Milwaukee Mile names event title sponsor

The Milwaukee Mile welcomes the return of an old friend of the speedway, as Husar's House of Fine Diamonds of West Bend has stepped up to become the entitlement sponsor of the Firestone Indy Lights (FIL) event on Sunday, May 31, the precursor to that afternoon's IndyCar Series® race.

"Husar's House of Fine Diamonds in downtown West Bend has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with The Milwaukee Mile, and at various open wheel championship events throughout the country, as a trophy and awards producer. We are proud to be involved with the Indy Racing League and the top open wheel development series in North America as we headline the Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 Firestone Indy Lights event on Sunday, May 31," said Husar's House of Fine Diamonds President Mike Husar.

For several years, Husar's House of Fine Diamonds has produced the unique, European imported crystal trophy awarded to each national championship race winner at The Milwaukee Mile. The design is patterned after a handcrafted stainless steel trophy awarded in the early 1900's at The Mile, the oldest active speedway in the world.

The Sunday, May 31 FIL event will also have support of presenting sponsor Charter.

"We sincerely appreciate this extension of support Mike Husar and Husar's House of Fine Diamonds is providing. The great drivers our fans will see competing in the Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 presented by Charter on Sunday, May 31 are the stars of tomorrow in IndyCar Series racing," commented Milwaukee Mile President & CEO Claude Napier.

FIL drivers to watch on the Fast Track To Indy® include 2005 series champion Wade Cunningham, '08 Nashville event winner Ana Beatriz, last year's Mile qualifying record holder Pablo Donoso, hard-charging Andrew Prendeville and current point leader Jonathan Summerton.

Many of the teams and drivers competing in the Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 presented by Charter have direct ties to teams in the IndyCar Series. Graduates of the series that have IndyCar Series opportunities include 2008 FIL champion Raphael Matos, Marco Andretti, Hideki Mutoh, Alex Lloyd and 2006 FIL Milwaukee Mile event winner Jaime Camara.

In past seasons, led by open wheel aficionado Mike Husar, Husar's House of Fine Diamonds has gone through great lengths to support The Milwaukee Mile as organizer of multiple racing-themed street festivals in downtown West Bend tied to race weekends. Husar's also sponsored Pole Day when the IndyCar Series first visited The Mile in 2004 and 2005.

The Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 presented by Charter FIL event weekend includes two practice sessions on Saturday morning May 30 between 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Two-lap average FIL pole qualifying is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., just prior to IndyCar Series 4-lap qualifying session, in true Indianapolis tradition.

At 5:30 p.m., Firestone Indy Lights drivers are scheduled to participate in the All-Driver Autograph Session with the stars of the Indy 500. Fans are encouraged to access this free one-hour autograph session held in the track infield by walking through the tunnel under the track, at Grandstand Gate 10.

On Sunday, May 31, pre-race festivities for the Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 presented by Charter event begin at 11:00 a.m., with a scheduled green flag at 11:30 a.m.

Immediately after the winning driver is presented his or her Husar's House of Fine Diamonds-provided trophy, on-track activities for over a dozen pristine vintage Indy cars participating in The Milwaukee Mile's Rex Mays Classic.

Pre-race festivities for the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, with the stars of the Indianapolis 500 getting the command to start engines from A.J. Foyt himself at 2:30 p.m. All times and activities subject to change.

Tickets for this great double-header race day start at just $20 and are available by calling The Milwaukee Mile ticket office at (414) 453-8277, or by visiting the historic speedway's website, www.milwaukeemile.com.