Photo By Thomas Coney | U.S Army Maj.Christopher Shaffer, left, from Clearwater, Fla., with the 945th Forward...... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. - The Army National Guard #4 IndyCar will be on display at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, N.D., July 24 through Aug. 1. This vehicle is a replica of what has been driven in IndyCar Series competitions by Dan Wheldon this season.
The North Dakota Army National Guard will take individual or group photos with the #4 car. The photos can be then be downloaded from the internet free of charge. Other Army National Guard memorabilia will also be given away.
Sgt. Lynda Whitty, a Minot area recruiter, is excited to have the #4 IndyCar available for display. "Having this car at the North Dakota State Fair creates the chance for the public to take a look at an IndyCar up-close. I am glad to have the opportunity to display this car and I hope to see everyone there!" Whitty and other Army National Guard representatives will also be available to answer questions about the North Dakota Army National Guard, at the Army National Guard booth located on the north side of the main grandstand.
The National Guard started participating in the Indy Racing League on June 25, 2008. This relationship with IndyCar propelled National Guard recruiting forward and gave Guardsmen a more personal interest in another sport. The 230-mph #4 IndyCar is driven for Panther Racing, whose founding team partners John Barnes, Mike Griffin and Jim Harbaugh remain, but the ownership family has expanded to include business and marketing power with former world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, Mark "Dill" Driscoll, Joe Cain, Chris Bowers and Courtney Jones.
After scoring an IndyCar Series-record six victories in 2005 for Adretti Green Racing, including the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series championship, Wheldon, a 31-year old native of Emberton, England, wanted to stay ahead of his competition. So he left what appeared to be a perfect situation to join Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006. He was an instant success - winning the 24 Hours of Daytona with teammates Scott Dixon and NASCAR driver Casey Mears; driving to victory by just a few feet in the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway; and tying for the series championship.
In June 2008, he earned his 15th career victory in the IndyCar Series after winning the Iowa Corn Indy 250. He donated his winnings to help Iowa victims of tornadoes and flooding.
The week before the 2008 season finale, Wheldon returned to Panther Racing, on a multi-year deal, where he first made his debut with the IndyCar Series in 2002. Wheldon drove the Panther Racing car to a second place finish in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, the second Indy 500 runner-up finish in a row for the team.
The Army National Guard #4 IndyCar is still very new to the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. It was unveiled in late June 2008, at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Va. and was originally driven by Vitor Meira until Wheldon began driving it in the 2009 season.
Panther Racing hosts up to 200 Guard members at each race. The man who inspired owner John Barnes to enter the world of the track, a racing driver who was his father's best friend, was a National Guardsman himself. "Now to have the National Guard support my team is unbelievable, something I never dreamed of."
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2009 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 36502 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, US |
| Web Views: | 338 |
| Downloads: | 262 |
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