Tag: Bryan Clauson

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing is well known for its family atmosphere, but driver Bryan Clauson turned to a man with a different famous racing family name before starting practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Bobby Unser.

“Uncle Bobby (Unser) took me out for a couple of pace car rides yesterday and showed me some racing lines at this place that he said he’s never shown anyone else,” Clauson said. “He’s a guy that if you get a chance to learn anything from, you have to soak it all in.”

The advice has paid off.

On the second day of practice for the 2012 Indy 500, Clauson posted the second quickest lap speed (221.173 mph) of the day and showed that Unser, who has three Indianapolis 500 victories, still knows his way around the famous track.

Clauson’s teammate, Josef Newgarden, was right behind in third position on the second day of practice with a speed of 221.158 mph. SFHR’s performance backed up its strong showing on opening day when the team finished first and third.

Speeds may change as the team continues practicing leading up to Pole Day on Saturday, May 19, but one constant to be counted on is that Clauson will not forget the lessons he learned from Unser. And he may be keeping those valuable pieces of information to himself.

“Bobby told me two things. One was what he showed me about the track and the other was not to tell anybody else what he told me,” Clauson joked.

Bryan Clauson:

“If you had told me that we were going to come out here the first two days and top the speed charts, I would have told you that you were crazy. It was another great day for us. These SFHR boys build fast Honda race cars. It’s been a lot of fun to step into a great situation for myself, and I’d like to say I was doing an awesome job, but they are making my job a heck of a lot easier with the race cars they put out there. I don’t know what else to say. It’s been a great start to the month, but we have a long way to go, and sometimes speed charts can lie a little bit. But we have a real fast race car. We did some long runs today and I felt like we had a good balance. I’m a rookie, so I don’t know what to expect for the rest of the month, but I’m really confident.”

Josef Newgarden:

“Our speed today shows how competitive the team is. Our consistency and speed solidifies the job that they do and how well they go about it. We’re learning a lot more having a second car here, and it’s really elevated the program overall. I feel super comfortable in the car because the team makes me feel comfortable. They’ve done a great job of giving us a good program and making it easy on us.”

It was deja vu for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) on opening day of practice for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 when rookie driver Josef Newgarden topped the speed charts with a lap of 220.250 mph.

Last year the team was also quickest on opening day of IZOD IndyCar practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with driver Ed Carpenter.

Newgarden's teammate Bryan Clauson made a splash in his first official day of IZOD IndyCar series practice in the No. 39 SFHR/RW Dallara/Honda/Firestone car with the third quickest lap of the day at 219.632 mph.

There are six full days of practice between opening day and Pole Day for the Indianapolis 500, but SFHR has shown that they can back up their early speed on road/street circuits in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar season with solid Honda-powered speed on ovals.

Click here for a full Indianapolis 500 schedule and ticket information.

QUOTES:

“JOSEF NEWGARDEN (Driver- Nashville, Tenn.)

How does it feel to see your name on top of the speed charts on the first day at Indy?

"The team has done it all year. People have seen before that they can produce a good road/street car and there’s no issues oval wise. They’ve built really good, reliable, comfortable race cars for me and they’re doing the same for Bryan now. That’s all it is really. They make our job really easy and I think that’s what you guys are seeing. It bodes well, if anything, it’s not really a big deal to be quick on this day, but it speaks well for the team. I think the team deserves that credit. I’m really happy for them that they get the credit because they do deserve it, they do a good job and I’m proud to be with them."

“BRYAN CLAUSON (Driver- Noblesville, Ind.)

Bryan on his first official day of practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

"I don’t know that it could have gone much better. Those SFHR boys prepared a fast Honda race car for us for this month. We were really quick out of the gate. The fastest laps can be misleading because of the tow you catch, but even by ourselves, Josef and I were very quick all day. It will be interesting to see as the month goes on where guys end up. It’s hard to tell who's flat-out at this point and who is not. But, I felt really good about our car and the program we have in place for the rest of the month.”

