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Ambetter Named Entitlement Partner For 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Race at NHMS

By
Official Release
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  • The Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m.
  • Ambetter also becomes Official Health Insurance Partner for NHMS and five additional Speedway Motorsports properties: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

LOUDON, N.H. – Ambetter, America’s number one Marketplace Health Insurer, has extended its partnership with New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) to become the entitlement sponsor for New England’s only NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race. The Ambetter 301 will take place at 3 p.m. on July 17 as part of the speedway’s traditional mid-summer NASCAR weekend. The healthcare provider will also receive premium signage displays and hospitality opportunities, feature activation in the Fan Zone and the opportunity to select VIP dignitaries.

“We’re delighted to expand our partnership with New Hampshire Motor Speedway and be back at ‘The Magic Mile’ as the sponsor of the Ambetter 301,” said Suzanne DePrizio, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Centene, Ambetter’s parent company. “Ambetter is on a mission to ensure all Americans have access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve. This partnership is a fantastic way for us to connect with racing fans about their health and our mission.”

“We developed a great relationship with Ambetter last year as sponsor of our NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and we’re proud to expand our partnership to the Cup Series level,” said New Hampshire Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager David McGrath. “Ambetter is about keeping people healthy, and we’re about people having a good time. It’s a natural fit for us to work together toward good health and good times for fans at the Ambetter 301 this summer.”

In addition to the Cup Series race entitlement at NHMS, Ambetter will also become the Official Health Insurance Partner at NHMS and five additional Speedway Motorsports properties: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. Ambetter will receive signage, activation, hospitality and marketing opportunities at those premiere entertainment venues on NCS race weekends.

Ambetter will donate 100 tickets to military members and first responders to attend the NCS races at each of these facilities, and The Centene Charitable Foundation will donate $100,000 to Speedway Children’s Charities, the official charity of Speedway Motorsports.

“We are thrilled to not only be growing Ambetter’s relationship with New Hampshire Motor Speedway this year, but also to include other Speedway Motorsports facilities,” said Speedway Motorsports Chief Sales Officer Kevin Camper. “Ambetter will expand their footprint at ‘The Magic Mile’ through the Ambetter 301 entitlement, and we will also provide unique opportunities for them to showcase their products and unique healthcare offerings to potential customers in markets from coast-to-coast.”

Ambetter, born out of the Affordable Care Act, is on a mission to help everyone get the care they deserve, especially those underinsured or uninsured. Ambetter offers a variety of healthcare services to its members, including preventative and wellness services, mental health and substance abuse services, prescription drug coverage, My Health Pays® Rewards Program and telehealth services. With over two million members nationwide and coverage available in 26 states, Ambetter helps simplify healthcare for people across the country. Members have access to a national network of care providers serviced through local health plans, delivering the affordable, quality care in the communities where they live and work.

Ambetter’s relationship with Speedway Motorsports began in 2021 when they put their name on NHMS’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race, the Ambetter Get Vaccinated 200, and administered COVID-19 vaccines throughout the weekend in the Fan Zone.

“Ambetter is committed to developing partnerships that make a positive impact in our communities and help our members achieve their whole health goals through affordable health insurance solutions,” said Ambetter President Kevin Counihan. “We look forward to this enhanced relationship with Speedway Motorsports to serve NASCAR fans across the country.”

New England’s race weekend gets underway on Friday, July 15 with Friday Night Dirt Duels at The Flat Track, continues with Doubleheader Saturday, July 16 featuring the NXS and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and is headlined by the Ambetter 301 NCS race on Sunday, July 17.

Be sure to check NHMS.com/Events/NASCAR-Cup-Series/Schedule/ often, as the schedule will be continuously updated as race weekend approaches.

Tickets:
Log on to NHMS.com for tickets and more information on the weekend’s lineup of action-packed racing. Doubleheader Saturday tickets start at just $35 while kids 12 and under are free. Sunday’s Ambetter 301 tickets start at just $49 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under.

Follow Us:
Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), Twitter (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.

About Ambetter
Ambetter is a health insurance offering that is available on the Health Insurance Marketplace, or exchange, established by the Affordable Care Act. It is one of the healthcare programs provided by Centene Corporation, a Fortune 25 multi-national healthcare enterprise. Ambetter is made available through local health plans and covers a wide variety of healthcare services, including preventative and wellness services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, mental health and substance abuse services, prescription drug coverage and more.

About Speedway Motorsports
Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

Mazda MX-5 Cup Set for Epic Season Opener at Daytona

By
Official Release
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January 24, 2022 – After a tremendous 2021 season that produced incredible racing, photo finishes, and a thrilling fight for the championship, the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is ready to back it up with another season of amazing racing in 2022. Preparing for a second season under IMSA sanctioning, the quest for the $250,000 championship prize season begins this week at Daytona International Raceway as part of the legendary Rolex 24 At Daytona event.

Last year’s Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup races at Daytona were a sight to behold. The amount of drafting on the high banks of the oval created constant position changes all race long, building to a dramatic four-wide drag race to the finish in Round One. The winner of that race: the new Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion, Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance).

Wagner comes into the season opener with no pressure and approaches the first two races of the year the same way he’d approach a title-deciding race.

“I’m just as relaxed as always,” Wagner said. “I sometimes have a bit more at stake in certain parts of a season than at the beginning, but I’ve never let any points or expectations determine how I race. I’ve always had confidence in myself and that brings a more relaxed and fun atmosphere to everything. At a certain point, each race just becomes another race.”

This is most definitely not just another race for the more than 10 rookies entered in the field, including the most recent winner of the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout, Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports).

“I’m really looking forward to working with my new team, Hixon Motor Sports,” Zilisch said. “I think together we will be able to accomplish a lot and I’m excited to get to work with all of the crew and the drivers. I think that Daytona this year will be a ton of fun. With that being said, I know that we need to start the season off well to get the ball rolling. I’m expecting consistent top five results throughout the weekend to keep me up front. I think if I can do that I’ll be satisfied.”

