[media-credit name=”IZOD IndyCar Series” align=”alignright” width=”287″]
[/media-credit]Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:
1. Teams move forward after turbo decision
2. Busy Barrichello feels at home entering fourth race:
3. Coastal Contacts backs Pagenaud’s car in Brazil
4. Viso entertains Herbalife Family Foundation children
1. Teams move forward after turbo decision: Crews for Honda IZOD IndyCar Series teams began fulfilling the work order that they’ve been awaiting: Go ahead and make the alteration to the BorgWarner turbocharger for on-track activity April 28.
Twelve hours earlier, a three-person panel denied a protest filed April 18 and upheld INDYCAR’s decision to approve use of a 0.74 A/R compressor cover for the single turbocharger. The hearing of the protest in Indianapolis was conducted by a panel consisting of Hans Peter Kollmeier, Jack Snyder and Jim Voyles.
Reigning series champion Dario Franchitti is “interested in seeing what change that will make.”
“Hopefully this will get us a little bit closer (to Chevrolet) in the engine department,” said Franchitti, who’s aiming to rebound from three uncharacteristic results outside the top five.
Per Rule 13.3.2 of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, the decision may be appealed by 5 p.m. (EDT) of the second business day following the release of the decision, which in this case would be April 30. It appears GM will not appeal.
“Chevrolet believed the modification was contrary to the applicable series rules, and asked INDYCAR to thoroughly review the issue so that the rules were applied fairly,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We respect the diligence of the panel appointed to hear the protest and examine the situation. While we are disappointed with (the) decision, we are prepared to continue to compete at the highest level in the IZOD IndyCar Series.”
INDYCAR had allowed the change before practice at Long Beach, but the directive was stayed when Chevrolet teams protested.
“INDYCAR committed well in advance of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season to structure engine regulations that would ensure parity in turbocharger performance for both single and twin turbo configurations, and this commitment played a significant role in our decision to adopt a single turbocharger configuration for the new HI12RT Honda Indy V-6,” Honda Performance Development vice president Steve Eriksen said.
“The new compressor cover helps to offset the performance disadvantage of the current IndyCar single turbo hardware as measured by INDYCAR’s turbo supplier. This correction was designed and provided by the turbo supplier under the direction of INDYCAR and was approved prior to the 2012 season.
“We look forward to deploying the new compressor cover to optimize performance of the Honda Indy V-6, as we continue to do battle with our worthy adversaries from Lotus and General Motors.”
Two practice sessions totaling 90 minutes April 28 precede the three rounds of qualifications for the 75-lap Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on April 29.
2. Busy Barrichello feels at home entering fourth race: Rubens Barrichello appears comfortable on stage, answering questions from mainly Brazilian media alongside compatriots Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Ana Beatriz.
Really, why shouldn’t he comfortable? He’s competing in his hometown for the first time in the IZOD IndyCar Series on a street circuit that will be packed April 29 with spectators chanting his name and waving flags. He’s been in the country for the past 10 days, getting more TV time than President Dilma Rousseff while working off a 30-plus-page document of his appearance schedule. He’s loved (most of) it.
“It is the best week of the year for me and the one that time flies by so fast, so I have to make sure I enjoy every single moment,” he said. “I am so happy that IndyCar races in Brazil and what I have been telling people is that we changed addresses … the fans that used to come to Interlagos to watch me (in Formula One for almost two decades) now they will come to Anhembi.
“There was such a great energy with me racing here in the past and I want the same thing at the Sambodromo. On the track side I was able to drive on the simulator and learn what is left and what is right. Now we go to the real track and learn from there. I can’t wait to get the car out on the track.”
That will come April 28 as practice and qualifications land on the same day. Barrichello is among five drivers in the 26-car field not to have previously competed on the 2.536-mile, 11-turn circuit.
He’s not promising a victory, but “what I can guarantee is that I’ll be giving my best this weekend.”
No one would expect anything less, and Barrichello has been surprisingly strong with back-to-back top-10 finishes despite learning the new Dallara chassis/Chevrolet engine package and all the racetracks in short order. He’s ninth in the championship standings.
“(Not knowing the street/road courses) has given me the most difficulties so far,” said Barrichello, who will be working with a new engineer, Eddie Jones, this weekend. “That’s going to be the case again here. The only advantage I’ll have here is mental, the advantage of being at home, of wanting to perform well to the fans.”
3. Coastal Contacts backs Pagenaud’s car in Brazil: Canadian-based Coastal Contacts Inc., (www.Coastal.com) announced a partnership with Sam Schmidt Motorsports to become the primary sponsor for the team’s entry for the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle.
The No. 77 Coastal.com/Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car will be driven by Frenchman Simon Pagenaud, who is also leading the Rookie of the Year standings.
“The partnership with Coastal Contacts is a perfect match with many of the things we strive to accomplish on the race team,” said SSM owner Sam Schmidt. “Roger Hardy has built a formidable retail business by ensuring a laser-focus approach to the business and some of the fastest delivery times in the industry, the same things we look to accomplish everyday on the race track. In addition, the charitable aspects he’s instilled in the company by donating eyeglasses to disadvantaged people around the globe through the Change the View Project really means a great deal.”
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Coastal Contacts Inc. is the global leader in online direct-to-consumer retail of eyeglasses and optical products. Founded in 2000 by current CEO Roger Hardy, Coastal Contacts Inc. designs, produces and distributes the largest selection of eyeglasses and contact lenses on the Internet. The Company has also been outfitting consumers around the globe in free eyeglasses with their First Pair Free campaign.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to align with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, one of the premier teams in racing, and appreciate the work done by Front Row Marketing Services in developing this opportunity,” said Hardy. “Our focus in the Brazilian marketplace is to create significant awareness for our Coastal.com brand, and our relationship with Sam Schmidt Motorsports provides a global stage for us to showcase the connection between speed of service and clear vision, two key elements of our brand experience.”
4. Viso entertains Herbalife Family Foundation children: E.J. Viso braced himself in mock surprise as a group of youngsters bounded into the KV Racing Technology garage area at the Anhembi circuit.
The mid-afternoon meet and greet with local children from Associação Beneficiente Betsaida – a Casa Herbalife program sponsored by the Herbalife Family Foundation – included lighthearted rapport with the Venezuelan driver of the No. 5 CITGO|PDVSA KV Racing Technology car, a tour and, of course, autographs.
The Herbalife Family Foundation seeks to improve children’s lives around the world by helping organizations provide healthy nutrition to at-risk children. Associação Beneficiente Betsaida, a safe haven where underserved youth are empowered to take ownership and direction of their lives, is among four Casa Herbalife programs in Brazil.
“Not only do I believe they have the best nutrition products, they focus their energy on helping young kids around the world,” said Viso, who’s been using the company’s performance nutrition products for 13 years. “It’s great to share some time with these kids, show them around and see them smile.”
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The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on April 29 on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 11 a.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM (XM 94 and Sirius 212), and affiliates.
