INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – Nov. 20, 2013

Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Catching up with…Helio Castroneves 

2. Firestone rolls in as title sponsor of St. Petersburg race 

3. INDYCAR stars add to wattage of SuperNats

4. Barnes receives Spirit of Hope award at Pentagon ceremony

5. Panther and Charter Media agree on partnership

1. Catching up with…Helio Castroneves:  The offseason has been a chance for three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves to slow down for a bit. After nearly winning the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series title, the Team Penske driver, who was in Detroit on Wednesday to help launch ticket sales for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is ready to turn the page on 2013 and gear up for a 2014 season that has some change for the team he’s driven for since 2000.

Q. Is it important for you to take a break, get away to reconnect with family, yourself and relax after a long season?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Yes. It’s the first time I’ve done it, to be honest. (Significant other) Adriana (Henao) always complains that I never take a vacation because I enjoy taking vacation (while) working. It’s like a work-cation as they say. I ended up going to Rio for a few days (during a recent trip to Brazil) for an appearance at a Hitachi event. 

It’s been like that the last few years. I went to Australia for a V8 Supercars event. Last year, fortunately, we had Dancing with the Stars, so I couldn’t. It was very tough. It was very brutal on everyone. But I do feel it’s great to have this off time, especially after the season that was so long and so compact.

I guarantee you that next year is going to be the same, so I’m going to take every opportunity I can to spend the time with the family and recharge the batteries so next year we’ll be ready to go.

Q. After coming so close to winning the championship in 2013, do you reflect on the season in the offseason or say, ‘Good job; let’s move on?’

HELIO CASTRONEVES: I’ve already moved on. Last year was yesterday’s news. 2014 is coming. I’m already working, thinking and acting as if 2014 is right around the corner, which it is. It was a great season for the entire Team Penske No. 3, but now, it’s over. 

Q. What are your thoughts about your new teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: It will be interesting. I know him and Will (Power) will know him as well. I feel that it’s going to be dynamic. We’ll have a lot of fun. He’s a Latin guy, so if he gets angry that will probably be more fun with the jokes that we might play.

I think he’ll fit in well. People talk about the way Team Penske works, but we try to get everybody involved and in sync because getting a rhythm will benefit the team, which is the goal. He’s a talent, no question about it. We’ll be competitive, but it will be a healthy competition.  But the most important thing is to help Team Penske. 

Q. What does it mean to you to have the longevity with Team Penske? You’ve been there since 2000?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: To be involved with such an incredible organization says a lot about the type of loyalty, or marriage as we say. I’m happy with the team and I feel the same way as they treat me. When you have that combination, that understanding, and everybody trying to reach for the same goal, it’s a perfect match.

I admire a lot not only the way the team works, but also I admire Roger (Penske) a lot.  The way he conducts himself to everyone – not only as a businessman, but as a human being. To have that type of a person leading the way makes you continue to do your best. I feel blessed to be in that circumstance, but I’m pushing myself to achieve the goals that I want because I know the goals I want are the same for team and that makes everybody happy.  I’m still learning so much with the team. I’ll always be grateful.

Q. You keep learning something new, improving your race craft, every year?

HELIO CASTRONEVES: Absolutely. In life, it doesn’t matter what it is, you’re learning until your six feet under the ground.  The point is we learn. Those are the words of wisdom of (Rick) Mears. I’m listening. I listen a lot and in the environment that I work, I try to listen a lot more than I talk.

2. Firestone rolls in as title sponsor of St. Petersburg race: Firestone will be the title sponsor of the 2014 IndyCar Series season-opening race on the scenic streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., event promoter Green Savoree St. Petersburg announced.

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be held March 28-30 on the 1.8-mile circuit next to Tampa Bay. The “World’s Fastest Spring Break Party” will celebrate its 10th anniversary of hosting the IndyCar Series. James Hinchcliffe of Andretti Autosport won this past season.

“Firestone has been a first-rate sponsor of our event for the past nine years, and we can only express gratitude for having a partner who understands the value of our event,” said event president Tim Ramsberger, who noted the entitlement sponsorship is for multiple years. “It speaks volumes about Firestone and what we have built with all of our partners in our wonderful community.”

Firestone, the Official Tire of the IndyCar Series since 2002, also is the title sponsor of the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway in June.

“Motorsports is an integral part of the Firestone brand marketing efforts and the entitlement sponsorship of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg aligns perfectly with our plans,” said Lisa Boggs, director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “Our commitment to the race is a reflection of our longstanding relationship with Green Savoree and the terrific St. Petersburg community and fans. We are proud to have the Firestone name on this outstanding event.”

3. INDYCAR stars add to wattage of SuperNats: Fresh from testing his No. 11 KVSH Racing car, Sebastien Bourdais will drive something even closer to the ground this weekend in Las Vegas.

The four-time Champ Car champion is among the drivers representing the IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy ladder in the 17th Superkarts USA Super Nationals.

Bourdais, who was introduced last month as the KVSH Racing driver, will compete in the Rotax DD2 shifter class. Eleven of his competitors on a circuit in the parking lot of the Rio Casino & Resort will be coming straight from the Rotax Grand Finals at the NOLA Motorsports Park.

Team Penske’s Will Power, who won two of the final three races on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, will make his SuperNats debut and compete in the TaG Masters class. Newly-named Andretti Autosport driver Carlos Munoz, who tested Nov. 18 at Sebring in his IndyCar, will compete in the KZ2 Super Pro class along with Pro Mazda Championship driver Zack Meyer.

Gabby Chaves, the Firestone Indy Lights championship runner-up, will seek to successfully defend the TaG Senior class win.  USF2000 champion Scott Hargrove will join Firestone Indy Lights competitor Matthew Di Leo in the S1 Pro Stock Moto class.

In the TaG Junior division is 13-year-old Colton Herta, the son of IndyCar Series team owner Bryan Herta and the 2013 Pacific F1600 champion. The youngster is a two-time CKUSA Pro Tour champion in the TaG Cadet class.

4. Barnes receives Spirit of Hope award at Pentagon ceremony: U.S. Navy Admiral James Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, presented Panther Racing owner John Barnes with the Spirit of Hope award during a ceremony Nov. 19 at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. 

The award is presented annually to individuals whose “commitment and dedication to service in support of the Armed Forces and their families embodies the ideals and values exemplified by the late Mr. Bob Hope.” Past recipients include President George H.W. Bush, broadcaster Walter Cronkite and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“This was an unbelievably humbling experience,” Barnes said. “I can’t thank Admiral Winnefeld and everybody with the Department of Defense enough for this honor. When you work as closely as we do with National Guard soldiers and their families you can’t help but do everything in your power to support them however possible.

“I feel like Panther can always do more, and we’re always looking for ways to improve all of our programs and to represent all those men and women in the best way possible. But we don’t do it for awards like this; we do it because it’s right.”

5. Panther and Charter Media agree on partnership: Panther Racing announced it has reached a multi-year partnership agreement with Charter Media for the 2014 IndyCar Series season. Charter Media specializes in cable television advertising, marketing, production and research.

Charter Media will be visible on Panther’s entries at all IndyCar Series events, which will include at least one primary sponsorship placement during the season.