Honda Confirms SFHR

Just 30 days before the season opening race in St. Peteresburg, Honda confirmed today an agreement to power Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing's single car effort on a full-time basis this season.

The engine was made available to Fisher when Bobby Rahal agreed to transfer Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's 2nd full-time engine contract to the newly branded SFHR.

“We deeply appreciate Bobby’s generous offer to forego his second full-season lease in order to ensure that Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing will be on the grid from the start of the season, and we were happy to help facilitate this change,” said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. “We’re pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Sarah and her growing team, and look forward to a successful rookie season from Josef, following on the heels of his outstanding championship season in Indy Lights last year.”

SFHR, who announced rookie Josef Newgarden in December, will become the 9th confirmed Honda car/driver combination and the 24th confirmed full-time entry this season.

“Everyone at SFHR is ecstatic about competing in the entire 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, with Josef behind the wheel and Honda engines. We had been in discussions with Honda since last season, and I’m delighted it finally came together,” said Sarah Fisher. “I’d also like to give special thanks to Bobby Rahal, for helping us initiate our 2012 partnership with Honda. Bobby once again personified the definition of a gentleman and sportsman, remembering how we helped his son, Graham. This is wonderful example of ‘paying it forward’.”

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IndyCar Test Results

Newly named A.J. Foyt Racing pilot Mike Conway led testing Monday at Barber Motorsports park with a fast lap of 1:10.7, over seven tenths of a second quicker than Will Power's 2011 pole speed.

The test continued Tuesday.

West of Barber, Alex Tagliani took to the Texas Motor Speedway in his Team Barracuda - BHA Lotus DW12 on Tuesday, a day after moisture cancelled the great majority of Monday's activities.

With members of BHA, Lotus HVM, and DRR on hand, Tag ran 132 incident-free laps.

The team's next test is scheduled for February 28th at Barber.

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Milwaukee Official

Six weeks after INDYCAR announced their 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule with a TBA, the Milwaukee Mile will fill that void becoming the 5th oval and 16th event.

Michael Andretti, under the Andretti Sports Marketing Wisconsin banner, announced the event scheduled for June 15 & 16.

"It's a historic track in a great city, and it's a place that has always been a favorite for my family," said Andretti. "But, more importantly, it's an ideal track for Indy cars and always produces exciting racing for the fans."

Branded as the Milwaukee IndyFest, five-time champion Michael Andretti will promote the event with Kevin Healy being named Managing Director.

"Our goal is to make this more than a race, by creating a festival environment with some unique fan interactions and experiences, a great concert and a celebration of the history of the Milwaukee Mile," Healy said. "We will announce more events in the coming weeks."

Tickets will go on sale March 1.

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INDYCAR Announces Rule Changes

INDYCAR, the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series announced today changes to their rulebook.

"A rulebook is written to protect the rights of its competitors and empower the officials," said Race Director, Beaux Barfield. "It's that balance you're trying to strike when you're writing rules, and it's very important in generating the product we long for on-track. I'm confident that we've created the proper balance with this rulebook moving forward this season."


A few of the changes as outlined in INDYCAR's latest release:

• An instant messaging system during events between Race Control and officials, individual entrants or the entire field to communicate track conditions, warnings, penalties or other information. Team managers also will be able to directly contact Race Control. The system will complement radio communication.
• Standard INDYCAR tech bodywork parts must be able to fit a team's car during technical inspection.
• A minimum of two Track Condition Radio steering wheel lights are standard. They will act in unison with dash lights and complement audio and trackside visual caution warning systems.
• Manufacturer points will be awarded on a race-by-race basis and added throughout the season to crown a Manufacturer Champion between Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus. The highest-finishing engine manufacturer earns 9 points; the second highest-placing manufacturer earns 6 points and the third-highest manufacturer receives 4 points.
• An oval Open Test has been added March 13 at Texas Motor Speedway to complement the private test Feb. 19-21 at the 1.5-mile oval and supplement the March 5-6 and March 8-9 Open Test at Sebring International Raceway.

Additional information will likely be released Monday at the State of INDYCAR presentation.

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State of INDYCAR

The 2nd annual State of INDYCAR presentation delving into the past year, current happenings, and future of the IZOD IndyCar Series and other INDYCAR sanctioned leagues, has been scheduled for Monday, February 13 in Indianapolis.

Held at the Hilbert Circle Theatre on Monument Circle, fans can attend the 5:30 event on a first-come, first-serve basis with doors set to open shortly before the presentation. For those that can't attend, Indycar.com is scheduled to stream the event live.

The 2011 presentation was filled with what seemed to be endless bits of news and information that can be reviewed HERE.

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