INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, May 23, 2008 – Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon paced the final practice session before the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500. The practice, which had been scheduled for one hour, was limited to 12 minutes due to rain. Wheldon, who will start second in Sunday’s 500-Mile Race, turned a fast lap of 223.934 mph, while Dixon, the pole sitter for the event, recorded a lap at 223.028 mph. The duo completed just six laps each before a light rain began falling. Buddy Rice, the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner, completed 11 laps, most of any driver. The 40-lap Firestone Freedom 100 race was postponed due to the rain. The green flag will drop at 12:15 p.m. Saturday. The McDonald’s Pit Stop Challenge was canceled. *** Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon, the pole sitter for the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500, was presented a $5,000 check for the Cholula Hot Lap of the Day. The award was presented to the driver who turned the fastest lap on Fast Friday – May 9. Dixon topped the speed charts that day with a lap at 226.968 mph. *** Levi Jones won the 38th Tony Hulman Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track last night. Jones and Jerry Coons Jr. traded the lead three times during the 30-lap race. Jones led the final 13 laps to take the victory. *** Entry update: The car name for the No. 8 KV Racing Technology entry driven by Will Power has been changed to Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia. *** Conquest Racing announced today that it has formed a partnership with Bidaroo.com, a unique Indiana-based online charity auction, to become title sponsor of the #34 car driven by Jaime Camara for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. Bidaroo.com, whose logo will appear on the sidepods of Camara’s orange-and-white Dallara, is an auction-type Web site that sells new products such as iPhones, plasma TVs, Nintendo Wii game systems and many more products for at least 90 percent below retail. Bidaroo donates a portion of net proceeds to selected charities. ROB GOUGH (Founder, Bidaroo.com): “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Conquest Racing and Jaime Camara for the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 is such a major event, and it presents us with a great opportunity to expose Bidaroo.com not only locally but to the world.” ERIC BACHELART (Owner, Conquest Racing): “We are pleased to have formed this partnership with bidaroo.com. The concept behind the online charity auction is so unique and such a great idea, and if at the end of the day we can help them raise even more money for their cause, then it makes our work that much more meaningful.” *** The crew from Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing car #02 was named the winner of the 2008 True Grit Award presented by C&R Racing, Inc. The crew includes Tim Coffeen, chief mechanic, Tim Hornburg, tire specialist, John Tzouanakis, team manager and Davey Evans, who passed away earlier this month. *** Andy O’Gara, chief mechanic for the #67 Sarah Fisher Racing entry, was named the winner of the 22nd Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award. Presented annually since 1987 by the Clint Brawner Foundation and underwritten by Firestone Racing, the award pays tribute to the memory of the late Clint Brawner, chief mechanic on six national champion cars in AAA- and USAC-sanctioned series. It rewards a chief mechanic at Indy each May who “exemplifies the mechanical and scientific creativity, ingenuity, perseverance, dedication, enthusiasm and expertise” of Brawner. *** Scott Dixon was presented the $5,000 Mi-Jack Top Performance Award for recording the fastest single qualifying lap. Dixon’s fastest qualifying lap was 226.598 mph. *** Officials from the IndyCar Series and Honda Performance Development conducted a press conference this morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to announce a five-year extension in the relationship of Honda to supply engines to the IndyCar Series and to announce an automotive manufacturers round table to discuss new specifications and encourage expanded manufacturer participation. TONY GEORGE (Founder & CEO, Indy Racing League): “We were able to start 2008 off on a good, solid footing with the announcement that for the first time in a long time open-wheel racing in the United States would be unified in one series. It’s been an interesting and challenging year so far, but I will say that it’s gone very well from my perspective. I continue to hear around the paddock and around the garage and everywhere we go that everyone’s excited about the tremendous opportunities we have going forward. We’ve been able to work through all the issues of the month and the year so far because of the great partnerships that we have. Certainly, one of those partnerships has been Honda. Since 2002, when we first started talking about them competing in the IndyCar Series, we’ve come to know and appreciate them and their supp ort of open-wheel racing in North America, and we very much enjoy that support ourselves to this day. One of the announcements, of