Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

500 Tickets Are in the Mail

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Today is a big day. Baseball is back, IU rallied from 17 points down to win, and tickets for the the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 went to the post office for mailing. The day the tickets arrive in my mailbox is the official first day of Spring. Here is the release about the tickets from IMS:

Famous Blue Envelopes of Indy 500 Tickets
Racing to Global Fans  
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 10, 2022) – Indianapolis 500 fans across the globe will soon see another milestone in the countdown to the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as the highly anticipated blue envelopes featuring Race Day tickets are mailed Thursday, March 10 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.
The initial ticket mailing of more than 150,000 tickets includes shipments to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 36 countries around the world as race fans eagerly await Indy 500 Race Day on Sunday, May 29.
Countries where tickets will be mailed include Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, France, Colombia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Japan and Denmark – all home countries for drivers expected to compete for a starting spot in this year’s Indy 500.
It takes approximately nine weeks to package all pre-ordered tickets for mailing, from orders the day after the previous year’s race up to current orders. Hard work from employees in the Ticket Office and other IMS, INDYCAR and IMS Productions departments ensures the ticketing process runs smoothly and on schedule.
A few facts and figures about this year’s initial ticket mailing:
Number of tickets sent: More than 150,000 Race Day tickets and more than 180,000 products (includes Race Day tickets, parking, concert tickets, etc.)
Number of blue envelopes sent: More than 25,000
Number of U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate envelopes: More than 580
Weight of all ticket envelopes and trays in first mailing: More than 5,000 pounds
Hours needed to fill envelopes by hand: More than 880 person-hours
Number of working days to package envelopes: 43
Number of Penske Entertainment employees who fill envelopes: 34
Federal postal inspectors came to IMS with a large truck for the first mailing. Many IMS employees pitched in to help load the trucks for delivery Thursday. This year, they were joined by 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi, who helped load the truck with tickets so race fans can see him compete for his second Indy 500 win in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda in person.
Receiving an eagerly awaited blue envelope in the mail is a rite of spring for thousands of fans of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” But why are the envelopes blue?
In the 1970s, Indianapolis 500 tickets were mailed in brown envelopes with the IMS return address in the upper left corner. In the 1980s, a heavier-stock, gray-colored envelope was introduced to mail the tickets, with just the IMS Post Office box number in the upper left corner. A computerized printer also was used for the first time in the 1980s to print ticket customers’ name and address on each envelope.
When the NASCAR Cup Series was added to the IMS schedule in 1994, the Ticket Office needed a way to distinguish between the envelopes containing tickets for the Indianapolis 500 and the annual NASCAR race, especially if the Postal Service returned the envelope as non-deliverable.
So, the IMS Ticket Office decided to color-code the ticket envelopes for each event. Indianapolis 500 ticket envelopes became blue, Brickyard Weekend envelopes became purple, GMR Grand Prix envelopes became green, and ticket envelopes for other IMS events use a variety of colors, including red, cream, gray and yellow.
Tickets for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29, the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700. 
 

Legends Day Concert Moves Downtown; Dierks Bentley Headliner

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Seems there has bee3n more concert news than racing news, but it indicates that things are slowly returning to normal. I think moving the concert downtown is a great idea. Fans attending the parade and concert don’t need to return to the track for the evening event.

The release from IMS:

