The Official Blog of the IZOD IndyCar Series

Ever wondered what your favorite IndyCar driver does away from the track? We caught up with Danica Patrick at Mid-Ohio and asked her a few questions about the WWW. We asked her tons of questions about her site, shopping online and what she finds funny on the web.

Danica tweeting?

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This week we’re focusing on a few IZOD IndyCar drivers to learn how they use technology when they’re not driving 200 mph.  We asked them questions about their personal websites, Twitter, what sites they visit daily, their favorite YouTube videos, what makes them laugh and much more.

It’s Web Week on IndyCar.com. We’ll be releasing a new driver interview each day, revealing a new side to IndyCar and the drivers.

The first driver up in Web Talk is Tony Kanaan – which isn’t a bad choice for this topic.

He's into technology

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Shoes, shoes and more shoes! Recently, we joined up with Magnum Boots USA and ran a Twitter contest to give-away a complimentary pair or boots. Why? Well, we love our fans and we love our sponsors so we figured we better introduce the two…so, kind of like a blind date, but with a prize!

For those of you who don’t know, Magnum, is the sponsor of the IndyCar Series safety and security teams and supports the #4 National Guard car driven by Dan Wheldon. Here is a picture of a pair in action:

Magnum Boots in Action

In addition to giving an IndyCar Series fan a cool new pair of boots, Magnum has also found other ways to give back to the community. During various retail promotions, they donate $2 for every pair of boots sold to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is an intervention programs dedicated to helping at-risk youth have a better tomorrow. Magnum has already donated approximately $20,000 to this non-profit organization – Pretty amazing!

Magnum is just one of our sponsors that is making a difference in the community and in racing. We hope to have more installments like this one, that highlight our relationship with our fans and our sponsors. We also plan on having another give-away contest soon. Good luck! And you should probably follow us both on Twitter:

IZOD IndyCar Series: @IndyCarNation

Magnum: @MagnumBootsUSA

Enhancing the fan experience is the goal, and Verizon is delivering with its IndyCar Mobile app that was launched Aug. 19 – just in time for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma – for the Android platform that includes all Android devices.

Check out your fave drivers, like Will Power

Incorporating social media functions Twitter and Facebook, news and video, the IndyCar Mobile app brings all the action of race weekends to fans — whether they’re in the grandstands or vicariously at the racetrack.

The IZOD IndyCar Series app for the Android platform is part of Verizon’s relationship with the IZOD IndyCar Series, and enhancements, including real-time timing and scoring will be added through the 2010 season.

Get details about app, including how to download, and about Verizon’s Android by logging on to mobile.vzw.com/indycar on an Android phone version 1.6 or newer.

Infineon Raceway is a beautiful track in Sonoma, California with elevation changes and yellow hills surrounding the track. The mornings are overcast before giving way to bright, bright sun later in the day. It’s a great venue for fans, it’s also not too bad if you’re shooing video or images.

A shot from yesterday morning at Infineon Raceway

You may have noticed that we publish a lot of content throughout the race weekend – via Tweets, Facebook updates, countless IndyCar.com changes and news stories, live video and timing and scoring through Race Control, and images to Flickr, video to YouTube, and RSS feeds for each driver and team. It’s a content juggling act.

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Round 2 from Phil Frank Designs.  In a separate note Phil mentioned that he is working with Dallara to get the CAD files to morph his design into a actual model.  See all the designs Here.

Super Speedway Design Explained….

High Down Force Package Explained…

Note from creator:

“Phil Frank, designer of the Saleen S7 presents the *pfd aerodynamic package for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Dallara chassis. The innovative design is a blend of aerodynamics, engineering and traditional sculptural car styling, which is lacking from most race cars these days.

The fluid body forms flow uninterrupted from the top to bottom and front to rear. Large pontoon intakes with chrome induction Venturi command respect while the sculpted side canards and aerodynamic belly flows to the rear to become the integrated diffuser. The dramatic side profile is defined by the exposed carbon fiber blade behind the roll bar and the rear wheel splitters.

The low drag speedway configuration diverges from the road configuration with revised rear wheel splitters, single wing elements with carbon fiber vortex generators and carbon fiber induction Dagmars to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and speed.”