course, is focused around Honda and their intentions of continuing in the IndyCar Series for the foreseeable future. In addition, we also want to talk about the work that really started last year around this time when we announced the Art Center project out in Pasadena (Calif.) through, again, Honda’s support and their work with the Art Center. We were able to kind of really begin thinking about what our future IndyCars that will compete in the next 100 years at Indianapolis will start looking like and working toward the timing of introducing that; and, again, working with Honda and the chassis manufactures to help identify that. Now, to take that to the next level, to begin looking at that critically and how practically we might apply what we saw, we are going to start getting some feedback from the industry. One of the things we hope to d o is get some feedback from a number of other OEMs and car m! anufactu rers that might be interested in coming back into the sport of IndyCar racing, which means we’re going to be taking a close look at competition and hopefully encouraging more involvement from manufacturers in the future. There’ll be an industry round table that is created and is sort of kicked off in the next few weeks. I hope, too, that we look at some of the other industry constituents that will weigh in and factor into our thinking of what our platform’s going to be like.” (On cost containment going forward): “I think that we all have a good sense for that. We (the IndyCar Series) were really on the leading edge of that. This business is a balance. It’s technology, it’s sport, it’s entertainment. You have to keep a good balance. Clearly, if we can have competition and manage it and make sure that we don’t let the costs get out of control or the technology get in the hands of too few so that everyone can be competitive, we’ll be doing our job.” ERIK BERKMAN (President, Honda Performance Development): (On extending Honda’s IndyCar relationship thru 2013): “First, let me say that Honda is very pleased to be in IndyCar racing. I think you know our history. Fifteen years ago, Honda Performance Development was created to launch IndyCar racing for us. This was our first professional racing foray. Now with the unification and the upcoming centennial, we have a great opportunity to launch into this second century of open-wheel racing with a bang. We’ve been challenged at times going from the multi-manufacturer competition era to now a single-engine supply era. We like the notion of competition that would include other manufacturers. So we are delighted with the league’s intention to host this round table. We think working with other manufacturers and discussing the concepts that we can br ing back some competition that will help to spice up the close racing that we already have. We could not be happier to be announcing today our intention for five more years. That adds to the stability and what’s needed in going forward, so there is no doubt where Honda’s position is. Secondly, I’d like to point out that everybody needs to make plans, and Honda is no different. Our company has grown over these past 15 years. We’re at a point to where we need the stability, as well, to understand what we will be doing. We’ve branched out to other forms of racing in recent years. But now with this commitment for the next five years in IndyCar racing, that allows us to have our own internal measure of stability and security for our workforces. I can’t just say enough why Honda is racing - how it helps us develop our people and how through this continuing culture of the racing spirit within Honda which is in fact our DNA. It makes us a better c ompany, and that is reflected in our products, which satisfy! our cus tomers.” (Do you get more benefit as a manufacturer from being the exclusive supplier or from the ability to beat the competition and advertise that?): “I think we get benefit if we go either way. There are different kinds of benefits out there. However, I can tell you that when we started that exclusive supply, we didn’t know everything that we know now. We’ve learned some things along that way. We’ve become better at our quality control in the reliability. We’ve evolved the design to a point where we have a good product, and it’s better than where we started. Not that we didn’t think that it would happen. There were some surprises along the way. They were good surprises from what we could learn. The benefit of competition for us is something that is somewhat of an internal reward. It’s a motivation for our company. Our company’s founder raced. He formed the company with the intention of racing. Not all companies th at have existed 50-plus years like us can say that anymore. We have a strong racing spirit or racing culture in our company, part of our DNA. We get a lot of benefit from people who learn something about racing through direct application hands on. We have grassroots motorsports clubs and so on at our factories. Also have drag racing groups and go-karting groups. We believe that we can help that through the professional racing series here, instill in our company, and people of all walks of life in our company. They appreciate, follow and applaud what we are doing