An Interview with Kingdom Racing's George del Canto

1. Most people don't know what Kingdom Racing is about and how it got started. What is the team's mission and what inspired you to start it?

KR started as result of God working in my life. It began in 2005 as a prayer when I asked God how I could possibly serve Him to honor all the blessings received. The response was "build an Indy team to deliver God's word through motorsports". It was an impossible task for a man, but proves that with God, all things are possible.

2. Over the last two years, Davey hamilton has played a big role at Kingdom Racing. How did you get involved with him?

In March 2008, we interviewed a few IndyCar teams for a 500 effort. One of the team principals recommended a meeting with Davey. We hit it off within the first 30 seconds of meeting and have been partners ever since.


3. IZOD was recently announced as the title sponsor for the IndyCar Series. How big is this for the Series and how much will Kingdom Racing benefit from it?

IZOD is great for the Series and anything good for IndyCar will be good for KR as we will be able to reach a greater audience.

4.Brandon Wagner drove a partial Firestone Indy Lights season with your team in 2009. Will he be back next year?

Absolutely! Brandon did a great job in 2009 as a rookie on a new team and driving a limited schedule. Showed fine form during the final three oval races: Kentucky, Chicago and Miami.

5. As team owner,How much time work do you put into Kingdom Racing to make it a sucessful effort?

About 50% of my time is dedicated to KR.

6. You ran the Indy 500 with the help of Dreyer and Reinbold Racing this past month of May. Will that partnership extend in to next season?

DRR is a good team and we are talking with them for 2010.

7. Tell us a little more about the team's opperations. How many crew members do you employ? What kind of facility do you opperate out of? What kind of equipment do you own? (cars, transporters, ect.)

KR is housed at Wagner Racing in Lafayette, IN. We currently have four on staff, and will build up once the 2010 race season gets under way. The team has 2 x Lights Dallara's, a Fully equipped race Transporter and related pit equipment/tractors.

Pippa Mann Signs With SSM

Firestone Indy Lights driver Pippa Mann announced yesterday that she has signed a deal with Sam Schmidt Motorsports to run full time it the FIL series. Mann, who recorded three top ten finishes with Panter Racing in 2009, has already completed a test with SSM at Sebring.

"Sam contacted me after the last race in 2009 through my management team and let me know he would like me to test for his team. For me, going into a long winter with no definite plans for 2010, this was a great opportunity to run with one of the top teams in Firestone Indy Lights.Overall, the tests went well, and I was extremely impressed not just with the cars but with the attitude and atmosphere of the entire organization throughout the test, from team manager, to engineers, to the mechanics, and tire guys. I had an extremely tough learning year in 2009, and my goal for 2010 is to bounce back from that and come back showing everything that I've learned. Sam's team, with their vast experience and history of running championship winning cars, is a perfect environment for me to accomplish that goal."

Kimball signs with AFS/ Andretti Autosport

Charlie Kimball, who finished his 2009 rookie season 10th in points with Team PBIR has been picked up by Andretti Autosport. Kimball, who had two top 5 finishes and 8 top 10 finishes in his 15 starts, will join Englishman Martin Plowman as Andretti's second driver. Kimball is a native of California and has been noted as one of the most successful drivers with Diabetes, which helped him land the Levimere sponsorship in 2009. There is no word yet on weather or not they will be part of the deal.

"We're looking forward to working with Charlie next year.AFS/Andretti Autosport has been privileged to win the last two Firestone Indy Lights championships. We've seen the competition rise each year since the inaugural race in 2002, and Michael and I would very much like to set our place in the history of this series with a third consecutive title." - Gary Peterson

"I'm very excited to be joining AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport for 2010.This is a great step for me to take and I want to thank Gary and Michael for giving me the opportunity to drive for them. I learned a lot about the Firestone Indy Lights as a rookie this year and am looking forward to leveraging that experience into a run for the championship in 2010." -Charlie Kimball

de Silvestro to run with HVM?

