Andretti Autosport has announced that John "TZ" Tzouanakis will be joining the Indianapolis-based team for the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

Tzouanakis will serve as the Pit Strategist for Andretti Autosport's fifth Indy 500 entry, the No. 26 Unistraw Chevrolet piloted by Indianapolis rookie Carlos Munoz.

"After spending my career working my way up the ranks with Newman/Haas, I'm looking forward to again working with Michael (Andretti) and taking my career to new levels," said Tzouanakis.

During his 30-year tenure with Newman/Haas Racing, Tzouanakis has worked alongside drivers that include Mario and Michael Andretti, Sebastian Bourdais, Nigel Mansell and Cristiano da Matta.

With eight open-wheel championships under his belt with Newman/Haas, and as a well-known figure in the racing community, the racing veteran offers a wealth of experience and competitive attitude that cemented his name at the top of the board for potential candidates.

Prior to his Newman/Haas reign, Tzouanakis worked with Chaparral Cars during the 1980 Indy 500 and championship run of Johnny Rutherford.

"TZ is a great addition to our team," said team owner Michael Andretti. "I had the opportunity to work with him in the past and I think he brings a great deal of racing experience to the table. We look forward to having him on board to help Carlos (Munoz) through his first Indy 500."

Munoz, a Colombian native, is currently competing full-time on the Firestone Indy Lights circuit for Andretti Autosport. The May 18 Pole Day will mark his first Indy 500 qualifying attempt alongside Andretti teammates Marco Andretti (No. 25 RC Cola Chevrolet), James Hinchcliffe (No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet), E.J. Viso (No. 5 Team Venezuela Chevrolet) and reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay (No. 1 DHL Chevrolet). Andretti, Hinchcliffe, Viso and Hunter-Reay are each running full-season efforts with Andretti Autosport for the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

The 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place May 26 at the famed 2.5-mile oval in Speedway, Indiana.

For more information, visit www.AndrettiAutosport.com.

Aston Martin Racing and Craft Racing AMR have formed a partnership that sees the Asia-based race team responsible for developing the Aston Martin Racing brand in the region, through its participation in some of the major Asian racing series.

The Asian team will also collaborate on technical development with Aston Martin Racing, provide support for customer racing teams, as well as promote the sales of the Vantage-based race cars.

Craft Racing AMR is regularly regarded as one of the top motorsport teams in Asia, and its founders and team have been involved in motorsport in the region for more than two decades.

Since 2010, the team has enjoyed a strong and successful relationship with Aston Martin Racing and will be racing a Vantage GT3 in the GT Asia championship, one of the most exciting and intensely competitive major pan-Asia series, which concludes this year at the immensely popular Macau Grand Prix, where works driver Darren Turner (GB) will pilot one of Craft Racing AMR's Vantage GT3s.

The team is also planning to take part in the highly anticipated inaugural Asian Le Mans series—the class winners of which will be qualified to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans—scheduled to begin in Korea, and then on to Japan, China, and finally to Indonesia.

This experience and understanding of the car made the team the perfect choice for Aston Martin Racing when looking for a partner team that would focus on key championships on the other side of the world from its headquarters in Banbury, UK.

“This isn’t something we step into lightly. Last year we announced that The Racer’s Group would play a similar role in the USA and we’re delighted that our relationship with Craft Racing AMR has grown so strong that we can do the same with them, but to cover the Asian region," said Aston Martin’s James Walters.

Craft Racing won the GT Asia Team Championship at its first attempt back in 2010. The team has since won numerous races in Asia and is the 2012 MSS GT3 champion. The best result to date, as Craft Racing AMR, was the 24 Hours of Dubai, which saw the team take third overall in their debut 24-hour endurance race.

Aston Martin Racing’s works driver Stefan Mücke (D), who raced with the Craft Racing AMR team in Dubai, will race alongside Frank Yu throughout the GT Asia series, which begins at Motegi, Japan, on May 11-12, 2013.