here in racing. So, the spirit is high and we want to keep that going. That is very important for us. Having competition is something that we want. We really do want that. In the event that we continue as a sole supplier, we will still benefit from that. But we’ll turn our intentions and move it in a different direction of work at getting better on what we do.” TERRY ANGSTADT (President, commercial division, Indy Racing League): (What do you take from the round table itself, and what are goals and objectives might be coming out of that?): “When we were kind of brainstorming and developing this, we actually secured RWB, which has quite a bit of experience in the automotive industry, and one of the representatives is here today, Clayton Triggs. They will help us in terms of reaching out and really securing what we hope will be almost 100 percent attendance. It really is to purely update and introduce - to get people thinking about our business. We’ll talk about a little bit on where we think the (IndyCar) Series is going from a growth and development standpoint. But then really turn it over to the industry experts. Look for their opinion, their advice and their view of that next platform that we will be embraci ng. We could not be more excited about it. We think that it is very consistent with the technology and innovation platform of not only the IndyCar Series but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Again, we think it is a great next step in the development of our racing business.” brIAN BARNHART (President, competition and operations division, Indy Racing League): “We’re very excited by the news of the extension of Honda’s participation in the IndyCar Series. We’ve had a great relationship with them beginning on track in 2003. As Erik mentioned, both in terms of competitive environment, as well as exclusive supply, it’s unparalleled performance in reliability out of an engine manufacturer. We couldn’t be more pleased to see them continue. They won the manufacturers championship at Indianapolis in 2004 and 2005, and they stepped to the plate in 2006 as an exclusive supplier and have done a marvelous job providing outstanding equipment. It’s just an amazing relationship. We really appreciate their willingness to help us grow the IndyCar Series both on and off the track. It enables us to tell our parti cipating teams and potential teams another piece of the puzzle long-term. They know engines are going to be provided at least by Honda, and Firestone tires will be on with them. It’s a couple of pieces of the puzzle done. Now, we’ll do the industry round table and hopefully get some collective agreement on what the next engine platform and racing platform will be.” (On the purpose of industry round table related to future technology): “I think we would like to get the senior-level management people from the automotive industry to sit down and see if we can find a collective agreement on what that technology will be. From a league standpoint, we’re open-minded. We want it to be a fresh approach. When we get that many key players in the room at the same time; if we can find a consensus amongst several of them that would like to participate in the IndyCar Series in the future under that platform, we’ll be very open-minded.” (On how clos e the league is to making a commitment on the new chassis): ! “I t will be driven a little bit by the industry round table. Form follows function with regard to that. Depending on what that platform is that’s chosen, will dictate various aspects of that chassis. We certainly have appreciated what the College of Creative Studies and the Art School design project have presented, and we like a lot of those concepts and may be able to incorporate some of those. But the next step is determining what the engine platform’s going to be. At this point, I think we’re more inclined from a league standpoint to stick with a single supply chassis. I really like the aspects of an exclusive supply on the tires and an exclusive supply on the chassis. We’d really like to focus on multiple manufacturers on the engine side. I think that’s the direction the series needs to go that makes the most sense. Exclusive supply on chassis and tires is the best way of controlling performance, speed, cost, safety; many of those aspects of it .” *** Pacific Coast Motorsports and the Mexico City Tourism Board announced today that they have entered into an agreement with KV Racing Technology for the Indianapolis 500. The No. 5 Angie’s List Special driven by Oriol Servia will carry the Visit Mexico City logo at the 92nd Running of the Indianapolis 500. Pacific Coast Motorsports and the Mexico City Tourism Board announced their program just one month ago. However, the team’s driver, Mario Dominguez failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. *** Westfield Steel, headquartered in Westfield, Ind., signed a $10,000 sponsorship with Sarah Fisher Racing for the Indianapolis 500. *** Rain has forced postponement of tonight’s 56th “Hoosier Hundred” USAC K & N Silver Crown Championship race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Track and USAC officials are discussing possible dates for rescheduling. *** FASTEST SPEEDS OF THE SESSION: Pos.

