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Circuit: Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile oval) Newton, IA
2007 Winner: Dario Franchitti (Andretti Green Racing Honda) 123.896 mph average speed
Weather: Mostly sunny, warm, 80 degrees F

Race Results:

Fn. St. Driver Team Chassis Laps Average Speed/Notes
1. 3. Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Honda Dallara 250 136.007 mph average, led 61 laps
2. 7. Hideki Mutoh-R Andretti Green Racing Honda Dallara 250 -0.1430 seconds
3. 8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing Honda Dallara 250 -0.9028 seconds, led 26 laps
4. 1. Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Honda Dallara 250 -1.2726 seconds
5. 18. A.J. Foyt IV Vision Racing Honda Dallara 250 -1.3564 seconds
6. 6. Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing Honda Dallara 250 -1.9115 seconds
7. 5. Ryan Briscoe Team Penske Honda Dallara 250 -3.9780 seconds
8. 14. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman Racing Honda Dallara 250 -4.4488 seconds
9. 11. Will Power-R KV Racing Technology Honda Dallara 250 -5.6158 seconds
10. 16. Graham Rahal-R Newman Haas Lanigan Honda Dallara 250 -7.7886 seconds
11. 23. John Andretti Roth Racing Honda Dallara 250 -8.4639 seconds
12. 20. Justin Wilson-R Newman Haas Lanigan Honda Dallara 250 -8.7225 seconds
13. 13. Ernesto Viso-R HVM Racing Honda Dallara 250 -12.5775 seconds
14. 2. Helio Castroneves Team Penske Honda Dallara 248 Running, led 92 laps
15. 12. Vitor Meira Panther Racing Honda Dallara 248 Running
16. 10. Oriol Servia KV Racing Technology Honda Dallara 247 Running
17. 17. Enrique Bernoldi-R Conquest Racing Honda Dallara 242 Running
18. 4. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Honda Dallara 211 Did not finish - crash, led 71 laps
19. 24. Mario Moraes-R Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara 192 Did not finish - contact
20. 21. Jaime Camara-R Conquest Racing Honda Dallara 133 Did not finish - handling
21. 19. Darren Manning A.J. Foyt Racing Honda Dallara 94 Did not finish - handling
22. 15. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold Honda Dallara 78 Did not finish - handling
23. 9. Ed Carpenter Vision Racing Honda Dallara 38 Did not finish - crash
24. 22. Milka Duna Dreyer & Reinbold Honda Dallara 26 Did not finish - handling
R - Series Rookie

Birthday Boy Wheldon Wins Iowa

Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dan Wheldon celebrated his 30th birthday in the best way possible for an IndyCar driver, by winning Sunday’s Iowa Corn 250 with a calculated gamble on fuel strategy, followed by a determined drive to the checkers.

Wheldon, who ran in the lead pack all day, was one of three front-runners who elected not to pit with the rest of the field under caution on Lap 190. Andretti Green Racing’s Hideki Mutoh and Danica Patrick also elected to stay out and conserve fuel to the finish.

It was a gamble that paid off as Wheldon held off the advances of Mutoh and Marco Andretti by just 14 thousandths of a second in one of the closest green-flag finishes of the season. IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon put on a late race charge to finish fourth, while Vision Racing A.J. Foyt IV scored a season-high fifth place. Battling understeer in the closing laps, Patrick rounded out the top six finishers.

A total of 26 Honda-powered drivers ran 8,990 miles of practice, qualifying and racing this weekend without a single engine-related failure reported.

Two other potential race victors - Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves - combined to lead 163 of the 250 laps, but neither was a factor at the finish. Team Penske’s Castroneves led a race-high 92 laps, but faded late in the race and then had to make an unscheduled pit stop for a deflating rear tire, finishing two laps off the pace in 14th. Kanaan led 71 laps, and appeared to be Wheldon’s strongest challenger in the late laps, but spun and made hard contact with the Turn 2 wall on lap 212 to end his day, fortunately without injury.

Despite recent events in the region, including a series of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, a full house of more than 40,000 fans turned out to pack the grandstands at the .875-mile Iowa Speedway tri-oval, located some 40 miles east of Des Moines.

Next week, the IndyCar Series goes to the east coast for another short track event, at the 7/8ths mile Richmond International Raceway on June 28.

