Andretti Autosport announced today at a Watkins Glen press conference, that Ryan Hunter-Reay will compete full-time in the remainder of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Hunter-Reay, who's just 49 points behind leader Will Power in the overall standings and 43 back in the Mario Andretti Trophy standings, will continue to run the IZOD branded livery for all but two of the remaining events. RHR will run with a yet-to-be-announced sponsor at Chicagoland Speedway on August 28th, and Ethanol will return to the sidepods of the #37 Dallara for a race to be determined.
In conjunction with the announcement, Team IZOD and Andretti Autosport also launched a charitable program called "Racing For Cancer", in honor of Hunter-Reay's mother who past away in November 2009 of colon cancer. The program will raise money for both The Michael Fux Foundation and LIVESTRONG.
In addition to multiple Andretti Autosport sponsors committing a $37,000 donation to "Racing For Cancer", RHR's teammate and pilot of the #11 7-Eleven Dallara, Tony Kanaan, was the first to give $37,000 to the initiative.
"I can't even begin to describe my sense of relief, appreciation and excitement as we look forward to a complete season while challenging for the IZOD IndyCar Series championship. So many different people, organizations, companies and partners pulled together to make this a reality and I have to thank them for their belief in me.
"Andretti Autosport and Michael Andretti have been so supportive in so many ways. They have really dug deep to not only get me and the #37 car on track this season, but to keep it there. As I've been saying all along, this team is incredibly good at what it does and that's why we've not only won together already, but we are now making it a full-season effort.
"I really have to thank IZOD, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, ICM-Ethanol USA, Inland, Exel and IES for stepping up in support of this program. This is a total team effort and we couldn't have done it without every one of them.
"I am honored to announce my new position as global ambassador for 'Racing For Cancer.' Thanks to Tom Vossman and his endless dedication for the cause, I am able to complete the 2010 season and race in honor of my mother, Lydia, who recently passed away due to cancer. The 'Racing For Cancer' Platform has endless opportunity in not only raising awareness but contributing to the fight on the front lines of the battle against this terrible disease, which affects so many of us.
"I also have to thank Michael Fux for his personal support and making the 'Racing For Cancer' program a reality." - Ryan Hunter-Reay
"We are thrilled that Team IZOD and Ryan Hunter-Reay are now fulltime family members of Andretti Autosport. We are humbled by the generous support of all our sponsors, but particularly by IZOD, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, ICM-Ethanol USA, Inland Industrial Services Group, AirTran Airways, The Michael Fux Foundation, Exel and IES for their staunch support of Ryan, our team and its charitable efforts.
"We want to thank Michael Fux and Tom Vossman for serving as inspirations for the 'Racing For Cancer' platform." - John Lope, CMO Andretti Autosport
"We are excited to be part of such a worthwhile cause - to not only contribute to these good charities, but to also help promote the global cancer awareness campaign to all the fans, sponsors and their employees. I could not be more proud to have Ryan as our global ambassador and to launch this effort in memory of his mother, Lydia." - Tom Vossman, CEO of Industrial Services Group, and founder, Racing For Cancer
"I am very happy to help further Ryan Hunter-Reay's career with this team and to play a role with the 'Racing For Cancer' program. There is no greater feeling than helping children in need and this is another opportunity for me to do that." - Michael Fux, The Michael Fux Foundation
"It seems very appropriate that the backdrop for this announcement be Watkins Glen over the 4th of July weekend as it was here two years ago that the seeds for this moment were planted.
"Ryan Hunter-Reay and Team IZOD have become popular players in this series, and we're confident that the public will rally around the 'Racing For Cancer' initiative and allow all of us to make an impact that reaches far beyond the footprint of the IZOD IndyCar Series." - Starke Taylor, VP of Sponsorship and Business Development, Phillips-Van Heusen
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