Ganassi expands with Kimball, Rahal

(L to R) Graham Rahal, Chip Ganassi and Charlie Kimball

Ron McQueeney/IndyCar

Chip Ganassi Racing's expansion is the IZOD IndyCar Series' gain – two young American drivers who will compete for the full 2011 season with a new team.

Ganassi announced the addition of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing with Graham Rahal in the No. 38 car and Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing with Charlie Kimball in the No. 83 entry at a news conference Dec. 16 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The companies were involved in INDYCAR during the 2010 season and expanded their partnerships, which created opportunities for the drivers and team.

"It is an exciting day for our team and an exciting time for IndyCar racing," Ganassi said. "Sponsorship is the lifeblood of motor racing, and to have people that think alike along with you along the way and understand how you operate and how you want to operate your business is nice. So to have both companies come to the center stage and to bring them both along as partners is exciting.

"We as a company need to stay competitive. We need to stay at the forefront. I think you have to constantly be looking at who is coming along, what drivers are coming along. I'm not pushing (Scott) Dixon and (Dario) Franchitti out the door yet, but they are of a different era, you might say, than these two guys. We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity, if at all possible, to work with them."

New team will be based in shop leased from drag racing icon Don Prudhomme in Brownsburg, Indiana

Ron McQueeney/IndyCar

The reigning IZOD IndyCar Series championship team plans to invest $3.3 million to locate the team in a facility leased from drag racing legend Don Prudhomme in Brownsburg, Ind., which is expected to create up to 30 new jobs. Mitch Davis will be the team manager and Target Chip Ganassi managing director Mike Hull will oversee the program. Prudhomme said this year he'll "stick his toe in the water," and look to become more involved in 2012 as the IZOD IndyCar Series introduces its new car and engine platforms.

"It really is a dream come true," said Kimball, 25, who competed the past two seasons in Firestone Indy Lights. "The whole championship is something special. I think it really rewards an all-around driver and getting the opportunity to utilize the Road to Indy ladder system — from F2000 when I competed in that in 2003 to Indy Lights the last two years and now moving into the IZOD IndyCar Series – is great.

"It's still sinking in that I'm going to be on the grid in a full-size IndyCar next year."

Rahal, the youngest race winner in major North American open-wheel racing history, competed in 12 races during the 2010 with four different teams. TBC Retail Group announced in October that it has signed a multi-year spokesperson and sponsorship association with the 21-year-old driver to represent its family of tire and automotive retail brands (Service Central, Tire Kingdom, National Tire and Battery, Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers and Big O Tires).

"This is — other than winning the Indy 500 or a championship — the best day a driver could have," said Rahal, who has made 60 IZOD IndyCar Series starts (one win, 12 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes). "Last year was interesting — a lot of ups and downs. It makes you appreciate it when you get an opportunity like this. I have been working diligently, specifically over the past several months, to get into one of Chip's IndyCars, and now that dream has become a reality with the help of Service Central and many others.

"Like Chip often says, I'm looking forward to the next race, which is in St. Petersburg in March. I'm thrilled to be a part of this great organization and look forward to making the most out of this opportunity."

Target Chip Ganassi Racing employs 75 associates at its Indianapolis facility that houses the IZOD IndyCar Series program for Franchitti and Dixon — who have a combined five IZOD IndyCar Series championships — and the championship-winning Grand Am program.

"Working with Chip Ganassi and all of his crew, giving me the opportunity to learn from champions like Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and alongside Graham Rahal is another aspect of how I'm going to try to shorten the learning curve," said Kimball, who finished fourth in the Firestone Indy Lights championship this past season (five podium finishes). "I'm not underestimating the size of the task ahead of me and I'm really looking forward to using all the tools both within Chip Ganassi Racing and through my partnership with Novo Nordisk going forward."

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 87-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007, and the company was his primary sponsor during the 2010 season.

"Novo Nordisk partnered with me at the beginning of last year, but I've been using their insulin since the day I was diagnosed in 2007," Kimball said. "So my relationship with them started well before they even knew who I was. Together, to make that step using the history, the heritage, the success of Chip Ganassi Racing, stepping onto the main stage with them is extra special."

Rahal and Kimball will be among the seven American drivers on the grid in the 2011 season opener March 27 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Last year, there were three.

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams Expands IZOD IndyCar Series Program with the Creation of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing

New Team to Feature Driving Talents of Rising American Indy Car Star Graham Rahal

INDIANAPOLIS (December 16, 2010) – Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGR) today announced the formation of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing featuring rising American Indy car star driver Graham Rahal. Ganassi’s IZOD IndyCar Series stable will expand with the addition of the new team, which will be sponsored by TBC Retail Group. Rahal will drive the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing entry in 2011.

