Bryan Clauson, who competed in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, won the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals on Jan. 18 in Tulsa, Okla.
The 2013 USAC National Champion and former Firestone Indy Lights competitor held off Kevin Swindell by 1.556 seconds in the final. Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., led Laps 6-55.
"I felt like I had a car that could compete for the win from the time we unloaded the car," Clauson said. "It's the biggest win of my career.”
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing development driver Kyle O'Gara, who competed in two Firestone Indy Lights races in 2013, placed 15th in the E Features but did not advance.
Meet Kimball and Montoya on Jan. 24
Juan Pablo Montoya, who will drive the No. 2 Chevrolet-powered car for Team Penske this season, will join No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing driver Charlie Kimball in greeting fans Jan. 24 at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit.
The drivers will participate in a panel discussion, hosted on the main stage in the Cobo Center Atrium, followed by an autograph session.
Visitors to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix display in Cobo Center's Michigan Hall will have the opportunity to take a picture on a podium with with a race trophy and a bottle of champagne. Fans can download their podium image for free from the Grand Prix Facebook page.
Huertas test impresses Panther Racing owner
Panther Racing managing partner John Barnes was impressed with Carlos Huertas, who drove the No. 4 car during a Chevrolet manufacturer test Jan. 17 at Sebring International Raceway.
"Considering he had never seen an IndyCar before, had never been to Sebring, and we ran a relatively conservative setup, he was extremely competitive all day and never put a wheel off the track," Barnes said. "In these situations, you look for certain characteristics in a driver, and he had them all, including giving great feedback to our crew, fully understanding the data he was presented with ... and utilizing that information to go faster the next time out."
Huertas, 22, competed in Formula Renault 3.5 in Europe last season.
"It was a good experience and I am looking forward to my next opportunity to drive an IndyCar," he said.
Of note
Chevrolet trucks and Cadillac have been named the official vehicles of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 30. ... Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser and Kenny Brack will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. ... The Foyt Family Wines (2010 No. 77 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon) won the Double Gold Medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for the second consecutive year in the "Cabernet Sauvignon $60.00 & Over” category in the world’s largest competition of American wines.