Scott Dixon has finished on the podium in all six previous Verizon IndyCar Series races at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, but never on the top step reserved for the race winner.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver is hoping his car’s livery for this weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will bring a Coke and a smile. Dixon will drive the No. 9 Coca-Cola Chevrolet in the April 22-24 race weekend, the fourth of 16 events on the 2016 schedule.
CLICK HERE: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama entry list
Coca-Cola unveiled today the music-themed paint scheme it will run on the car as part of a wider campaign. The soft-drink company is bringing back its "Share a Coke" marketing campaign, which the last two years focused on putting names on packaging and this year will transition to running lyrics from around 70 approved songs.
Dixon’s car will feature the classic red Coca-Cola logo alongside a volume dial to the left of one of the mirrors, a mock turntable on the rear wing, earbuds by the cockpit and black and red "flowing bands" running horizontally along the length of the car.
Dixon finished second in each of the first four Barber races (2010-13) and third in the past two. While winless, he enjoys the scenic 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course.
“Barber is demanding,” Dixon said. “It’s like a little bullring almost. It’s very fast and very high-grip. There are both fast and blind corners and it can get narrow in some places as well.
“We also run well here and I’m looking forward to doing that again this weekend in the Coca-Cola car.”
Opening practice at Barber on April 22 will be telecast live on NBCSN (noon ET), as well as Verizon P1 Award qualifying on April 23 (4 p.m. ET) and the 90-lap Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on April 24 (3 p.m. ET). All practice sessions except the first will stream live at RaceControl.IndyCar.com.
Allison Transmission sponsoring Ed Carpenter Racing entries in May: Allison Transmission Holdings Inc., whose history traces to the founding of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, today announced a sponsorship with Ed Carpenter Racing for the two Verizon IndyCar Series events at IMS in May, the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14 and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 29.
Allison will appear on the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet driven by Josef Newgarden for the grand prix on the IMS road course and on the No. 20 Chevy driven by two-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner and team owner Ed Carpenter for the Indianapolis 500.
Allison’s corporate lineage goes back to the founding of the Indianapolis Speedway Team Co. on Sept. 14, 1915. As a co-founder of IMS and part owner of several racing teams, James A. Allison, a prominent entrepreneur, innovator and businessman, established a precision machine shop and experimental firm near the fabled racetrack on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., called the Allison Experimental Co. to support his racing endeavors. As a race team owner, Allison won the 1919 Indianapolis 500 with driver Howdy Wilcox.
“We’re thrilled to be involved with Ed Carpenter Racing and the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Lou Gilbert, director of North American marketing and global brand development for Allison Transmission. “In celebration of our shared heritage with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and both of our recent centennial milestones, we’re proud to support our hometown race team for a second consecutive year.”
Goldsmith, Patrick to be inducted into IMS Auto Racing Hall of Fame: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation announced that legendary motorcycle racer and stock car driver Paul Goldsmith and U.E. "Pat" Patrick, who entered three winning cars in the Indianapolis 500, will be inducted this year into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Selected by a distinguished panel of more than 100 experts in auto racing, Goldsmith and Patrick bring to 152 the number of individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to the sport of racing and to the development of the automotive industry. The Auto Racing Hall of Fame, founded in 1952, is located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Goldsmith and Patrick will be honored May 26 at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet presented by Pennzoil and held in collaboration with the International Association of Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers.
Festival on Main returning to Speedway in May: The Indy Family Foundation is revving up for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil by reviving the popular “Festival on Main” in Speedway, Ind., with support from the 100th Running Host Committee and the Speedway Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s family-friendly street festival on May 13 (5-11 p.m. ET) will feature a free live concert, celebrity dunk tank, appearances by popular Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Indianapolis 500 drivers, food trucks, a classic car show, craft beer gardens and other exciting entertainment, including a BMX performance by Wonder Wheels of Indianapolis. The free concert features nationally known acts including Indiana natives Josh Kaufman and Jon McLaughlin. General admission to the event is free of charge.
Festival on Main benefits the Indy Family Foundation, who most recently helped to facilitate the Justin Wilson Children’s Fund. The Festival on Main is also teaming with Indy's Best Party with a Purpose, Pub Theology, who will work with Feeding Children Everywhere to pack 100,000 meals during the event. Assembly lines will be formed to pack 100,000 meals for children in need across Indiana.
For more information about the Festival on Main, visit indyfamilyfoundation.com.