David Ostella returns with AIM Autosport for 2010 Focus on strong second season in Star Mazda Championship
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| Woodbridge, Ontario, March 9, 2010 - AIM Autsoport is pleased to announce that Ontario native David Ostella is returning for a second season in 2010 to contest the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. The eighteen-year old Ostella will be driving the AIM Autosport / Global Precast No 16 Formula Mazda and he is looking forward to the season’s first race at Sebring International Raceway on March 19. |
| Ostella teamed with AIM in 2009 to run in the Star Mazda Championship and take advantage of their successful open-wheel racing programs. AIM won the 2008 Star Mazda Championship and had a solid reputation for developing young drivers. |
| “It was a very steep learning curve coming into the series last year”, said David. “AIM and Star Mazda team manager Keith Willis have an excellent reputation and they had just come off a championship season so the decision to team with them was easy.” |
| He continued, “We learned a lot in ‘09 and we knew that sticking with AIM and building on last season’s work, could lead to success in 2010. Our goal is to be up front and fight for the championship.” |
| Ostella had a strong debut season with AIM in 2009 ending the year with seven top-ten results including a third-place finish at Iowa Speedway. David also achieved his best qualifying run at that race starting fifth. He would end the season thirteenth overall out of thirty-two cars entered in the championship - a successful result for both David and the team. |
| “We are looking forward to working with David again this year”, commented team principal Keith Willis. “David learned a lot last year and progressed throughout the season. He has developed a strong bond with the race engineers and crew that will also carry forward. It is always an advantage to have that dynamic going into a second season and we look forward to many podium opportunities this year.” |
| AIM and Ostella have been testing over the winter and are now at Sebring for official series testing ahead of the first race later this month. The first race in the Star Mazda Championship takes place March 19th at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. |
| David continues his racing efforts with generous support from Global Precast Intercontinental. He also has renewed support from both Alpinestars and RAW Integrated Ltd. |
| AIM Autosport Facts: Established in 1995, AIM Autosport has a mandate to identify, train and manage emerging motorsport talent. AIM has provided many young drivers with a solid foundation on which to build a career in professional racing. The success of the AIM driver development programs has been achieved through the dedication of our employees and the ongoing support of our commercial and technical partners. Away from the track, AIM Autosport serves the needs of the racing community with a purpose-built preparation shop situated in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge, Ontario. AIM won the 2008 Star Mazda Championship with American John Edwards. In addition to the Star Mazda team, AIM fields the No. 61 Ford Riley with drivers Mark Wilkins and Burt Frisselle in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. |
Trans-Am Series Adds Autobahn Date to 2010 Schedule
Pro Racing03/10/2010
TOPEKA, Kan. (March 10, 2010) – SCCA Pro Racing and Autobahn Country Club announced today that the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series will make its inaugural appearance to the Joliet, Ill. track for Round Seven of the 2010 series calendar.
The Trans-Am Series becomes a featured event on the Mazda-organized July 30-Aug. 1 weekend, which also includes a host of series in the Mazda racing developmental ladder.
“Autobahn and Mazda worked together to set the foundation in 2009 for a great event,” SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Robert Wildberger said. “We’re excited to take the Trans-Am Series to the Chicago area, which has long been a central location for great series competitors.”
“The revitalized Trans-Am Series is a perfect addition to our professional racing weekend,” Autobahn Country Club President Mark Basso said. “Trans-Am is an iconic series in North America and we can’t wait to see the ground pounding, 800-horsepower cars hit the track.”
In addition to the traditional Trans-Am Series cars, the race will include a second class of vehicles called “Pro STO” for SCCA Club Racing Super Touring O class cars.
The addition of the Autobahn round brings the 2010 event total to nine, with the season finale still to be announced.
source http://www.scca.com
Treble returns to DSR; will ride Valvoline Motorcycle Oils Suzuki in Gainesville
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Craig Treble returns to Don Schumacher Racing to ride the Valvoline Motorcycle Oils Suzuki in this weekend’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series’ Pro Stock Motorcycle season-opener at the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville.
Treble last rode a DSR motorcycle in a limited season in 2008, winning once in one final round and reaching the semifinals two times. Career-wise, he has won 14 national events in 29 final rounds, including two victories in three final rounds in 2009 running his own team.
Longtime DSR Pro Stock Motorcycle crew chief Steve Tartaglia will tune the Valvoline Motorcycle Oils Suzuki.
