DPR Sports & Racing News

 

INDY CAR

 Team Penske Photo

Photo By Mark Rotor

CASTRONEVES CLIMBS FENCE AFTER WINNING AGAIN AT TEXAS

FORT WORTH, Texas (Saturday, June 6, 2009) - Helio Castroneves won for the third time at Texas Motor Speedway, grabbing the lead off a Lap 175 pit stop and going on to a 0.3904 of a second victory over Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe.

http://danspitstopracing.com/helio_castroneves

CLICK HERE for IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550 Race Results

Briscoe returns to Milwaukee

Ryan Briscoe expected a breakout IndyCar Series season with the full-time move to Team Penske in 2008.

Initially, the breaks didn't go his way. No top-five finishes in the first five races despite three top-five starts, including a front-row perch for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. That might have been the most difficult to swallow -- 23rd place after a pit lane incident involving Danica Patrick's car (and her subsequent brief march toward Briscoe's pit stall that was a YouTube sensation).

A week later, though, Briscoe's fortunes changed at The Milwaukee Mile in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225. Starting 11th in the No. 6 Team Penske car, he persevered through 225 laps on the crowded oval to earn his first IndyCar Series victory and the 300th in motorsports for team owner Roger Penske.

Another Texas sellout for Helio

Thanks to Helio Castroneves and Texas Motor Speedway, 850 fans will watch the Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 6 for a greatly reduced price.

On May 28, the speedway offered 550 (race length) frontstretch tickets for $3 each (in honor of Castroneves' three Indianapolis 500 victories and his car number). The ticket promotion sold out in 23 minutes.

Earlier this month, the track offered "Helio's Blue Plate Special," in which the price of 300 tickets was to be determined by Castroneves' starting position in the Indy 500. He won the pole.

"Helio has brought some great deals to our race fans and I know he will have a huge following next Saturday during the Bombardier Learjet 550k," Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said. "It's great to see the fans respond to this promotion as well as the previous one we did with Helio. It offers new fans the opportunity to get a taste of the exciting racing in the IndyCar Series at an unbelievable price."

Castroneves visited Fort Worth on May 27 as part of the 500 Victory Tour. During a luncheon, Gossage presented Castroneves - who's won twice at Texas Motor Speedway - a cowboy hat. The tour, which also included several media stops in New York, continued to Chicago on May 28.

The "Blue Plate" promotion was linked to his visit to the Dallas/Fort Worth area on May 18, where he received some cooking tips from world-renown chef Stephan Pyles at his restaurant.

_________________________________________

KENWOOD TEAMS UP WITH PENSKE RACING AGAIN IN 2009

Kenwood USA Corporation has once again partnered with Penske Racing to sponsor two NASCAR drivers for the 2009 Sprint Cup season.  The Kenwood logo appears on the #12 Dodge driven by David Stremme and the #77 Dodge driven by Sam Hornish, Jr. 

“Kenwood is pleased to be actively involved with Penske Racing’s NASCAR program for the second year in a row,” said Keith Lehmann, Senior Vice President of Kenwood’s Consumer Electronics Sector.  “The National brand exposure Kenwood has received is tremendous and has resulted in higher demand of our product among these very loyal racing fans.  Our partnership with Penske Racing has given us a great promotional tool that has benefited many of our dealers.”

Kenwood is an associate sponsor of the No. 12 and No. 77 cars for all 38 Sprint Cup Series races in 2009.  NASCAR is the #1 spectator sport in the U.S. and the #2 most televised sport (second only to the National Football League), broadcast in over 150 countries and in 30 different languages.  Penske Racing is in its 19^th consecutive season of NASCAR competition. 

“We want to thank Kenwood for their continued support of Penske Racing,” said Roger Penske. “We welcomed Kenwood to our NASCAR program last season and they have proved to be a terrific partner. We look forward to working together to grow the relationship this season.” 

“Kenwood’s involvement with the Penske organization has been a very rich experience due to their ability to execute at a very high level,” said Lehmann.  “From their many racing teams to their worldwide network of vehicle-related businesses, Penske is a leader in everything they set out to do.  Our relationship with Penske continues to generate promotional and business opportunities, more of which are expected to be announced this year.” 

