NEWTON, Iowa – There’s something about Iowa Speedway that suits Sage Karam. The 20-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing Teams driver isn't going to over-think it, but just attempt to extend his success this weekend.
Karam, who makes his first Verizon IndyCar Series start at the .894-mile oval July 18 in the Iowa Corn 300, has won at the track in all three rungs of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder system -- Indy Lights (2013) from the fifth starting position and from the pole in Pro Mazda (2012), Star Mazda (2011) and USF2000 (2010).
Karam, who will be driving the No. 8 Comfort Revolution/Big Machine Records Chevrolet, is coming off back-to-back races in which he posted a career-best finish (fifth at Auto Club Speedway) and start (third at Milwaukee).
“I feel like we have some momentum on our side with the No. 8 car program,” said Karam, of Nazareth, Pa., who has competed in nine Verizon IndyCar Series races this season. “I love Iowa and was a big fan of driving this track in the ladder series.
“We need a good result and to continue to move forward and I hope we can get it this weekend and capitalize on all the hard work that’s gone into this program.”
Kanaan seeks to extend streak
Karam teammate Tony Kanaan also has had success at the racetrack, which hosted its first Verizon IndyCar Series event in 2007. He began a run of five consecutive podium finishes with a victory in 2010.
“There’s just something about these short ovals that I love,” said Kanaan, who will drive the No. 10 Fusion Chevrolet this weekend. “It’s always such an exciting race, and with the way we’ve been running this season, I don’t see this weekend’s race being any different.”
Produced by Grupo Petropolis, the second-largest brewing company in Brazil, Fusion is an energy drink in its infancy of U.S. distribution.
All aboard the Raceway Fun Train
Fans can enjoy a ride on the first Raceway Fun Train to the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma next month for the Verizon IndyCar Series finale.
The 400-seat train will bring fans directly from the Sacramento area to the raceway on race day Aug. 30. The $149 package ($89 for children 12 and under) includes a reserved main grandstand seat, round-trip travel, VIP main gate entry, garage/pit pass for pre-race and a commemorative lanyard.
For more information, call 800-870-7223 or visit www.racesonoma.com/indycar.
Drivers catch up with bestselling author Green
Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Josef Newgarden, Sage Karam and Conor Daly walked the red carpet this week at a special event in downtown Indianapolis to promote New York Times bestselling author John Green’s latest film “Paper Towns.”
Green and actors Nat Wolff and Halston Sage, who both star in the film based on Green’s young adult-oriented novel of the same name, were in Indianapolis as a part of their “Get Lost Get Found” tour in advance of the July 23 theatrical release of “Paper Towns.”
Green, an Indianapolis resident, is a Verizon IndyCar Series fan and fantasy racing participant. Newgarden, winner of two Verizon IndyCar Series races this season and the pole winner at last weekend’s ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at The Milwaukee Mile, was excited to meet Green.
“He’s met a lot of the other INDYCAR guys and he’s been such a big supporter of the series and (is) a fan,” Newgarden said. “That was the best part for me, just getting to meet him and chat with him and see what he does in his world.”