November 2011
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KV Racing Will Race WIth Chevy Power
Nov 2 - KV Racing Technology announced today that the team will be powered by the new Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 racing engine for the 2012 IZOD
IndyCar Series season.  

KV Racing Technology was founded in January 2003 and joined the IndyCar Series in 2008. The Indianapolis based team is owned by Australian
tycoon Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 CART Indy Car World Series Champion
Jimmy Vasser.

The 2012 Chevrolet IndyCar V06 will have an aluminum block and cylinder
heads, direct injection and twin turbochargers. The engine will also be a fully
stressed chassis member supporting the gearbox and rear suspension

Vasser owns a Chevrolet dealership in Napa, California.

There will be three engine manufacturers in the IndyCar series next year.
Ed Carpenter Forming IndyCar Team
Nov 2 - Ed Carpenter, the step son of Tony George, has
competed in IndyCar for 9 years for a total of 113 races.

With the help of sponsor Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, he
is forming his own IndyCar team of which he'll be the driver.

Reprising their role with Carpenter, Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium
Vodka will be the primary sponsor in a three year
partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing. “We’re looking
forward to playing a full round with Ed in 2012. In the past,
we’ve only been able to play a few holes,” stated
Fuzzy
Zoeller
, PGA and Champions Tour professional and
owner of Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka. “Ed caddied for me
last year and he’s definitely a much better driver. We’ve
had a great time with Ed and IndyCar and now we’re really
going to tee it up in 2012.”
Panther Racing Keeps Hildebrand
Nov 16 - Panther Racing exercised its two-year option on
JR Hildebrand’s contract, ensuring the 23-year-old
Californian will pilot the team’s No. 4 National Guard entry
for the 2012 and 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series seasons.
Hildebrand, the reining Indianapolis 500 runner-up and
Rookie of the Year, just completed his first full IndyCar
Series season for Panther and led three races while
collecting two Top Five and five Top Ten finishes during
the year.

“The true test of any athlete is how they handle adversity,
and I couldn’t be more impressed with how he handled
himself during the course of this season," said Panther
CEO
John Barnes.

Hildebrand’s rookie campaign in the IZOD IndyCar Series
was more than eventful, highlighted by a runner-up finish
in the Indianapolis 500 where he led until the final turn of
the historic event.

A week later, he tore the ACL in his left knee during a
media event at Texas Motor Speedway, but bounced back
two weeks later and recorded his best career qualification
effort (fourth) at Iowa Speedway, where he led the race
and finished fourth.
everybody is already working really hard on improving for 2012. And I’m
especially excited to be able to continue to work with the National Guard; that
was a special opportunity and it was a very educational experience for me."
In September, he broke a bone in his
hand during an incident in Baltimore,
but again responded the following
race with a seventh-place result at
Twin Ring Motegi, his career best
result on a non-oval track.

After suffering a bruised sternum and
a concussion in a crash at the final
event of the season at Las Vegas
Motor Speedway, the team is looking
to bounce back in 2012.

“I’m super stoked that I’m going to be
back at Panther for the next two
years,” Hildebrand said. “It was a
crazy year for us, but we had some
really strong runs and I enjoyed
being a part of this team. I worked
really well with my engineer
David
Cripps
this season and I know
Raikkonen Is Back
Nov 29 - After weeks of speculation Renault confirmed on
Tuesday that
Kimi Raikkonen, 32, will make a comeback
to race for the team in 2012. Raikkonen, who left the sport
at the end of 2009 to pursue a rallying career, has signed
a two-year agreement with the team.

The Finn made his Formula One debut back in 2001 with
Sauber. He then spent five seasons with McLaren, from
2002 to 2006, winning nine Grands Prix and twice finishing
runner-up in the drivers’ championship. He moved to
Ferrari for 2007, taking the title that year, but was
overshadowed by team mate Felipe Massa the following
season.

He agreed to leave Ferrari at the end of the 2009 season
despite having a year of his contract still to run, in order to
make way for Fernando Alonso. Over the last two seasons
he has competed in the World Rally Championship.

Renault ended the 2011 season fifth in the constructors'
standings, four points ahead of sixth-placed squad Force
India. The team will be renamed Lotus from next season.
Note: Besides Renault, two other F1 teams are changing
their name next season: Lotus becomes Caterham, and
Virgin becomes Marussia.
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