Major Sponorship announcement coming toward IndyCar.... Verizon?

In light of the IBJ (Indiana Business Journal) foreshadowing a major IndyCar announcement in the next two weeks, IndyCar Garage would like to go out and predict it will be Verizon Wireless.

http://www.ibj.com/indy-racing-league-signs-deal-with-brazilian-coffee-maker/PARAMS/article/22561

The link above quotes commercial division president Terry Angstadt, as saying:
“It will be a category-exclusive deal with mega activation,” said Terry Angstadt, president of IRL’s commercial division. “It will rival the [promotion] done by our series title sponsor, Izod. So it’s very exciting.”

Angstadt said he couldn’t say what category the new sponsor will fill because “that would give away who it is.” He expects the as-yet-announced sponsor to be at full speed with the open-wheel race series for the 2011 season.

Further more, Just Marketing’s Zak Brown was quoted as saying
“Izod has been extremely active in taking the IndyCar brand to the mainstream public,” said Zak Brown, president of Just Marketing International, a Zionsville-based motorsports marketing consultancy. “They’ve put millions of dollars into marketing IndyCar, which is just what the series needs.”

“I’ve not heard anything about an impending deal myself, but if it's on par with Izod, that’s certainly good news, especially in this economic environment,” Brown said.

Why does Verizon make sense?

1. They are shifting their sponsorship program away from NASCAR due to the Sprint deal

2. They will increase their involvement with Team Penske and be the primary sponsor for Team Penske next year

3. Angstadt was quoted as saying major activation, not many companies come to mind right away when you talk about major activation within IndyCar, except that Verizon has already been active with IndyCar this year, designing a mobile application for its users and putting championship points leader Will Power in commercials with Justin Alliager, who is left ride less in the Nationwide series now that Verizon is moving out of NASCAR.

Let’s hope in two weeks that IndyCar Garage is correct in their predication

The Indianapolis Buisness Journal contributed to this post

Lotus, Verizon, and Tix all look to IndyCar for Sponorship rolls

Lotus, Verizon, and Tix all look to IndyCar for Sponsorship rolls

In Sponsorship news around IndyCar, Lotus, Verizon and Tix appear set to increase or continue their roll as contributing sponsors of IndyCar.

LOTUS:
Lotus has released a statement saying that they will continue their sponsorships of KV Racing in 2011 with at least 2 full time cars, they also have confirmed they will build an Aero kit for the new 2012 IndyCar. "The 2011 IndyCar season will see Lotus continue to work with KV Racing Technology providing further technical and engineering support, fielding a minimum of two cars on the grid," said a Lotus statement.

Verizon:
It has been confirmed through Penske Racing that Verizon will end its sponsorship of Justin Allgaier in the Nationwide Series and increase their sponsorship toward Penske’s IndyCar Program. This could open t he door for all three Penske drivers , Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, and Championship leader Will Power, to remain in the Penske stable. Tix
Tix has announced the will be a sponsor of the popular Long Beach Grand Prix in 2011. Tix is a provider of integrated box office software and online ticket sales and services for arts, entertainment and sporting events. “Tix is proud to have been selected as the official ticketing provider for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach,” said Robert Edmison, president and CEO of Tix, Inc. “It's an honor to be associated with one of the premier motorsports events in the world and an organization that shares our dedication to providing the best possible experience for ticket buyers.

The Lbpost.com and autosport.com contributed to the information in this post.

Beatriz back in for Miami, could mark the second time IndyCar will have five women competing in one race

Beatriz back in for Miami , could mark the second time IndyCar will have five women competing in one race.

Ana Beatriz will make her fourth IZOD IndyCar Series start of the season for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
She will drive the No. 24 Roll Coater entry for the 200-lap season finale on the 1.5-mile oval. It will be her third start on an oval.
"With it being the final race of the season, we felt that Ana was the perfect choice," team co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. "We are excited about having her back with the team. She did a great job for us in Brazil, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Ana has really shown us her talent and motivation."
The Brazilian driver made her IZOD IndyCar debut at her home race in Sao Paulo in mid-March, advancing nine positions to finish 13th on the street course. She finished 21st in the Indy 500 and 24th at Chicagoland Speedway.
Along with Beatriz, females Danica Patrick, Milke Duno, Sarah Fisher, and hopefully Simona De Silverstro will be entered into the seasons last race.

Part of this article originally appeared on www.IndyCar.com

Dario Vs. Will - You decide

Dario Vs. Will ..............
Franchitti Vs. Power ..........
Oval Vs. Road Course ............
Ganassi Vs. Penske ............
Scott Vs. Aussie ............
Red Vs. Black .............