“I’m thrilled to be back with Schumacher and with Steve Tartaglia,” said Treble, who will relocate from New Orleans to Brownsburg, Ind. “The NHRA has given the Suzukis 100ccs, which is a huge deal. The way I see it I’m pretty much on the fastest Suzuki in the class, if history repeats itself. And the 100ccs may be what we need to get a real shot at coming after the V-Twins. They’ve been beating the class up pretty good for the last couple of years.” Matt Smith rode the same Suzuki to one final round in 2009 and was No. 1 qualifier twice, ending the season fourth in the standings on the top Suzuki in the class.
“We’re pleased to have Valvoline Motorcycle Oils come on board to sponsor the Suzuki in the first two races of the 2010 season,” said team owner Don Schumacher. “It will help raise the awareness among motorcycle owners that Valvoline offers a high-quality motorcycle oil that is available in retail auto parts stores. We will continue to pursue other sponsorship for Treble to continue to compete for the rest of 2010.”
“It ought to be a very interesting year, to say the least,” added Treble. “We have to come out swinging and kick some butt in the first couple of races. Hopefully we can give Valvoline Motorcycle Oils a good value for their investment. I know we’re going to have a fast bike and Steve is a very smart man.”
“We at Valvoline love racing and love engines of all types — cars, trucks, and certainly motorcycles,” said John Stotz, Valvoline global brands director. “Having Valvoline on and inside Craig’s bike is a great way to remind users of Valvoline Motorcycle Oil that they’re using the best.
“Being with Don Schumacher Racing in Pro Stock Motorcycle brings together two winners,” Stotz continued. “When it comes to drag racing, DSR is unmatched, and when it comes to motorcycle oil, Valvoline is the No. 1 brand in retail auto channels. It’s a perfect fit.”
source http://www.nhra.com
Take 5: Things to watch race weekend
Five things to watch this weekend at the season-opening São Paulo Indy 300 on the 2.6-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit:
The boys (and girl) from Brazil
Tony Kanaan said he’s heard from relatives he didn’t even know he had who are seeking tickets to the opening race. The IZOD IndyCar Series’ first to Brazil is a national event and the native drivers are taking center stage.
Kanaan, the 2004 series champion, and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves have previously competed in CART races at the 1.864-mile Emerson Fittipaldi oval in Rio de Janeiro. Both drivers competed from 1998-2000 with Kanaan’s best finish of fifth in 1999. Castroneves’ best finish was 23rd in 1998. Those races, however, are ancient history so expect to see plenty of motivation from these drivers and the other Brazilians to win in their home country.
Speed of the circuit
Cars will move down a straightaway (Reta dos Bandeirantes) almost a mile long 75 times in the race, so expect to see speeds topping 180 mph. “With long straightaways, it’s certainly going to be fast and you definitely will have challenges,” Castroneves said. But this race will not be about flat-out speed as a 180-degree turn at the end of the straightaway means some heavy braking and a chance for overtaking.
Get it right the first time
There are only two practice sessions on the circuit totaling 150 minutes before qualifications mid-afternoon on March 13 so an efficient effort to find the balance between speed for the straights and downforce to negotiate the tight corners in necessary. Which will teams choose: maneuverability in the corners to overtake or speed on the three straights? There’s also a 30-minute warm-up a few hours before the green flag.
New faces in new places
Every season means change and this year there’s plenty. Start with Ryan Hunter-Reay joining Andretti Autosport, Takuma Sato and E.J. Viso at KV Racing Technology, Hideki Mutoh at Newman/Haas/Lanigan, Justin Wilson moving to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Alex Tagliani at the first-year FAZZT Race Team, Simona De Silvestro at HVM, and Milka Duno at Dale Coyne Racing. There will be more changes to come later in the season, including Jay Howard at Sarah Fisher Racing and Davey Hamilton running three races for Luczo Dragon Racing/de Ferran Motorsports.
King of the road
Dario Franchitti was the series’ King of the Road in 2009, winning three of the seven street/road course races. Ryan Briscoe, Justin Wilson, Will Power and Scott Dixon each had one win each on a street or road courses. With the first four races on street/road courses, whoever posts solid results throughout will have a nice jump in the championship standings.
source http://www.indycar.com
HVM signs Strous
HVM Racing will participate in the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season with a car driven by Junior Strous, with the intention of progressing the Dutch racer to the IZOD IndyCar Series.
The 23-year-old driver won two races and led the series point standings in 2009, will pilot the Shell/HVM Racing car, beginning with the series-opening event on the Streets of St. Petersburg on March 28.
“I’m now closer to reaching my ultimate goal and that’s racing the big IndyCars,” Strous said. “If I have a chance to improve my position, I’ll always go for it. The HVM partnership offers me good opportunities both for the short and long term in my racing career. HVM is the place to be to achieve my goals.”
HVM Racing team principal and owner Keith Wiggins recognizes the benefits of a ladder system to develop drivers for the premier-level IZOD IndyCar Series and welcomes the opportunity to work with the young driver.