Kenwood Corporate Information

Founded in 1961, Kenwood USA Corporation is a leading developer and manufacturer of audio and video products for home, car, and personal use. Offering more than 250 products, Kenwood is one of the three largest selling brands of audio and video entertainment products in the United States and is recognized by consumers and the consumer electronics industry for providing superior quality, reliability and value.

Kenwood Communications, based in Suwanee, GA, established in 1983, maintains a leadership position in North and South America for mobile and portable two-way radios and custom systems.  Clients include prominent federal, state and local government agencies and first responders and private industry including manufacturing, contracting, security, hospitality and education.   Kenwood USA Corporation, based in Long Beach, Calif., is the largest subsidiary of Kenwood Corporation (Japan).

About Penske Racing

Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced over 300 major race wins, more than 350 pole positions and 21 National Championships. 

 

For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

_______________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Shell and PENSKE RACING UNVEIL NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL DODGE ..

Shell and Pennzoil Announce Their Return to the Indianapolis 500® with Veteran Driver Helio Castroneves

Team Penske Photo

HOUSTON, Texas (Dec. 2, 2010) – Tonight Shell Oil Company (Shell) and Penske Corporation unveiled their 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and  IZOD IndyCar Series car line-up along with important driver details for the 2011 season.  Officials from both companies met with members of the media at the Penske-Wynn Ferrari dealership at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nev., to unveil both the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge that Kurt Busch will pilot throughout the 2011 season and the No. 3 Shell V-Power®-Pennzoil Ultra™ Dallara/Honda that three-time Indianapolis 500® champion Helio Castroneves will pilot at the Indianapolis 500 in May 2011. 

As announced in April, Shell and Penske Corporation announced a multi-year cross-business alliance to begin with the 2011 racing season.  As leaders in fuel and lubricant technology, the alliance allows Shell and Pennzoil to expand their motorsports presence to include primary sponsorship of 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Kurt Busch and the No. 22 Dodge, as well as associate sponsorships promoting Shell V-Power® and Pennzoil Ultra™ with IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Ryan Briscoe. 

“I am honored to represent the Shell and Pennzoil brands in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2011,” said Busch. “I look forward to building on the success of our storied past at Penske Racing with our new sponsors at Shell and Pennzoil.”

Shell and Pennzoil also announced their return to the Indianapolis 500 this evening as they unveiled the No. 3 Shell V-Power®-Pennzoil Ultra™ Dallara/Honda that three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves will drive in the centennial celebration of the Memorial Day weekend classic.

“I am very excited to be working with Shell and Pennzoil this season and I’m proud to have the opportunity to drive the beautiful Shell V-Power®-Pennzoil Ultra™ car in the 2011 Indianapolis 500 representing the No. 1 premium gasoline and Pennzoil’s most advanced motor oil in the U.S.,” said Helio Castroneves, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske IndyCar.  “Shell and Pennzoil have such a great history in IndyCar racing and they have certainly had some special moments with Penske Racing at the Indy 500.  I hope we can create a little bit more history together this May at Indianapolis!”

“Shell has more than a half-century of motorsports expertise and alliances allowing our organization to bring quality fuels and lubricants technology from the track to the road,” said Lisa Davis, President, Shell Lubricants, Americas.  “Strategic alliances are very important to our organization and the new relationship with a winning team like Penske provides us with additional opportunities to continue furthering our technological leadership and product development through the invaluable knowledge gained both on and off the track.”

Penske Corporation is one of the world’s most successful and recognized transportation-based business enterprises and provides unique activation opportunities.  While Shell and Pennzoil will be the “Official Fuel and Motor Oil Supplier” to the Penske organization in the U.S., the relationship goes far beyond a typical sponsorship.  Beginning in 2011, Penske will work with Shell and Pennzoil to embark on a technical alliance that will offer insights into motor oil and fuel technology.   

The renewed alliance will provide Penske’s IndyCar and NASCAR teams with cutting edge Pennzoil Ultra racing oil technology for all their racecars. Additionally, this alliance will enable further product development for Shell and Pennzoil through the invaluable knowledge gained surrounding fuels, lubricants and engine technologies.  Like Shell and Pennzoil, Penske Corporation has a close relationship with Chrysler and Ferrari, both part of the Fiat Group.

