The IZOD IndyCar Series is entering the space race.

Actually, an IZOD IndyCar Series 1:64 diecast car is among the personal items accompanying U.S. astronaut Kevin Ford on his scheduled Oct. 23 voyage to the International Space Station.

Ford, 52, a native of Montpelier, Ind., and a University of Notre Dame graduate, will join two Russian cosmonauts aboard a Soyuz capsule. The retired U.S. Air Force colonel will serve as the flight engineer through November before relieving another astronaut as the space station’s commander through March 2013.

“I take a few things to remind me of my home state and home schools, and one of the things from my home state is a small race car that represents the Indianapolis 500,” said Ford, who was the pilot of space shuttle Discovery for a September 2009 mission to the space station.

Ford and his colleagues will be aboard the station during an exceptionally busy time that includes cargo operations of two SpaceX Dragon commercial vehicles, four Russian Progress resupply vehicles and the arrival of "Cygnus," the first commercial cargo spacecraft from the Orbital Sciences Corp., scheduled for December.

Upcoming testing

Justin Wilson and Tony Kanaan are scheduled to be on the Barber Motorsports Park course on Oct. 29, while Simon Pagenaud is scheduled  Nov. 26-27. IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay is scheduled to participate in a Firestone rain tire test Oct. 23 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course.

Cruisin' with Rahal

Graham Rahal will be cruising in December and you can join him aboard SeaDream I.

The Dec. 16-22 Caribbean sail includes the ports of call of St. John, Anguilla, Jost van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. CLICK HERE for more info.

Of note

HVM Racing’s car is featured this week at a University of North Carolina-Charlotte Motorsports Research event in which it will be part of a senior design project. … HVM Racing driver Simona de Silvestro will address an entrepreneurship class at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis next week. ... Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will serve as grand marshal for the inaugural "No Limits" Half Marathon & 5K benefitting Speedway Children's Charities on Oct. 27 at Texas Motor Speedway.