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More time to test...
IndyCar has expanded its team testing regulations from only in-season
limitations to an annual basis for the first time in PPG Indy Car World
Series history.
Teams with single-car entrants will be allocated a maximum of 25 total
testing days and multi-car operations will have a maximum of 40. The rule
went into effect the day immediately following the final race of the season,
officially beginning for the first time Monday, Sept. 9. This past year,
multi-car teams were allowed 16 test dates and single-car entrants 10 during
the season. Offseason testing was not regulated.
Cars may be run for commercial, sponsor and public relation events without
losing any test days, but these activities must come under the supervision
of CART. All other test provisions remain in effect.
ESPN, ESPN2 look back at 1996 Season
"IndyCar Rear View Mirror," a review of the highly competitive 1996 PPG Indy
Car World Series season, will be aired by ESPN on Sunday, Oct. 13. The
one-hour show, highlighted by Jimmy Vasser's chase of the PPG Cup and The
Inaugural U.S. 500, will begin at 1 p.m. ET. A re-air of the
season-in-review show is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, beginning at 3
p.m. ET. Also, encore presentations of the 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series
races will be available on ESPN2 beginning Monday, Oct. 28. Telecasts will
be aired Oct. 28-31; Dec. 5-6, 16-20, 23-24, 26-27. Each broadcast will
begin at 4 p.m. ET.
Scrubbing in some new Firestones
Alex Zanardi (Target/Chip Ganassi Racing) and Adrian Fernandez (Tasman
Motorsports) opened a two-day test session for Firestone tires Tuesday at
Michigan International Speedway. Zanardi, the 1996 Rookie of the Year, and
Fernandez were scheduled to average approximately 250 miles per day in
helping Firestone with its tire development for 1997. Firestone had 10
victories in 16 events this past season. "With these tire tests, we hope to
improve on 1996 and come up with different compounds," said Page Mader,
Bridgestone/Firestone's senior project engineer. "At the average, we test
250 miles per day per car with different compounds. We're sure to improve on
our product and we've made improvement on our product already today
[Tuesday]." Zanardi (Target Reynard Honda), who ran as high as 229 miles per
hour Tuesday, had a series-high six poles and three victories on Firestones
this past season. "Firestone puts out great tires and we're here to help
them however we can," he said. "We started out slow this morning [Tuesday]
and got up to 229 [mph] by early afternoon. You get a good feel for what is
going on. Testing is a very important part of our season." Firestone helped
Fernandez (Tecate Beer/Quaker State Lola Honda) to his first career victory
at Toronto this season. "Firestone puts out a very good tire and it has
helped us an awful lot," he said. "All the information we gather we can use
to help us in the future races. You can tell it has paid off. We ran
consistently in the 220s [Tuesday] and I was very comfortable."
Mulligan for Bobby
IndyCar driver Bobby Rahal helped raise more than $200,000 at the recent
Rahal/Kroger Columbus Charities Pro-Am golf tournament at the New Albany
(Ohio) Country Club. The tournament attracted 180 participants as well as 36
professionals from the PGA and PGA Senior tours despite inclement weather.
The Rahal/Kroger Columbus Charities Pro-Am makes donations to six charities
in the Columbus area and has raised over $1.25 million in the past eight
years.
IndyCar scholarship
High school seniors and college underclassmen from across the nation are
eligible for the $10,000 IndyCar Foundation Scholarship Award. The
scholarship was established in the memory of Art Lamey, who was a part of
motorsports for more than two decades as a technical representative for the
Champion Spark Plug Company. The deadline for application is Oct. 18. To
qualify for the scholarship, which will be awarded later this fall, the
applicant must be a current high school senior or college underclassman;
have a 3.0 (B) grade-point average or better, which must be maintained
throughout the term of the scholarship; demonstrate outstanding leadership
and involvement in community services or school activities; submit letters
of recommendation from a school administrator, counselor or community
service representative; submit a letter that includes interests, goals and
secondary education plans; reason why the scholarship is needed to continue
such education; explain interest and involvement, if any, in motorsports,
including IndyCar; and submit an official high school, junior college or
college transcript. Tax-deductible donations to ensure the continued success
of the IndyCar Foundation also are being accepted. Bridgestone/Firestone
recently donated $1,000 to the cause. To obtain an application or more
information, contact Steve Shunck, c/o Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.,
755 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 800, Troy, MI 48084. Tel: (810) 362-8800/Fax:
(810) 362-8810.
Changes at Team Green
Kim Green has been promoted to general manager of Team Green in a series of
moves by the organization. Green, the younger brother of team president and
owner Barry Green, has been with the team since 1993 and moves from his
previous position of team manager. Kyle Moyer, who spent last season as the
Team KOOL Green Indy Lights team manager, will return to the IndyCar program
as Green's replacement as team manager. Moyer was the chief mechanic for the
team during the PPG Cup-winning 1995 season. Scott Graves, who has spent the
past four seasons as an assistant race engineer for Team Green, was promoted
to the team's director of engineering. Tony Cotman, promoted to chief
mechanic for the 1996 season, will remain in that role. Also, Thomas Knapp
has been named team manager of the Team KOOL Green Indy Lights program.
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