IZOD IndyCar Series championship points leader Will Power is the focus of this week’s “INDYCAR 36,” which will air at 5:30 p.m. (ET) Sept. 1 on NBC Sports Network from Baltimore.
Power, the defending race winner on the streets of Baltimore, is coming off a runner-up finish to Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe at Sonoma on Aug. 26.
The IMS Productions crew went behind the scenes during a strategy meeting and sponsor commitments, and rode to the venue on Brasil IT+ Pole Day with Power and his wife, Elizabeth, who is the publicist for Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
“That was a nice perspective,” said Dan Huber, the show’s producer. “We got to hear the story of how they first got together back when they were both working for Derrick Walker in Champ Car in 2006. We got to see more of Will’s personality.”
The crew also interviewed Penske Racing president Tim Cindric and Helio Castroneves.
Power, who started from the pole at Sonoma, was aiming to win at the track for the third year in a row. The second-place finish, combined with Ryan Hunter-Reay’s 18th place in the 85-lap race on the 2.385-mile, 12-turn road course, allowed Power to increase his championship points lead from 5 to 36 over Hunter-Reay.
“He was conflicted after the race in that he had a good points day but didn’t win the race,” Huber said. “He’s a very focused and competitive individual.”
Carpenter team seeks to carry on streak
Team owner/driver Ed Carpenter is the only driver to have been running at the finish in all 13 races this season. The team began operation less than 10 months ago.
"It is very difficult to construct a team in just a few months and try to compete against the likes of Penske, Ganassi and Andretti," Carpenter said. "We have a solid team with (general manager) Derrick (Walker) and (team manager) Tim Broyles leading the way. I have been able to concentrate on the driving side as well. I am proud of the way the team has come together and finishing every race this year shows the effort the Fuzzy's Vodka team has produced this season."
Baltimore native Mario to sing national anthem
Baltimore native and Grammy Award-nominated Mario will sing the national anthem before the start of the IZOD IndyCar Series race.
His single, "Let Me Love You," was a No. 1 for nine weeks and was named Billboard Magazine's Top R&B/Hip Hop Single of 2005. His latest album is entitled "Go."
No shortcuts on Baltimore streets
Honda’s popular “Fastest Seat in Sports” sweepstakes returns at Baltimore, with two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk at the wheel of the two-seat Indy car. He will take winner Tyler Treiber of Uniontown, Ohio, on the ride on the street circuit in advance of the green flag.
Fans can find out more information on the “Fastest Seat in Sports” at www.shophonda.com.
Of note
The No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car driven by Dario Franchitti will carry the primary paint scheme of Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, this weekend at Baltimore. … Ryan Homes will be an associate sponsor on the No. 14 ABC Supply car of A.J. Foyt Racing for the weekend. … Verizon Wireless, the Official Wireless Sponsor of the IZOD IndyCar Series, has extended its official designation to the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT.