Series news and notes 2010-04-14

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines
1. Plowman, Yacaman share stories with Indianapolis 500 Education Program students
2. Vasser aims for win in Toyota Pro Celebrity race
3. Safefreight Technology Named Offical Mobile Security Provider To The Indy Racing League

1. Plowman, Yacaman share stories with Indianapolis 500 Education Program students: As residents of Indianapolis during the racing season, Firestone Indy Lights drivers Martin Plowman and Gustavo Yacaman have grown to love the Indianapolis 500.

They shared that love with about 1,000 fourth-grade students from around the state of Indiana during a 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Educational Program Study Trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 13.

"It was a nice day at IMS," said Yacaman, who drives the No. 10 Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing car. "All of students were really smart and polite. It was really cool when one of the kids came up to me and told me that he thought I was awesome. It really made my day!"

Yacaman and Plowman explained how a race car worked to the group of students using the IZOD IndyCar Series cutaway car and took time to answer questions from students ranging from "what does it feels like to be in car?," and "How long have you been involved in racing?," to "Have you ever crashed?" and "What happens if your wheel falls off?"

"I had a lot of fun spending time with the kids," Plowman said. "It was really cool to see them get excited about meeting a "driver". It hammered home the pressure and responsibility that I and other drivers have of being role models. Even if I don't feel I deserve that status, they look up to you.

" I will definitely be back in May to give more time to this project, as giving my time is the least that I can do to help get the future of the sport excited for a sport that I love."

The 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Educational Program is for Indiana fourth grade students opens up the world of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 and their important place in Indiana's history and culture.

The program offers a variety of interesting and thought-provoking lessons and projects and a unique opportunity to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for an educational study trip during the months of April and May.

This year, more than 19,232 students from 261 schools are participating in the program with approximately 7,500 students visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Study Trips.

2. Vasser aims for win in Toyota Pro Celebrity race: Between IZOD IndyCar Series practice and qualifications April 17 for the 36th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, KV Racing Technology crew members will attempt to catch of few minutes of Jimmy Vasser on the 1.9-mile temporary street circuit.

The team co-owner will compete in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. He's among the pros (the pro actually) entered.

"It's great fun to be out there racing, throwing cars around on the track," said Vasser, who won at Long Beach in his Atlantic series debut in 1991. "I'm just really excited. Next to Indianapolis, Long Beach to my heart is the No. 1 race of the year. I've had so many great races there. I figured I had my last race at Long Beach in 2008 and now low and behold I'm back again a celebrity race. I can't get Long Beach out of my blood."

Drivers will compete in identically-prepared Scion tCs in the 10-lap race that benefits Racing for Kids (a $5,000 donation in the name of each celebrity participant) plus $5,000 to the winner's charity of choice. On behalf of the race and its participants, Toyota has donated more than $1.8 million to various children's hospitals since 1991.

Also, a $15,000 donation is made in conjunction with the 13th annual "PEOPLE Pole Award." Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award honors the pole winner from the April 16 qualifying session.

Joining Vasser in the Pro category are 2009 Celebrity category winner Keanu Reeves, Steve Millen (1986 and '88 Toyota MTEG champion and 1992 and '94 IMSA GT champion), Tanner Foust (Formula Drift champion and X Games Rally Gold Medalist), Jamie Bestwick (X Games athlete), and Marty Nothstein (Funny Car driver, professional road bicycle racer and track cyclist).

Celebrities participating include:
Megyn Price (Actress, "Rules of Engagement")
Zachary Levi (Actor, "Chuck")
Brian Austin Green (Actor, "Beverly Hills 90210")
Jesse McCartney (Musician/singer)
Adam Carolla (DJ, "Loveline")
Adrien Brody (Actor, "The Pianist," "King Kong")
Christian Slater (Actor, "True Romance," "Broken Arrow")
Tony Hawk (Pro skateboarder)
Tika Sumpter (Actress, "One Life to Live")
Patrick Warburton (Actor, "Rules of Engagement," "Seinfeld"

The Southern California Toyota Dealer seat is being filled by Chris Ashworth, Vice President & Partner of Toyota of North Hollywood. Rounding out the field are charity auction winners Jerry Westlund and Dave Pasant, who each won the opportunity to race in exchange for donations they made in two different charity auctions.

3. Safefreight Technology Named Offical Mobile Security Provider To The Indy Racing League: Safefreight Technology will serve as the official mobile security supplier of the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.

The Indy Racing League will utilize Safefreight's Smartfleet system on all league transporters and trailers protecting these critical race assets during the season. Safefreight's technology will offer the Indy Racing League far more than just security monitoring. Built into the system provided by the company is GPS vehicle tracking, trailer monitoring, vehicle diagnostics monitoring and other functionality that will enable the Indy Racing League to more efficiently utilize their fleet of vehicles with an objective of reducing carbon emissions. The gains in efficiency directly tie back to the league's focus on becoming more environmentally friendly.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be associated with the Indy Racing League, an organization with a storied history in U.S. motorsport. The league's "Whatever it takes" winning attitude and dedication to excellence is in line with Safefreight's approach to our clients and business," said Safefreight's CEO Curtis Serna.

SecurityGuard™ is the hardware component of the Smartfleet system. It's a smart device that works on both vehicles and transporters and uses sensors and a cellular or satellite modem to communicate exceptions - like door openings, accidents or speeding - to key personnel over the internet. Safefreight's transportation management system has been designed for application to a variety of trailers including commercial transportation trailers, utility trailers, including refrigeration installed trailers.

"The league and its teams invest millions of dollars in equipment for the racing season so we want to make sure we have the best possible security for the transporters," said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division of the Indy Racing League. "Safefreight's SecurityGuard™ technology will give us piece of mind when our equipment is on the road, knowing we have the best system protecting our cargo."

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The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season continues April 18 with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the streets of Long Beach, Calif. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at :3:30 p.m. (ET) by VERSUS. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The race also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Grand Prix of Long Beach April 18 on the streets of Long Beach, Calif.. The race will air live on indycar.com.

-source: irl