“SARAH FISHER (Team Owner)

Sarah Fisher on her first team's strong performance on opening day:

“Today is very encouraging, but it’s still a very long month and we still have a lot of room to grow and room to learn. Having two rookies and it being their first experience, we need to make sure we have an even month so that when we arrive on both Pole Day and Race Day we’re as prepared as today.”

NOTES:

IZOD IndyCar Series rookie driver Bryan Clauson loves to eat the Paradise Club sandwich at HoneyBaked Ham of Bloomington, Ind., and this May his favorite sandwich shop has stepped up to sponsor his No. 39 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing/RW Dallara/Honda/Firestone car in the Indianapolis 500.

HoneyBaked Ham of Bloomington has been a strong supporter of Clauson throughout his racing career, and the relationship will continue when Clauson debuts in the biggest race of his career.

“I had the privilege to sponsor Bryan in his Firestone Indy Lights car as well as his sprint and midget cars last year, and I am excited to be part of his IZOD IndyCar series debut with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing in Indianapolis this month,” said Phil Randall, owner of HoneyBaked Ham of Bloomington. “Bryan is a very talented driver, and I’m looking forward to watching him perform in this year’s Indy 500!”

Clauson’s talent and hard work landed him the Indy 500 ride with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, but sponsors that have stood behind him for several years also played a pivotal role in getting to Indy.

“This Indy 500 program has a lot of continuity in sponsorship from cars I’ve driven in the past,” Clauson said. “I’m so glad they’ve stepped up to make this happen for me. To be able to add Phil and HoneyBaked Ham to that list is special.”

Randall is a life-long supporter of open-wheel racing, in which Clauson has excelled at many different levels as a multi-time USAC national champion.

“I have attended the Indianapolis 500 every year since 1971, and I’ve always been a huge open-wheel racing fan,” Randall said. “This sponsorship is a dream come true for me.”

More than ever, Noblesville residents have a reason to follow activities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 as its hometown racer Bryan Clauson has landed a ride withSarah Fisher Hartman Racing for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

To thank the community that has supported him throughout his journey to the pinnacle of motorsports, Clauson will host a community day in Noblesville on Sunday, May 6. In addition to a car show, food, games and entertainment a Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing IndyCar will be on display. Fans will also get to participate in a meet and greet autograph session with Clauson.

WHEN: Sunday, May 6: 2-6 p.m.
Noblesville Mayor Appearance: 2 p.m.
Media interviews: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Autograph session: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
WHERE:  Moose Lodge -- Noblesville
950 Field Drive
Noblesville, IN 46060

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) competes in one of the most competitive and technologically advanced racing series in the world – the IZOD IndyCar Series. Racing and winning over the competition requires high endurance and performance products.

As an official SFHR sponsor and technical partner, Quaker Chemical Corporation seeks to create proprietary greases and lubricants specifically engineered to combat the forces of friction, heat and wear for the unique demands of the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Team – including in the car driven by Josef Newgarden in the IndyCar Series and in the car to be driven by Bryan Clauson in the Indy 500.

“This is a great opportunity for Quaker to expand our advanced lubrication technology into the motorsports world,” said Joe Berquist, Quaker VP and Managing Director North America. “We believe that both parties will greatly benefit from this exciting partnership; it provides us the opportunity to develop advanced engineered products and services in a real world, highly competitive test environment.”

Quaker’s engineers will be working alongside the SFHR technical staff to develop technology for advanced lubrication and greases designed to provide SFHR with an “on- track” advantage in the IZOD IndyCar series. This ongoing research and development technical alliance will allow Quaker to continually develop superior lubrication technology for use within its core industries and customers.

“We proved last year that SFHR can compete against the best in IndyCar racing, and that we can beat the best,” said car owner Sarah Fisher. “Like any good team, we are looking for a competitive advantage, and we feel Quaker Chemical Corporation will help us do just that so we can win on a regular basis.”