“Shell and Pennzoil are two established and winning brands and they will be strategic business providers for our Penske Automotive Group and Penske Truck Leasing businesses,” said Roger Penske. “This is a very important global relationship for our organization and we look forward to producing many victories for Shell and Pennzoil in NASCAR, in the IZOD IndyCar Series and across our businesses.”

Winning is a tradition for Penske Racing. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 332 major race wins, 396 pole positions and 23 National Championships. The team has also earned 15 Indianapolis 500 victories and won the 2008 Daytona 500. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

Pennzoil and Penske Racing already have a dynamic history at the Indianapolis 500 as two Penske Racing entries have raced to victory lane decorated with the traditional black and yellow colors.  The new alliance will try and add another trophy to their collection as Helio Castroneves races for his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 title in the No. 3 Shell V-Power®-Pennzoil Ultra™ Dallara/Honda in May 2011. 

Shell is the no. 1 lubricants supplier in the U.S. and the nation’s best-selling gasoline brand with more than 14,000 branded stations. Shell has a strong motorsports history aligning with race teams since the 1920’s. In addition to the alliance with Penske Racing, Shell affiliates currently have several motorsport technical co-operation programs in place, including Ferrari in Formula 1, Ducati in MotoGP, and with Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR. Shell uses the knowledge gained from the extreme conditions on the track in the development of fuels and lubricants. These learnings transfer directly to the products available to customers, such as Shell V-Power® premium gasoline and the ultra-class synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil Ultra™. Shell V-Power® was developed to meet the needs of customers who want to help maintain optimum performance achieved through the benefits of a clean, gunk-free engine. Similarly, the advanced proprietary synthetic formula of Pennzoil Ultra™ far exceeds the most stringent car manufacturer’s engine cleanliness standard.

Ryan Briscoe

Photo By Dan Peters

Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe talked Saturday about the condensed schedule and Team Penske's chances in the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

RYAN BRISCOE: (About schedule): "It's about the same amount of running time. I think we're about six or eight hours shorter than we've had in the past. Track time is about the same, but it's a bit busier and a little more intense. There is a little more strategy involved with getting qualifying and race setup all in one week. Now we squeeze it in to one week and almost do a reverse. We'll get ready for the race first and then later in the week we'll really focus on qualifying and get ready for Pole Day next Saturday. I really like the fact that all of the drivers are out here on Opening Day. It's exciting for the fans that the first cars to hit the track are guys like Helio, Franchitti, Dixon and others who have won the race before. I think it is more incentive for the fans to come out and see the pros." (On running well in last year's Indy 500): "Last year was really good for me, but I was a bit unlucky in the race and we fell back. We had to make an extra stop early in the race. So, it was a bit unlucky, but I feel really good. The team, obviously, is the class of the field here at Indianapolis. It's going to be tough. I'm sure Ganassi is going to be strong, as well. We're going to be right there. Hopefully, we'll get it right on Race Day.

___________________________________________________

Briscoe Wins a Thriller at Chicagoland..Another Close victory

Penske to buy Saturn, Return Marque to its “Original Roots

General Motors Corp. has a tentative deal to sell its Saturn brand to former race car driver and dealership group owner Roger Penske, both companies said Friday.

Penske has signed a memorandum of understanding that would give his dealership chain, Penske Automotive Group, Saturn's 350 dealerships, the companies said. Penske said that he expects to offer all the dealers new franchise agreements and will retain all 13,000 Saturn employees for the immediate term.

"I would expect that the model that we're putting together, the distribution model, will be profitable day one," Penske said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We'll have less costs. We'll not be in the manufacturing side."

Neither Penske nor GM would say how much Penske is paying for the brand. Penske said he expects the deal to close in the third quarter. Initially, GM will continue to produce on a contract basis the Saturn Aura sedan as well as the Vue and Outlook SUVs. But Penske said he is in talks with global car manufacturers about building Saturn cars in the future.

The sale marks a new chapter for Saturn, which GM had been trying to sell since earlier this year as part of its turnaround plan.

GM Chairman Roger Smith first unveiled the Saturn brand in November 1983, describing it as a revolutionary new way to build and sell small cars in America. But the project was slow to develop and the brand did not officially launch until 1990. It featured the iconic tag-line "a different kind of car company."