Country Star Dierks Bentley To Headline
Firestone Legends Day Concert May 28 

 Venue Moves to TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 9, 2022) – Country music superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, May 28, one day before the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Special guests Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. (ET), with individual performances.
Previously held on the Firestone Stage inside Turn 4 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the concert will be held at the TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, further expanding the celebration of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” into downtown Indianapolis.
Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. (ET) Friday, March 11 at LiveNation.com. The first 500 fans to purchase a lawn ticket will pay only $25. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. Ticket prices are subject to applicable fees
.“Concerts on the days leading up to Race Day help build the tremendous energy that our community brings to the green flag,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said.
“Hosting the Firestone Legends Day Concert downtown will further integrate our city into the weekend and make for a great Saturday evening under the lights of downtown in a fantastic, newly renovated venue. It also allows us to make sure we will have the Indianapolis Motor Speedway properly prepared to host over 300,000 fans beginning at 6 a.m. the following morning.”
The new venue allows fans to celebrate Legends Day presented by Firestone at both IMS and throughout downtown Indianapolis. Legends Day kicks off with the 106th Indianapolis 500 Public Drivers’ Meeting and driver autograph sessions at IMS. Gates will close early so fans can make their way downtown for the AES 500 Festival Parade and the Firestone Legends Day Concert.
“White River State Park is excited to host the Firestone Legends Day Concert at our new TCU Amphitheater,” said Jake Oakman, executive director of White River State Park Development Commission.
“The new concert venue is the perfect stage for the world-class entertainment that has long been associated with Race Weekend. White River State Park and Live Nation are looking forward to welcoming race fans from all over the world to this May tradition in downtown Indianapolis.”
Said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy: “We’re excited to bring more of the Indy 500 weekend excitement downtown, as we welcome the Firestone Legends Day Concert to the TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park in the heart of the city. Extending the footprint for May events beyond the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provides more opportunities for visitors and locals alike to get in on the action and excitement leading up to the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
”Bentley continues to be a dominant voice for the genre with over 6.4 billion streams as his new single, “Beers On Me,” with BRELAND and HARDY races up the radio charts. Reaching a new creative high while “making music designed to challenge” (New York Times),
Bentley co-wrote 10 of 13 tracks on his latest full-length release “The Mountain,” which earned him the highest debut sales of his career and became his seventh chart-topping release. Last year, Bentley surprised fans with his “Live from Telluride”
FROM TELLURIDE collection that was touted as “a gift that Country music fans didn’t know they needed” (The Tennesseean).Bentley will celebrate his 16th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. He also has created professional endeavors outside of the music with his Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection Desert Son, along with his “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” franchise hosting four locations. For more information, visit Dierks.com.
McBryde earned a 2021 Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, making her “Never Will” the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. The music is stadium-ready rock-and-roll with a bluegrass wink or two and country music’s storytelling heart––and McBryde, no longer new, is the music’s ordained and highly capable standard bearer.
Since unleashing his critically acclaimed 2018 debut, “Hell On An Angel,” Carmichael has toured with some of country music’s biggest names, written a song for Travis Tritt’s latest album, racked up millions of streams on Spotify, gone viral on TikTok and even gotten engaged. He used his pandemic downtime to go back to the studio and record his latest album, “Son of A,” a collection of high-energy, feel-good country that includes the singles “Hot Beer” and “Hose Water.”
As the Official Tire of Country Music and the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500, Firestone has served as the presenting sponsor of Legends Day since it debuted in 2014. The partnership brings together two platforms – racing and country music – that have played significant roles in the rich history of the time-tested Firestone brand.
The 106th Indianapolis 500 by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 29. Race Day tickets are on sale now at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS Ticket Office. General admission tickets for Legends Day presented by Firestone start at $10. This ticket does not include concert admission. IMS gates will open at 8 a.m. and will close early at 1 p.m.