theautochannel.com

The city of Martinsville and the Greater Martinsville Chamber of Commerce are inviting residents to attend the Economic Summit, a facet of the city’s economic development planning efforts at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Morgan County Administration Building.
The summit will be a three-hour working session for community stakeholders to discuss and prioritize the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of Martinsville’s business climate. At the end of the meeting, the group will consider possible action issues to be addressed in the plan. While the public may attend, they will not be participating in this particular session. For more information, contact Jamie Thompson at info@martinsvillechamber.com or 765-342-8110.
Sharilee Gray, broker associate with Carpenter Realtors, has been named the manager of the Carpenter office in Martinsville. Gray has been with Carpenter Realtors since 1996 and was recently the assistant branch manager of the Mooresville office. Gray will continue assisting buyers and sellers with their real estate needs, in addition to managing the Martinsville Office. She may be reached at the Carpenter office at 400 Ind. 37N., Martinsville, by calling 765-342-8770 or 317-831-9407.
Bender Lumber Co. of Martinsville has received “Certified Green Dealer” status from the LBM Journal, a trade publication for the lumber and building materials industry. The program was developed to give an understanding of green-building basics and provide knowledge of green-building techniques and green product choices. This training allows the company to help customers make good choices for the environment and recommend earth-friendly products. The company is now capable of educating its customers about the best practices in building techniques so building projects are both energy efficient and resourceful.
Have you or a family member been diagnosed with a heart murmur? Are you unsure about what that means?
An upcoming “Ask the Doc” program, sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center, might answer those questions on Tuesday. Cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Gerdisch, M.D., will explain why it is important to understand how heart valves may cause murmurs, and when it’s time to seek treatment.

reporter-times.com

Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama greets students at the Little 500 Women’s race on Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Obama spoke at Columbus eariler in the day and planned to visit Terre Haute later in the evening.
Jacob Kriese • IDS
For an hour Friday afternoon, every student on Kirkwood Avenue stopped drinking. In the heat of Little 500 festivities, on a gorgeous sunny day, students left Kilroy’s, emptied the Upstairs Pub and poured out onto the sidewalks and into the street, all looking for one man: the celebrity Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. He came after all.
The Illinois senator crashed the Little 500 women’s race with a surprise appearance on campus and then traveled in his motorcade to Nick’s English Hut where he shook hands with all of the patrons inside.
His visit came with little advance warning. The campaign did not officially announce the stop until the senator’s motorcade began pulling into the driveway of Bill Armstrong Stadium.
Obama was greeted at both places by throngs of screaming and cheering students who crowded in, trying to catch at least a glimpse of the political phenom. The lucky ones got a handshake, a smile or a nod from the senator.
Sophomore Coco Goldenberg got one better. When she held out her pink Alpha Chi Omega trucker hat and asked Obama to sign it, he took out a pen and scribbled his signature across the brim.
Goldenberg, breathlessly excited, posed for photos with her friends, proudly sporting the hat.
“I’m a big, big Obama supporter. He’s so tight,” she said.
When the presidential contender showed up and walked around the circumference of the track at Bill Armstrong Stadium, he shook hands with riders and screaming IU students.
Obama then took a position off the field, surrounded by police officers and his Secret Service detail, and watched the start of the race.

idsnews.com

click image above for high-res gallery from this FCA drive
Life in Southern California isn’t always sunny and bright. Take last month for instance. When we woke up hoping to tag along on a Ferrari Club of America drive known as the Ortega Run, we were disheartened by the sight of pouring rain. We have learned from past experience that these guys and gals are a lot less likely to drive their prancing ponies when the ground is damp. It’s not so much that the cars can’t handle it, as it is the work involved. For the owners, the thought of cleaning and drying the cars when they get home starts to make that weekend drive more a labor of love than they had hoped. So when we arrived at the designated meeting point, we were pleasantly surprised at the turnout. It was definitely smaller than last year’s 80+ Ferraris, but how can we complain about the twenty or so f-cars that did make it out?
Follow the jump for more about our wet Sunday drive and click on the links below to check out all of the pics in our high-res gallery.
We were a little surprised that the vintage cars showed up, but sort of amazed when we reached our rendezvous point with another group of participants and saw an open roadster charging along at the head of the pack. And not just any roadster either, but the seven-figure 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Le Mans car. Weighing in around 2,000 with bunches of horsepower and torque coming out of its V12 engine, it’s crazy to see the skinny tires they mounted to this beast. Throw in some rainy oil-soaked Southern California roads and the excitement becomes palpable.
Our mount for the ride down was a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT 2+2. These are some of the rarer Ferraris around mainly because owners frequently had them rebodied over the years to look more like the ridiculously pricey GTOs and SWBs. Finding one in original condition, especially as good a condition as this one, is a treat. Its V12 provided plenty of smooth pulling power and its road manners made it a comfortable 100-mile trek.

autoblog.com