Two other drivers were awarded $75,000 scholarships at the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout and will be on the grid as rookies at Daytona: Bryce Cornet (No. 65 Hixon Motor Sports) and Laura Hayes (No. 22 Thunder Bunny Racing).

Each MX-5 Cup car is built in Daytona Beach at Flis Performance. Having a single builder creates remarkable parity across the vehicles and contributed to an average margin of victory of 0.627-second last season. The two race finishes at Daytona were no exception at 0.108-second and 0.13-second, respectively. Even on the final lap it was hard to predict who would be the winner thanks to the huge drafting opportunity in the final turn.

“I think it was pretty clear to see you don’t want to be leading going onto the banking of NASCAR Turns 3 and 4,” Zilisch said. “Selin [Rollan] and Preston [Pardus] tried it last year and ended up 7th and 8th. It’s obviously going to be a lot of strategy that we are going to need to go through as a team.”

Wagner was third entering the final turn last year but used the draft from Rollan and Pardus to launch into the lead. The move was not part of a master plan from Wagner.

“I don’t think there is an ideal position to be at the end,” Wagner said. “I think you can win from 1st or 5th, just depending on what everyone else decides to do. You can never plan for what other drivers are going to do, you just have to race your own race and try to be somewhere near the front at the end. The rest just has to be sorted out in the moment. When I won last year at Daytona, I didn’t even realize it was the final lap.”

Following Wagner across the line was the eventual Rookie of the Year, Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing). It was the first of several podium finishes for Paley en route to his $80,000 rookie prize from Mazda, but the young talent is still in search of his first win and could get it done this weekend at Daytona.

No doubt after last year’s races, more eyes than ever will be on the 31 MX-5 Cup cars taking the green flag at Daytona. Like last year, those not at the track will be able to stream both races live on IMSA.com/tvlive with commentary from IMSA Radio’s John Hindhaugh and Shea Adam. New this year, however, fans can follow the stream on RACER.com as well as on the Peacock app.

Thursday’s Round One race is slated to go green at 5:30pm ET, while Friday’s race will begin at 10:15am ET. Live timing for all sessions is available at MX-5Cup.com.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Exclusive: First Seasons with James Hinchcliffe

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of Penske Entertainment/Joe Skibinski

In this edition of ‘First Seasons,’ Speedway Media catches up with James Hinchcliffe who recently competed for Andretti Autosport and will be calling races for NBC Sports in 2022. We will take a look back at his first year in racing and his early years of being in the sport.

During the interview, Hinchcliffe discusses what it was like getting a late start entering the sport, his first race at Birmingham, winning his first race at St. Petersburg, returning to Indy the year after his crash and many other facets of his career.

SM: Following your two years in the Indy Lights racing series from 2009 through 2010, you made the move to the IndyCar Series at the age of 24 competing in 16 of the 17 races. How did you make the move to the IndyCar Series after competing with Sam Schmidt and Mark Moore in Indy Lights and racing for Newman-Haas? Did you feel it was the right age to make your first Indy start?

JH: “It’s a very interesting question, certainly a bit later than what these kids are doing nowadays,” Hinchcliffe said about making his debut. “In a lot of ways, I was told by a lot of the engineers at Newman-Haas that my maturity served me quite well, despite having few IndyCar starts. I think I came with a lot of experience and maturity that they (Newman-Haas) haven’t seen from other rookies.

“Moving to IndyCar with them was such an incredible opportunity, especially a team of that pedigree as a rookie. For me, it was a dream scenario. The only thing I wish we would’ve been able to do was keep going after 2011. The team obviously shut down at the end of the year. I was proud to deliver them their last title, which was winning Rookie of the Year.”

Do you remember when you had your first conversation with Newman-Haas that led to getting a ride in 2011?

JH: “The conversation came after my 2010 Indy Lights season,” he said. “We got a phone call from Newman-Haas to go test with them. They said, myself, J.K. Vernay (former Indy driver) but they wanted a rookie to be Oriol Servia’s teammate. So, they organized a two-day test at Sebring and by the end of the test, I was a tenth of a second quicker than Oriol. That eventually led to my first offer.”

SM: What was it like going down to Sebring for the first time and being in an IndyCar? Was that surreal for you?

JH: “It really was,” Hinchcliffe said about making his first laps in an IndyCar. “My dad and I flew down and it had been him and I since we were nine years old. It was kind of a cool moment. However, there was a tremendous amount of pressure. For the past 15 years everything, just kind of built up to that moment and you had to deliver. This was a great opportunity at the time. To go execute on the day, that was a great moment between my dad and I.”

SM: As you were entering your first season, how did you manage expectations as a rookie driver? Was winning races or championships on your mind, or were you thinking more like ‘Let’s take this race by race and see where we end up at the halfway point, and then look ahead to the rest of the season?’

JH: “It’s kind of funny actually,” the Toronto native said about managing expectations as a rookie. “The kids who come into today’s sport say they are going to win races and such, but for me, I was not that driver. I thought to myself, ‘Look man. You go into every junior category year as one of the two to three drivers who have a realistic shot at the championship.’ When you get to the top and you think you’re going to beat Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, that was an outrageous thought for me. I still couldn’t believe I was on the same grid with these guys.

“Honestly, what was so cool about that was it made me a lot calmer, and I took a lot of pressure off myself. I’m a rookie and it’s okay to learn, it’s okay to make mistakes. I didn’t drive with that pressure on me. In my first race, I qualified next to Dario Franchitti and I thought this was okay. In our second race, we finished fourth at Long Beach. So, we had some good results very early.”

SM: Obviously, you had experience at some of the tracks the year before, but driving an IndyCar is an entirely different animal. What do you remember about the weeks leading up to Birmingham? Were you anxious, nervous, or was it more a feeling of, ‘Let’s get this going?’