In October, TBC Retail Group announced it inked a multi-year spokesperson and sponsorship association with Rahal to represent its family of tire and automotive retail brands, which include; Service CentralÂ®, Tire KingdomÂ®, NTB-National Tire and BatteryÂ®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto CentersÂ® and Big O TiresÂ®.

At just age 21, Rahal has made 60 starts in the top levels of American open wheel racing. He has one win, two poles, 12 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes, with 59 laps led.

Notes of Interest

About Graham Rahal: The son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner and three-time CART Champion Bobby Rahal, Graham became the youngest winner in the IZOD IndyCar Series era when he drove to victory in his series debut in the 2008 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at the age of 19 years and 93 days old. Rahal contested 12 of the 17 events with four teams in 2010, completing 98.0% of the total laps. His prior experience includes stints in Champ Car, Formula Atlantic, Star Mazda, A1 Grand Prix, Formula BMW, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car and the American Le Mans Series from 2004-2007.

About Service Central: Service CentralÂ® is the automotive service offered exclusively at Tire KingdomÂ®, NTB-National Tire and BatteryÂ®, Merchant's Tire and AutoÂ®, and Big O TiresÂ®. Available at over 1,300 locations nationwide, our trained and certified ASE technicians use state-of-the art equipment to provide quality service on your car or truck. Our nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects you and your investment in over 40 states.

About TBC Retail Group: Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, TBC Retail Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, operates more than 800 tire and automotive service centers under the brands: Tire KingdomÂ®, NTB – National Tire and BatteryÂ®, and Merchant's Tire and Auto CentersÂ®, along with nearly 500 franchised Big O TiresÂ® locations. The contingent of nearly 1300 stores has trained and certified ASE technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality service on cars and trucks. The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states. TBC Retail Group employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach, Fla. headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally. To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE. TBC Corporation, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the nation's largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel retail and wholesale strategy.

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams 2010 Recap: Team owner Chip Ganassi had an historic year in 2010. After wrapping up the GRAND-AM Rolex Series Championship, Ganassi claimed his second championship of the season by winning the IZOD IndyCar Series title for the third straight year. In addition, Ganassi became the first owner in history to win what has become known at the Triple Crown of American Racing by winning the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season. Also, on the weekend of Aug. 6, for the first time in team history Ganassi brought home wins in all three series when Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas won the GRAND-AM race in Watkins Glen, Juan Pablo Montoya won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Watkins Glen and Dario Franchitti won at Mid-Ohio in the IZOD IndyCar Series. In all, Ganassi’s teams shattered a team record with 19 total victories (previously 14) across the three series, and now boast 134 total wins since 1994.

Quote Board:

Graham Rahal, Driver, Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing: “This is the kind of opportunity every driver dreams of. I have been working diligently, specifically over the past several months, to get into one of Chip’s Indy cars, and now that dream has become a reality with the help of Service Central, and many others. Chip’s 2010 season was definitely one for the ages – 19 wins, Indianapolis (twice), Daytona, another IndyCar Series Championship, I could go on and on– but like Chip often says, I’m looking forward to the next race, which is in St. Petersburg in March. I’m thrilled to be a part of this great organization and look forward to making the most out of this opportunity."

Orland Wolford, CEO, TBC Retail Group, Service Central: “It’s an excellent opportunity for us to start a new team and showcase our brands; Service Central, Tire Kingdom, NTB, Big O Tires and Merchants Tire. We’re thrilled to be a part of Chip Ganassi’s team. His tenacious drive to win championships and reputation for building some of the best teams in auto sports match our drive and commitment to be the best in our industry. We feel the IZOD IndyCar Series has unmatched momentum heading into the future, and having an American driver like Graham competing for wins in a Service Central-sponsored Ganassi car is sure to create considerable excitement in 2011."

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “It’s no secret that we’re always looking for ways to get better and expand our racing programs. Finding new ways to get better or go faster is what this business is all about, really. Graham has shown us all over the past few years that he can be a frontrunner in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and I welcome both he and Service Central to our racing program for 2011. This should create some excitement for the series both on and off the track."

Chip Ganassi Racing and Novo Nordisk Team Up for 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Season

New Team to Feature Driving Talents of Rising American Indy Car Pilot Charlie Kimball

Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, has partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing, LLC to create the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team for 2011 IZOD IndyCar season.

The team will sponsor a new entry in the series driven by American racecar driver Charlie Kimball. This partnership makes Kimball one of the first drivers from the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights series to move up the official "Road to Indy" with a full season sponsorship.

Kimball, 25, finished fourth in the 2010 Indy Lights season, capturing five podium (top three) finishes, including four second-place finishes. With this team, he will become the first licensed driver with type 1 diabetes in the history of the Indy Racing League to race at the highest level of the Series.

