EFFORT TO SUPPORT WOUNDED WARRIORS.CA
EDMONTON, July 23 /CNW/ - KV Racing today announced that Canadian Paul
Tracy's KV Racing Technology car will be sponsored by the Edmonton Area Honda
Dealers, and will support Wounded Warriors.ca., at the Rexall Indy Edmonton,
July 26.
Tracy, No. 15 Edmonton Honda Dealers - Wounded Warriors.ca - KV Racing
Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone, will be making his fifth start on the
1.96-mile, 14-turn airport runway temporary street circuit and the third of
three consecutive starts for KVRT. The native of Canada is coming off a
spectacular, if disappointing, performance two weeks ago in Toronto. After
starting 15th, Tracy was running in third place with 20 laps remaining.
However, while attempting to pass Helio Castroneves for second place, the two
collided sending Tracy into the wall and ending his day in 19th place
"We're extremely pleased that Paul Tracy will pilot a KV Racing
Technology entry with sponsorship from the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers in
support of Wounded Warriors.ca," said KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser. "Having Paul
drive in front of his countrymen with an organization like Wounded Warriors.ca
on the sidepods of a KVRT car is an honour and a privilege. I personally want
to thank the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers for making this possible."
Ron Mouseau, a committee member of the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers
Association, said, "Not to have Paul racing in Edmonton didn't make sense, so
the Edmonton-area Honda dealers decided to sponsor Paul. When someone brought
up the idea of supporting our Canadian troops, the decision to do that was
both immediate and unanimous. We have our troops in harm's way in foreign
lands. Not all come back unscathed. We wanted to help those in need of
numerous forms of assistance. That's why we decided to join with Wounded
Warriors.ca to help bring awareness to their cause and to help raise funds for
them during the Rexall Indy Edmonton race weekend."
Commenting on the support Captain George W. Johnston, president and
founder of Wounded Warriors.ca., said, "As a soldier and the father of a
soldier, I think I can speak for all military members and their families when
I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. We see the support for the troops
every day and what the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers and their partners have
done here today, has made them corporate heroes."
"I want to thank the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers, Kevin Kalkhoven and
Jimmy Vasser for the opportunity to race in front of Canadian race fans,"
Tracy said. "I'm especially thankful because it is a tremendous honour to
represent Wounded Warriors.ca. I am proud to be able to support and raise
awareness for this organization that assists Canadian armed forces personnel."
Tracy, 40, will be making his 269th career start, seventh in the IndyCar
Series, fifth of the 2009 season and fourth with KVRT. In four previous starts
in Edmonton, he has finished in the top-five all four times with a best
showing of third in 2005. Last year, after a three month layoff, Tracy "came
off the couch" to compete in Edmonton. In a testament to his skill and prowess
as a driver, Tracy, who started 15th, finished fourth. In addition to Toronto,
Tracy has also driven for KVRT this year at Watkins Glen, running as high as
ninth before spinning and finishing 19th, and the Indy 500 where he finished
ninth. His other IndyCar starts came at this year's Milwaukee race for A.J.
Foyt Racing, placed 17th, at Indy in 2002, finished second and at Edmonton.
About the Edmonton Area Honda Dealers:
The five Honda Dealers in the Edmonton area, including Morinville,
Alberta, have a proven track record for providing maximum customer
satisfaction. The five Honda dealerships are active in the community and
employ approximately 200 associates.
About Wounded Warriors.ca:
Wounded Warriors.ca is an independent not-for-profit charity that
supports Canadian soldiers wounded overseas. It is primarily a fundraising
mechanism that supports existing programs that tend to soldiers. Wounded
Warriors.ca recognizes the priority to treat visible and non-visible injuries,
like that of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In three years, Wounded
Warriors.ca has raised more than $400,000 and as an all-volunteer organization
is able to keep its administration costs well below 5 per cent. The health of
this fund is a credit to the benevolence of Canadian corporations and citizens
alike.
About KV Racing Technology:
KV Racing Technology was established in 2003. The Indianapolis-based team
is contesting its seventh open-wheel season and second in the IndyCar Series
in 2009. KVRT is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and
1996 Series Champion, Jimmy Vasser. Veteran motorsports manager Mark Johnson
is the team's General Manager. KVRT has earned two victories the first by
Cristiano da Matta in Portland in 2005 and the second by Will Power at Long
Beach in 2008. They have captured two poles, Tristan Gommendy at Mont
Tremblant in 2007 and Vasser at Milwaukee in 2005 (Will Power captured the
pole at the 2008 Surfers Paradise, Australia exhibition race).
KV Racing has contested five races, making nine starts in Toronto. They
have finished in the top-10 a total of three times, with three top-five
showing, two podiums and a best finish of second by Vasser in 2004 and Neel
Jani in 2007. The team has participated in all four races in Edmonton making
eight starts. They have finished in the top-10 a total of three times with two
top-five showing and a best finish of fourth by Oriol Servia in 2006.
For more information about KV Racing Technology, visit:
www.kvracingtechnology.com./NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
For further information: Kevin Diamond, Phone: (415) 332-2016, Mobile:
(415) 729-6011, Email: kdpr@worldnet.att.net