Castroneves Unveils Historic Image on Borg-Warner Trophy at Indiana Statehouse

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From IMS

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 3, 2022) – 2021 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Helio Castroneves unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy for the fourth time Thursday, March 3 at the Indiana Statehouse.
Castroneves, a native of Brazil, became the fourth four-time “500” winner when he captured the 105th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” last May 30. He etched his name alongside this race’s greatest names in A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears by joining their exclusive club of four-time winners.
“I’m beyond lucky to get to have another face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy,” Castroneves said. “It’s an exciting time to get to celebrate this special moment at the Indiana Statehouse, as well. It’s been such a great experience making my full-time return to INDYCAR with Meyer Shank Racing. Last year was just the start of a really great partnership together, and now we begin the drive for five.”
Among the guests present at the trophy unveiling were Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles and BorgWarner Inc. Global Director of Marketing and Public Relations Michelle Collins.
“This is one of the most historic unveilings of a likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy we’ve ever had as Helio’s image now appears for the fourth time on this beautiful trophy,” Boles said. “It’s exciting to get to celebrate something that only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have done and place Helio alongside those iconic names. While Helio isn’t from Indiana, he definitely knows what it means to be a Hoosier, and we are proud to stand in the Indiana Statehouse today for this very special occasion.”
Said Collins: “Today is a special day for everyone involved as we get to finally unveil the winning driver’s image on the Borg-Warner Trophy. BorgWarner is proud to be able to reward Helio Castroneves’ hard work on the track, winning his record tying fourth Indianapolis 500, with this beautiful sterling silver likeness created by sculptor William Behrends.
The unveiling of the winning driver’s image is a fun and memorable annual event that showcases the winner’s likeness, along with all the other past winners of the Indianapolis 500 dating back to 1911 when Ray Harroun drove to victory.
“Helio and everyone at Meyer Shank Racing performed flawlessly on Race Day last May to put their names atop the record book. Helio is a wonderful ambassador for the sport, and everyone at BorgWarner is proud to be associated with him. We recognize his greatness and never-ending smile on and off the track.”
As part of the unveiling ceremony, Holcomb presented Castroneves with the flag flown at the Indiana Statehouse on the day of his historic win. Castroneves reciprocated by giving Holcomb an iconic bottle of milk, the drink enjoyed by all Indy 500 winners in Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Castroneves’s image on the world-famous trophy was created once again by sculptor William Behrends, who has crafted the sterling silver, bas relief images of all winners for the trophy since 1990.Commissioned by BorgWarner in 1935, the sterling silver trophy stands more than 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds, honoring every winner since 1911 with their sculpted faces affixed to the iconic trophy.
Through a multi-phase process, Behrends begins creating the likeness of the drivers. Castroneves visited Behrends at his studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session to produce a full-scale clay model of his face. While Behrends has sculpted Castroneves’ face three previous times for his wins in 2001, ’02 and ’09, this was the first time Castroneves visited Behrends’ studio. Until 2015, Behrends created the faces on the Borg-Warner Trophy from 360-degree, black and white photos taken the morning after the race.
The life-size clay image is used as a reference when Behrends works on the smaller model, which is created out of a mixture of oil-based clays. The clay model is eventually turned into a mold and then cast in wax, which is sent out to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends ends his process by polishing and buffing the image before attaching it to the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Later this year, Castroneves will receive his fourth BorgWarner Championship Driver’s Trophy, also known as a “Baby Borg,” which is a miniature replica of the Borg-Warner Trophy that will feature a duplicate of his sterling silver image. Meyer Shank Racing also will receive a memento commemorating the victory: its first the BorgWarner Championship Team Owner’s Trophy. Castroneves’ Indy win also was the first in NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition for the team.
Tickets for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the GMR Grand Prix and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com. 
 
 

Castroneves To Reveal Historic Borg-Warner Trophy Image on March 3

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From IMS

Helio Castroneves, who earned his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge victory last May, will unveil his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy at 11:30 a.m. (ET) Thursday, March 3 at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
Castroneves won the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, tying A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The victory also was the first in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for Meyer Shank Racing.
The event will take place in the South Atrium of the Indiana Statehouse. Fans can watch a live stream of the event at may.ims.com.
WHO: Helio Castroneves, 2021 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge Winner.
Eric J. Holcomb, Indiana Governor; Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment President and CEO; J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President; Michelle Collins, BorgWarner Inc. Marketing and Public Relations, Global Director
WHAT: Unveiling of Helio Castroneves’s likeness on Borg-Warner Trophy
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. (ET), Thursday, March 3
WHERE: Indiana Statehouse, South Atrium, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
Media, please RSVP to Lauren Guidotti in IMS Public Relations at lguidotti@brickyard.com. 
 