"We have sponsored Charlie for the past two seasons in the Firestone Indy Lights series and seen his development not only as a race car driver, but also as a role model to thousands of people with diabetes," said Camille Lee, Vice President of Diabetes Marketing at Novo Nordisk. "We are excited to join Chip and the entire Ganassi organization to ensure Charlie's success not only on the race track, but also with Novo Nordisk to show that diabetes does not have to get in the way of your dreams."

The creation of the new team allows Novo Nordisk to continue as Kimball's primary sponsor, with naming rights to the car, as well as other branding elements. Kimball will also continue to make appearances for Novo Nordisk throughout the country, with the award-winning Race with Insulin™ and other diabetes campaigns. Novo Nordisk has sponsored Kimball since he joined the Indy Racing League in the 2009 season.

"Many don't realize this, but we have had a relationship with Charlie for a number of years now. I have been keeping close tabs on him and his successes in racing from afar for a while now – whether he was racing in Formula 3 in Europe, or running in the Firestone Indy Lights Series the past few seasons," said racing legend and team owner Chip Ganassi. "We're excited to have the opportunity to turn this longstanding relationship into a reality with Charlie and Novo Nordisk."

Diagnosed with diabetes in 2007, Kimball monitors his blood sugar before, during and after each race, and uses the Novo Nordisk insulin LevemirÂ® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and NovoLogÂ® (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) and a pre-filled insulin pen device, called FlexPenÂ®, to help manage his diabetes.

"I am honored to join Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing and excited to be moving up to the IZOD IndyCar Series," said Kimball. "This is a dream come true and I am very proud to work with Novo Nordisk and continue to spread the message that diabetes does not have to slow you down."

The 2011 IZOD season includes the following race events in 17 cities across North America, and in Canada, Japan and Brazil:

March 27: Streets of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
April 10: Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, Ala.)
April 17: Streets of Long Beach (Long Beach, Calif.)
May 1: Streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sao Paulo)
May 29: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis)
June 11: Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas)
June 19: The Milwaukee Mile (Milwaukee)
June 25: Iowa Speedway (Newton, Iowa)
July 10: Streets of Toronto (Toronto)
July 24: Edmonton City Centre Airport (Edmonton, Alberta)
Aug. 7: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Toledo, Ohio)
Aug. 14: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, N.H.)
Aug. 28: Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.)
Sept. 4: Streets of Baltimore (Baltimore, Md.)
Sept. 18: Twin Ring Motegi, Japan (Motegi, Japan)
Oct. 2: Kentucky Speedway (Sparta, Ky.)
Oct. 16: Season Finale – TBD

Notes of Interest

About Charlie Kimball: Kimball, 25, began racing go-karts at age nine, and was later accepted into Stanford University and chose to defer admission to follow his dream to become a race car driver. He finished the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights Series season in fourth place with five podium (top-three) finishes, including four second-place finishes. Prior to his diabetes diagnosis in 2007, Kimball shattered the European stereotype that “Americans are not fast" by becoming the first American in 11 years to win a British Formula 3 race. He went on to secure two track records and several F3 victories in both Britain and Europe. Kimball has also raced in the Formula 3 Euroseries and the World Series by Renault. With Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing, he will become the first licensed driver with diabetes in the history of INDYCAR to race at the highest level of the series. Follow Kimball and his work with Novo Nordisk on Twitter @racewithinsulin or www.novonordisk-us.com.

About Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 87 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to social responsibility to employees and customers, environmental soundness and economic success. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 30,000 employees in 81 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

About Diabetes: In the United States one in 13, or 23.6 million people, have diabetes[i], a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Poorly or untreated diabetes can lead to a long list of health complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure, blindness, nerve problems and amputations[ii]. Prescribing information for LevemirÂ® and NovoLogÂ® is available by contacting Novo Nordisk at 1-800-727-6500 or visiting Levemir-us.com and NovoLog.com.

Quote Board:

Charlie Kimball, Driver, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing: “I am honored to join Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing and excited to be moving up to the IZOD IndyCar Series. This is a dream come true and I am very proud to work with Novo Nordisk and continue to spread the message that diabetes does not have to slow you down."

Camille Lee, Vice President of Diabetes Marketing, Novo Nordisk: “We have sponsored Charlie for the past two seasons in the Firestone Indy Lights Series and seen his development not only as a race car driver, but also as a role model to thousands of people with diabetes. We are excited to join Chip and the entire Ganassi organization to ensure Charlie’s success not only on the race track, but also with Novo Nordisk to prove that diabetes does not have get in the way of your dreams."

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “Many don’t realize this, but we have had a relationship with Charlie for a number of years now. I have been keeping close tabs on him and his successes in racing from afar for a while now – whether he was racing in Formula 3 in Europe, or running in the Firestone Indy Lights Series the past few seasons. We’re excited to have the opportunity to turn this longstanding relationship into a reality with Charlie and Novo Nordisk."