JH: “I felt all of those things (nervous, anxious, pressure), but the pressure was off a little bit,” Hinchcliffe said about making his debut. “Making my debut was a huge amount of relief. We missed the first race at St. Pete because we didn’t have sponsorship yet. During the St. Pete weekend, I was down there with the team and helping Oriol. We got a phone call Saturday night from a company we had been talking to and they wanted to be with us starting next week.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions leading up to that first start. I remember during the first two years, I was walking up to the grid and I had a hard card and I would just be there to be seen. I’ll never forget at Birmingham, they (IndyCar officials) called all non-essential personnel off the grid. Then I said, ‘Oh no dummy. You stay here, you get to do this.’ It was definitely a roller coaster.”

SM: In your first outing, you had a decent qualifying position of eighth but unfortunately your day ended early due to a crash on Lap 40 and you finished 24th. Discuss what you recall about the event and is there anything you think you could have done differently to avoid a crash with E.J. Viso and Simona de Silvestro?

JH: “No, unfortunately, it was one of those deals where E.J. got into an incident with somebody and he spun around, and I was forced to go around the outside of him. When he did that, E.J. left his foot off the brake and I ran into the back of him,” he said. “Unfortunately, that was just disappointing to not finish in your first race after all that potential, but it goes with the sport.”

SM: Despite the disappointing finish, were you still on a high after completing your first IndyCar race?

JH: “No, the end of that race was super depressing,” Hinchcliffe said. “You really want to finish your first one, I don’t like ruining equipment. I felt bad for the crew guys. I was standing around the car when I got back to the trailer and I just felt bad for breaking the car. Crash damage is your responsibility as a driver, but thankfully the accident wasn’t of our doing.”

SM: At the following race in Long Beach, you scored a fourth-place finish and would also finish fourth at Loudon and Kentucky. Along the way, you had finishes of 20th and 19th at Texas, 14th st Toronto and finished 20th at Mid-Ohio. Was there a learning curve for you throughout the season or was there a point when you ever got comfortable?

JH: “I think learning the flow of a race weekend was a big thing, learning the car was definitely a big thing too,” he said. “I really can’t speak of the transition of the new Indy Lights car to the new IndyCar, but I did think the old Lights car was a very good training tool and stepping stone for the old IndyCar. There are a lot of things to get used to. Understanding red tires versus black tires, qualifying format, long races, saving fuel, etc. I really just tried to learn in every practice session and be a little better.”

SM: Your first Indianapolis experience came in 2009 with Sam Schmidt, but your first Indy 500 start came in your rookie season in 2011. You qualified 13th and finished 29th due to a crash. With the exception of the crash how surreal was it to make your first Indy 500 start in the IndyCar Series? How were your emotions making your first practice run, your qualifying attempt and the pre-race ceremonies?

JH: “It was amazing,” the six time IndyCar winner said. “I had watched the Indy 500 for years as a kid growing up. I attended my first Indy 500 in 2008 as a fan and I thought, TV doesn’t do this thing justice. In 2009 and 2010, when you were a part of the show, I thought okay, now I get it a little bit. In 2011, it really hit me now that I was actually a part of the race.

“The race is so unique. The first practice runs are nerve wracking. Qualifying at Indy is always the scariest thing you do all year. We were very proud of our qualifying effort of 13th. The disappointing finish that day sat heavier than any other race, because so much goes into that race. The emotions around the race are so drastic. Overall, my first Month of May was incredible.”

SM: As for your rookie year, you finished 12th in the standings and had an average finish of 13.9. In 2012, you obtained your first podium finish at Long Beach for Andretti Autosport. How special was it to get your first podium finish or did it not really register to you at the time?

JH: “It was huge,” Hinchcliffe said. “I always loved the Long Beach track and stepping into the Andretti car; it was a new car that year. The race prior to that at St. Pete, we finished fourth and I could just taste it (the podium). We came close a few times in my rookie year to get a podium finish and I wanted it so badly. Long Beach is a place where it just suited me well.”

SM: The year after in 2013, you had a stellar season with three wins. You would win your first-ever career IndyCar race at the season opener at St. Petersburg. You qualified fourth and led 26 of the 110 laps. As you continue to reflect on your career, what does that first victory still mean to you and have you ever had a chance to rewatch that race?

JH: “Not lately, I probably haven’t watched that win back in the last decade, I maybe watched it that year,” he said. “To this day, it’s the most memorable win for me and my career. (Winning) was validation for everything I put into that sport. To have both my parents there that day was special. There was a unique tie-in with the car I was driving, a Dan Wheldon tribute. That was his (Wheldon’s) hometown.”

SM: You then had a dominating win at Iowa, nearly leading all the laps and had a victory at Sao Paulo. Which victory was more satisfying to you that year? Winning the season opener or the dominating victory at Iowa leading all but 24 laps?

JH: “If you had to pick between the two, Sao Paulo was the more satisfying win,” the Toronto, Canada native said. “The way that race played out and the tricks Takuma Sato had been playing, I was pretty fired up about it. When we won on the last lap, that was really cool.

“The Iowa win, it was sort of a Sunday drive. Not that winning is ever easy, but we just kind of controlled it. I remember saying in the press conference, ‘This is what Scott Dixon must feel like on mile and a half tracks.’ But, you know, it’s rare to have a day like that in IndyCar and I certainly appreciated that moment. The Sao Palou stuck a little better.”

SM: Obviously, a few short seasons after your first win, you suffered a near-death crash at Indy in 2015 during practice. However, a year later when you returned to the track, you qualified on the pole, led 27 laps out front, and brought home a seventh-place finish for a team you started with in Indy Lights? How special of a moment was that for you knowing that a year earlier you nearly died, but a year later, you almost won?

JH: “I showed up to Indy that May and I was so far past the accident,” the 35-year-old said. “I was already back in the car and I already crashed on an oval again. All anyone could ever talk about was my crash the year before and me coming back there. I remember saying to my team on unloading day, ‘My biggest goal for May was to leave with a different story to tell.’ We nailed it on that part.

“Qualifying was such an accomplishment for the team. To be on the pole for the 100th running of the Indy 500, it was such a 360 full-circle moment. It was cool to share it with that group because it was nearly all the same guys with my car the year before when we did it. The race was great and had a few things fallen a little differently, we probably could’ve had a legitimate shot at winning.”