Popular Indianapolis Veteran Danny Ongais Dies at 79

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  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Feb. 28, 2022) – Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver admired by fans and competitors for his speed and bravery in an Indianapolis 500 career spanning three decades, died Feb. 26 of congestive heart complications in Anaheim Hills, California. He was 79.The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. 25 Parnelli and Penske chassis powered by Cosworth engines, with a best finish of fourth in 1979 and a top start of second next to pole sitter Tom Sneva in 1978.
Ongais is the only native of Hawaii to start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Fans included his heritage in his nickname “The Flyin’ Hawaiian,” and nicknames “On-Gas” and “On the Gas” were word plays on his last name.
Born May 21, 1942 in Kahului, Hawaii, Ongais began one of the most versatile careers of any driver in his era as a teenager, earning a Hawaii state title in motorcycle racing in 1960.
Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s.
He finished runner-up to Mike Snively in the Top Fuel class at the 1966 NHRA U.S. Nationals after beating the legendary Don “The Snake” Prudhomme in the semifinals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Ongais then won the Funny Car class in the 1969 NHRA U.S. Nationals at IRP, drag racing’s most prestigious event, in a distinctive blue Ford Mach 1 Mustang fielded by Mickey Thompson. That victory came one year after Thompson tried to enter Ongais into the 1968 Indianapolis 500, but Ongais was denied because he had almost no experience in open-wheel race cars.
Thompson and Ongais also teamed up to set nearly 300 national and international speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Mach 1 Mustang during the 1960s.
Ongais’ success in straight-line competition led him to be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 in the Drag Racing category.
Service in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s exposed Ongais to sports car racing in Europe, and he moved from dragstrips to ovals and road courses in the mid-1970s. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label.
Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the INDYCAR SERIES in the late 1970s. He also competed in four Formula One races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in 1977 at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The best season for Ongais and the Interscope team came in 1978, when he won five races and eight poles en route to an eighth-place finish in the USAC standings.
That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Sneva and rookie Rick Mears.
Ongais and Field’s success with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype.
While Ongais was known for his blazing speed at Indianapolis and elsewhere, he also attracted attention for surviving some of the most violent crashes of his era. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover.
In 1985, he also survived a spectacular barrel roll at Michigan International Speedway after hitting the back of the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch.
Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. Al Unser was named as Ongais’ replacement and drove to his fourth “500” victory in a backup car that was a show car earlier in May in a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania.
The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais’ final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. Pole sitter Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver. Ongais, racing at age 54 in his first “500” since 1986, finished a creditable seventh after starting from the rear of the field.
Ongais’ final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. Ongais’ Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. He also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. 

Indianapolis 500 Veteran Roger Rager Dies at 73

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From Indianapolis Motor Speedway Communications:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Feb. 21, 2022) – Roger Rager, who raced in the 1980 Indianapolis 500 with an engine block found in a junkyard, died Feb. 16. He was 73.
Nebraska native Rager started racing in 1968 and made his name in the 1970s with sprint car victories at many tracks before coming to Indianapolis in 1978 with his small, low-budget team. He finally qualified for what would be his only career start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1980.
Rager’s 3-year-old Wildcat chassis was powered by a stock-block Chevrolet engine, but it was no normal stock powerplant. Rager believed that a stock block needed to gain durability through the heat cycles created by use, so he sought a used block as the foundation of his car’s engine for Indy that year.
That used, low-mileage block was found in a junkyard from an engine that powered a school bus.
Rager qualified an impressive 10th in 1980, sharing Row Four with Jim McElreath and A.J. Foyt. He was running ninth early in the race and led Laps 16-17 during pit stop cycles. On Lap 55, McElreath spun in front of Rager, who spun and crashed out of the race trying to avoid McElreath’s car.
Rager was credited with 23rd place. He continued to race after his sole Indy 500 start and became the only driver to win a feature at famed Knoxville Raceway in each of five decades.
Rager also was a three-time winner of the Masters Classic event at Knoxville for drivers over 50.
Rager retired from driving in 2009 and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame the same year. He also was inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame, Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame and the Big Car Racing Association (BCRA) Hall of Fame. 

