For a fourth consecutive year, Pippa Mann is returning to Dale Coyne Racing as part of the team’s effort at this year’s 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Mann will once again be promoting her 2016 Pink #GetInvolved campaign, raising funds for Susan G. Komen, while sporting a pink helmet with the Komen running ribbon for the third straight year.
“This cause is something very personal to me and to Dale Coyne Racing,” said Mann, who will drive the No. 63 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. “While racing a pink car the past two years certainly attracts attention and awareness for Susan G. Komen, the most important part of our partnership is taking this amazing stage that is the Indianapolis 500 and using it to raise money that can actually go towards care and research.
“Over the past two years, we've raised over $100,000 through activities surrounding the racing program that support Komen’s mission, including the 2015 campaign, and we're hoping to double last year’s goal this year.”
The 2016 campaign, launched today, looks to raise $100,000. A variety of support packs is available for interested donors. They include new artwork from Doug Garrison, the return of the “Turn the Cockpit Pink” option, a total run of 300 “Pippa” Bell mini-helmets — 100 of which will be signed and available via the campaign — as well as her signed helmet and suit that she’ll be wearing during this year’s event.
Last year, the campaign raised $61,150 for the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer.
"Pippa has been a tireless advocate for our mission to end breast cancer and the funds she has raised are helping to fund research and serve women facing this disease," said Dr. Judy Salerno, Komen president and CEO. “We are grateful to her and the Indy 500 family for their life-saving support.”
In addition to representing Komen, Mann has recently welcomed new partner Genetic Technologies Limited, a molecular diagnostics company specializing in women’s health, and provider of BREVAGenplus, a first-in-class, clinically validated risk assessment test for sporadic breast cancer. The BREVAGenplus logo will also be featured on Mann’s car.
Mann drove in six Verizon IndyCar Series races for Coyne in 2015, posting career-best finishes of 13th at Auto Club Speedway and Pocono Raceway. She will again team with Rob Ridgely, who engineered those 13th-place efforts.
“I'm also excited to be teaming up again with my engineer from last season, Ridge, for our first Indy 500 together,” said Mann, whose best Indy 500 finish of 20th came as a rookie in 2011. “I think the continuity of having worked together last year will really help us conquer some of the learning curve that comes from being a one-off entry each year.
“Working together, we finished both of the other 500-mile races in the top 15 last year, so it would be nice to try and continue, or improve, upon that trend this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
To learn more or donate to the #GetInvolved campaign, visit https://igg.me/at/getinvolved2016.