Officials from the American Drag Racing League announced that their 2013 World Champions in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and their newest class Pro Drag Radial will have an opportunity to win bonuses worth an unprecedented $1 million.

Anyone who wins both a 2013 American Drag Racing League and a 2013-2014 Arabian Drag Racing League World Championship in those four classes will earn a “double up” bonus of $250,000 each.

The popular ADRL Battle for the Belts will also return in 2013 as well with $500,000 in prize monies to be awarded. The event will be a standalone race contested Friday, September 6, at Rockingham Dragway during the ADRL’s most prestigious event, Dragstock.

The top eight in points in all ADRL classes at the completion of the ADRL Memphis Drags IV at Memphis International Raceway on August 3-4 will vie for the cash and the belt.

Winners in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous and Extreme Pro Stock will earn $50,000; winners in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Pro Mod and Pro Drag Radial will earn $20,000, while winners in Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will earn $10,000 each. The winner in Pro Junior Dragster will pocket $2000.

It was also announced that the nation’s premier eighth mile drag racing league will increase its 2013 event purses by $100,000. The new event purse structure will begin at the ADRL Spring Drags IV presented by Curry’s Transportation Services on May 18-19 at Cordova Dragway Park.

Not to be lost in this financial windfall for ADRL racers is the addition of the new Pro Drag Radial class, which will debut at the US Drags VI on June 8-9 at Virginia Motorsports Park. The Pro Drag Radial rules and purse will be announced soon.

A complete breakdown of the 2013 ADRL Battle for the Belts purse as well as the increased event purses are available at www.adrl.us/purses/.

Motovicity Distribution, a leading performance automotive parts distributor, announced the addition of Craig Vogeli to lead the company's IT and technology development as the company's vice president of technology and integration.

Vogeli, a former R&D director at United Solar Ovonic, will oversee Motovicity's core IT infrastructure as well as leading new technology initiatives among the company's internal logistics systems and web-based order processing systems.

He holds a Master's Degree in Physics from Oakland University and has been awarded more than 15 patents for advanced energy materials and manufacturing.

"I'm very excited to join an innovative company at a critical point in its road to success, where technology and innovation will provide the catalyst for market differentiation and growth," Vogeli said.

Vogeli will manage a growing staff of IT infrastructure professionals, web-based developers and analysts as the company continues to fill out its onsite technology department. He will report to Motovicity CEO David Ziozios.

For more information, visit www.motovicity.com.

The Must See Racing national television programming, with veteran and award winning announcers Rick Benjamin, Tom Bigelow and Dave Argabright, is in place for the upcoming 2013 season featuring ten televised events with outstanding primetime broadcast across the country.

Fans can look forward to the same high quality HD national television programming that MSR has presented for the last three years available to over 90 million households across America. The tape delayed programs will begin airing in June.

Starting the season in March at the Royal Oak Southern Shootout at Five Flags and Mobile Speedways with 29 of the best drivers and teams from across the country and Canada has already started the buzz and anticipation about this season's coveted MSR championship and points chase battle.

A new addition for 2013 to the popular MSR national television programming is a Must See Racing and XSAN agreement to produce live high quality Internet broadcasts using the most current cutting-edge technology.

This addition to the MSR racing entertainment formatting places Must See Racing as the first short track open wheel series to showcase the racing action and first class talented drivers and teams on national television, live Internet, Video on Demand and on hand-held devices.

The Xtreme Speed Challenge from Winchester Speedway plus the Supermodified 50, the annual Must See 60 and legendary Pay Less Little 500 from Anderson Speedway will be broadcast live on XSAN. The coverage will include a full week of live broadcasts, on demand segments, a massive social media promotion, and concluding with the Super Bowl of pavement sprint car racing, the 65th running of the Pay Less Little 500.

The events will also be broadcast tape delayed, on the Must See Racing television distribution network.

The spectacular week begins at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana, on May 19, 2013, with the Xtreme Speed Challenge combined show featuring both the MSR TruFuel Xtreme Sprint Series and the high flying Must See Racing Supermodifieds. The series then moves west to Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana, where the wheel to wheel racing cranks up again on Monday, May 20, for the MSR Supermodified 50 and the popular Must See 60 on Wednesday May 22nd.

