“Dragon Tattoo” Brands Lotus Works IndyCar Team

Lotus Racing is using the Autosport International racing show to announce that Dragon Racing will be its factory-supported entry in 2012 Izod IndyCar Series competition.

The team, founded in 2007 by Jay Penske and Stephen Luczo as Luczo Dragon Racing, will be rebranded as Lotus Dragon Racing.

The name of the team enjoys by association the public visibility triggered by the release last month of the movie Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, based on the novel penned by Stieg Larsson and published after his death in November 2004.

Team co-founder Penske is the son of auto racing magnate Roger Penske, whose IndyCar team facilitated the Dragon team's first entry in the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

Lotus will be one of three manufacturers supplying engines that will power the new-generation Dallara chassis in IndyCar races this year. Lotus Racing, part of Lotus Cars Limited, confirmed its plan to participate last fall.