GM's hope was that Saturn would attract younger buyers with smaller, hipper cars to better compete with Japanese imports. It built a new plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., devoted to Saturn production. The factory had more flexible work rules than traditional GM plants for the employees who built the cars.

Despite a cult-like following that drew thousands to annual reunions in Spring Hill, the brand never made money for GM. The factory stopped making Saturns in 2007 and currently builds only the Chevrolet Traverse.

As GM focused more on high-profit pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, Saturn began to languish in the late 1990s. Then in 2006, car buyers began to find Saturn's new models more appealing. But after a good year in 2007, sales dropped 22 percent last year as the U.S. car market withered.

"Saturn was kind of an unpolished gem at GM," said Brad Coulter, director at the Bloomfield, Hills, Mich., turnaround firm O'Keefe and Associates. "They had never really fully exploited what they developed. Saturn is known for having some of the best-run dealerships. The brand is highly rated. It's a top notch sales organization."

Today, Saturn production is scattered at plants across the U.S. The Aura is built at GM's factory at Kansas City, Kansas. The Outlook is built in Lansing, Mich., while the Vue is built in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

The Saturn Sky roadster is built in Wilmington, Del., but that plant is scheduled to close in July and the model will be discontinued. The Saturn Astra was imported from GM's plant in Antwerp, Belgium, and was discontinued last year.

Penske Automotive will take over the separate Saturn parts factory in Spring Hill, which will continue to make Saturn components.

Penske in an interview said foreign automakers would be key to his making Saturn succeed, but they will have to match GM's quality standards before Saturn's dealer network will distribute their products.

"As people around the world look at that, they have the opportunity to tap us on the shoulder and say we have product that we'd like to bring into the U.S." he said.

Other foreign automakers who have succeeded in the U.S. began with a distribution network, then started manufacturing operations, he said.

Bloomfield Hills-based Penske Automotive owns the second-largest U.S. automobile retail chain by sales and consistently scores high in customer satisfaction surveys. The company also has race teams in the IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am series. Penske received wide acclaim for heading Detroit's successful effort to host the 2006 Super Bowl.

Penske Automotive also distributes Daimler AG's Smart subcompacts in the U.S., but Smart has its own dealership network and Saturn dealers will continue to exclusively distribute Saturn vehicles, Penske said.

Carl F. Galeana, who owns two Saturn dealerships north of Detroit, said Friday he was thrilled that Penske would be the Saturn buyer.

"Roger Penske is an icon in the business world," Galeana said. "I've worked with him personally. Nobody works harder than Roger Penske."

Galeana said the fact that Penske is interested in Saturn means the brand has value.

"It allows Saturn to get back to its original roots, which is to be an independent car company," he said.

Shares of Penske Automotive rose 52 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $15.13 in midday trading on news of the sale. The stock has enjoyed a brisk rally this year, more than tripling from an annual low of $4.82 in March.

Detroit-based GM, which filed for bankruptcy court protection on Monday, has said it plans to shed its Saturn, Hummer, Pontiac and Saab brands. Earlier this week, GM said it found a buyer for Hummer in China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co.

However, any such deal would require Chinese Commerce Ministry approval, and reports in state-run newspapers Friday said Sichuan Tengzhong had not yet obtained such an approval.

_______________________________________________

 

NASCAR

David Stremme

http://davidstremm.web702.discountasp.net/

 

No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger

No. 12 Star Trek Dodge Charger

 

David Stremme

No. 12 Penske Dodge Charger

                                   

Dover International Speedway

May 31, 2009

 

 

• This Week’s Charger… The No. 12 Penske Dodge team will use chassis PRS-613 during Sunday’s 400-mile event at Dover International Speedway. PRS-613 is a brand new chassis to the No.12 Penske Dodge fleet.
• Flying High... The driver of the No.12 Penske Dodge, David Stremme, will be at the Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del. on Friday, May 29^th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.  He will be visiting with the troops and their families as well as signing autographs.
• Past Winners... The No.12 Penske Dodge Charger team has been to victory lane at the “Monster Mile.”  The team swept both NASCAR Cup Series events at the one-mile speedway in 2003, and then captured its third victory in the fall of 2004. The team also has secured three pole positions at Dover International Speedway.
• Moving On Up... After Monday’s 22^nd-place performance at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the No.12 team moved up one spot in the point standings. Stremme now sits in the 26^th position less than 100 points out of the top-20. 
• Watch and Listen… The Autism Speaks 400 can be seen live Sunday, May 31 on the FOX Network. Race coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 128.

