KVSH Racing will partner with Jonathan Byrd's Racing for an entry in the 2015 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race with driver Bryan Clauson.
Jonathan Byrd's Racing announced May 16 that Clauson, 24, of Noblesville, Ind., would drive the car in its return to Indy car racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Clauson is a three-time USAC National Drivers champion, two-time USAC National Midget Series champion and two-time USAC National Sprint Car Series champion. He contested the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.
"When we first began discussions for this entry with the Byrd family, what came to mind was the campaign the Indianapolis Motor Speedway recently launched: 'We all have a story,' '' KVSH Racing partner James "Sulli" Sullivan said. "The Byrd's have a storied history at the Speedway and we're pleased to announce they'll be returning with KVSH Racing to start the next chapter of the Jonathan Byrd's Racing story.
"I also think it is interesting to note that one of my partners, Jimmy Vasser, was sponsored by Jonathan Byrd for his second Indy 500, so we have come full circle."
The 2015 race is May 24. This year, Clauson is back in the Tony Stewart Racing No. 20 Sprint Car to defend his USAC National Sprint Car Championship. He's also driving the No. 63 Joe Dooling-owned Midget for the USAC National Dirt Midget Series as well as select POWRi midget races and Winged Sprint Car races.
"We have a lot of great things happening at Jonathan Byrd's Racing, and aligning ourselves with KVSH Racing, a team which has competed many times at Indy and won the race, is a big step forward for our program," Clauson said.
Fans vote for Montoya
The Formula Smiles Foundation drives off with a $33,000 donation from Verizon after Juan Pablo Montoya was the top vote-getter in the #WhosGonnaWin social media campaign in which fans made their selections for the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Points penalties imposed on manufacturers, drivers, entrants
INDYCAR announced that Honda has been penalized a total of 60 Engine Manufacturer Championship points and Chevrolet 10 points per Verizon IndyCar Series rules for violation of Rule 16.5.1 (engine change under mileage).
Honda engines were changed out in the Nos. 14, 15, 19, 25, 27 and 34 entries. Chevrolet changed an engine in the No. 20 entry. Each occurrence is a 10-point penalty incurred by the manufacturer.
Also, engine changes in the No. 5 (Jacques Villeneuve/Schmidt Peterson Motorsports), No. 16 (Oriol Servia/Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), No. 41 (Martin Plowman/A.J. Foyt Racing) and No. 68 (Alex Tagliani/Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing) cars violated Rule 16.5.1 (entrant initiated engine change under mileage). Each entrant and driver has been assessed a 10-point penalty, according to Verizon IndyCar Series rules.
Members may contest the imposition of the penalty pursuant to the procedures and timelines detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the Verizon IndyCar Series rulebook.
Of note
Helio Castroneves led 38 laps in the 98th Indianapolis 500 to surpass 5,000 in his Indy car career. Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Michael Andretti are the only other drivers to surpass 5,000 laps led. ... Tony Kanaan led one lap at Indianapolis to mark his 100th race in which he has led a lap. ... Juan Pablo Montoya, driving the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske car, recorded the fastest lap (225.191 mph) of the Indianapolis 500 to earn $5,000 from Sunoco.