SM: Throughout your 11-year career in IndyCar, I’m sure there are many races where you wish you had another opportunity to redo them. In your mind, are there any races that stand out the most and, if so, which race and why? Would you say the 2016 500?

JH: “It’s tough, there’s so many variables in the Indy 500,” Hinchcliffe said. It was a different fuel game that ended up winning that race. A race that sticks in my mind is Texas of that year in 2016, where Graham Rahal beat me by a little bit after dominating that race. There’s nothing I could have done differently. Early in my career, I had some bad races in Toronto and that really sucked, but we had some podium finishes later on.”

SM: You have six IndyCar victories in your career and three in the Indy Lights Series. Which trophy means the most to you in your collection and why?

JH: “Actually, the trophy that means the most to me is the Greg Moore legacy award,” he said. “Greg being my hero as a driver and one of the reasons to be an IndyCar driver. To win an award as a young driver, definitely was a great moment.”

SM: Some drivers keep a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you of your rookie years in the sport?

JH: “My mom used to collect a lot of merchandise of mine and I’m pretty sure there is a box or two that ended up in my basement when they moved,“ Hinchcliffe said. “You know, I don’t really look too much at that kind of stuff. My one thing I really value is helmets. For me, helmets tell stories. I got one helmet from every year of my career and that’s all the way back to go-karting. I treasure my helmet collection.”

SM: Wrapping this interview up, it’s hard to believe your debut came 10 years ago, 12 years in Indy Lights. However, if time travel was available, what would a 35-year-old James Hinchcliffe tell a 22-year-old James Hinchcliffe? Is there anything you would do differently?

JH: “Don’t give up, just keep going,” the now turned NBC analyst said. “There are going to be times in the sport where you wonder if you’re doing the right thing. It can be a brutal, cruel environment. I think a little word of encouragement to my younger me, knowing it was going to work out, probably helped those few sleepless nights.”

Throughout Hinchcliffe’s career, the Canada native has earned six NTT IndyCar wins with 18 podium finishes and has led 781 laps. In addition, he’s won three Indy Lights races and finished runner-up in the championship in 2010 before making the move to IndyCar in 2011.

Fans of James can follow him on Twitter and Instagram and like him on Facebook, as well as visit his website here.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing: Strong Debut for the GR YARIS Rally1 with Second Place for Ogier

By
Official Release
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Toyota City, Japan, Jan 24, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has completed a strong debut event for the new GR YARIS Rally1 with Sebastien Ogier claiming second overall and Kalle Rovanpera finishing fourth at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Ogier had been on course to claim a record-extending ninth win on the famous event before a cruel late twist in the thrilling weekend-long battle for the victory, suffering a flat front-left tyre on the penultimate stage of the rally. The time lost turned his lead of 24.6 seconds into a deficit of 9.5s. Along with new co-driver Benjamin Veillas, Ogier gave his all in the final stage and, having been handed a 10-second penalty for a jump start, finished just 10.5s from the win.

Fourth was an impressive result for Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen, who made huge strides forward in pace and confidence in their new car from Saturday onwards. In all they claimed three stage wins, including on the rally-ending Power Stage. The five bonus points put Rovanpera third in the championship as the leading full-season contender, with Ogier to contest selected events this year after stepping away from full-time competition.

Elfyn Evans was also in the battle for the lead until he went off the road on Saturday’s SS11 and lost 20 minutes. On the final day he set his sights on scoring bonus points in the Power Stage and completed a one-two in the stage for the GR YARIS Rally1.

All three of the team’s drivers claimed stage wins over the weekend and the car was fastest on nine of the 17 stages. It demonstrated both impressive performance and reliability despite the challenges of the new Rally1 regulations, which included the introduction of hybrid power to rallying’s top level for the first time. In Monaco to join the team and witness the GR YARIS Rally1’s successful debut was Kazuki Nakajima, the recently-appointed Vice Chairman of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe.

TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Takamoto Katsuta recorded his third consecutive Rallye Monte-Carlo finish in the top category and claimed eighth place overall, setting a pair of top-three stage times on the final day and scoring the first points for the newly-established TGR WRT Next Generation.

Quotes:

Akio Toyoda (Team Founder)
“It was so close for Seb to achieve his ninth victory in Rallye Monte-Carlo, but I was happy to see that the cooperation with his new co-driver, Benjamin, seemed to be working well. His driving feeling with our new partner, the GR YARIS Rally1, also seemed to be fairly good. This new partner is an electrified car following the new regulations to make this sport more sustainable. I assume it required delicate handling despite its strong power, but Seb quickly made friends with despite it being slightly difficult. I respect him for being able to make friends right away. Also, I would like to express my respect to the leadership of the FIA, WRC Promoter, and all others involved in the preparations as they have helped this historic and traditional World Rally Championship move toward the realisation of carbon-neutrality with electrified cars and new fuel.

Our other crews seemed to be struggling a bit with our new partner, but it was great that a TGR driver set the best time in all stages on Day 3. How well our crew and GR YARIS Rally1 cars are going to get along event by event is something new to look forward to this season, although I still feel something is missing when I see the rally cars leaving the service park quietly.

The base car of our rally car was Yaris until last year, and it changed to GR Yaris from this year. GR Yaris is a production sports car that we, Toyota, made by ourselves to win in motorsports. The car has finally started the real competition stage now. I’m so glad, and I would like to thank everyone who has worked together with me to build GR Yaris. I know that the members who built GR YARIS Rally1 from the GR Yaris also went through a lot of troubles and worked very hard. I have to sincerely thank all members in Finland led by Jari-Matti, and all members in Cologne. The season has just begun and I believe we can continue the good work together.

To the fans, I appreciate your continued support for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team this season. Thank you very much.

P.S.
To the fans and spectators who helped Elfyn and Takamoto on the stages. I watched the videos on social media. Thanks to your big help, two cars were able to continue the rally. Thank you so much!