Snake Pit Lineup Set

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I don’t normally share news about the entertainment surrounding the Indianapolis 500, but this is a sign that May is returning to normal. Look for my season preview tomorrow and Saturday.

 IMS.com  LogoFor Immediate Release  02-17-2022-SnakePit-Email.png  Superstar Martin Garrix To Headline
2022 Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light  deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki, Yellow Claw Also Performing May 29 at IMS; Tickets On Sale
INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022) – Superstar DJ and producer Martin Garrix will headline a stellar lineup of global electronic music artists at the Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the biggest and best party of Race Weekend.deadmau5, Galantis, Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw also will perform at the Race Day concert during the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Performances begin early in the morning in the infield adjacent to Turn 3 of the IMS oval, with specific set times to be announced.
“The Indy 500 Snake Pit presented by Coors Light is one of the most popular concerts of the year on the global EDM calendar,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Anticipation is even higher for this year’s show after a two-year pause due to the pandemic, so we can’t wait to welcome this incredible, star-studded lineup and their fans back home again to the Speedway for a day filled with fun and epic memories.”
General admission and VIP tickets for the Snake Pit are on sale for $45 and $150 at www.ims.com. VIP amenities will include access to a raised viewing platform located beside the stage, a private cash bar and private air-conditioned restrooms.
All Snake Pit ticketholders must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Indy 500 general admission or reserved seat ticket. Ticket holders should be prepared to show proper identification to enter the concert.
Packages that include Race Day general admission tickets are available. A package featuring general admission to the Indianapolis 500 and Snake Pit is $85, while a race general admission and Snake Pit VIP package is $190.
Snake Pit concertgoers are encouraged to buy tickets now, as prices will increase as May approaches and limited quantities of admission wristbands are available. In a new regulation for 2022 to maximize safety and overall guest experience, coolers will not be permitted in the Snake Pit. Complimentary water hydration stations will be available for concert attendees. Empty hydration packs with up to two pockets also will be allowed inside the Snake Pit gates.
Martin Garrix has risen to global stardom in pop as well as electronic circles –and yet he’s far from being done. Dance music’s freshest talent has headlined festivals around the globe, founded a label and mentored other artists and won the No. 1 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 twice. This will be Garrix’s second performance in the Snake Pit, as he also was in the lineup for the landmark 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016. Garrix, from The Netherlands, taught himself to produce and play his songs by his mid-teens. In 2013, he released music on Musical Freedom – his idol Tiesto’s label – and not long after, he released the track that would change everything for him.“Animals,” released in June 2013, was a breakout success and a game-changer for the music industry. Reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and many other countries, it proved that a hard-hitting, dancefloor-oriented track could reach pop status, ultimately reaching over a billion streams across several platforms. It also proved that Garrix, at only 17, had the talent to become a world-class musician.
The eight years since have been marked by a quick march through the ranks of dance music, conquering stages all around the world and releasing more breakout hits. In 2016, Garrix took pole position in the DJ Mag Top 100 for the first time and launched his label, STMPD RCRDS. Named after his father’s profession, who runs a stamp auction house, the label serves as an outlet for Garrix’s music and as a platform for up-and-coming, creative talents.
Garrix’ musical achievements have not gone unnoticed. He was awarded with two MTV EMAs in 2016, holding the No. 1 spot in the 2017 DJ Mag Top 100, a “Man of Today” accolade from GQ, a spot among Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and another at Billboard’s “EDM Power Players.” He also performed twice on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC, the first Dutch guest in the show’s history.2021 was a banner year for Garrix. His “In The Name of Love” with Bebe Rexha, a breakout hit released in 2016, and his collaboration with Tove Lo on “Pressure” combined to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. He was the official music artist at the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament, collaborating with Bono and The Edge of U2 on “We Are The People.” Garrix’s first album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1,” also was released last year.
