U.S. Concrete and Andretti Autosport announced a multiyear agreement that will see the ready-mixed concrete company serve as primary sponsor on Marco Andretti’s car for seven Verizon IndyCar Series races in each season starting in 2019, including the Indianapolis 500.
U.S. Concrete debuted as a sponsor on the No. 98 Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Honda earlier this season and will be on the car this weekend for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway – the home race for Andretti, who hails from nearby Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Today’s announcement solidifies the partnership between the leader in concrete manufacturing and green building and the race-winning team.
“It’s great to be able to announce this extension for 2019 and beyond,”said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “Our companies share many values, and both serve as leaders in our industries. We’ve built a great foundation over the last year and are proud to continue to represent U.S. Concrete both on and off the racetrack.”
Marco Andretti is in his 13th Verizon IndyCar Series season, all with Andretti Autosport. He has two career wins and his 213 consecutive race starts heading to Pocono on Sunday are the most by any driver in Indy car history to start their career.
“We truly value our relationship with Marco and Andretti Autosport,”said Bill Sandbrook, chairman, president and CEO of U.S. Concrete. “The ability to team up with a world-class driver, team and organization who share our commitment to safety, operational excellence and winning, provides us a unique value enhancing partnership – unparalleled in our industry.”
Hinchcliffe named honorary grand marshal for USAC.25 Pocono races
The United States Auto Club announced that Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe will serve as honorary grand marshal for its final national pavement quarter-midget race at Pocono Raceway this weekend.
The USAC.25 series event August 17-19 is run in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series’ ABC Supply 500 race weekend at Pocono. Hinchcliffe, who drives the No. 5 Arrow Electronics SPM Honda, will visit the USAC.25 track on the Pocono grounds at 4:30 pm ET Friday.
“I’m looking forward to being the grand marshal for the USAC.25 series race at Pocono Raceway,” Hinchcliffe said. “As a kid, I always loved the opportunity to race at iconic venues when big events were in town, so I imagine a lot of these drivers will be having that same feeling. Most of all, just looking forward to some good, safe racing and enjoying some time with the future drivers of our sport!”
The Pocono race is the seventh of eight races that make up the 2018 USAC.25 national schedule, which consists of five pavement and three dirt races for aspiring young racers ages 5 and up. With at least 40 USAC.25 clubs across the country, thousands of children and their families participate in USAC-sanctioned quarter midget series events.
Gateway repaves pit road ahead of INDYCAR return
Gateway Motorsports Park is continuing to upgrade its facilities in anticipation of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ return for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline race weekend on Aug. 24-25.
Crews last week repaved the pit road entrance and exit to make the trip to pit lane smoother for drivers. Outside the track, paving was done to widen and lengthen access roads to and from the track parking lots to better accommodate traffic flow. The paving project estimated at $1 million comes a year after a $2 million effort to repave the track surface in time for last year’s race, which saw Indy cars return to the 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois, for the first time in 14 years.
Gateway officials and INDYCAR are also planning the return of a free fan fest in downtown St. Louis to spark interest that will include appearances by nearly a dozen Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires drivers to spark interest in the race. The fan fest is set for 6-8 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 23 in Ballpark Village adjacent to Busch Stadium, the home of baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals.
Fans based in the Indianapolis area can once again take a bus to the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on race day. The bus departs at 10 a.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 25 from the INDYCAR offices parking lot on West 16th Street across from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will return following the race that night. The cost is $149 per person and includes roundtrip bus travel, a Silver Level grandstand ticket, paddock pass and more.
Space for the bus trip is limited. Call 618-215-8888, Extension 101 or 106, to reserve a spot. For more information, click here.
Power, Sato throwing out first pitches
Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Will Power and Takuma Sato are scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to a pair of National League baseball games today.
Power, the Team Penske driver, reigning Indianapolis 500 champion and two-time defending winner of the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that takes place Sunday, is slated to throw the first pitch in Philadelphia prior to the Phillies’ game with the New York Mets at 4 p.m. ET. A live Facebook stream of the game is available beginning at 3:50 p.m. by clicking here.
Sato, the 2017 Indy 500 winner who drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, will be in St. Louis tonight to throw out the first pitch before the Cardinals’ 7 p.m. ET home game against the Washington Nationals on Gateway Motorsports Night at Busch Stadium. Fans purchasing a special theme night ticket will receive a racing-inspired cap and general admission ticket to qualifying night on Friday, Aug. 24 for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at Gateway Motorsports Park.
IMS Museum schedules second memorabilia meet
Many of the top auto racing memorabilia collectors and dealers are expected to participate in the second annual memorabilia meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on Saturday, Sept. 22. Among the items expected available for sale will be autographed photos, programs, yearbooks, posters and diecast cars.
The show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The museum ticket price of $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-15 also grants admission to the meet. Those interested in reserving a table for the show may Mike Thomsen at 317-492-5703 or Amanda Roell at 317-492-5705.