“Junior is a proven talent,” Wiggins said. “He’s won races, so we know he has good skills behind the wheel. We will start him in a (Firestone Indy) Lights car and plan to do some testing with him in the (IZOD IndyCar Series) car at some point this season also. I have no doubt that with continued development he will be in an IZOD IndyCar Series car in the future.”
Strous will run with sponsorship from Shell and the European-based Car Channel Television Network. Car Channel has acquired the live television broadcasting rights for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights in the Netherlands.
“The IZOD IndyCar Series has a large fan base in Europe,” said Etienne Marijnissen, CEO of Car Channel. “Junior driving for Keith Wiggins and HVM is a great development for European televisions viewers, who will get a better understanding and feeling for the fast and exciting Indy Racing League. We will follow Junior and the team on and off track. It will be an exciting racing season in the highest level of motorsports.”
HVM Racing currently fields the No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing entry, driven by Simona De Silvestro, in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
source http://www.indycar.com
Team PBIR ready for year two
Team PBIR (Palm Beach Indy Racing) is hard at work preparing its cars for its second season in Firestone Indy Lights as the opening round of the championship gets closer with each day.
The team is now fully owned by Ron Dixon, father of two-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, and Kane Williams, two New Zealand natives who combine their passion for racing to form the driving force behind the race team.
Team PBIR plans to field a two-car Firestone Indy Lights entry for 2010 as well as exploring options on the Road to Indy ladder system. The team moved to a new race shop (the former Sarah Fisher Racing headquarters) not far from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The change in location has given the team a “we are ready to go racing feel.”
“Our team cars will again carry their team’s distinctive orange and blue color scheme, and along with the team engineers in a newly designed race-day uniform that’s bound to turn heads,” Dixon said. “The cars are in the final stages of car preparation and a full body fit has just been completed on both cars. With the final painting also near completion. the team looks forward to the start of what will be another great season in the Firestone Indy Lights.”
Source http://www.indycar.com
Yorio to Campaign New Piper
Susan Wade
Susan is the National Vice-President of the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association and is a regular contributor to National Speed Sport News, Competition Plus, and Drag Racing Action, as well as The Newark Star-Ledger, The Chicago Tribune, The San Bernardino Sun, and other newspapers throughout the country.
Toyo Tires Remains Presenting Sponsor for NASA Championships and Continues Generous Contingency Program
March 9, 2010 4:21 PM —
RICHMOND, CA - The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is pleased to announce that Toyo Tires has been named the presenting sponsor of the 2010 NASA Championships to be held at Miller Motorsports Park September 16-19, 2010. In addition to the Toyo tires contingency program which is currently available to every NASA member competing in a NASA class which specify the use of the Toyo Proxes RA1 or R888 competition DOT radial Tires, Toyo has also elected to continue their generous contingency program which allows top-finishing racers at the Championship event to walk away with up to $4,000 cash, for a class win. The contingency program worth over $200,000 in cash and “Toyo Dollars” will be open to competitors competing at the NASA Championship on the Toyo Proxes RA1 or R888 competition DOT radial Tires. Complete details on the 2010 Toyo Tires contingency program including payout structure and requirements can be found here. 2010 Toyo contingency details.
source http://www.nasaproracing.com
Capps to run NAPA Filters car in Gainesville
As part of a NAPA Auto Parts March promotion, Ron Capps will drive the NAPA Filters Dodge Charger Funny Car at the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, March 11-14, the third event of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
During March, consumers will receive a free NAPA racing cap with any purchase at participating NAPA Auto Parts stores (while supplies last) and will receive 40 percent off the regular price of NAPA Gold Filters (air/oil/fuel/cabin air). At NAPA AutoCare Centers or any installer using NAPA parts, consumers will receive a $20 mail-in rebate when they purchase a NAPA Gold Air or Cabin air filter in conjunction with an oil change using a NAPA Gold or ProSelect oil filter.
“I’ve been talking about the NAPA Know How that has helped us get to the final round in Pomona and to the quarterfinals in Phoenix, in the first two races of the 2010 season,” said Capps, who is third in the points standings, “and that’s the theme this season. NHRA racing fans should take advantage of this promotion and root us on in Gainesville. We won the race in Topeka last year with the Adaptive One Brakes NAPA body, so we’re hoping for the same results with the NAPA Filters body.”
“We are looking forward to seeing Ron run the NAPA Filters paint scheme this weekend at the Gatornationals. We couldn’t think of a better place to showcase the above promotions than this historic event. We hope the fans enjoy the paint scheme and are able to take advantage of our special offers during the month of March,” commented Mike Rearden, NAPA director of events/sponsorships.
source http://www.nhra.com/