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“For sure there is some disappointment in this moment because we were so close to winning, but this is motorsport sometimes and we have to accept it. The most important thing is that we know we have a car that is capable of winning and a car which is reliable and this gives us the strength to look to the future and the rest of the season. Seb did a really good job and unfortunately he just didn’t have luck on his side today. Kalle has improved so much from the beginning of the rally and he did a really great Power Stage today. Elfyn also showed great performance here, just with a small mistake yesterday, but he also did a good drive in the Power Stage which helps us in the championship. I want to say congratulations to M-Sport and Ford, because it is nice to be competing at the front with them again, and also to Sebastien Loeb for an amazing achievement; it was an incredible battle this weekend that I know the fans really enjoyed.”

Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)
“It has been a huge joy to compete in this special rally again and to be in this incredible fight. This weekend we don’t come out as the winner but we can definitely keep our head up. Together with Benjamin and the team we did the job. We have done a great performance over the weekend and there were no issues on the car, which is a fantastic achievement. Fate decided differently today but I’m still smiling and I still enjoyed this fight very much. Honestly I feel there was nothing I could do about what happened on the penultimate stage. It was a cut I avoided on the first pass but on the second pass it was impossible to avoid, it was very dirty and I had to follow the line of the others. But well done to Sebastien and Isabelle for the victory, they have done a remarkable performance and it was a very tough fight. It’s been a good weekend for the sport.”

Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“It’s been an encouraging weekend in some ways but it’s massively frustrating to make the error that was so costly yesterday. I had a good feeling in the car but that doesn’t count for much because we finish the rally with very few points, which is a disappointment. I had a pretty good run in the Power Stage but maybe towards the end I didn’t make the most of the hybrid system in the tricky conditions. Overall the team has done a really good job. We didn’t have a lot of testing but I found a much happier place with the car during the event. I think it performed really well without any issues, so a big thank you to the team.”

Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)
“I am really happy to see the progress we made during the rally. I didn’t really know what was happening at the beginning but we believed in ourselves, pushed hard and found a good pace in the car. We did everything we could and finally got the setup much better and I could start to learn the car myself. I have to say big thanks to my engineer for pushing with me and doing big changes to the car. So it was a really positive weekend in the end and we could do a good run in the Power Stage also. It’s important to get all the points we can so it’s nice to be in this position, even if it means we will be cleaning the road in Sweden. That’s going to be a bit tricky but we will do our best to be ready for that.”

For the latest results please visit www.wrc.com

What’s next?
Rally Sweden (February 24-27) is the only full winter event of the season taking place on snow and ice. This year the event moves further north to a new base in Umea meaning all of the stages will be new to the drivers. Metal studs inserted into the tyres bite into the ice to provide grip and allow for some of the highest speeds of the year.

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/72626/

Top 5 Cars for Young People and Students

By
SM
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In the architectural world, it is usually acknowledged that a vehicle is a highly costly pleasure that most people normally cannot afford. Most people have no concerns as long as they are employed and receiving a strong, stable paycheck. For those who work and earn money, there are plenty of things to do at open-door banks and automobile showrooms for the sake of taking a walk. But as an ordinary student who dreams of his first car? In this case, one far from trivial question torments: where to acquire the money? Get a new job for some additional cash? Purchase a business plan and start your own business? Borrow money from your parents or a loan? 

Let’s check to see whether this is the case.

DO STUDENTS EVEN NEED A CAR?

Whether a student needs a car or not is a frivolous question. Someone will say, sure, its existence truly saves time (essential for cities where there is no metro), someone will answer on the contrary, because public transit is much faster to travel to than by your vehicle (typical for the capital). Let’s try to assess all the positives and cons of such a purchase.

The «Pros»:

  1. Taking a car instead of taking public transportation is far more convenient and pleasant, especially during rush hour.
  2. A college student who has a car isn’t frightened of the weather’s “charms,” such as cold and rain.
  3. You may always offer a ride home to the girl you adore while driving your automobile.

The «Cons»:

  1. A automobile is a luxury that comes at a price. These funds aren’t available to all college students. It is possible, of course, to save meticulously, depriving oneself of all other pleasures. Is it actually worth it?
  2. Don’t forget to include in the cost of owning an automobile. The first stop is for gas and a wash. Second, let’s talk about sundries. A considerable sum can be amassed in a single year.

Whether you need a car or not is a personal choice that each individual must make.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE CAR?

Because this article is focused on students from average families rather than the “golden elite,” the following will be the criteria for picking an automobile for a student:

  1. Affordable price (Up to 3000 dollars). 
  2. Repairs and consumables are available for purchase at a low cost.
  3. Non-new vehicle. Inexperienced drivers should not purchase a vehicle from the salon. When it comes to small collisions, inexperienced drivers are more likely than more experienced drivers to have their automobiles repaired.

The main criteria

Choosing a car should be done with the assistance of an expert, ideally, a specialist who is capable of figuring it out; otherwise, these are only the words of a deceptive salesperson. When choosing a car, it is important to consider the following:

  1. The year in which the automobile was built. However, even if this is not the most essential selection factor, it is significant, particularly when it comes to domestic brands. The older the automobile, the worse its condition is considered to be. Of course, it is possible to identify an exception to the rule, but doing so will take a significant amount of time.
  2. The state of its physical body. Moreover, this is the point to which you should pay particular attention. Certain bran a galvanized body that is of great quality and may endure for decades. However, this is not a characteristic seen in the majority of inexpensive vehicles.
  3. How the engine and gearbox work together is explained. This is especially true in the case of international brands. A foreign-brand car’s engine or transmission can set you back a big coin if it has to be replaced. As a result, when purchasing a car, make sure to ask to drive it and pay attention to how the engine starts and operates, as well as how and with what sound the gears change.
  4. This brand’s availability in the car parts market has been confirmed. It is predicated on the availability of parts as well as the cost of those parts.
  5. Motorists’ opinions and experiences. Before purchasing a car, pick 3-5 alternatives that are acceptable for the price range that you are considering, and be sure to study the reviews of previous car owners. 