IndyCar Series Drivers’ Championship Standings (after 9 of 18 races):
1. Scott Dixon 316 points (3 wins) 6. Ryan Briscoe 195 points (1 win)
2. Helio Castroneves 268 7. Danica Patrick 192 (1 win)
3. Dan Wheldon 267 (2 wins) 8. Marco Andretti 189
4. Tony Kanaan 216 9. Will Power-R 169 (1 win)
5. Hideki Mutoh-R 199 10. Ed Carpenter 160

Dan Wheldon (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started 3rd, finished 1st, 2nd victory of 2008 and 15th career IndyCar win: “I must say first and foremost, it was an amazing turnout today, when you consider all the devastation that has taken place in Iowa this year. The crowd was unbelievable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have suffered with the storms and floods. Hopefully they all enjoyed the show today and it took their minds off their problems for just a little while. I thought it was a great weekend for the fans and our team. We had a bit of misfortune yesterday when I got caught up in Bruno [Junqueira's] crash, but the guys rolled out the spare car and it was just fantastic. Maybe not perfect on new tires, but it would just get faster and faster as each stint went on, and the Honda engine had great power and fuel economy as always.”

Hideki Mutoh (#27 Formula Dream Andretti Green Racing Honda) Started 7th, finished 2nd, career best IndyCar finish, leads the series Rookie points and moves up to fifth in the drivers’ championship standings: “I’m very pleased. The final laps were exciting for everyone. I didn’t want to block Marco [Andretti], who is my teammate, but I didn’t want [Dan] Wheldon to get away either, and I tried very hard to pass him. It was a great finish for the team, and I hope to do even better in the future.”

Marco Andretti (#26 Andretti Green Racing Honda) Started 8th, finished 3rd: “It was a completely different race from last year. Our car worked well all day, especially in traffic, and there was a lot of good, hard, clean racing today. It had to be good for the fans, and it was definitely good from the cockpit! This rookie [teammate Hideki Mutoh] is good. Hideki was definitely ‘on it’ today and he deserved second place. It was a pretty good day for Andretti Green Racing, I feel like we’re improving with every race.”

Roger Griffiths (Race Team Technical Leader, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race: “It was great to see such a large and enthusiastic crowd here today in light of recent events in this area, and I think we gave them a pretty exciting race today. I’m also happy for Hideki Mutoh, as his second place was the best result in IndyCar Series history for a Japanese driver. Previously, it was a Toyota driver (Tora Takagi with a third place finish), so it’s much better to have a Honda driver achieve this goal! On the engine front, it was a relatively trouble-free weekend for us, and everyone who finished the race today will be using the same engine next week at Richmond, which is good news as we begin this swing of six consecutive race weekends.”

HOUSTON – Whether the idea of a perfect Fourth of July celebration includes a sneak peek at hot concept cars and trucks, hanging out with NASCAR’s finest 200 mph race cars, enjoying a brilliant fireworks display, or kicking back with friends and family to the sounds of electrifying live entertainment, Chevrolet and the City Of Houston have everything covered for “Chevy’s Freedom Over Texas” July 4 at Eleanor Tinsley Park.

“Chevrolet has proudly held the title sponsorship to Freedom Over Texas for four years, and we’re coming back to Houston again and bringing an even bigger celebration,” said Jay Allen, Chevrolet marketing manager for GM’s South Central region. “We are excited to present the Chevy music stage which will be ignited with three phenomenal female country music artists, as well as provide fantastic concept cars and a host of fun-filled, interactive activities for the entire family.”

Festival-goers can experience some of Chevy’s hottest 2008 cars and trucks, as well as show-stopping concept cars like the Bumblebee Camaro – star of the 2007 summer blockbuster movie Transformers. The Cobalt Wide Body and the Time Attack Supercharged Cobalt SS with its race record-setting pedigree round out Chevy’s sizzling concept vehicle display.

For race fans, Chevy is showcasing Team Chevy’s Championship-winning authentic NASCAR race cars, including: Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet; Jeff Gordon’s #24 DuPont Chevrolet; and Kevin Harvick’s #29 Shell Oil Chevrolet. If simply checking out these race cars isn’t enough, festival attendees can climb into one of the Chevy Racing Simulators and race their favorite NASCAR drivers at speeds and motion that simulate up to 200 mph on Texas Motor Speedway’s 1.5 mile oval track.

With fuel prices soaring, Chevy’s Alternative Fuels display is sure to catch some attention. From the Tahoe Hybrid to the Malibu, Chevrolet offers plenty of gas-friendly driving options to learn about. The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid – which was recently named Green Car Journal’s 2008 Green Car of the Year® – is one of two all-new hybrid models for 2008 (the other being the Malibu Hybrid sedan) featuring the affordable GM Hybrid System.

