IPS: IRL: Indy Racing League notebook 2003-01-09

Indy Racing League Notebook
Barnhart to receive honor; Penske hires new engineer for Castroneves.

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 -- Brian Barnhart, Indy Racing League senior vice president of racing operations, will receive the Ted Lake Dedication Award on Jan. 10 during the 12th annual Wisconsin Motorsports Charities Recognition Dinner at Waukesha, Wis.

The award is presented to individuals who display leadership and persistence in auto racing. The award is named in memory of Lake, a USAC observer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1936-1996.

The dinner benefits Ranch Community Services, a rehabilitation center for developmentally disabled adults and children. Past dinners have raised more than $300,000 for Wisconsin charities.

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Penske promotes engineer: Marlboro Team Penske has announced that Grant Newbury will be the race engineer for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves during the 2003 IRL IndyCar Series season.

Newbury, 48, joined Penske Racing in 1989. During his tenure, the team has recorded 59 race wins, including five Indianapolis 500 victories. While he's been a race engineer for a number of Penske drivers, 2003 marks Newbury's first season as race engineer for Castroneves.

Most recently, Newbury served as an engine track support engineer. From 1998-2001, Newbury's primary role was development enginee Between 1990-97, Newbury served as race engineer for legendary drivers Danny Sullivan, Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr.

Before joining Marlboro Team Penske, Newbury was a full-time member of Truesports Racing from 1985-89.

From 1978-84, Newbury developed advanced engine and emission control systems for General Motors Advanced Product Engineering. He also joined US Racing on a part-time basis from 1978-81 on the CanAm circuit, working with drivers George Follmer, Bobby Rahal and Tom Klausler.

Newbury received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1978 and was granted a GM Fellowship in 1980 to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a master of science degree in mechanical engineering.

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Fike strikes in New Zealand: IRL Infiniti Pro Series standout Aaron Fike won the unofficial World 50-Lap Midget Championship on Jan. 4 at Auckland, New Zealand.

Fike, from Galesburg, Ill., earned $30,000. He was part of a five-member American team competing in the international midget racing event against drivers from Australia and New Zealand.

After starting seventh, Fike captured the lead on Lap 46 of the 50-lap feature.

Fike next will participate in Infiniti Pro Series testing with Hemelgarn 91/Johnson Motorsports, for which he will drive for the second consecutive season.

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McGehee going to bat for IRL Indy Car Series: IRL IndyCar Series veteran Robby McGehee will meet fans and sign autographs Jan. 18 as part of Gateway International Raceway's presence at the Cardinal Winter Warm-Up, an annual celebration of the coming of spring in St. Louis.

The Warm-Up takes place Jan. 18-20 at the Millennium Riverfront Hotel in St. Louis. The Gateway exhibition, featuring race cars on display, will be located in the Chouteau Room, located at the entrance of the hotel's Exhibition level.

Most of the St. Louis Cardinals' current baseball roster also will appear, and Cardinal Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst and Ozzie Smith also will appear.

Three-day admission tickets for the event are $30 for adults, and $10 for children 5-15. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Cardinals at (314) 421-3060 or online at www.stlcardinals.com.

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Hot laps: Tora Takagi appeared at the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 9 in Las Vegas on behalf of sponsor Pioneer, and 1998 IRL IndyCar Series champion Kenny Brack also will represent Pioneer on Jan. 10 at CES, the world's largest electronics show -- Indianapolis 500 and IRL IndyCar Series veteran and USAC short-track legend Jack Hewitt has written his autobiography, "Hewitt's Law," along with noted motorsports journalist Dave Argabright. The book will be released later this month by Indianapolis-based Print Communications. Call (317) 598-9773 to place advance orders.

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