The week of racing concludes with what many fans call the most entertaining race in the world, the 65th Annual Pay Less Little 500 on Saturday May 25.

The racing is sure to be fast and furious with the special Must See Racing “Triple Crown” $50,000 bonus going to the race team that can win the Winchester winged sprint feature, the MSR 60 winged sprint feature and the iconic Pay Less Little 500.

In addition, XSAN will provide unprecedented coverage of the entire week including practice, behind-the-scenes, race highlights, and more on the company's YouTube page, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. All can be found under the username XSANTV.

The Must See Racing May 19, 20, and 22 events are available for purchase and viewing with an XSAN Subscription at $19.95 Per Day. The 65th Annual Pay Less Little 500 on May 25 will be available as a standalone special Pay Per View event and will cost $35.00 to view live.

A special “TRIPLE CROWN” viewing package is also available.

Visit mustseeracing.com for upcoming television distribution and schedule announcements including information on how to view the MSR programming.

The new owners of Rockingham have announced racing driver, BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club) member and entrepreneur Peter Hardman has joined the Northamptonshire circuit as Chief Executive. 



Alfred Buller and his new partners—Jersey-based investors Grey Rock—have appointed Hardman as Chief Executive following the resignation of Charlotte Orton, who has decided to step down. She will continue to work alongside Peter to ensure a smooth handover. 



As one of Britain's most experienced international drivers, Hardman is no stranger to the world of motorsport, and he brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the role.

Represented by Stuart Wright, a motorsport enthusiast and former endurance racing driver, Grey Rock bought into Rockingham in March, as part of the acquisition of the Priors Hall development, securing the future of both businesses.

Rockingham is one of the UK's leading automotive testing and experiential venues. Under its new owners, the core business will continue to focus on the circuit's role within this industry, supported by track days, motor racing and testing.

For more information about Rockingham, visit www.rockingham.co.uk.

Global Rallycross (GRC) recently unveiled GRC Lites, a new rallycross class that will support the series’ wildly popular Supercars class at all US races in 2013.

GRC Lites is a tightly controlled “spec” class, designed with an emphasis on driver skill. Built by top rallycross preparer OlsbergsMSE, Lites produce just over half the power of the top Supercar vehicles and are designed to be more manageable for developing star drivers.

“The racing is going to be close, since all cars conform to the same specification, and driving talent will be the deciding factor in these races,” said OlsbergsMSE CEO Andreas Eriksson, who worked with GRC to develop the class. “There is no better place than GRC Lites competitions to learn the sport.”

GRC Lites cars are purpose-built racers that are fast, nimble, and exciting to watch. They are all-wheel drive and capable of handling the jumps, door-to-door combat and surface changes of a typical rallycross course.

The class will run as a support series on the same courses as the Supercars at all US GRC events, with the Last Chance Qualifiers and Finals expected to run immediately before the main Supercar races.

At the conclusion of the 2013 season, the GRC Lites series champion will be awarded a drive in an OlsbergsMSE Ford Fiesta ST Supercar and the top three finishers in the championship will receive a Supercar test with OlsbergsMSE.

Rallycross is a blend of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition. It promises intense, crowd-pleasing action in a fan-friendly track environment. As many as 10 drivers line up to start at once, piloting high-horsepower compact cars through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, unbanked turns and changing track and surface conditions that can include dirt, gravel, and wet and dry tarmac.

GRC introduced the sport to the United States with the first event held at X Games in 2010. For the past two years, the series has been limited to top-spec Supercars, which are production-based, turbocharged, all-wheel drive vehicles that produce 600 horsepower and go 0-60 in two seconds. The OlsbergsMSE GRC Lites are the only other vehicles homologated for GRC competition.

Technical partners include AEM (electronics and engine controls), Motegi Racing (wheels), Mountune (engine), Avitas Motorsport (chassis and bodywork), Sadev (transmission and driveline components) and OlsbergsMSE.