This year, Chevy’s Main Stage will play host to three of country music’s hottest female entertainers: Jo Dee Messina, Miranda Lambert, and Sara Evans.

Sara Evans, a Missouri native, began her career singing country music with her family’s band when she was five years old. The award-winning artist has won numerous accolades including the Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year, the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly,” and 2006 Female Vocalist of the Year in the R&R Reader’s Poll. Her hits include “I could not ask for more,” “Born to Fly,” and “No Place That Far.”

A small-town girl from Texas, Miranda Lambert burst onto the music scene as a finalist in the 2003 season of the NASHVILLE STAR television series. She didn’t win the show, but did win a recording deal with Columbia Nashville. Lambert hasn’t looked back since and debuted her latest album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to rave reviews leading to her nomination for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and has received several CMT Music Award nominations.

Kicking off the show is award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist, Jo Dee Messina. Honored by The Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music and The Grammy Awards, Jo Dee was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week #1 songs from the same album. Her newest album, entitled Delicious Surprises, includes hits like “My Give A Damn’s Busted,” and “It Gets Better.”

When the concerts come to a close at approximately 9:30 p.m., eyes will turn skyward for an extraordinary fireworks display. Perfectly set to a selection of patriotic songs to rock ‘n’ roll hits and classic bestsellers, this year’s show will be the largest to date.

Chevy’s Freedom Over Texas will begin when gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 4. Admission for the festival, which benefits the Central Houston Civic Improvement, Inc., is $6.00 at the gate for adults; children under 10 are free.

DETROIT – Besides its bowtie insignia, the all-new Traverse crossover shares something important with Chevy’s midsize cars: an exceptional aerodynamic drag coefficient (cd) that enables great fuel economy. Its cd is only 0.33 – making it the sleekest crossover in the segment.

When it hits showrooms this fall, the Traverse is expected to have the segment’s best highway fuel economy (EPA certification is pending). This is because of its new, efficient 3.6L V-6 with direct injection technology, a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission and an exterior designed to cheat the wind and slip through the air with minimal resistance.

“In every way, the Traverse is an uncompromising vehicle,” said Michael Burton, Traverse design director. “It has a ‘gotta have it’ design with fuel economy that rivals many sedans.”

In an example of form and function working harmoniously, designers crafted the Traverse’s sleek look while simultaneously infusing it with the expressive styling that was introduced last year on the acclaimed Chevy Malibu. That includes refined details with strong proportions and the bold front-end appearance found on all new Chevrolets.

“Aerodynamic performance was central to the Traverse’s development, but so was maintaining the identity of Chevrolet,” said Dan Schmeckpeper, lead creative designer, Traverse exterior design. “We designed a vehicle with all the cues – a twin grille, power dome hood, etc. – that make it unmistakably a Chevy, with efficiency that complements its style.”

In the wind tunnel

The Traverse casts a unique profile with a sleek, smooth and flowing design that carries built-in aero enhancers, such as an integrated rear spoiler and splitter at the bottom of the air dam. Those details contribute to the Traverse’s excellent aerodynamic efficiency, which was honed after repeated trips to the wind tunnel at GM’s Technical Center in Warren, Mich.

Clay and foam models of the Traverse were tested and re-tested in the wind tunnel during the development period, as engineers sought every advantage to maximize fuel efficiency. A one-tenth improvement in the coefficient of drag increases overall fuel economy by about a tenth of a mile per gallon.

“The Traverse is efficient by design,” said Justin D’Souza, aerodynamic engineer. “From the first wind tunnel tests of the initial design to the finalized shape of the production model, we picked up the equivalent of nearly two miles per gallon when cruising on the highway.”

The Traverse’s aerodynamic enhancements also draw upon lessons learned during the development of other GM midsize crossovers.

“GM’s midsize crossovers were already the most aerodynamic in their class,” said D’Souza. “We took the Traverse to the next level by building on the experience of an already-efficient design and making it even better.”