TOP 5 CARS FOR STUDENTS

  1. Daewoo Matiz.

Compact, reasonably priced, and not outdated. These characteristics are sufficient to qualify as a student vehicle. In some countries, on the other hand, the car has been designated as a vehicle for women. Male students, on the other hand, are not inclined to take him seriously. However, for females, this is the most appropriate alternative! An automobile starts at 750 bucks and goes up from there.

2. Volkswagen Golf.

Machines with a dependable brand and good performance. A Golf that was manufactured in the 2000s has a starting price of $1,300.

3. Nissan Almera.

The automobile appears to be well-made, dependable, and reasonably priced. Beginning at $ 750, machines manufactured in the year 2000 are available. It is possible to get an excellent choice for 1200 bucks.

4. Honda Civic.

This is an option for folks who enjoy the visuals of racing vehicles. Although the cheap model is unlikely to provide you with a compelling incentive to chase (since there will be few horses in it), the automobile itself is attractive. And it’s a hit with the ladies! The base price for automobiles manufactured between 2000 and 2002 is $1,300.

5. BMW 3 series.

Automobiles that came off the manufacturing line in the 2000s are available for purchase for $1,900. For 2500, you can get a pretty excellent deal on a solid selection. The car’s maintenance costs a lot of money. However, she has typically drawn the attention of young people of both sexes.

Extensive Performance And Smooth Functioning: NASCAR

By
SM
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The name has a great deal to offer and is the case is with NASCAR. They have traveled a long time and have acquired this name. Since the last decade, they have designed cars that are excellent and display extensive performance and smooth functioning on roads.

Generation 1(1948-1966) and Generation 2(1967-1980) and the following generations of racecars have emerged as the brand sports car. The six generations enthralled people with their stupendous looks, dynamic and futuristic features, extended suspension systems, and efficiency.

Have you ever wondered how NASCAR cars are so efficient? One of the main reasons is the installation of good suspension systems. Suspension is utterly essential for your car’s smooth functioning on roads. Suspension ensures proper contact between the wheels and the road surface, you can imagine how difficult it would be for a car without good suspension to move through tough roads.

The system involves a chassis wrapped around the car body wheels, that is designed deliberately to eradicate road surface hassles. With the installation of a good suspension system, your car becomes effectively comfortable to drive. NASCAR has come over a long, with some of the improvements, not only with looks but also with internal changes. Some of the components for enhanced functioning of the car’s include:

Sway Bar

A sway bar or an anti-roll bar is a part of your car’s suspension that assists in reducing the body roll of your car during driving fast or road unevenness. It helps you drive smoothly by making your handle turns efficient and protect body lean. Sway bars also connect wheels opposite to each other through lever arms connected by springs. It includes other elements as well and supports the entire smooth running of your car.

Bumper

A bumper is an additional component in the suspension system of any vehicle. It involves parts such as bounding and rebounding to prevent axles, shock absorbers, etc. When the spring position expands and contracts beyond the basic limit, the protection is carried out. Bounding comes to action when the car shrinks and rebounding affect it while it inflates.

Strut Bar

The strut bar is an element of a car’s suspension that holds the lower arm for the smooth functioning of the front wheels. The steering wheel when turns on its own, becomes risky, this might occur when the vehicle is straight in its position after turning. Spooring is ensured with the strut bar, that is it manages the adjustment of the front wheel.

One of the most important elements of NASCAR’s strategies includes track changes and infrastructure development. A name doesn’t work with static functioning, it has to adapt and progress, fame transcends sports sometimes, and so NASCAR’s fame cannot really disappoint their customer base with inefficient cars on the go.

Final Verdict

The suspension system in a car is designed in a manner, so as to avoid surprises inflicted by any uneven surface on roads. Your car needs to maintain smoothness throughout, and the primary functions of suspension do that for you. Some of the most important suspension components are listed here in the article for your reference.

Front-row start for Cadillac in 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona

By
Official Release
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No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R leads the way in 100-minute qualifying race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2022) – Five Cadillac DPi-V.R entries, led by front-row starter JDC-Miller Motorsports, will take the green flag Jan. 29 in the 60th anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Richard Westbrook and Tristan Vautier co-drove the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R to second place in the 100-minute qualifying race on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course that set the 61-car starting field.

“I can only drive to what you give me, and you gave me something good,” Westbrook said to JDC-Miller MotorSports managing partner John Church.

Light contact with the front-running No. 60 DPi driven by Ricky Taylor on the white flag lap negated Westbrook’s challenge for the victory over his former teammate.

“This was good practice because the first stint of the race is going to be similar – sunny but cold – and our car is performing well,” Westbrook said. “We’ll keep working hard and getting to where we want. There’s more to come.”
Cadillac has won the season-opening race four of the five years of the current iteration of the top Prototype category.

The No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R, driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and Kamui Kobayashi, will start third. The entry was runner-up in the 2021 twice-around-the-clock race.

The Nos. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R and No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R, both campaigned by Chip Ganassi Racing, will share Row 3. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R – the 2021 class team champion — will start seventh.

Cadillac Racing results with 24-hour race starting position and best lap time:

No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R (JDC-Miller MotorSports)
Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook, Loic Duval, Ben Keating
Starting: 2nd … Best lap time: 1:34.934
Tristan Vautier: “It was a good way to get into our 24 and happy to be starting on the front row. My stint was good. I had a good start from the front and then it was just about managing the cars in traffic and manage the tires as well. It was very tricky with all those cars on track. Richard (Westbrook) gave it a good go there at the end. It didn’t work out but went for it. We’re very happy to be starting the 24 on the front row.”
Richard Westbrook: “I’m on a steep learning curve. I’ve come from GTs for the last four years, though I’ve done DPs before, and I’m on a fast track to where I need to be. Today was all about learning what I can get away with and what I can’t in traffic, learning about the tires on my stint. I think I got a lot of info from that. I don’t think it could have gone better. Battling with Ricky (Taylor for the lead), my former teammate, I enjoyed every minute. We had good pace and the setup of the car was really good. There’s more to come.”