 

David Stremme on driving in the Autism Speaks 400

“Dover is a really cool place to race. It is like Bristol on steroids. It is considered a short track but has speeds like a superspeedway. You have to be on your toes all day. Things happen so quickly and there is no place to go. We just need to continue to have solid finishes. Each week we get better as a group. [Crew chief] Roy [McCauley] and I are now comfortable with each other. I really like Roy [McCauley]. He is a racer just like me. I know that racing is all he thinks about.  At 10:30 at night I can call him with an idea and we will talk about it for an hour. We are both dedicated to this No.12 Penske Dodge and want the same results.”

Crew chief Roy McCauley on racing at Dover International Speedway

“Dover International Speedway is a great track. It is demanding on the driver. It is only 400-laps but is one of the longest races of the year. We need to make sure and keep our nose clean and be there at the end of the race. Track position is so important at Dover. We have to keep ourselves in position all day and take advantage of every opportunity.  I am looking forward to Dover… It is a great track and one of the most exciting events of the year.”

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

 

 

 

NATIONWIDE Series

 

Justin Allgaier

http://www.justinallgaier.com/

No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger

 

No. 12 Penske Racing Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger News and Notes

• This Week’s Charger… The No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge team and driver Justin Allgaier will race chassis PRS-007 during Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway.  PRS-007 last saw action in late March at the concrete 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway, where Allgaier finished in the 29^th spot.
• First Time Here… Saturday will mark Allgaier’s first race at the “Monster Mile.” The 22-year-old driver has never even seen the one-mile high banked track before this weekend.
• Rookie Watch… Allgaier is currently second the Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. He is currently just three points behind leader Brendan Gaughan. 
• Stop By… Allgaier will visit the Verizon Wireless store in Dover, Del. on Friday, May 29 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. The Illinois native will meet with store employees and sign autographs for fans. The Verizon Wireless store is located at 1045 North DuPont Highway, Dover, Del. 19901.
• Autographs Anyone?... Allgaier will appear at the Penske Racing souvenir trailer on Friday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET. The trailer is located on souvenir row at Dover International Speedway
• Getting Hitched… Memorial Day was special for Chris “Yoshi” Jones as he was married on Monday, May 25.  Jones, who serves as the tire specialist on the No.12 Verizon Wireless Dodge team, married Kayla Herring in Monroe, North Carolina. The two will reside in Concord, N.C.
• Watch and Listen… The Heluva Good! 200 will be broadcast live on Saturday, May 30on ABC TV, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 128.

 

Justin Allgaier on driving at Dover International Speedway

“I am excited to go to Dover. I have seen the last couple race tapes and it looks like a blast. You carry a lot of speed into the corners, and have to really get your car to rotate through the corners to be fast. I know [crew chief] Chad [Walter] will bring a package that will be good. We have had a good couple of weeks and need to continue to finish races in the top-15.  We are getting into the part of the schedule where we are racing every week. I really like that. It is hard to keep up the momentum you build when there is an off week. This Verizon Wireless Dodge team is so strong. Penske Racing has put a great group of guys together and I am so lucky to be a part of it.”

 

Crew Chief Chad Walter on racing at Dover International Speedway

“Dover is a great place to race. It is close racing for 200 laps. As a crew chief, you have to get the car comfortable for the driver to be aggressive every once in a while. The car has to be predictable so when the driver sees an opening he can take it. Justin has done a great job getting adjusted to the tracks. He has really done his homework, looking at race tapes and talking to the other Penske Racing drivers about what he needs to do on the track. As a team, we can’t ask any more out of him. 

 

“We know we need to get a good starting spot in order to have a strong race. Track position is paramount. You have to keep your car in the lead pack all day to have a shot for the win. I am confident if we stay out of trouble all day we will have another strong run with our Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger.”