The list goes on…and on…. But the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Championship comes to one race between two drivers, those drivers, Will Power and Dario Franchitti are separated by about everything except the 12 points in the standings. Franchitti, a classic IndyCar veteran has witnessed just about everything to witness in one IndyCar career. The rise and fall of CART, transitioning into the IRL, a 2007 Championship with AGR, a failed trip into stock car land, and a revival of sorts with Ganassi, as the 2009 championship winner and 2010 Indy 500 winner. Power is the young hot shot newcomer that has rose up the ranks of Champ Car, but struggled to gain traction on ovals once the merger was complete in 2008. The former KV Racing driver, and now current series points leader, can be considered as the new captain of Roger Penske’s open wheel program. Power has captured a season high five wins this year, and also the inaugural Marion Andretti Road Course Champion, all while running his first full time season with Team Penske.

Franchitti and Power will battle it out on the 1.5 mile oval of Homestead Miami-Speedway, the site of Franchitti’s 2009 championship. History and common sense to the die hard IndyCar fan would suggest that the odds favor Franchitti, who has more experience on ovals and also the benefit of a strong team in Chip Ganassi Racing, would take the championship, but don’t count out Power. Power has run well on ovals and captured the pole at one oval this year, Iowa Speedway.

IndyCar Garage wants to know who you think will win the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Championship and why. Leave your comments on the forum section and vote under the new tab on IndyCar Garage – labeled ICG Polls.

Who will remember the Café’s do Brasil Indy?

Who will remember the Café’s do Brasil Indy?

The IZOD IndyCar Series will crown their 2010 champion on the 1.5 mile oval at Homestead, Miami Speedway. The series crowned their 2009 champion at Homestead, but prior to 2009, Homestead was usually the season opener.

The unique aspect of the 2010 race is that it will be the last one at Homestead, and it will be called the Café do Brasil Indy, after one of IndyCar’s sponsors from Brazil stepped up.

A very interesting name to call a race and a very interesting way to leave a race track.

Ron Artest drives an IndyCar

The LAPD stopped Lakers Forward Ron Artest in Los Angeles while driving this Indy Car-inspired open-cockpit car. Surprisingly, he wasn't pulled over for speeding but for an expired registration. But what is it he's driving, exactly?

The vehicle in question is an Eagle Roadster, which is essentially a street-legal Indy-style kit car, featuring a 235-hp Chrysler V6 mounted behind a two-person cockpit. The company who builds it says the 1,960-lb car will do 0-to-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 152 mph.

The $200K price is steep for something powered by a Chrysler V6, but it's so much cooler than anything Andrew Bynum drives.

This article originally appeared on TMZ

15 reasons why Ryan Briscoe will win the Kentucky 300... and few why he won't

The IZOD IndyCar Series will complete their 15th race of the 2010 season at Kentucky Motor Speedway on Saturday night at 8 EST, coverage starts at 7 EST on VERSUS. Kentucky is a 1.5 banked oval that offers some of the most exciting racing IndyCar has to offer, its one step safer than Chicago style racing, but just as exciting. IndyCar Garage will be in attendance for the Kentucky race, but from the grand stands. The IndyCar Garage crew will be taking their 3rd annual camping trip down to Sparta, Kentucky in hopes of enjoying another shootout style race , similar to last years race, where Ryan Briscoe edged Carpenter. IndyCar Garage gives you the Kentucky Preview of why Ryan Brisoce is going to win again, and a few why he won’t.

15 reasons why Briscoe will Win
1. Briscoe drives for Roger Penske… enough said
2. Briscoe won the 2009 Kentucky race… his setup should be intact
3. Briscoe sat on the pole at Texas 2010 and Chicago 2010, both 1.5 ovals
4. Briscoe won the Texas race this year
5. Briscoe started on the Chicago 2009 pole and won
6. Briscoe was nice enough to let IndyCar Garage interview him in 2008 after the Kentucky race 7. Briscoe’s wife is Nicole Briscoe and she is a pit reporter for NASCAR, but married an IndyCar driver

8. Briscoe is a nice guy
9. Briscoe drives a smart car
10. Briscoe is still trying to redeemed himself for Motegi last year
11. Briscoe is Australian and they have cool accents
12. Briscoe has just dominated 1.5 ovals, no matter how many stats you look at
13. People like Briscoe’s personality
14. Briscoe could probably beat every other IndyCar driver in wake boarding
15. Briscoe always smiles no matter what question you ask him

5 Reasons why Briscoe won’t win

1. 2010 has belonged to Dario and Briscoe’s teammate Will Power
2. Briscoe will have problems in the pit
3. Briscoe will help Will Power do whatever he can to keep the championship lead
4. Briscoe will get wrecked due to the pack racing on 1.5 ovals
5. Briscoe will get wrecked by Danica in the pits

IndyCar Garage Predications for Saturday Night
Winner – Ryan Briscoe
2nd – Scott Dixon
3rd – Dario Franchitti
4th – Will Power
5th – Ed Carpenter