By Amy Konrath
Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:
1. Olympic champion to attend Sonoma race
2. THE INSIDE TRACK – GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
3. Take Marco out to the old ball game
4. Rock Island Grand Prix winner to earn slot in Skip Barber Karting Shootout
1. Olympic champion to attend Sonoma race: Olympic gold medalist and swimming champion Tyler Clary hopes to be a race car driver after his swimming career is over. He’ll get a preview of his prospective profession during the IZOD IndyCar Series event in Sonoma.
The 23-year-old Clary, who claimed the gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke during the 2012 London Olympic Games, will be a guest of INDYCAR during the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma and get an all-access look at the world of Indy car racing. The swimming champion will have an unfettered experience around the INDYCAR paddock and receive driving tips from some of the fastest, most versatile racing drivers in the world.
“I really appreciate the invitation from INDYCAR to attend the race at Sonoma,” Clary said. “Not many people get a chance to see what their future could be, and this is a perfect chance for me to get to know the ins and outs of INDYCAR racing.”
Clary is no stranger to racing. He’s been to several races at Auto Club Speedway near his hometown of Riverside, Calif., and attended the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. He plans to participate in the Skip Barber Racing School, which could put him on the Mazda Road to Indy through the Skip Barber INDYCAR Academy. The Mazda Road to Indy is INDYCAR’s official development ladder system that rewards series champions with scholarships to advance to the next series, which leads up to the IZOD IndyCar Series.
“My passions are swimming and cars. It’s in my blood – I love to swim fast and race cars fast,” Clary said. “I’ve realized that racing is something I really could be good at, and like I said, I want to take a serious shot at it after swimming.”
Clary won’t be the only Olympic medalist to attend the race weekend.
Erin Cafaro, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing, will be a guest of TrueCar – sponsor of Dragon Racing – at Sonoma.
Cafaro, a seven-time world champion in the bow seat (first one to cross the line) for the USRowing women’s 8 boat, won her second-straight gold in London. Her team became the first female team in USRowing history to win back-to-back gold medals.
2. THE INSIDE TRACK – GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma: Click HERE to access the Inside Track, an interactive graphic previewing the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, the IZOD IndyCar Series’ event at the raceway in Sonoma.
The graphic contains links to videos featuring highlights of last year’s race won by Will Power, and a driver preview featuring Will Power, Marco Andretti and JR Hildebrand. The entry lists and fast facts for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma are also available on the graphic.
We hope you find this a valuable asset in your coverage of the IZOD IndyCar Series. We appreciate your coverage of the league, its teams and drivers.
3. Take Marco out to the old ball game: Marco Andretti, who won his first IZOD IndyCar Series race at Sonoma, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Aug. 23 game (7:30 p.m. local) between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park.
The Giants are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West.
Earlier in the day, Panther Racing will be at the San Francisco 49ers training facility in Santa Clara, Calif., with the No. 4 National Guard car that will carry the 49ers paint scheme this weekend at Sonoma.
All 49ers players will be presented National Guard crew shirts. The 49ers paint scheme is a tribute to San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh, one of Panther Racing’s founding owners.
4. Rock Island Grand Prix winner to earn slot in Skip Barber Karting Shootout: While all four Mazda Road to Indy series are racing in Baltimore on Labor Day weekend, a large group of young drivers will be zooming around the streets of Rock Island, Ill., for the chance to one day join them.
As part of INDYCAR’s partnership with Skip Barber Racing School, a winner from the Rock Island Grand Prix will be selected to participate in the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shootout on Oct. 15-18 for a chance to begin their journey up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system.
The Rock Island Grand Prix is known as one of the largest and most prestigious street karting races, bringing drivers from all over the world for a holiday weekend filled with street festivals and great competition.
This year, a winner will be selected by a panel of judges to compete in the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shootout at Virginia International Raceway, where if they win, they will receive a fully-funded ride in the Skip Barber Winter or Summer Series presented by Mazda.
“For those with a dream, karting and events like the Rock Island Grand Prix, provide a great first step for those pursuing a career in racing by progressing through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder,” said Rock Island Grand Prix president Roger Ruthhart. “Through our partnership with the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Skip Barber Racing School organization, we are honored to be able to present this valuable career and scholarship opportunity to a deserving kart racer.”
Before attending the shootout, the winner will first be required to attend a Formula three-day racing program at a Skip Barber Racing School on Sept. 24, which will also be funded by Skip Barber Racing School. Should they win the shootout and move into the Skip Barber Summer or Winter Series presented by Mazda, they will be eligible for the INDYCAR scholarship awarded to the champion of the Skip Barber Championship Shootout which offers a funded ride in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder.
“INDYCAR is very excited to partner with the Rock Island Grand Prix for the second year, and also continue progressing in our new partnership with Skip Barber Racing School,” said Jason Penix, director of grassroots initiatives for INDYCAR. “We are focused on bringing in the best talent to the Mazda Road to Indy, and it’s evident when looking at the current IZOD IndyCar Series field that these organizations are producing a lot of that talent.”
Former Skip Barber Karting Shootout winners include current IZOD IndyCar Series championship contender Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won the event in 1997 and the Skip Barber Racing School championship in 1999.
“The IZOD IndyCar Series is a very strong supporter of grassroots motorsports and they realize that karting is one of the most traveled routes to the Mazda Road to Indy and to professional racing,” said Michael Culver, CEO Skip Barber Racing School. “The Rock Island Grand Prix is an essential element of the motorsports fabric. Skip Barber Racing School is proud to support the Rock Island Grand Prix.”
***
The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series race continues with the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 26 at the raceway in Sonoma. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Sept. 2 on the Streets of Baltimore.