Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, NOLA Motorsports Park
April 12, 2015
3 p.m. EDT
NBC Sports Network
IndyCar Radio Network Broadcast and Live Stream
INDYCAR DEBUT IN NEW ORLEANS

* The 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana will mark the debut of Verizon IndyCar Series racing in the New Orleans area, and the state of Louisiana.

* This weekend’s race at NOLA Motorsports Park continues the successful expansion of Indy car racing to the southeastern United States in recent years, including the successful Honda Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida, a fixture on the IndyCar Series schedule since 2005.
AERO KITS

* The 2015 IndyCar Series sees the introduction of manufacturer-developed Aero Kits to Indy car racing as another element to competition between Honda and Chevrolet. Each manufacturer has developed visually distinctive, performance-enhancing aerodynamic packages for use by its respective teams.

* Manufacturers were able to develop their own front/rear wing endplates, sidepods, engine covers, rear-wheel guards, and front/rear wing flaps, as long as they fit inside designated “volume boxes” as specified by INDYCAR.

* Following the season opening March 29 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Honda Performance Development has initiated updates to both the front-wing end plate and rear wheel guards to improve the impact resistance of these components. These updates consist of bonded-in-place panels which further strengthen specific areas of the front-wing end plates and rear wheel guards.

* Design and initial production of these panels has been completed in the short,12-day period — which included the Easter holiday weekend — between the St. Petersburg and New Orleans events.

* Aero kits allow multiple combinations of aerodynamic elements to suit the strategy and preferences of each team. This brings a new challenge to both Honda and individual team race engineers, who may mix and match these parts in an effort to find the right combination of downforce for optimum performance during both qualifications and the race at each Verizon IndyCar Series circuit.

* In accordance with INDYCAR regulations for 2015, Honda designed one aero kit for road/street courses/short ovals, and a second superspeedway aero kit, which will debut later this season, for use on oval speedways of 1.5 miles and longer. Cost of engine manufacturer aero kits is capped at $75,000 per entry.

* All Honda-powered teams in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series will also be utilizing the Honda aero kit package.

MANUFACTURER COMPETITION

* The 2015 season marks the fourth season of manufacturer competition in the Verizon IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Honda will again battle for supremacy throughout the 16-race season and at the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 in May.

* Drivers and teams using Honda engines have won 211 Indy car races and 10 Indianapolis 500s, both during years of multi-manufacturer competition (2004-05, 2012); and during Honda’s tenure single engine supplier to the series (2006-11). Honda’s most recent “500” winner is Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport, who emerged victorious in the 2014 running of the Memorial Day classic, and will defend his championship next month.
HONDA RACING/HPD VIDEOS

* Video News Releases from this weekend’s Verizon IndyCar Series race in New Orleans are being posted on a specially created “Honda Racing/HPD Trackside” YouTube channel produced by the Carolinas Production Group.

* Headed by longtime motorsports broadcaster Rick Benjamin, CPG is providing video highlights packages following Honda Racing/HPD events during 2015. The video packages can be found in the 2015 HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.