Indy 500: IMS notebook 2009-05-15

INDIANAPOLIS 500 NOTEBOOK

IRL technical official wins Schwitzer Award; Page returns to IMS Radio Network team

INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, May 15, 2009 -- Indy Racing League Director of Engineering Jeff Horton won the 43rd annual BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award for the development of the Head and Neck Restraint Extension, a safety add-on to the existing HANS Device used by all drivers in IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights events.

Horton received a $10,000 award May 15 from BorgWarner, presented by the Indiana Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Horton is donating the prize on behalf of the IRL to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a charity founded by the late Paul Newman.

"It's kind of unbelievable," Horton said of receiving the award. "I never thought my name would be on that list."

The Head and Neck Restraint Extension helps prevent injury to drivers by enabling the head, neck and shoulders to slide unobstructed against the headrest during a rear-end collision. The device fastens to the top portion of the HANS Device.

"The head, neck and body should move as a complete system," Horton said. "Life is pretty good when that happens. When one of those pieces stops, that's when injuries occur."

The device was developed over a two-year period and refined through 16 test runs on the IRL's THOR crash simulation dummy, Horton said.

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Page returns to IMS Radio Network broadcast: Former IMS Radio Network anchor and ABC Indianapolis 500 anchor Paul Page will offer commentary during the IMS Radio Network broadcast of the 2009 Indianapolis 500. Page will provide pre-race, mid-race and post-race comments. Page will join former IMS Radio Network anchor Bob Jenkins and current anchor Mike King for a pre-race commentary on past "500" radio broadcasts.

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IZOD to sponsor The Rollie: IZOD, the official apparel sponsor for the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Firestone Indy Lights, will serve as the presenting sponsor for one of the major annual events at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, The Rollie.

The fourth annual The Rollie golf tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at the 18-hole championship course at IMS. The event is named in honor of Brickyard Crossing Professional Emeritus Rollie Schroeder, who served as head pro for 39 years at the course. Participants in The Rollie will include current and former Indianapolis 500 drivers, team owners, celebrities, local media personalities and motorsports insiders.

This year's event will pay special tribute to Indianapolis 500 racing legend Lloyd Ruby and local catering favorite Jug Eckert, longtime supporters of the event who died since last year's tournament.

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Coke Zero Music Fest Saturday: Coke Zero Music Fest on Saturday, May 16 will feature Grammy Award-nominated alternative rock band Plain White T's on the Coke Zero Stage. The band's acoustic ballad, "Hey There Delilah," was nominated for a Grammy in 2008. Hollywood Records artist Plain White T's is touring to support its latest album, "Big Bad World."

The Post Script will open the concert, which starts at 2 p.m. The band won the "Breakout Band" contest promoted by Indianapolis' Radio Now 100.9 to determine one of the opening acts alongside DJ Orion.

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SIRIUS XM providing complete Indy coverage: SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI), the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the Indy Racing League (IRL), is offering comprehensive coverage of the Indianapolis 500 to both XM subscribers and SIRIUS subscribers with the "Best of XM" programming package.

SIRIUS XM will broadcast "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500, live from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24 on Indy Car Series Racing, XM channel 145 and SIRIUS channel 211 (part of the "Best of XM"). Motorsports fans will hear pre-race programming starting at noon (ET), including pre-race commentary and analysis by the IMS Radio Network broadcast team, interviews with drivers and live coverage of driver introductions. When the green flag drops at 1 p.m., SIRIUS XM listeners will hear live wheel-to-wheel action on the track through every turn and straightaway.

In addition to the Indy 500, SIRIUS XM will broadcast the Firestone Freedom 100 race from the Firestone Indy Lights series at 12:15 p.m. Friday, May 22 on Indy Car Series Racing, XM channel 145 and SIRIUS channel 211 ("Best of XM"). After the race, SIRIUS XM will air IMS Radio Network's review of all the action from Miller Lite Carb Day, offering a recap of the day's Indy 500 practice, the Pit Stop Challenge and the Firestone Freedom 100.

On Community Day, Wednesday, May 20, SIRIUS XM's exclusive all-sports talk channel, Mad Dog Radio, will broadcast a special Indy 500 preview live from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. from the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Host Gary Williams will preview Sunday's race, interview some of the series' top drivers, team owners and past Indy 500 champions, and talk with IndyCar fans from around the country. Mad Dog Radio is available nationwide exclusively on SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144.

SIRIUS XM's coverage will include live broadcasts of all Indy 500 qualifying sessions, including "Bump Day" on Sunday, May 17, the final day of qualifying.

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2009 IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.

Tickets for the three events in 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- the 93rd Indianapolis 500, 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and second Red Bull Indianapolis GP -- can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time.

-credit: ims