Construction begins at new SFHR Facility

Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman drove shovels into the frozen earth Dec. 15, 2011, in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the team's standalone race shop. On July 12, heavy equipment moved onto the lot on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., to really get the project moving.

The IZOD IndyCar Series team co-owners back in December unveiled plans to construct a two-story, 37,000-square-foot race shop adjacent to Dallara Automobili's new U.S. headquarters that will include a visitor area and training facility. Earlier in the day, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing took delivery of their new Dallara chassis for driver Josef

"The new SFHR headquarters in Speedway will allow us the ability to further include our fans and promote our team as it grows into the future," said Hartman, who was announced as a team co-owner in early December. "Having gift shop and interaction areas on top of a first-class business center and training facilities will contribute to the support of our current and future partners as well as demonstrate our long-term goals to everyone who walks through the front door.

"It will be a vital asset to our team as we look into the future."

And Fisher, who retired from the cockpit of an IZOD IndyCar Series in 2010 to focus on building the team, is looking forward to the asset of the facility in the team's race preparation.

"We look to really increase the competition side of our team after moving several departments of our everyday preparation under one roof," she said. "I am very grateful for the opportunity that our partner, Wink Hartman, has given us to expand in this capacity. It will certainly enhance the ability to deliver an on-track product that rolls off the trailer ready to win races. The excitement of the location is infectious at all levels of our organization, knowing that we are the team next door to 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' "

Architect Scott Perkins of Indianapolis-based Blackline met with the construction project manager at the site July 12 as site excavation was in full swing.

"Every project is unique and we enjoy all our projects. This is particularly exciting because it's racing-related and is right on Main Street in Speedway," Perkins said.