Ed Carpenter Racing and Autogeek.com have expanded their partnership that will see the online car care superstore serve as primary sponsor of Spencer Pigot’s No. 21 Chevrolet at the March 11 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“We are excited to be a part of Ed Carpenter Racing along with two large partners of ours, FLEX Power Tools and Polishers and 3D-High Definition Car Care,” said Terry Angstadt, Managing Director of Autogeek. “FLEX and 3D, along with Autogeek, will be prominently displayed on Specer’s car and helped make this effort possible.”
Over the last 15 years, Autogeek has become one of the most reputable and trusted sources for automotive detailing products and accessories. Headquartered in a 29,000-square-foot cutting edge facility in Stuart, Fla., Autogeek.com provides a wealth of car care know-how for detailers, hobbyists and car care enthusiasts.
The online store features the largest selection of auto detailing supplies and tools, car care products and auto accessories. Website visitors also have access to an extensive library of how-to guides and instructional videos and an auto detailing forum for tips and how-to's from other detailing enthusiasts.
“I am very proud to be able to have Autogeek, 3D and FLEX on the No. 21 for our season opener. Autogeek has been an ECR partner in the past and it is great to see the partnership grow to this next level,” team owner Ed Carpenter said. “Autogeek not only provides a source for all your car care needs, but they also provide a great platform for their partners such as 3D and FLEX to showcase their products. We are looking forward to starting off the season strong and making them proud!”
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be Pigot’s first race in ECR’s No. 21 entry. Before joining the team midway through the 2016 season, Pigot made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut at St. Petersburg in 2016 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
After becoming the first driver to retain ECR’s road and street course seat for a second year, Pigot has been elevated to the team’s full-time No. 21 entry for 2018. The 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit is also home to Pigot’s best qualifying position to date, as he started 13thin 2017 after he missed advancing to the second round of qualifications by a mere 0.04 seconds.
“St. Pete has always been a special track for me, especially since I began my Indy car career there in 2016. To have Autogeek on my car as I start my full-time career is just as special!” said Pigot. “The Florida connection just adds to it – since I am from Orlando, I have always considered the Firestone Grand Prix to be my home race with so many friends and family making the drive over. With Autogeek based across the state in Stuart, it’s their home race as well!”
Train to headline Miller Lite Carb Day Concert
Grammy Award-winning rock band Train will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 25, an exciting conclusion to one of the most action-packed days in the Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Blues rockers Blues Traveler will open the concert, which starts at 3:30 p.m. on the Miller Lite Stage inside Turn 4 of the IMS oval.
"Miller Lite Carb Day is one of the best days of the year, combining the excitement of on-track activity, the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge and music to help usher in the best weekend of the year," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "Train and Blues Traveler will provide great performances filled with hits for our fans and a fitting finale to a day of action and off-track fun. It's the perfect start to Race Weekend."
Train is a multi-Grammy and Billboard award-winning band from San Francisco that has had 14 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 list since the release of its debut self-titled album in 1998. The band rain has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, more than 30 million tracks, with multiple platinum/gold citations, including three Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards and dozens of other honors.
Blues Traveler has a proven reputation for improvisational live shows and tireless touring. With a total of 12 studio albums - four gold, three platinum and one six-times platinum - the band has sold more than 10 million combined units worldwide, and played more than 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people. The band's hit "Run-Around" is the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history and earned a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Petro-Canada extends partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. announced a multi-year extension agreement with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and increased its alignment with Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe.
“We are thrilled to have Petro-Canada Lubricants extend and expand their relationship with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. It’s tremendous to be aligned with PCLI, who invest in innovation every day. We look forward to seeing what more we are able to accomplish together,” SPM’s president, Jon Flack said.
In addition to logo placement on Hinchcliffe’s No. 5 Honda Indy car and SPM’s second full-time entry piloted by fellow Canadian Robert Wickens in the No. 6, Petro-Canada Lubricants Research and Development team is working closely with SPM engineers to integrate products into operations to assist on and off the track.
“We are excited to join our distributors and customers, as well as Indy fans in general, in cheering on James and the SPM team again in 2018,” said Mark A. Plake, president, Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. “With an aligned focus on innovation and excellence, we look forward to developing new technology opportunities with SPM that drive winning results.”
As the official lubricants partner of the Honda Indy Toronto – Hinchcliffe and Wickens’ hometown race and home to PCLI’s head office – additional PCLI branding will be visible on the No. 5 entry and throughout the track during the race weekend.
“We’re all very excited and proud to be continuing the relationship with PCLI,” commented the five-time IndyCar race winner, Hinchcliffe. “On a personal note, this partnership has always been special, given our mutual Canadian roots. We are excited about the potential that 2018 brings, not to mention, that Canadian maple leaf looks pretty sharp on our No. 5 and No. 6 Indy cars.”
The Cult to headline Long Beach's Rock-N-Roar Concert
Legendary rock band The Cult will headline the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach’s Rock-N-Roar Concert on Saturday night, April 14.
Free to race ticket holders, the show will begin at 6 p.m. after the close of daytime racing activities.
The Cult have recorded 10 albums comprising many hit songs including “She Sells Sanctuary,” “Wild Flower” and “Fire Woman,” and their latest album, “Hidden City,” was released in 2016. The band’s current lineup includes Ian Astbury (vocals) and Billy Duffy (lead guitar), as well as Grant Fitzpatrick (bass guitar), Damon Fox (keyboards) and John Tempesta (drums).
“We are looking forward to playing for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach fans,” said Duffy, “performing at this historic street race is a real honor for The Cult.”
The show will take place on the plaza in front of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center adjacent to the Long Beach Convention Center and is free to Saturday race ticket holders. Space at the plaza is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.