Examples of aerodynamic performance that were enhanced during development include:

The front fascia, headlamps and hood were re-shaped after initial testing to cut a sleeker profile
The front splitter (at the bottom of the air dam) was added to the Traverse after initial wind tunnel testing, resulting in a one-tenth of a mpg improvement
The cowl (area below the windshield) and A-pillars were revised for improved airflow, which also helped reduce wind noise
The shape and radius of the wheel openings were revised and drag-reducing rear tire air dams were added to the design
The rear spoiler angle was redesigned in the wind tunnel
Extensive fine-tuning of the backlight and taillamps was performed for the just-right balance of styling and efficiency
Additionally, much attention was paid to details such as the gaps between exterior components and even the relationship of the tires to the vehicle body. Smaller, more precise gaps between exterior panels reduce drag, while a tighter tire-to-body relationship improves overall aerodynamics.

The depth and shape of the grille was scrutinized, as well.

“Grille openings and textures are huge contributors to drag, but they’re necessary to provide cooling airflow to the powertrain and air conditioning system,” said D’Souza. “On the Traverse, we tested a number of configurations and came up with a grille design that delivers Chevy’s trademark styling and detail, uncompromised cooling performance and minimized aero drag.”

New ad campaign presents the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS and is an industry-first, featuring a three-minute movie commercial scheduled to debut during the Black Entertainment Television Awards pre-show today.
Partner 30- and 15-second spots will air on select television stations beginning today.
MadCrazyLove touts the dynamic design, business-class comfort, smooth driving experience and in-car communication features of the new Lincoln MKS.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 24, 2008– Taking a significant leap from the traditional 30- and 60-second broadcast advertising model, luxury automaker Lincoln is delivering a first this week with the national television launch of a three-minute movie featuring the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS.

Shot on location in Hollywood Hills, MadCrazyLove is a three-minute commercial, with accompanying 30- and 15-second spots, that introduces the newest member of the Lincoln family – the 2009 Lincoln MKS – against the backdrop of a fun, romantic story.

The new three-minute spot makes its television debut today during the Black Entertainment Television Awards pre-show. Following the show, the movie will live online at www.lincoln.com and www.lincolnlounge.com.

The 30- and 15-second spots will begin airing today on select cable television and nationally syndicated programs. National print and digital media are included in the media mix and scheduled for rotation beginning in July.

“Studies continue to show that Americans are embracing the Internet in a bigger way and are looking beyond sound bites for broader stories,” says Lincoln Communications Manager Tom Grill. “As this advertising model changes, Lincoln will continue to design fresh and innovative advertising that is hard-hitting and relevant. MadCrazyLove accomplishes just that and introduces our new Lincoln MKS in a fun, yet meaningful way.”

MadCrazyLove – The Movie

Sultry, soft sounds from the legendary Marvin Gaye, a dark, dusky evening, the smooth ride and distinct styling of the 2009 Lincoln MKS luxury sedan set the mood for the story.

MadCrazyLove takes the viewer on a romantic journey that at first glance appears to be centered on a couple’s first encounter. Moving through vibrant images at a cocktail party, cruising through the streets and scenic hills of Hollywood, stopping off for a bite at a local dive, the couple enjoys the simplicity of the evening and the amenities of the Lincoln MKS. As the couple’s evening together marches towards a final scene, the story takes a sudden and unexpected twist that viewers will have to see to enjoy.

Three partner 30-second and one 15-second television teaser spots provide a peek into the MadCrazyLove story, and further details the features of the new MKS, including the sophisticated technology, dynamic design and smooth driving experience.

The 30-second Something Warmer spot showcases the unique craftsmanship of the vehicle’s interior, its fine materials including genuine wood, metal and leather; the 30-second Dual-Moon highlights the dual-panel moonroof, SYNC in-car communication and the split grille design; the 30-second IP touts the next-generation voice-activated navigation and Sirius Travel Link™. The 15-second MadCrazy features the available 20-inch wheels and luxury touch technology.

MadCrazyLove was created by UniWorld Group Inc., the African American Agency of Record for Lincoln.

The 2009 Lincoln MKS

The all-new 2009 Lincoln will begin arriving in dealerships across North America by the end of June. Dynamic and clean-lined, the flagship Lincoln MKS is the first production vehicle to embrace the Lincoln design DNA introduced on the Lincoln MKR concept in 2007.

Priced just more than $38,000 including destination, the vehicle is loaded with class-exclusive features and options, such as the industry-exclusive SYNC, Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System, SecuriCode™ Next-Generation Keypad, a premium THX-certified audio system, 20-inch wheels, heated rear seats and the voice-activated navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link.

The Lincoln MKS is powered by a Lincoln-exclusive 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated with a fuel-efficient six-speed transmission. The powertrain has been derived from the proven 3.5-liter V-6 found in the Lincoln MKX, which was voted one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines for 2007.