Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines:
1. Kanaan heads to Eldora for Prelude to the Dream
2. Andretti ready race at Le Mans
1. Kanaan heads to Eldora for Prelude to the Dream: Wednesday will be a busy day for Tony Kanaan, but it will certainly be worth it.
The 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion will test at Watkins Glen International that day in his No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car for Andretti Autosport, and then compete that evening in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Prelude to the Dream charity race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to compete in the Prelude to the Dream,” said Kanaan, the first IZOD IndyCar Series regular to compete in the event hosted by 1997 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Tony Stewart. “It’s an amazing lineup of drivers and we’re all competing for such a good cause.”
Kanaan, who advanced 22 positions to finish 11th in the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, will join drivers from all types of motorsports disciplines — Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Travis Pastrana, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Gordon and others – to race 2,300-pound Late Model stock cars on the dirt track. The field will be broken up into four teams (each representing a children’s hospital), with drivers competing in hot laps, qualifying, heat races and a 30-lap feature.
Kanaan’s team, captained by NASCAR star Denny Hamlin, will race for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“It’s very rare for me to get a chance to drive something other than my Team 7-Eleven IndyCar (Series car) and to not have to race with points in mind,” Kanaan said. “I’m not saying I’m going to do anything crazy because the goal is to help my team win, but I’m definitely going to have some fun.”
The Gillette Fusion ProGlide Prelude to the Dream will be presented live on HBO Pay-Per-View (7 p.m. ET) with net proceeds from the telecast benefiting four children’s hospitals.
2. Andretti ready race at LeMans: It may be an off weekend for the IZOD IndyCar Series, but Marco Andretti will race for a third straight weekend in one of auto racing’s most famous endurance races.
The Andretti Autosport driver will join Rebellion Racing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans racing a Lola P1 prototype with the team’s Le Mans Series regulars Neel Jani from Switzerland and Frenchman Nicolas Prost, son of former Formula One World Champion Alain Prost.
“When I was contacted by the Rebellion Racing team I thought, ‘Why not? I love those long stints even at night,’ so I immediately accepted the invitation,” the 23-year-old driver said.
Andretti, who posted back-to-back third place finishes at Indianapolis and Texas in his No. 26 Team Venom car, will be the fourth Andretti to compete at Circuit La Sarthe joining his grandfather, racing legend Mario Andretti, his father Michael Andretti and his cousin John Andretti.
“I am very excited to race at this famous track where my family has been very successful in the past,” he said. “Last month, I tested with the team at the Paul Ricard in southern France and I quickly adapted. Even in the rain, I did some fast laps. I know we have a slight disadvantage not driving a diesel engine P1 class car like Peugeot and Audi, but a top five finish is realistic.”
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The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season continues June 20 with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 1:30 p.m. (ET) by VERSUS. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The race also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the AvoidTheStork.com 100 on June 19 at the Iowa Speedway.