Kansas IndyCar Friday notebook
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For the first oval race of the season, Firestone has introduced a new specification that was developed at the tire test at Homestead-Miami Speedway in January.
The spec uses the same construction as the Firehawks used in the October 2009 Homestead-Miami Speedway race with new compounds on the left and right sides. The goal was to improve grip. The tire will be used during the Open Test at Kentucky Speedway on May 4 and the Firestone 550k at Texas Motor Speedway on June 5.
Each car received eight sets of tires for the race weekend.
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A.J. Foyt will miss the afternoon race to make his annual trip to the Kentucky Derby. In 2002, the Foyt team won the doubleheader at Kansas Speedway with Airton Dare winning the IndyCar Series race and A.J. Foyt IV winning the Indy Lights race.
VITOR MEIRA (No. 14 ABC Supply Co/A.J. Foyt Racing): "It has two sides but the good side is that he feels comfortable — and that's normally not the kind of gamble A.J. would do — but he feels comfortable with the quality of people that he and (team director) Larry (Foyt) put together on this ABC team," driver Vitor Meira said.
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Andretti Autosport has signed 2009 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport champion Adam Carroll to drive a limited schedule of IZOD IndyCar Series events in the second half of the season.
Carroll, a native of Portadown, Northern Ireland, had victories, six poles and eight podiums in seven rounds on his way to winning the 2008-2009 A1GP World title for Team Ireland. Carroll has 41 victories, 83 podium finishes and 24 pole starts in Formula Renault Campus, Formula Ford, Formula 3, GP2 and A1GP.
Andretti Autosport has yet to determine Carroll's schedule or car assignment.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI (Andretti Autosport chairman, president and CEO): "We're very excited that Adam is on board," "He is a special talent and someone who we believe will have a bright future with us at Andretti Autosport. It was important for us to give him an opportunity this year and start building for the years to come. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do later this year."
ADAM CARROLL: "I'm very excited to be joining the driver lineup at Andretti Autosport. It is gratifying to know that the success I've enjoyed so far in my career has drawn the attention of a team owner like Michael Andretti. The IZOD IndyCar Series is clearly one of the most competitive formulas in the world right now and I'm looking forward to being introduced into the field later this year."
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Target Chip Ganassi Racing today announces that it has partnered with T-Mobile USA, Inc. to become an associate sponsor on Dario Franchitti's No. 10 Target Honda in the IZOD IndyCar Series during the 2010 racing season. As part of the relationship, T-Mobile will have prominent logo placement on the rear wing of Franchitti's car throughout 2010.
Along with the rear wing, T-Mobile's logo will be prominently displayed on both driver and crew uniforms, the transporters and pit equipment. In addition, Dario will make multiple appearances on behalf of T-Mobile.