2012 Fan Design by Phil Frank - Tilt View

Angled View

For more views of Phil Frank’s designs click here

Our latest design comes from a veteran car designer Phil Frank.  So far, this design is my personal favorite.  Below are the designers comments about the car.

“Phil Frank, designer of the Saleen S7 wishes to share his quick aerodynamic concept for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Dallara chassis. The design is a blend of aerodynamics and engineering mixed with traditional sculptural car styling, which is lacking from most race cars these days. The fluid body forms flow uninterrupted from the top to bottom and front to rear. Large pontoon intakes command respect while the sculpted belly flows to the rear to become the functional diffuser. Flat floor sections reside only to the outside to support the rear tire aero pods and the large rear wing end plates. A strong diagonal sectional cut across the body just in front of the rear wheels defines the business end of the chassis, helps diminish the overall mass and adds a bit of graphic drama.

I would like to be connected with ICONIC Advisory Committee as we may wish to become an aerodynamic package supplier for the series. Please have someone contact me directly.”

Now that is what I am talking about! Looking forward to see how this develops and if Phil Frank designs make the grid in 2012.  Good Luck!

{Admin Note} With all of the excitement——and questions around the Future IndyCar Concept Announcement. We at IndyCar.com thought we’d enlist our users to have fun with the open design concept that the 2012 IndyCarchassis will endorse.  For more information please visit the www.indycar.com/2012 page for interviews, car information and of course…the details on how you can design your own concept.

Click here to see all the designs.

Its great to see the designs pouring in from the fans.  Each artist so far has concept-ed different designs which is what the new concept is all about.  As many of the readers have noticed, inspiration for designs are coming from all types of racing vehicles; Formula 1, past IndyCars…as well as new ideas which will shape the future of IndyCar racing.  My next challenge for all of the contributers would be to consider the different wing packages which will be necessary for oval, road, street and short oval circuits.

Our next design comes from Tyler Tucker.  Here’s Tyler’s comments about his designs.

“This design is a mix of old and new.  The rear wing has the F1 look to it to where it is tall and skinny.  The side pods are more traditional aside from the winglets designed to create an extra bit of downforce.”

If you’ve missed the other designs click here.

{Admin Note} With all of the excitement——and questions around the Future IndyCar Concept Announcement. We at IndyCar.com thought we’d enlist our users to have fun with the open design concept that the 2012 IndyCarchassis will endorse.  For more information please visit the www.indycar.com/2012 page for interviews, car information and of course…the details on how you can design your own concept.

Sunday 4:48 p.m.- Thanks for keeping up with the live blog this weekend. Can’t wait for Edmonton! Here are some victory lane photos for you, see the rest here.

Will Power #1 at Hondy Indy Toronto

Top 3 with lots of confetti!

Sunday 3:25 p.m.- After going through the predictions on both Facebook and Twitter we have two winners from the “Pick the Top Three Trifecta Contest.” Congratulations to both Michael Hannowsky and @ACDonahue for guessing the top three drivers in the right order: Will Power, Dario Franchitti and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Sunday 2:47p.m.- WE HAVE A WINNER- Will Power to Victory Lane! Highlight video and tons of pictures from throughout the race to come!

Will Power wins at Honda Indy Toronto

Sunday 2:34 p.m.- Sixth full course yellow of the race- Last year there were only 5! Alex Tagliani and Tomas Scheckter connect in the corner. Justin Wilson spins out and Scott Dixon loses his front suspension. All in one lap!

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Most of you do – and we’re really thankful for that. One thing I’ve noticed about IndyCar fans is that they’re passionate, vocal, knowledgeable and hungry for good online content. We’re trying to do a much better job with the online experience we offer.

There’s a section on the IndyCar website called Follow Us. Not sure if you’ve seen it or not. It’s a listing of all things digital. Intrigued? Check it.

It covers all the basics. You’ve watched our videos on YouTube. You’re likely a fan or ‘liker’ on Facebook. And hopefully you’ve participated in some of our contests through Twitter.

We’ve pushed really hard on Flickr this season, to give you behind-the-scenes access to all of the IZOD IndyCar Series races and events. Here’s one of my favorites.

Yep, a sandwich on the helmet

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