Kimball to change Nos. For Indy 500 (Update)
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05/16/16 Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and longtime partner Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, along with their Verizon IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball, will join together to honor the diabetes community at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing will change the number of Kimball’s Tresiba Chevrolet from its usual No. 83 to No. 42 at the 2016 Indianapolis 500. He will borrow the number from fellow CGRT teammate, Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS). Larson has a cousin living with diabetes, so the program has a personal tie for him. Larson’s No. 42 NSCS car will carry Kimball’s name on it for the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend, also running on May 29, to honor those living with diabetes.
The number 42 is a reference to the duration of action of Tresiba, a once-daily, long-acting basal insulin approved for blood sugar control in adults with diabetes, which was launched by Novo Nordisk earlier this year. Tresiba lasts at least 42 hours after eight once-daily injections (0.4 U/kg). Patients who miss a dose of Tresiba should inject their daily dose during waking hours upon discovering the missed dose, then continue with their regular dosing schedule. Patients must ensure that at least eight hours have elapsed between Tresiba injections.
Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007, and in addition to sporting the logo on his car, takes Tresiba, along with a mealtime insulin, as part of his daily diabetes management.
As part of the efforts to raise diabetes awareness at the Indianapolis 500, Kimball’s No. 42 Tresiba Chevrolet will carry the name of 42 leaders in the diabetes community. Included among the names on the car are Dominique Wilkins, Billie Jean King, diabetes organizations such as JDRF, and first all-diabetes professional cycling team, Team Novo Nordisk. Additionally, Novo Nordisk will make a $4,200 donation to the Indiana Chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on behalf of the Verizon IndyCar Series driver who is leading the race after the 42nd lap of the Indianapolis 500. Novo Nordisk will also make the same $4,200 donation to the Charlotte Chapter of the ADA on behalf of the NSCS driver who leads the Coke 600 after lap 42.
The 2016 race season marks the eighth consecutive year of partnership between Novo Nordisk and Kimball and the sixth year of partnership between Kimball, Novo Nordisk and CGRT. Since his type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Kimball has been a passionate diabetes advocate. He is the face of Novo Nordisk’s award-winning Race with Insulin campaign, which aims to raise awareness and educate the public about diabetes management.
For the remainder of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series campaign, Kimball will run his normal car number, No. 83.