Townsend Bell’s disclaimer: Any tie between the snail depicted on the sidepods of the Chevrolet-powered No. 60 Sunoco “Turbo” car and its speed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is fictitious.
Bell, who turned 11 laps May 13 to shake down the distinctive yellow and blue car, plunged into his full program for Panther Racing on May 14. He added 56 laps with a best speed of 221.898 mph (on Lap 32) and checked in 12th on the lap speed chart.
The entry mirrors the Sunoco-sponsored race team represented in the DreamWorks Animation feature film “Turbo,” which will be in theaters July 17. The animated comedy is about a typical garden snail that attains the power of super speed and begins an adventure of fulfilling his dream of competing in the Indianapolis 500.
Click it: "Turbo" movie trailer
The movie, which features the voices of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph and others, highlights the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IZOD IndyCar Series. Directed by David Sorin, three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti was a technical consultant. He and other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, plus 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, provided voice-overs for characters in the movie.
“Being able to literally pull the car from the movie and have it on the track is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our brand and a great way to kick off our Free Fuel 5000 summer promotion,” Sunoco brand manager Drew Kabakoff said.
Sunoco is the Official Fuel and Convenience Store of INDYCAR. A “Turbo”-themed Sunoco show car is making appearances at events across the nation.
Limited edition Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka bottle unveiled
Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka unveiled the Checkered Flag Limited Edition bottle for its award-winning spirit to commemorate its involvement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and INDYCAR.
The Indiana-based company began the concept of the Checkered Flag Limited Edition bottle at last year's Indy 500, as it sought to create a bottle that showcased its passion for the world's biggest racing event. The unique golf imagery on the bottle has been replaced with the view from Turn 1 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway looking down the front straightaway at the start of the Indianapolis 500. The "Wing and Wheel" symbol of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is prominently featured as well as a checkered flag top.
Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka is the Official Vodka of INDYCAR, the Official Vodka of the 2013 Indianapolis 500 and primary sponsor for Ed Carpenter Racing. Last week, it also was named the Official Vodka of Pocono Raceway, which will host the IZOD IndyCar Series race July 6-7.
“Growing up and spending most of my life in Indiana, I've always been a big fan of the Indy 500," said Fuzzy Zoeller, former Masters and U.S. Open champion. "We wanted to create something that showed our passion for the Brickyard and the Indianapolis 500. We've been with Ed since 2010 and have been blessed to be involved with such a great sport and series. I hope that racing fans see that passion in our bottle and enjoy the vodka a little, too.”
Added Carpenter, who topped the speed chart on Opening Day of track activity and will attempt to qualify May 18 for his 10th Indy 500: "Fuzzy's Vodka has been a great partner for me and our team, and this exciting new bottle is a collector's item for any racing fan. It is great to have two Indiana legends, Fuzzy Zoeller and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, blending together again in 2013. Now our goal is to put the Fuzzy's Vodka car in Victory Lane."
A decade of Lucas Oil support for Schmidt team
Lucas Oil will be the primary sponsor for the Honda-powered No. 55 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car driven by rookie Tristan Vautier in the Indy 500.
Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, first partnered with team co-owner Sam Schmidt a decade ago when his company served as primary sponsor for Schmidt's Indianapolis 500 entry for Richie Hearn. Lucas Oil has served as a title sponsor each race season on one of Schmidt's Firestone Indy Lights entries.
"I was attracted to the Indianapolis 500 10 years ago because it's the biggest race in the world, and it's a huge pleasure to be part of the race again with a car, driver and team that have every chance in the world of winning," Lucas said.
Of note
Bell competed for Panther Racing during the second half of the 2004 season and for one race in 2005, where he filled in for the injured Tomas Enge. … Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Firestone Indy Lights driver Gabby Chaves took part in Broward County Commission’s proclamation ceremony declaring May as “Take 5 To Stay Alive. Don't Text & Drive” month. Chaves, 19, is a county resident. ... Upcoming IZOD IndyCar Series driver birthdays: May 18 (Simon Pagenaud, 29) and May 19 (Dario Franchitti, 40).