Wheels & Deals: Paul Tracy Confirmed For Indianapolis 500

Tracy Will Drive KV Racing No. 15 Car Sponsored By Geico For Indy 500

In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin reported driver Paul Tracy will compete in the Indy 500 for KV Racing Technology, where he will drive the No. 15 car "sponsored by Geico car insurance." Tracy said that the partnership is "for the 500 ... but he and team officials are hoping to add more races to their season." Meanwhile, driver Davey Hamilton Friday also was "confirmed for the No. 44 car of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing" for the race (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/18). Speed’s Dave Despain asked of Tracy, “Is he still a force at the box office and on the track?” Speed’s Robin Miller said, “I think so, and the key is Geico coming back. They’ve never been in IndyCar racing yet. They’ve been in NASCAR a lot" (“Wind Tunnel With Dave Despain,” Speed, 4/19). The NATIONAL POST's Guy Spurrier wrote Geico, "perhaps, is unaware of Tracy's past reputation, which does not readily bring to mind safe driving practices" (NATIONALPOST.com, 4/18).

MONSTER DEAL: TRG Motorsports Friday announced that it has inked a deal for the upcoming FSN TV series "American Monster" to be the primary sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 71 Chevy driven by David Gilliland. The sponsorship debuted during this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix Int'l Raceway (TRG Motorsports). ESPN's Angelique Chengelis said, “This is something that gives him a lot of confidence. He is secure in the fact that the teams wants him there. Now they’re secure financially, and this is something that’s obviously very important for a team this small and struggling with dollars” ("NASCAR Now," ESPN2, 4/18).

Will Power Moved To Third Team Penske Entry Sponsored By Verizon Wireless

INDYCAR NOTES: ESPN.com's John Oreovicz noted due to the return of IRL driver Helio Castroneves to the IndyCar Series for Sunday's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, driver Will Power moved to a "third Team Penske entry sponsored by Verizon Wireless." Power's "only other confirmed race with the team ... in the Verizon car is the Indianapolis 500" (ESPN.com, 4/17)....Dale Coyne Racing Owner Dale Coyne announced that Z-Line Designs will be the team's "chief sponsor" for the '09 IRL season. Coyne also said that it is his "goal to add another driver" to his team (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 4/20).

THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT... F1 team Brawn GP has continued its partnership with Ray-Ban, which was originally agreed to in July '04, for a sixth successive season. The Ray-Ban logo appears on the helmet visors of Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, and Brawn GP team members wear Ray-Ban sunglasses from the brand's '09 range (Brawn GP).