No. 48 Ally Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)
Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez
Starting: 3rd … Best lap time: 1:34.831
Jimmie Johnson: “We have a little work to do with the balance of the car, but more laps for me, more laps together as a group, great strategy to finish third, so good day. Looking forward to getting more laps later in the week, taking the data from this race to learn more and then go racing.”
Kamui Kobayashi: “I think starting P3 for the 24-hour is good. It really doesn’t mean anything in a 24-hour race. But obviously, it’s where we will start. I think this was a good moment to study for the 24-hour. I think we need to work on it (the car) a little bit more and we’ll see where we are at the end. But I think, so far, we’re in good shape.”

No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon, Alex Palou
Starting: 5th … Best lap time: 1:38.734
Sebastien Bourdais: “Not the start of the season we wanted. Seemed like we had a pretty fast car compared to the opposition. We made up quite a bit of ground on the leaders through the last two stints and Renger had a very strong first stint, especially at the start. We are going to analyze what happened during that pit speed violation and try to refine the car and make it even better for the 24 and go from there.”

No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Marcus Ericsson, Kevin Magnussen
Starting: 6th … Best lap time: 1:34.628
Earl Bamber: “The car was good. We had two clean stints and did some fuel saving but just couldn’t recover from the pit road penalty.”

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)
Pipo Derani, Tristan Nunez, Mike Conway
Starting: 7th … Best lap time: 1:34.949
Tristan Nunez: “It was definitely scrappy, to say the least. It was good to get this first race out of the way. It was a good dress rehearsal, to do some live race pit stops, and to get some laps under my belt at race pace. I feel comfortable going into the 24 and that’s what really counts. A lot can happen in 24 hours. I’m looking forward to next week and the win.”
Pipo Derani: “We had a good race But, unfortunately, a call made early on prevented us from making it to the end on fuel. We gambled. We tried to go for the win. Unfortunately, a yellow [flag] never came and we had to pit one last time. It was good prep for the 24. It’s good to get the season going and, in a few days, we’ll be back here for the big one.”

NBC will kick off coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona at 1:30 p.m. ET Jan. 29.

About Cadillac
A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

Stoner Car Care Racing Completes Roar Before the 24

By
Official Release
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Team takes advantage of five test sessions to ready the No. 09 Aston Martin for the season opener next weekend

ORLANDO, Fla. (23 January 2022) – The Stoner Car Care Racing fielded by Automatic Racing team put five Roar Before the 24 test sessions to good use this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, completing final prep for next Friday’s Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener, the BMW M Endurance Challenge (PEACOCK TV, Friday at 1:35 p.m. Eastern).

Rob Ecklin, Jr. and Ramin Abdolvahabi return to the team in 2022 ready to put their No. 09 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in contention for IMSA’s new Bronze Cup (for FIA Bronze rated drivers).

Ecklin and Abdolvahabi will share driving duties over the four-hour endurance event, but both drivers had commitments that hampered their ability to make the preview event (Abdolvahabi, a Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. neurosurgeon, missed Friday while Ecklin, the President of Stoner, Inc. missed the entire weekend). In their absence, the team’s former endurance driver, Brandon Kidd, took the wheel Friday to run the Aston Martin through its paces (Kidd, now a Silver rated driver, will not be able to run with the team in 2022).

“The goal was to get the car set up for Ramin and Rob,” said Kidd. “And I hadn’t been in the car since Watkins Glen last year, so it was nice. We had some mid-corner push, so we worked on that. But overall, the BoP (balance of performance between disparate manufacturers in sports car racing) is not in our favor, there isn’t an Aston Martin in the top 16. But we have no issues and did some good laps – I’ll be here next weekend to help in any way I can, looking at data with the drivers and helping out in pit lane during the race. It will be nice to stay connected to the team.”

Abdolvahabi took the helm for two sessions on Saturday and for Sunday’s lone morning test session, with increasingly cold and damp conditions requiring a balance between aggression and caution – though he set a personal best lap time in the final session, with a lap time of 1:56.508.

“This car has an inherent understeer, it pushes in the turns,” said Abdolvahabi. “It’s the nature of the beast but we’re constantly working to balance that out so it turns better, and we can go to power earlier. It got better, though a lack of mechanical grip means we do have to change our driving style a bit. But the car feels really balanced, though of course we’re low on power compared to some of the other manufacturers. All we can do is work on our part, hopefully Rob is happy with the car when he gets here!

“And of course, this weekend is about shaking off the rust. For all the non-professional drivers, who don’t drive for a living, it’s about getting back into it mentally. We have even more to shoot for this year with the Bronze Cup, and that always puts a little more fire into you!”

For Automatic Racing team manager David Russell, the home-race weekend was about setting up the No. 09 and preparing for the season opener next weekend – while being able to head home on Sunday night.

“It’s nice to know that I can be home in just 50 minutes!” said Russell. “Yes, we’re dealing with BoP issues that are resulting in less power, but all we can do is concentrate on our own program and do the best we can with the tools we have. Ramin had a personal best and it’s hard to argue with that, and we came away from the weekend with the car in good shape. This was a good test for the race weekend especially since it looks as though we’re going to have comparable weather next weekend. It’s the same challenge for everyone, getting cold tires up to speed, and there will be more of that coming up.”

Though unable to attend the Roar, Ecklin expressed his excitement for the upcoming race weekend.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out there with Ramin,” said Ecklin. “And being part of the Rolex 24 weekend brings so much energy and excitement. You go in with a big smile on your face – the trick is to come out with that big smile! It’s just the two of us over the four hours, but with all the World Racing League endurance events we did last year, we’re used to longer stints! I missed the Roar last weekend and while Daytona is always a challenge, I got a good amount of experience last year at coming into our World Racing League weekends on Friday night and jumping into the car on Saturday so hopefully within a couple of laps, I’ll be in the rhythm.”

