Author: krystin

During the action-packed Indy 500, racing teams understand the importance of a strong pit crew on the outcome of the race. That's why the pit crew for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR), along with other teammates, is training with Community Health Network's Sports Medicine staff as part of an individualized employee wellness program from Community Employer Health.

"Our new partnership with Community Health Network is a great example of going beyond traditional marketing strategies in racing," said Sarah Fisher, co-owner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. "Our team is focused on the health of our employees, both on and off the track, and this partnership allows us to emphasize the importance of their fitness in an environment where hundredths of seconds count. We hope people will peek into the new Body Shop, Powered by Community Health Network at our Speedway headquarters where training for the athletes of SFHR resumes in May."

Community Employer Health had the luxury of working with SFHR as the race team was designing its new racing headquarters site on the re-developed Main Street in Speedway. Knowing the team's focus was on physical and mental toughness for peak racing performance, Community designed detailed performance management plans for SFHR driver Josef Newgarden and his crew.

"Our relationship with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing is an excellent example of why customization of employee health and wellness plans is so important," said Steve Zetzl, vice president of Employer Health at Community Health Network. "Each of our clients has unique issues and goals. Our objective is to understand those issues and plan a wellness program that makes employees the healthiest they can be. Having an onsite health program is one of best ways to lower healthcare costs for employers."

Components of the SFHR Employee Health and Wellness plan include:

Onsite Fitness Center
Management and staffing
Performance training for driver and pit crew
Corporate wellness services
Annual onsite health screening and health assessment
MyPath program, a digital health management platform that allows participants to wirelessly download and track their physical activity
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Occupational Health and Medical Services

Work-related injury care
DOT/CDL services (exams and substance abuse testing for those required to have a commercial driver's license)
Annual flu vaccinations
Ergonomic assessment

About Community Health Network

Ranked among the nation's most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indiana's leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need them-in hospitals, health pavilions and doctor's offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Community's full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.

About Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) was established in 2008 and is owned by former driver Sarah Fisher, the youngest woman ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to run a full IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, and businessman Wink Hartman. SFHR has competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series since 2008, earning its first victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway.

In the birthplace of the legendary racing driver Ayrton Senna lies an 11-turn temporary street circuit that hosted Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) and the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series today. The 2.535-mile asphalt and concrete track for the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 bumps and bruises more than just about any course on the series calendar and two things are needed to survive - patience and time.

Starting dead last today in 25th position as a result of a penalty extended for an engine change, Nashville-resident Josef Newgarden and his team thought they might have to count on healthy doses of patience and time as their only strategy. But a record number of cautions at the São Paulo circuit gave the Speedway, Ind.-based team the opportunity they needed to get Newgarden the best finish of his brief IZOD IndyCar Series career.

"I thought we had a really strong race and a top-five is really good going into Indy," said Newgarden. "Given where we started, that's exactly what we wanted to do, score solid points and get some momentum going into the 500. I think we've absolutely done that."

A late-race charge by Newgarden after a restart put him in position to battle for the lead. The 22-year-old racer made several attempts to put his Honda-powered Dallara chassis on point, but he ultimately yielded to James Hinchcliffe, the eventual winner. Newgarden hung on to his fading tires to squeeze out a fifth-place finish for his SFHR team to take back to their new racing headquarters in Indiana.

"It was a little bit of a disappointment," Newgarden said. "I think we had a better car than fifth. You have to take what you can sometimes. We're really pleased at all of the hard work that gets put in from everyone here. It's good to get representative results. We'll try to take that momentum and do well at the 500."

The SFHR team heads home to Speedway for a short walk from the race shop to the 97th Indianapolis 500 where Newgarden put the No. 67 in a seventh-place starting position last year. To get the latest news from SFHR, follow @SFHRindy on Twitter.

When the month of May rolls around each year the state of Indiana takes center spotlight on a world stage for the Indianapolis 500, and this year the City of New Castle, Ind. will play a role in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing through an associate sponsorship of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR).

New Castle, located 44 miles east of Indianapolis, has a population of just over 18,000 people. The city raised funds for its sponsorship of SFHR through private investors.

"The City of New Castle, Ind. is proud to team up with SFHR for the 2013 Indianapolis 500," said New Castle Mayor Greg York. "With help from private investors in New Castle, this has become a reality for our community. This will allow us to promote New Castle on the largest advertising stage in the world. Our community looks at the big picture. We want to compete with worldwide companies, which is why we wanted to be involved with Sarah Fisher and the Indianapolis 500."

SFHR also has a unique connection with New Castle, home to New Castle Motorsports Park (NCMP), where SFHR driver Josef Newgarden grew up racing go karts.

"I learned my race craft at NCMP and go back there every year I can for the Robopong 200 kart race," Newgarden said. "It will mean a lot to me to carry a decal of the city where I started my racing career on my livery at the Indianapolis 500."

The family culture that SFHR co-owner Sarah Fisher has created for her team is also a logical fit for New Castle, a small Midwestern city that has established itself as a an attractive place to work and live.

"With one of the Midwest's most coveted karting tracks in New Castle Motorsports Park where our own driver Josef Newgarden spent time training, this partnership made perfect sense to highlight their city," Sarah Fisher said. "To be a small part of a community that deeply embraces our sport is an honor for a family culture oriented team. I look forward to working with the City of New Castle to let Indianapolis 500 visitors know the uniqueness that a Midwestern town has to offer."

