Series news and notes 2010-06-24

Today's IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines:
1. Tracy to sub for Conway at The Glen
2. Franchitti earns ESPY nod
3. Road to Indy series visit New Jersey

1. Tracy to sub for Conway at The Glen: Paul Tracy will compete in the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen on July 2-4 in the No. 24 Honda Indy Toronto car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Tracy had previously announced that he would drive in the Canadian races in July -- the Honda Indy Toronto and Honda Indy Edmonton.

Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, will be making his ninth IZOD IndyCar Series start and his second at Watkins Glen International. He is one of the most successful drivers in Indy car racing with 31 career victories.

"It's obviously a good feeling to get more races, especially being able to race at The Glen and building up momentum before going into the Canadian events," said Tracy, whose sponsorship package for The Glen includes wheel manufacturer Motegi Racing. "It's also great to have the support of Honda Indy Toronto and Motegi Racing for this race as well.

"I'm really excited about working with Robbie Buhl again and to get to work with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. I've known Robbie from our early days in racing back when we competed against each other in the Indy Lights Series. It's very exciting to branch out with another team I haven't been with before and I'm looking forward to a good weekend."

Tracy will fill in for the injured Mike Conway at The Glen. Decisions have not been made on a driver for other races as Conway convalesces in the UK.

"We are very happy to have Paul drive for us," Buhl said. "He's a great driver and a big personality and we are thrilled to have him driving for us in Watkins Glen. We were extremely strong there last year and with Paul's racing experience and him being teamed up with Justin Wilson, we feel that we'll have an extremely strong package for the weekend.

"We obviously wish that Mike could be with us, but we just want him to have a quick recovery. Paul was a perfect fit and we couldn't be happier to have him behind the wheel."

Wilson is the defending race winner, having taken a Dale Coyne Racing entry to Victory Circle. He has a pair of runner-up finishes early this season in the No. 22 Z-Line Designs car.

2. Franchitti earns ESPY nod: Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti is one of five champion racers nominated for best driver at the 2010 ESPY Awards.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner is joined by NASCAR champions Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday and NHRA top fuel champion Tony Schumacher in the category which will be awarded July 14 in Los Angeles.

The ESPYS will be hosted by Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live" and televised live (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). Voting for the award is underway at ESPN.com.

3. Road to Indy series visit New Jersey: While the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights teams are taking a well-deserved weekend off, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda are racing at New Jersey Motorsports Park as part of the Mazda Motorsports Festival presented by VisitFlorida.com.

Conor Daly, the 18-year-old son of former Indy car and Formula One driver Derek Daly, has won the last four Star Mazda events and goes for a series-record fifth win at New Jersey, where he won in 2009. The field also features veteran AMA superbike rider Larry Pegram, who will make the jump to four wheels and race in the Expert class for drivers 30 and older.

Sage Karam looks to continue his successful run through the USF2000 calendar as the series contests a doubleheader at NJMP.

The 15-year-old from Nazareth, Pa., has won three of four races, so far, and aims to maintain his point lead over Patrick McKenna.

"Iowa was great, but New Jersey will be exciting because it's close to my hometown (Nazareth, Pa.), and we should have a lot of friends and relatives there," Karam said.

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The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season continues July 4 with the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 3:30 p.m. (ET) by ABC. 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 Corning 100 on July 4 at the Watkins Glen International.

-source: irl