Vehicle specifications:

•    Engine 2.4 Liter Duratech built by Mountune/Olsbergs
•    Crankshaft Forged steel
•    Pistons Forged
•    Camshafts Mountune/Olsbergs design and manufacture
•    Engine Management AEM Infinity
•    Horsepower (bhp) 310
•    Torque (lb ft) 220
•    Transmission Sadev BV5 4×4 Central Transaxle sequential
•    Gears 6 forward, 1 reverse
•    Driveshaft Sadev
•    Propshaft Sadev
•    Maximum torque (lb ft) 660
•    Brakes Alcon 4-piston calipers with 330mm discs f + r
•    Handbrake Sadev WRC version
•    Dampers Őhlins TTX44 twin tube with Progressive Damping System
•    Wheels Motegi Racing forged lightweight rallycross

NASCAR has announced that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards—the annual culmination of Champion’s Week—will be held on Friday, December 6, 2013, at Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the fifth consecutive year.
 
From 1981 until 2008, NASCAR held its year-ending premier series awards show in New York City.

But starting in 2009, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards has been held in Las Vegas, a destination that has triggered an entertainment evolution for the fan-favorite show.
 
Last year’s show alone featured host Howie Mandel, Train, Phillip Phillips, Lifehouse with Natasha Bedingfield and Cirque du Soleil: The Beatles LOVE. Among other A-List entertainment acts who have performed since the move to Vegas include Reba, Kid Rock, Brooks and Dunn, David Gray, Rascal Flatts, Colbie Caillat, Martina McBride, Jersey Boys, Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva ELVIS” and Frank Caliendo.
 
“Every single week, NASCAR creates the big-event experience, so it’s fitting that our year-end celebration of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion takes place in a city built on major moments,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “Las Vegas has been home to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards for five years, and each year it grows bigger, better and more entertaining for our fans. Undoubtedly, this milestone Champion’s Week will continue—and heighten—that tradition.”

Lisa Boggs has been named director of motorsports for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

In her new role, Boggs will be responsible for managing, directing, planning and coordinating all of Bridgestone’s North American motorsport and motorsport marketing activities—including IndyCar racing.
 


Before joining Bridgestone, she spent seven years at Edelman Public Relations leading programs for clients in both IndyCar and NASCAR.



Boggs assumes the duties previously handled by Al Speyer, who recently retired as executive director of motorsports after a 38-year career with the company.

Dale Harrigle, currently manager of engineering, was promoted to chief engineer/manager for race tire development.

Harrigle has been with Bridgestone for 20 years and has been involved with the motorsports programs for 18 years, having designed different types of tires for the IZOD IndyCar Series, from rain tires to those used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Universal Technical Institute has signed on again as a national partner of the NHRA Youth & Education Services program presented by US Army.

UTI has been involved in this one-of-a-kind youth education program since 2006. As a national partner of the NHRA YES program, UTI will participate at seven events in 2013 and have the opportunity to invite schools and youth groups to participate.

“The popularity and growth of the motorsports industry are providing our grads with new opportunities as skilled technicians,” said Kim McWaters, CEO of UTI. “Continuing our partnership with NHRA and the U.S. Army will guide more high school students to promising careers and help to supply a skilled workforce to our motorsports partners for years to come.”

NHRA’s YES program presented by US Army is the first program of its kind in the world of motorsports that inspires and provides career guidance to thousands of high school students across the United States.

Created in 1989 as a way to connect education and drag racing, the YES program is a one-day event held at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events each season. NHRA is able to provide more than 23,000 youth around the country the opportunity to participate in the YES program each year.

In addition, UTI will be the presenting sponsor of the US Army High School Automotive Challenge in November at the UTI-Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) campus.

The US Army High School Automotive Challenge features 25 schools competing in automotive-maintenance challenges. The top eight teams advance to compete at the Career Opportunities Fair at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The fair is held on the eve of the start of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ final event of the season, the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

For more information on Universal Technical Institute’s automotive technology programs, log on to www.uti.edu.