About Quaker Chemical Corporation:

Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process chemicals, chemical specialties, services, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, coatings and construction materials. Quaker’s products, technical solutions, and chemical management services enhance customers' processes, improve their product quality, and lower costs. Quaker's headquarters is located near Philadelphia in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. For more information on Quaker Chemical, visit www.quakerchem.com.

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.

Short track, open wheel racing fans will see a familiar name and a familiar car number when practice begins May 12 for the 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

USAC open wheel star Bryan Clauson has been hired by Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman to drive the No. 39 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing/RW Dallara/Honda/Firestone car in this year’s ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ Clauson, from Noblesville, Ind., is a multi-time USAC national champion and has won several races behind the wheel of his family-owned No. 39 USAC midget.

Clauson will be a teammate to another young American driver, Josef Newgarden, from Nashville, Tenn. Newgarden drives the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone car fulltime in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Clauson and Newgarden were teammates in the Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2011.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for me to enter the Indianapolis 500 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing,” said Clauson. “It’s almost surreal just talking about it. For me to be attempting to make the race with Sarah’s team is just phenomenal. With her background in sprint car and midget racing and her continued involvement at that level, this is just a good fit for me. I’m also proud to be an Indiana boy driving for an Indiana team.”

"I’m also excited about the continuity we’re building into the program,” added Clauson. “My car number will be No. 39 and I’m bringing along some of my short track supporters with me like Rotondo Weirich.”

Clauson won back-to-back USAC National Drivers Championships in 2010 and 2011 for his performance in all three major USAC open wheel divisions. He also won the USAC National Midget Championship in 2010 and 2011and has more than 26 USAC wins.

In addition, Clauson had four top-five finishes in Firestone Indy Lights racing in 2011. His best finish was third at Iowa Speedway driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

"It's quite an honor to bring a USAC champion to the Indianapolis 500,” said Fisher. “I am very fond of my roots in short track oval racing, and watching Bryan at some of these events really brings back memories. Personally knowing his background, I have complete confidence in his credentials, talent and capabilities, and look forward to working with him at Indy. It will be exciting to fill out our team roster with both of the Road to Indy Champions from last season, really solidifying the ladder program.”

The pairing of Clauson and Newgarden is a strong statement for the Road to Indy program. In addition to Clauson’s USAC National Drivers Championships, Newgarden won the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights Championship.

"INDYCAR continues to focus on strengthening ties with USAC as a path to the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "After a strong oval debut in Firestone Indy Lights last season, it made sense to utilize our USAC National Drivers Championship scholarship to enter Bryan in the Indianapolis 500. Not only is Bryan one of the most talented USAC drivers, his participation in the Indy 500 will attract the interest of short track fans across the country."

It’s more than a coincidence that SFHR has hired two American drivers for its Indiana-based operation. The team is proud of its Indiana roots and routinely flies an American flag in its pit box.

"SFHR is happy to welcome Bryan to the team,” said Wink Hartman, co-owner of SFHR. “We've been working toward this program for quite some time, and I feel we are prepared to present a first-class effort for the entry. Working with young American talent fits this team and its values perfectly, and we are working hard to find a primary sponsor for Bryan to match that platform. We are also thankful to have the support of all our partners, including Honda, for this program and the excitement the total package brings."

Not lost on Clauson is the fact he is joining an emerging IZOD IndyCar Series team that already has a victory in its portfolio.

“With its performance so far this year with Josef on the road courses, combined with the fact it ran strong at Indy and won the last oval race in 2011, SFHR is proving it is a first-class team. I can’t wait for ROP.”

Clauson and Newgarden both passed their INDYCAR oval test at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5. They will both participate in the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program on May 10.

Practice for the Indianapolis 500 begins Saturday, May 12. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” takes the green flag at Noon ET on Sunday, May 27.