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Members of the IndyCar Competition Committee Finalized

News release from IndyCar below...

INDYCAR OPENS WAY FOR INNOVATION IN SPEED, SAFETY

Members of new INDYCAR Competition Committee finalized

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, May 23, 2013 -- INDYCAR will open the door to increased technical innovation in its cars and continue its longstanding effort to improve safety in open-wheel racing, Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles and incoming INDYCAR President of Operations and Competition Derrick Walker announced May 23.

Walker will be responsible for identifying specific technology improvements and guiding their implementation, with the goal of managed increases in speed.

AJ Almendinger Goes Step-By-Step at Indianapolis

AJ Allmendinger gets reacquained with IndyCar at IMS

AJ Allmendinger says he’s been taking it a step at a time during his return to open-wheel racing and debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, trying to get back to where it all “just feels natural.”

"Every day when I get to the track and take my first laps on the race track I’m still kind of nervous,” Allmendinger said last week. “Just kind of feeling it out. It’s a place you really have to respect every lap, because that moment you let your guard down just a little bit and you feel comfortable is the moment that it will bite you. I’m just trying to keep that in mind and try to work up to it.”

Uncle pressdog’s Fireside Chat — Indy Qualifying Edition

Yo, yo, yo, peeps. Did you miss me last weekend? I didn’t think so.

May 18 was me and mrs. pdog’s 28th wedding anniversary and she surprised me with a quick jaunt over to the Iowa/Wisconsin border for some Mississippi River scenery and two days without the normal weekend stressors of children, dog, house cleaning and work obsessing.

So I was out of the loop, but for a good reason. I followed from afar here and there mainly via the magic of Twitter. But now I’m back and fully caught up, so let’s have some dark roast and emote about a couple of things …

Iowa Craft Beer Festival and IndyCar Race Converge

Cue the bag breathing ... the Iowa Craft Beer Festival in downtown Des Moines is on June 22, the day before the IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway.

The beer fest sold out lat year so advanced tickets are a must. Tickets go on sale May 17. For more on the festival and ticket info, go HERE.

Tickets for the IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway are on sale NOW. Go here for details.

Here's the pdog guide to greater Des Moines with ideas for stuff to do, places to stay, stuff to eat and beer to drink.

IndyCar Race in Brazil Generates 0.20 Rating

The blog Son of the South Bronx today posted that IndyCar race from Brazil on May 5 drew a 0.20 TV rating with 224,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network. View post. I couldn't find another source to confirm the number. Last year's race in Brazil generated a 0.33 TV rating with 348,000 viewers.

The highest rated program on NBC Sports Network for the period of April 29 to May 5 was a playoff hockey game that generated a 0.4 rating with 580,000 viewers, per Son of the South Bronx.

Fuzzy's Vodka Takes the Checkers for May

The peeps at Fuzzy's Vodka have released a new bottle design just for May featuring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway front stretch and logo on the front, and driver Ed Carpenter on the rear. For a list of places to buy in Indiana, go here. Otherwise, watch your local Fuzzy's source for the new design.

Uncle pressdog’s Fireside Chat – NASCAR Justice, Kurt Busch and Positive Peer Pressure Edition

Word to your mid-day posse. Today is Thursday, which is close enough to Friday for … lunch beer! DRINK, ye BASTARDS and let’s discuss a few items over lunch.

NASCAR Appeals Decisions/Bad Day for Black Helicopters -– We had a couple of high-profile penalties in NASCARland amended on appeal in the last few days, and in both cases the appeals adjudicators did NOT say “Whatever you say, Mr. France!!” but rather, “Dude, chill.” 

A three-member appeals panel sided with Joe Gibbs Racing on Wednesday and reduced some of the penalties imposed after a push rod in Matt Kenseth’s Toyota engine was found to be overweight by three grams, less than the weight of an envelope. (Story here)

Be Sure to Hang with the Big (Social Media) Dogs at IMS

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is getting all twittery and stuff. For the second year IMS will feature a "Social Media Garage" located inside GP garages 34 and 35 near the plaza. It's open every May weekend starting May 11.

It's where the social media big dogs will hold forth and fans can quiz up actual drivers.One of the first to meet the fans will be the always personable JoeNew (Josef Newgarden) live and in person at 3 p.m. May 11. (Watch out for the gnomes!)

Check out the schedule, the stuff you can do, and some photos from previous Garage Fests HERE.

Travel Channel Seeks Enthusiastic Indy 500 Fans For New Show

Got this news release a few days ago. Seems legit. If you're a SUPER FAN, go for it ...

Passionate Indianapolis 500 fans are encouraged to contact The Travel Channel to appear on a new show celebrating great food, amazing tailgate setups, one-of-a-kind traditions and the best parties at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The show will be taped in and around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning on Coors Light Carb Day, Friday, May 24, through Race Day on Sunday, May 26. The episode will air in August or September.

If you’re a die-hard Indianapolis 500 fan attending this year’s race and hosting a great tailgate party, have an amazing RV or a special dish you'd like to share, contact The Travel Channel by emailing Travelsuperfancasting@gmail.com with subject line “Indy 500.”

Be sure to include photos of you and your friends and family showing off your Indianapolis 500 pride and passion!

 

Pippa Mann Lands Indy 500 Ride with Dale Coyne Racing

Pippa Mann's months-long quest to land a ride for her second Indy 500 has finally paid off. Pippa announced today (April 30) that she will attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 as part of Dale Coyne Racing. Let the Festival of Bag Breathing begin.

News release below ...

Pippa Mann Announces Indy 500 Entry with Dale Coyne Racing

Dale Coyne Racing has confirmed that Pippa Mann will drive for the team in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

The 29 year-old joins fellow Briton Justin Wilson and Brazil’s Ana Beatriz to complete three Honda-powered entries for the team into the 97th running of the Indy 500.