Gates open at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11th to begin practice for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing will air live on ABC at 11am ET on May 26.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) and Josef Newgarden are ready for "take two" on-track at Barber Motorsports Park for the second IZOD IndyCar Series race of the 2013 season.

The first take in St. Petersburg was cut short after 50 laps due to a mechanical issue.

"I think we really just had a hiccup," Newgarden said. "It's one of those things that happens sometimes to teams and I don't think it will slow us down. I still think we have a great package going into Barber and the next couple of races afterwards."

With a new stage set for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the SFHR crew is prepped for action.

"We learned a lot at St. Pete with the new tires that Firestone has brought on this year," Newgarden said. "The compound is very different on the street courses compared to last year. It's difficult figuring out the balance between the front and rear tires and making them work optimally. We learned a lot from that aspect for the future street courses of the season, which is going to be crucial for us."

The No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car took practice shots at Barber on March 12 and 13 for open testing.

"The track changed at Barber because they did a re-surfacing of the entire track, which added a substantial amount of grip, very different to 2012," Newgarden said. "So getting some laps before we go there was pretty crucial to figuring out what we need from a race car around the place and learning how to deal with that large of a grip increase."

Newgarden is excited to race at the 15-turn, 2.38-mile track at Barber Motorsports Park, one of his favorite sets to work on.

"I love the facility. It's probably one of the nicest if not THE nicest facility that we'll go to this year for a racing event," he said. "I also love the fans that come to Barber because they are super passionate about not only racing, but IndyCar specifically. It's always nice to go to an event that is so popularly supported by people."

The Nashville, Tenn. native spent most of his time between takes in St. Petersburg and Barber relaxing and rejuvenating in his hometown. Many of his family and friends will be in Barber due to the close proximity of the race to Nashville.

"I really hope to see some more Nashville natives down in Birmingham for the race because it is the closest event to my hometown."

The No. 67 car will spring into action for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 7. Newgarden will begin practice on Friday, April 5 at 1:45 ET and will qualify at 11:25 ET on Saturday, April 6. Follow @SFHRindy on Twitter and Facebook for real-time updates from Barber Motorsports Park.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) development driver Kyle O’Gara, a Roncalli High School Senior, announced today in front of his classmates on the south side of Indianapolis that he would be taking them all with him to Coors Lite Carb Day for the Firestone Indy Lights Freedom 100 on May 24.

O’Gara, 18, will make his Firestone Indy Lights debut at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway through a partnership between SFH Racing Development and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM), a team that has won seven of 10 total runnings of the Firestone Freedom 100 at IMS and six of the last 11 series championships.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” O’Gara said. “Sam Schmidt has proven over and over that his team knows how to put together a car that can win in Firestone Indy Lights competition, and I’m excited to be apart of that and learn as much as possible.”

While O’Gara has spent a good portion of his high school career traveling for his race schedule, he has always worked closely with Roncalli High School to ensure he maintained a 4.0 GPA. To show support for Roncalli, the left side of O’Gara’s helmet for the Firestone Freedom 100 will be painted in Roncalli colors and carry the red “R,” while the right side will feature the orange, white and green Irish paint scheme he has carried since he was eight years old.

One of O’Gara’s Freedom 100 sponsors, SportEvents.com, is providing all Roncalli High School students and faculty with tickets to the Freedom 100.

“It’s going to be so cool to see my school out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, especially since a lot of them might not typically go,” O’Gara said.“

The O’Gara family has been involved in racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than 35 years in various capacities from mechanics and crew chiefs to engineers, race strategists and team owners. Kyle O’Gara will be the first O’Gara to race at the famous track however, excluding his famous sister-in-law Sarah Fisher.

“It will be very rewarding to watch Kyle drive over the yard of bricks after knowing and working with him for so long,” Fisher said. “Being part of most of his racing efforts to date, it's been exciting to see him moving up the ladder. This rung will be the most fun so far, knowing what his next steps could be. I'm tremendously proud of him and look forward to standing on the grid with him at Indianapolis.”

In October of 2012 O’Gara successfully completed his Firestone Indy Lights rookie test with Fan Force United at Kentucky Speedway. He will test with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at Auto Club Speedway in April and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in early May.

O’Gara’s Freedom 100 effort will be backed by Direct Supply and local Indianapolis companies Indiana Members Credit Union, Rotondo Weirich Enterprises Inc., Peterman Heating & Cooling, SportsEvents.com, Business Art & Designs and Indy Trading Post. A primary sponsorship announcement for O’Gara’s car is expected in the coming weeks.

Practice and qualifying for the Firestone Freedom 100 begins on May 23. The 11th running of the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will take place on May 24.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) will have no problem staying properly hydrated on the sunny Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. thanks to water company Hartmoor Polo signing on as primary sponsor for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Hartmoor Polo will grace the sidepods of the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car for the first race of the IZOD IndyCar Series season and stay with the team throughout the year as the official team water supplier.

Hydration is key for drivers as temperatures in the cockpit of an IndyCar quickly rise to uncomfortable levels during race conditions.

"It's crucial to stay hydrated in a race car because elements of your performance can start to drop off as you become dehydrated," said Sarah Fisher, co-owner of SFHR. "We're happy to welcome a new partner to the SFHR family and are looking forward to drinking Hartmoor Polo water all season long."

SFHR returns to the track to kick off the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season on March 24 for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The race will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 12pm ET.

Follow @SFHRindy on Twitter for real-time updates from the No. 67 car.