Photo courtesy of SGW Twitter
interesting little developument on de Silvestro. I found a photo of the car Simoana de Silvestro tested in Sebring with HVM and was suprised to see it had the full StarGate Worlds livery and paint. Most teams (especialy ones as small as HVM) Do not paint a car so elaborately for just a test. I think an announcment could be aoming soon....

IZOD IndyCar Series Continues Relationship with Peak Motor Oil

The IRL announced today that Old World Indusrty's Peak Performance Motor Oil will remain the title sponsor of the Peak Performance pole Award.The PEAK Performance Pole Award gives $10,000 to the fastest qualifier at each race on the schedule except for the Indianapolis 500, where it awards $100,000 for the top qualifier. In addition to the $100,000 for the Indianapolis 500 polesitter, PEAK awards $25,000 to the second-place Indianapolis 500 qualifier and $10,000 for the third-place qualifier. These top-three qualifiers make up the PEAK Performance Front Row.

Viso To test in Sebring with DRR

The recently unemployed driver E.J. Viso has announced that he will participate in a test with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing this up coming Wednesday. There have been rumors that Viso might be in a third car for Ganassi but so far there has not been an announcment. It is also believed Viso has significant backing from an unknown sponosor (possibly PDVSA or Herbalife)

"This is a great opportunity to interact with the engineers and other team members. The Dreyer & Reinbold team has a very experienced staff. I have been on the Sebring track in the past. It is a bumpy circuit, but the weather is usually good in December, and I am sure it will be a very positive test. I am very happy to get back in the car, and want to thank the team for this opportunity. I cannot wait to get to the track," -E.J. Viso

“This time of year you always explore options, and of course, we are still interested in re-signing our drivers from last year as well. The opportunity to run E.J. in this test is exciting to us. He is a young driver with a lot of talent that we have gotten to know over the last couple of years” - Dennis Reinbold, DRR co-owner.

Venom Energy Drink Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship With Andretti Autosport

PLANO, Texas and INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Venom Energy drink announced today it has signed a multi-year sponsorship with Andretti Autosport to continue as primary sponsor of the #26 car driven by Marco Andretti. Venom Energy will activate the partnership with in-store merchandising, consumer sweepstakes and retail appearances.

"We are excited to be back on board with Marco Andretti and Andretti Autosport," said Russ Schleiden, brand manager of Venom Energy. "We look forward to bringing the Venom Energy drink and Marco Andretti partnership to life for our fans on the track as well as at retail."

"Dr Pepper Snapple Group has been a great partner of Andretti Autosport for a number of years," said Michael Andretti, the team's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are excited to extend the Venom Energy drink relationship to a multi-year deal that will hopefully lead Marco to the winners circle for many years to come."

Venom Energy is an energy drink in the Dr Pepper Snapple Group portfolio and delivers hardcore energy in unique and delicious flavors not typically associated with energy drinks. Available in fruit punch, mango, regular and low calorie. For additional information, visit www.venomenergy.com.

"I'm very excited to have Venom Energy back with me," said Marco Andretti. "I know the Venom Energy crew feels just like me, and can't wait to get back to the track and get going for 2010. We're ready to go to the next level, and I'm going to take Venom Energy with me."

About Venom Energy

Venom Energy is one of many flavorful brands in the beverage portfolio of Dr Pepper Snapple Group ( DPS). DPS is the leading producer of flavored soft drinks in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 8 of our 12 "power brands" are No. 1 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott's, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Venom Energy, Rose's and Mr & Mrs T mixers. To learn more about our Plano, Texas-based company and our iconic brands, please visit www.drpeppersnapple.com.

About Andretti Autosport

Based in Indianapolis, Ind., Andretti Autosport is led by racing legend Michael Andretti. Andretti Autosport stands as the winningest team in Indy Racing League history and fields a series-high four entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and two Firestone Indy Lights cars. Andretti Autosport boasts three IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005 and 2007), two Firestone Indy Lights titles (2008 and 2009) and has won the Indianapolis 500 twice (2005 and 2007). For more information, please visit www.andrettiautosport.com.


SOURCE Venom Energy Drink