James Hinchcliffe will lead his second blood donation drive in conjunction with an INDYCAR event on Friday at Iowa Speedway.
The community is invited to join the race to help save lives at the American Red Cross James Hinchcliffe Challenge Blood Drive presented by INDYCAR Cares, Iowa Speedway Cares and the Verizon IndyCar Series. The drive runs from 2 to 8 p.m. ET Friday at the track’s Newton Club and is open to anyone willing to donate blood.
The first 100 donors will receive a paddock pass to Sunday’s Iowa Corn 300, allowing access to the INDYCAR garage area to get a close-up look at the cars and drivers that will be competing in the race on the 0.894-mile oval.
KIX 101.1 FM will broadcast its “Horsepower Hour” during the blood drive, with Verizon IndyCar Series drivers joining host Todd Steinkamp for a preview Iowa Corn 300. Donors will also receive a free Red Cross T-shirt while supplies last.
Donors are encouraged to sign up in advance at redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “IASpeedway” or call (800) 733-2767 to make an appointment for the drive.
Since his serious crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015, when he needed 22 units of blood to survive, Hinchcliffe has been an advocate for blood donations. He hosted his first blood drive in May prior to the Indianapolis 500.
“It took something tragic to happen to me to help me understand the need for blood products,” the driver of the No. 5 Arrow Electronics Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda said. “I'm working with the Red Cross to do whatever I can to raise awareness about the need for lifesaving blood donations.”
The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types are needed.
Classic Indy cars will be on display at Iowa Speedway
The Classic Racing Times is bringing a number of its vintage Indy cars for a pair of on-track sessions during the Iowa Corn 300 weekend at Iowa Speedway.
Featured cars are expected to include the No. 64 Gilmore Brawner/McGee Scorpion driven by Art Pollard in the 1971 Indy 500 and a scrupulously detailed reproduction of the last front-engine car to win at Indianapolis, A.J. Foyt’s 1964 Sheraton-Thompson Special No. 1.
Also on display will be the No. 16 1979 Leader Card Watson Champ Car built by A.J. Watson, the legendary car builder of the 1950s and ‘60s.
"These innovative and historically significant cars are the predecessors of the phenomenal IndyCar Series cars that will be racing on track," said Iowa Speedway President David Hyatt. "If the nearly 185 mph speeds that today's drivers will turn around here this weekend aren't enough, fans will get a glimpse of automotive genius – both past and present – prior to the starting command for the Iowa Corn 300."
The Classic Racing Times has previously hosted Indy cars of the past at Verizon IndyCar Series events at Pocono Raceway and ISM Raceway, but this will be the first appearance at Iowa.
"The vintage racing community has long been excited about an opportunity to visit Iowa Speedway. It's such a great facility, in a great community, with a wonderful family atmosphere," said Gary Mondschein, president of The Classic Racing Times. "Iowa Speedway is the perfect place to join the modern excitement of the Iowa Corn 300 with the rich history of racing in America."
Chaves, Pigot earn top-10 finishes at IMSA Watkins Glen race
Current Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Gabby Chaves and Spencer Pigot slipped into the sports car world over the weekend and each came away with a top-10 finish in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen endurance race.
Chaves, whose full-time job is driving the No. 88 Harding Group Chevrolet for Harding Racing, filled in for the injured Joao Barbosa in the No. 5 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi. Chaves teamed with Filipe Albuquerque and former Indy car driver Christian Fittipaldi to finish sixth.
Spencer Pigot, normally the driver of the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet in the Verizon IndyCar Series, returned to drive the No. 55 Mazda Team Joest DPi along with Jonathan Bomarito and Harry Tincknell. They finished 10th, the last car on the lead lap.
Borg-Warner Trophy to visit Goodwood Festival of Speed
BorgWarner, the official turbocharger supplier to the Verizon IndyCar Series, is taking its famous Borg-Warner Trophy – which features the likeness of every Indianapolis 500 winner – to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England from July 12-15. It will mark the iconic trophy’s first trip to Europe in its 82-year history.
The Goodwood festival was first held in 1993 and is celebrating its “Silver Jubilee” this year. The sterling silver trophy valued at $3.5 million will serve as a perfect complement for the show featuring some of the greatest and most popular two- and four-wheel vehicles in history.
“We are thrilled to make our debut at the renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed by bringing the Borg-Warner Trophy to town,” said Scott Gallett, BorgWarner’s vice president of marketing, public relations, communications and government affairs. “With winners such as British racing legend Graham Hill, the Borg-Warner Trophy is not only linked to American motorsports, but also to British racing history. Since the Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrates the love of racing, it is an ideal opportunity to present the Borg-Warner Trophy to racing fans.”
Vote for Indianapolis 500 as ‘Best Motorsports Race’
The Indianapolis 500 has been nominated for “Best Motorsports Race” in this year’s USA TODAY 10Best Poll.
The iconic race is among 20 nominees in the category. Fans can vote daily through July 23 for the Indy 500 at https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-motorsports-race/indianapolis-500-indianapolis/.
Grand Prix of Portland single-day tickets on sale
Single-day tickets for the Grand Prix of Portland, Indy car racing’s return to the Pacific Northwest, are available now at portlandgp.com.
The Verizon IndyCar Series event on Labor Day weekend will see the sport race at Portland International Raceway for the first time since 2007. Ticket prices start as low as $20 for single-day general admission and $70 for reserved grandstand seats.
Three-day tickets are still available for purchase to secure the top seats at the best value in the grandstands for the entire race weekend. Sold only in the three-day option and including a paddock pass to get up close to the stars and cars racing on track, a limited quantity of Gold Level reserved grandstand seats for the highest rows remain.
Children 12 and under receive free general admission to the event and free admission to the Verizon IndyCar Series paddock when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
“Ticket demand has remained strong since Grand Prix of Portland sales for the multi-day passes opened in April,” said Jerry Jensen, general manager of the Grand Prix of Portland. “We’ve added more motorhome spaces and hospitality suites will line the track in prime locations offering great viewing and an exceptional experience. These have proven to be a very popular entertainment option. This is going to be a can’t-miss major event in the Pacific Northwest to wrap up the summer season.”
The 102-lap Verizon IndyCar Series headliner on Sunday, Sept. 2 is the 16th of 17 races on the 2018 schedule. All three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder will conduct doubleheader race weekends to complete their seasons at Portland.
Annual Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test set for Sept. 22-23
The eighth annual Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test for all three levels of the INDYCAR-sanctioned Mazda Road to Indy will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Sept. 22-23. The test is named in honor of Chris Griffis, a longtime member of the motorsports community who led Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Indy Lights organization before passing unexpectedly in September 2011.
The test will come three weeks after the conclusion of the 2018 season. It will offer an opportunity for teams and drivers in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda, the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires to gain a head start on 2019 and allowed new drivers the chance to test.