IndyCar news bits

The Indy car that will be "dropped" New Year's Eve during the countdown to welcome in 2016 was unveiled Dec. 11 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The car will remain on display at the home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers until the Dec. 31 event. …

The Grand Prix of Boston powered by LogMeIn announced a partnership with Global Partners' Alltown convenience stores and ExxonMobil that help veterans, active military and first responders in the New England area attend the event. Approximately 50,000 tickets will be given away for Freedom Friday events on Sept. 2, which features the first on-track activity for the inaugural Grand Prix of Boston, as well as family-friendly activities around the Grand Prix site. …

McLaren Applied Technologies, which supplies electronic components for Verizon IndyCar Series chassis and engines, was the recipient of the inaugural Pioneering and Innovation Award during the Autosport Awards gala Dec. 6 in London. …

Canadian Garett Grist, who finished third in the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires with three race wins, will return for a third season in 2016 with Juncos Racing. Grist will be teammates with Australia's Jake Parsons, America's Will Owen and Argentina's Nicholas Dapero. …

RJB Motorsports and Metalloid Corporation announced that American driver Michai Stephens will join SCCA champion Clint McMahan as the Michigan-based team steps full-time into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2016