Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner, won his fourth Capacete de Ouro, one of the highest honors given to Brazilian racing drivers by the magazine Racing.
Kanaan, who last won the honor in 2007, earned the award in the TOP category, which is given to the top driver racing in INDYCAR or Formula One. Helio Castroneves was awarded the silver helmet while Felipe Massa received the bronze helmet.
Created in 1997 for Racing, the Capacete de Ouro (Golden Helmet) is selected by a vote of Brazilian journalists. The award ceremony took place Nov. 20 in São Paulo. Kanaan wasn't present. He attended the holiday party of his new team, Target Chip Ganassi Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The next morning, he took a spin (literally) in his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on the wet Speedway road course that will host the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10, 2014. Paving of the circuit was completed earlier this week.
Kanaan returns to Indianapolis on Dec. 2 for the unveiling of his bas relief image on the Borg-Warner Trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The public is invited to the 2 p.m. event. Regular Museum admission will be charged.
Grand Prix of Indianapolis to feat fan-designed trophy
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Arts Council of Indianapolis encourage fans to participate in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis Trophy Design Project, which will create the winner’s trophy for the inaugural IndyCar Series road race on the IMS road course on Saturday, May 10, 2014.
Fans should visit www.ims.com/trophycontest to submit an entry and for rules and regulations. Entries must be submitted no later than Jan. 18, 2014.
“Everyone who enters this contest will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide the winning trophy design for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “We’re proud to join with the Arts Council of Indianapolis for this project that will connect our fans with this new and exciting event, and we’re all anxious to see the creative talents of our fans.”
The winning designer will be recognized at an unveiling ceremony in early February. The winner also will receive a replica of the new Grand Prix of Indianapolis trophy, two suite tickets to the inaugural race and a post-race photo with the winner of the 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
Youth Motorsports Conference features multiple speakers
Aspiring Indy car drivers and their families are encouraged to attend the Youth Motorsports Conference – Driver Development Strategies from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 14 in rooms 116-117 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Under the umbrella program of bridging the gap from the amateur to professional driver, speakers at sessions will address how to use driver coaching, video and data; the use of simulators and their effectiveness and an update on safety equipment for 2014.
Also, former Indy car and Formula One driver Derek Daly will talk about what tools a driver needs to become a professional driver and describe how his son, Conor, advanced from karting competition to running in the 97th Indianapolis 500.
Registration is required HERE. The event is part of the Performance Racing Industries show.
Brazilian driver Derani joins Mazda Road to Indy
Brazilian racer Luis Felipe "Pipo" Derani will join Team Pelfrey for the 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.
Derani, 20, began his racing career in karts, winning the Paulista Junior championship in 2005. He made the switch to cars in 2009, and since then has been based in Europe, competing in Formula Renault, British Formula 3 and the European Formula 3 series.
Of note
Free admission will be offered to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and the narrated track tour on Dec. 20 as part of the "12 Free Days in Downtown Indy." The Hall of Fame Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 20. For more information, call 317-492-6784 or visit www.ims.com.