Part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, the BMW M Endurance Challenge takes the green flag Friday, January 22 at 1:35 p.m. Eastern. The race will be live streamed in the U.S. on Peacock TV, while international viewers can watch via IMSA.tv. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com.

About Invisible Glass

Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/

About Stoner Car Care

Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America’s #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942

About Automatic Racing

Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title.

Hardpoint To Start Next Week’s Rolex 24 At Daytona On Row Seven After Sunday’s Qualifying Race

By
Official Release
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Nick Boulle and Stefan Wilson Improved Four Positions in the No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky/de Boulle Porsche 911 GT3 R During the Session While Gathering Experience for Next Week With Rob Ferriol, Katherine Legge

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 23, 2022) – Hardpoint’s Nick Boulle and Stefan Wilson combined for a 14th-place finish in the GT Daytona (GTD) class on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway and the No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Premium Jerky/de Boulle Diamond and Jewelry Porsche 911 GT3 R will start next week’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener, the Rolex 24 At Daytona, in the same position.

Boulle and Wilson will be joined by season-regulars Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge for the motorsports classic that begins next Saturday, January 29 at 1:40 p.m. EST. Sunday’s 100-minute qualifying race followed three days of testing and qualifying for all 61 cars entered in the race. The Rolex 24 At Daytona can be seen beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, beginning on NBC and then throughout the NBC family of networks, including USA Network, and in its entirety through the Peacock streaming service.

Boulle began the qualifying race in 18th position in his first start with the team, piloting the machine through an opening stint of 50 minutes before the green flag stop. Though his starting position was forced by contact with a barrier during pre-qualifying, Boulle cycled as high as eighth in the run before his start before passing the car to Wilson with a clean pit stop.

“We’ve improved every session this week,” Boulle said. “In the race itself today the whole name of the game is moving forward but taking zero risk. There’s nothing to be gained from any risk, even if it pays off and we did that. Stef had an awesome stint and I think we accomplished what we needed to. We’re starting higher up than we did after qualifying when we made a mistake, and we’ll move on and try to keep on moving up.”

Wilson rejoined the race running 15th after the pit stops cycled through and made up one final position before the 100 caution-free minutes expired. Wilson turned the team’s quickest lap of the race under the checkered flag as he continued to grow his comfort level in the car for the first time.

“The name of the game is just learning as much as possible this weekend and using it as a test session,” Wilson said. “I’ve got three days back in the car and got to shake off some rust, it’s been a long time since I’ve been racing and it’s good to constantly improve. We didn’t have any incidents on track and we were able to maximize our track time and figure out what we need to extract from our Porsche 911 GT3 R. It was a pretty lonely race, I didn’t get to battle anyone but I’m really excited to get into the Rolex weekend for the 60th running.”

The race completed the aptly-named Roar Before the 24 weekend, complete with four practice sessions, the qualifying and the race. The team saw progress in each session as they began to gel together, bringing in new drivers Boulle and Wilson in addition to new partners Cusick Motorsports, Meridian Veterinary Capital, Neptune Systems, Dallas Auto Exchange and Lohla Sport in preparation for next week’s season opener.

“I’m really excited to see how the team is coming together,” Hardpoint driver and team owner Ferriol said. “We’ve got a few new components and they’ve integrated really well into the team. We have Nick and Stef who have integrated really well and they did a great job today. We learned a little bit more about the car, piling on to what we already learned this week and so we’ll go into next week a bit smarter and hopefully a bit faster.”

The team returns to on-track activity on Thursday, January 27 at 11:05 a.m. ET for a 90-minute practice, as the WeatherTech Championship has four additional practice sessions in advance of the race on Saturday, January 29.

About Hardpoint:
Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Indy 500 Team Owner, Mechanic Vince Granatelli Dies at 78

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022) – Vince Granatelli (left, above photo), who was a leading mechanic for two notable machines in Indianapolis 500 history and later became a race-winning team owner, died Jan. 22. He was 78.

Granatelli was a member of the famous racing family that made its name through “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” including his father, Andy, the flamboyant owner of the car that Mario Andretti drove to victory in the 1969 Indianapolis 500.

Vince Granatelli first turned wrenches at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1961 as a mechanic on the Novi-powered machines his father brought to the “500” that year. The unique engine growl of the Novi captivated fans for more than two decades.

Granatelli then worked as a mechanic on another one of the most unique cars in Indianapolis 500 history, the turbine-powered machines nicknamed the “Whooshmobile” due to the unique hissing sound of the Pratt & Whitney gas turbine engine.

Parnelli Jones qualified sixth in 1967 in the turbine and dominated the race, leading 171 of the first 196 laps. But a transmission bearing failed on Lap 197, handing the lead and victory to A.J. Foyt.

In 1968, similar late-race calamity struck when Joe Leonard’s rear-engine, turbine-powered Lotus suffered a failed fuel pump driveshaft while leading with nine laps to go.

He also worked on the Eagle-Offy that Graham McRae drove to 16th place and Rookie of the Year honors in the 1973 Indianapolis 500.

Granatelli also worked as a mechanic at various times in STP-sponsored efforts in Formula One during the early 1970s. He left racing along with his family after the 1974 season.

During his time away from racing, Granatelli focused on various business ventures. He owned Pit Stop Service in Southern California, a high-performance garage where he also built high-speed cars. He built a Chevrolet Camaro stock-body passenger car that his father drove a record 242 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Granatelli returned to racing in 1987 as the owner of Vince Granatelli Racing, which fielded cars in CART painted in a similar day-glo red as his father’s turbine-powered cars at Indianapolis.

Roberto Guerrero won two races driving for the team in its first season of 1987, at Phoenix International Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Guerrero led the Indianapolis 500 that year with 19 laps to go, but two stalls on a pit stop due to a damaged clutch dropped him out of the top spot. He ended up second behind Al Unser.

Arie Luyendyk earned the team its third and fourth victories in 1991, at Phoenix and Nazareth Speedway.

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