primary car, #27, is a 2000 chassis (chassis number GF 05 #17) with an Oldsmobile Aurora engine. The secondary car, #27T, is a 1999 chassis (chassis GF 030) also with an Oldsmobile Aurora engine. Both entries list Jimmy Kite as the driver, Randy Ruyle as chief mechanic and Brad McCanless as team manager. Blueprint Racing Engines, managed by Sonny Meyer, will build the Oldsmobile powerplants. Kite Visits Playboy Mansion Blueprint Racing driver Jimmy Kite recently made another of his lifelong dreams come true. Kite, of Stockbridge, Georgia, was invited to attend an unveiling of Cigarette Racing Team’s newest powerboat-the Playboy Cigarette TS 35-at the world famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California. “The Mansion,” home of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, is world renown for its parties and famous “Grotto.” As a guest of Cigarette Racing Team, Kite was one of many celebrities in attendance. Kite was still enthusiastic about the visit days after returning from the March 30th cocktail party. The 24 year-old commented, “It was cool! You’ve heard all the stories and then to be a part of it was amazing! I have gotten to run the Indianapolis 500, to drive a car at 220 miles per hour, to win the Copper World AND to go to the Playboy Mansion! Now, if I can only win Indy!” 2000 G Force Chassis Nears First Test The first test of Blueprint Racing’s new 2000 chassis will come at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, April 9-11. The test, part of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series’ Open Test at the Speedway, will mark the team’s first effort combining the new chassis and Blueprint Racing Engine’s Sonny Meyer-built Oldsmobile Auroras. The test also marks a new red, white and blue paint scheme for the Founders Bank/ZMAX/ Blueprint Racing #27. The paint job is reminiscent of the 1997 cars that Blueprint Racing entered at the Speedway-red on top, white through the middle of the car with blue side pods and accents. About the 2000 car and Indy test, co-owner Keith Sanders commented, “The car looks fantastic. It is painted and it is ready to run. The team really did a great job getting it together so quickly. With this new paint scheme, I think the car will really stand out on the track. We are very excited to be moving ahead with our program. This test will help us learn a lot and prepares us for Vegas and for Indy!” Blueprint Racing Adds New Sponsors Blueprint Racing has added several new sponsors to its support line-up in 2000. Coming on board at Phoenix International Raceway were Saban Electric of Chicago, Illinois and Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah. Saban is a major electrical contractor throughout Illinois and the mid-west. Groen Brothers is a leader in the gyroplane industry. Gyroplanes are a unique combination of helicopter and airplane offering the best of both worlds. The gyroplane can hover like a helicopter while having many of the safety and performance advantages of a standard, fixed-wing aircraft. Sanders, “It is great to have Saban and Groen Brothers join Founders Bank and ZMAX. We still have room for some more and we are talking all the time. It is an exciting time for Blueprint Racing.”