His latest release is “Won’t Let You Go,” a collaboration with Matisse & Sadko and John Martin. A naturally outgoing person and a born entertainer, Garrix also has headlined at some of the world’s major music festivals, including Coachella, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza and Ultra Music Festival. He also locked down residencies at two of the world’s most prestigious clubs, Ushuaïa Ibiza and Omnia Las Vegas, and also performed at the Closing Ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Joel Zimmerman, more commonly known as deadmau5 (pronounced ‘dead mouse’), is one of the world’s most respected electronic music producers of modern times. Enjoying international chart success with his platinum-certified single “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff,” as well as “Professional Griefers,” “Sofi Needs A Ladder” and “I Remember,” he also has released seven critically acclaimed albums. The multiple JUNO Award-winning and Grammy-nominated artist’s ability to push the boundaries of his talent grows at an equal rate to his fan base, which counts 15 million and more over his combined social media channels.
His latest music offerings include “Pomegranate” with The Neptunes, “Bridged By A Lightwave” with Kiesza, “Channel 43” with Wolfgang Gartner, “Hypnocurrency” with REZZ, “When The Summer Dies” with Lights, “Hyperlandia” featuring Foster The People and “this is fine.” with Portugal. The Man.In the live realm, his 2019/20 U.S. cubev3 tour, featuring production of his own design and implementation, ranked in the Top 10 of Pollstar’s top tours globally. Beyond his music career, he is also a co-founder of gaming venture PIXELYNX and is an executive of HD streaming platform StreamVoodoo.
Setting a new standard for songwriting in dance music, Galantis is a collaborative project led by Christian Karlsson (aka Bloodshy, one-third of Miike Snow). Galantis’ debut album, “Pharmacy,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance album chart on the strength of RIAA gold certified single “Peanut Butter Jelly” and platinum certified smash “Runaway (U & I)” – the latter of which earned Grammy nominations for “Best Dance Recording” and “Best Remixed Recording.”
The 2017 sophomore album, “The Aviary” (featuring platinum certified single “No Money”) saw a top 10 debut in 23 countries. The third Galantis album, “Church,” features the chart-topping single “Faith” with country music icon Dolly Parton featuring Dutch singer-songwriter Mr. Probz, which saw a No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Chart before quickly reaching No. 1 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart where it remained for five weeks.Galantis has received over 4 billion cumulative worldwide streams, and over 1 billion video views to date. More recently, Galantis have teamed up with Little Mix and David Guetta on 2021 summer smash “Heartbreak Anthem” which debuted at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes charts and secured the No. 1 spot at UK airplay and Shazam charts.
The story of Galantis started back in 2009. Working as Bloodshy, Karlsson’s songwriting collaborations have included Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry and Britney Spears (whose “Toxic” earned a Grammy for “Best Dance Recording”). This collaborative nature led to the birth of the Galantis project, which had its live debut at 2014’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and has continued on years later as one of dance music’s most dynamic and in-demand live performers.
Steve Aoki is returning to the Snake Pit for the second time, as he also performed there in 2015.Counting nearly 4 billion music streams to his name, two-time Grammy-nominated artist/DJ/producer Aoki is one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world. As a solo artist, Aoki boasts a lauded cross-genre discography that includes seven studio albums and collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, Maluma, BTS, Linkin Park and Louis Tomlinson, among others. In 1996, he established Dim Mak out of his college dorm room, a trendsetting record label, events/lifestyle company and apparel brand. It has served as a launch pad for global acts like The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots and The Kills, in addition to being the home of early releases from acts such as ZEDD and Diplo.
As a nightlife impresario, Aoki’s legendary Hollywood club night Dim Mak Tuesdays hosted early performances from future superstars such as Kid Cudi, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, and Travis Scott.Aoki is also a fashion designer, author and entrepreneur. In 2012, he founded THE AOKI FOUNDATION, which primarily supports organizations in the field of brain science research with a specific focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. In addition, Aoki has pushed his clothing line Dim Mak Collection to new heights, both with original designs and collaborations with everyone from A Bathing Ape to the Bruce Lee estate.
Yellow Claw has climbed dance music charts since the Dutch DJ and production duo of Jim Aasgier and Nizzle released their first songs in 2012. The duo’s debut in November 2015, “Blood For Mercy,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Heat Seekers Chart and Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and earned an Edison Award in 2016, the Dutch equivalent of a Grammy Award. The duo has sold out shows in the United States, Asia and Europe and performed on major festival stages at the Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Coachella and more.In 2017, Yellow Claw released its sophomore album, “Los Amsterdam.” The album has amassed more than 200 million Spotify streams and peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes Dance Albums chart.
Yellow Claw’s third album, “New Blood,” was released in 2018.
Tickets for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 and the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14 are available at www.ims.com. 
 

