By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Even a big-time racing champion is capable of hero-worship, and for Ryan Hunter-Reay that driver is “Schumi.”
Hunter-Reay, the reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion, will cross paths with Formula One “superheld” Michael Schumacher of Germany while competing in the 25th annual Race of Champions in Thailand this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Graham Rahal recorded his first hot laps in the family car in wet conditions Tuesday, and didn’t put a scratch on it.
Rahal completed 49 trouble-free laps during IZOD IndyCar Series testing with Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing on the 1.65-mile Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway, his first session in an RLL-prepared car on a [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Lotus has been released from its contract to supply engines to the IZOD IndyCar Series after a dismal single-season of domestic open-wheel competition.
“We appreciate the effort that Lotus made in helping return manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series,” Brian Barnhart, INDYCAR’s president of operations and strategy said Friday morning. [...]

Reigning champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will sport a modified version of the No. 1 during the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season while continuing to acknowledge a very personal crusade against cancer.
The No. 1 on Hunter-Reay’s DHL Dallara/Chevrolet will be bisected by the No. 28 in recognition of the 28-million people living with cancer worldwide. Hunter-Reay’s mother, [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
On a to-do list topped by “Date a celebrity,” 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski has added “Buy a tank” en route to what appears to be the inside track to the Driver of the Year award.
We’ll get to that possible tank purchase by “Bad Brad” in a [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Elliott Sadler and his primary sponsor have found a new home at Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season.
Sadler, NNS championship runnerup by 23 points in 2012, will drive the No. 11 Toyota Camry next year with primary sponsorship from OneMain Financial, a personal loan solutions company. [...]

Graham Rahal, 23, has signed a multi-year contract to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) – a team his father, 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time Indy car champion Bobby Rahal co-owns with “CBS Late Show” host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Michael Lanigan.
TBC Retail Group, who has sponsored [...]

Randy Bernard is out as CEO of the INDYCAR Series.
The board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation convened a special meeting Sunday and afterward announced that Bernard will relinquish his position effective immediately.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation President and CEO Jeff Belskus was appointed as interim CEO of INDYCAR.
“We are very grateful for the [...]

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com
The INDYCAR Series on Friday denied reports that CEO Randy Bernard has been fired.
“Randy has not been fired,” INDYCAR spokesperson Amy Konrath told RacinToday.com on Friday afternoon. “His employment status has not changed.”
The Indianapolis Business Journal reported earlier in the day that “sources familiar with the situation” said that Bernard [...]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Speculation surrounding Tony George’s ownership pursuit of INDYCAR was rekindled over the weekend following his resignation from the board of directors of Hulman & Company.
The board issued a statement accepting George’s resignation, effective Friday, from his family’s Terre Haute, Ind.-based business.
“Tony George has made the difficult decision to resign from [...]