Marco Andretti Enters 500; Seeks 250th Career Start

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Editor’s note: It is hard for me to imagine an Indianapolis 500 without an Andretti in it. This is good news.

From Indycar:

Marco Andretti will attempt to make his 250th career INDYCAR SERIES start Sunday, May 29 in the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, driving the No. 98 Honda fielded by Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco Andretti and Curb-Agajanian with primary sponsorship from KULR Technology Group.

Third-generation driver Andretti is looking to make his 17th career start and earn his first victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He has eight top-10 finishes, including four in the top three, and won the pole in 2020.

KULR Technology Group (NYSE American: KULR) first joined Andretti Technologies (“ATEC”), the advanced technology arm of Andretti Autosport, and sister team, Andretti United Extreme E, in 2021 as the official thermal management and battery safety technical partner.

The goal of the ATEC partnership focuses on transferring aerospace knowledge onto the racetrack. KULR’s expertise with lightweight, high-performance thermal management solutions through space exploration provides the opportunity to implement new cooling technology, battery cell architecture and testing methodologies within the high-performance and high-power applications across the motorsport landscapes.

“We’ve worked with KULR through Andretti Technologies for over a year now, including last year’s Indy 500 with Marco, and we are thrilled to now welcome them as a primary sponsor to our INDYCAR program,” said Andretti Autosport chairman and CEO Michael Andretti. “The development potential of KULR’s technology is exciting given their expertise in high-performance thermal management solutions and understanding of battery safety. We look forward to this special event in May as Marco celebrates 250 career INDYCAR starts.”

Said KULR President and CEO Keith Cochran: “We are humbled and honored to have the legendary Andretti Autosport racing team represent the KULR brand in the upcoming Indianapolis 500. As the primary sponsor for the No. 98 car driven by Marco Andretti, we are extending our partnership with Andretti Autosport and further demonstrating the breadth of applications for KULR’s technologies.”

Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will start at 11 a.m. (ET) May 29 on NBC, Telemundo and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Indy 500 Green Flag Begins Epic Journey Across Globe  

thepitwindow

News from IMS. Interesting idea.

 IMS.com  LogoFor Immediate Release  02-11-GreenFlagSweden.jpg  INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Feb. 11, 2022) – The green flag for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will take an epic global journey in 2022, visiting unique settings and events as part of the Green Flag Relay leading into “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29.
The flag made its first stop thousands of miles away from Indianapolis Motor Speeday when it travelled to Pite Havsbad, Sweden, with NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Jimmie Johnson for motorsports’ all-star Race of Champions on Feb. 6-7. Team USA, comprised of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Johnson and Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta, took second place Feb. 6 in the prestigious Race of Champions Nations Cup.
“The green flag is one of the most iconic symbols in all of motorsports, and nothing is more exciting or meaningful to our fans than seeing it wave at the beginning of the world’s greatest race,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said.
“This year, it will be even more special knowing how many renowned global events and landmarks the flag will have journeyed to leading up to such an important moment.”
Fans can follow the flag’s adventures via www.IMS.com/GreenFlagRelay, which will feature an interactive map with photographs, video and more. On social media, the campaign can be tracked using the hashtag #GreenFlagRelay.
The flag will visit an exciting location this weekend, so fans are encouraged to be on the lookout for additional content soon.
The 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge takes place Sunday, May 29 with live coverage beginning on NBC at 11 a.m. (ET). Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and for more information.