Indy 500 Charity Auction to benefit the fight against breast cancer

Auction URL: http:// www.bidaroo.com/Product-Info/Auction/115

INDIANAPOLIS August 21, 2009 - One lucky bidder will own a piece of racing history! Gladiator(r) GarageWorks has donated one of two workbenches signed by all 33 drivers from the 2009 Indianapolis 500 to be auctioned off at www.bidaroo.com starting today. The drivers signed the bench in the starting grid positions in which they qualified for the famed race. All (100%) of the net proceeds from the online auction will benefit breast cancer research.

Autographs include those of 2009 Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves as well as past winners Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Dan Wheldon. The bench also features the autographs of popular drivers Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, A.J. Foyt IV and Sarah Fisher.

When asked by his associate sponsor, Gladiator(r) GarageWorks, whom he wanted as the beneficiary of this auction, Larry Foyt, (Team Director of A.J. Foyt Racing) didn't hesitate to designate Emerson Newton-John's "Full Speed 2 a Cure" motorsport cancer awareness campaign and its charitable non-profit partner, Cure Breast Cancer.

"Full Speed 2 a Cure" then selected Bidaroo.com to host this auction of the historic workbench, as Bidaroo focuses on giving to charities and also makes winning an online auction possible for everyone. Bidaroo.com's auction process is very different than a typical auction.

Bidaroo caps all auctions prices at at least 90% below retail. Unlike a normal auction, Bidaroo's auctions' winners are chosen by the highest unique (not the same) bid as any other bidders, meaning, the consumer wants to bid below the Bidaroo price (capped price) but also bid an amount no one else has bid, thus making him or her the highest unique bidder. Every bid a person makes whether it wins or loses is charged a certain amount of tokens. Bidaroo is a new fun way to purchase great products while helping even greater charities.

Setting this workbench apart is its large 6 ft. wide solid hard maple work surface, with space to dock up to two Gladiator(r) modules underneath. The heavy-duty steel frame provides support for the 1-3/4" thick top and is equipped with leg levelers to accommodate uneven floors. The autographed surface is coated with a thick layer of polyurethane so the workbench may be used as such or kept as a unique collectible.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit Dr. Ernie Bodai's "Cure Breast Cancer" organization, which is the lead charitable partner on the "Full Speed 2 a Cure" cancer campaign. Dr. Bodai is also the man responsible for creating the "Breast Cancer Research Postal Stamp", which has raised over 75 million dollars since its inception a decade ago. He and Olivia Newton-John are also responsible for the "Liv Aid" breast self-exam device that is designed to help women do a convenient breast-exam in the comfort of their own home.

"I am delighted about this auction for Cure Breast Cancer, hosted by Bidaroo.com," said Olivia Newton-John. "I'm excited that it will raise awareness for woman's breast health, raise significant money for my friend Dr. Ernie Bodai's charity, and expose people to my nephew Emerson's "Full Speed 2 a Cure" motorsport cancer awareness campaign. Thank you to Larry Foyt of A.J. Foyt Racing, and Gladiator Garageworks, for their generosity in donating this signed bench for this auction. Happy bidding everyone!"

This auction, which started Aug. 21 will run for a 30-day duration on Bidaroo.com.

For more information on the auction or the companies and organizations supporting it, please visit these websites:

About Gladiator(r) GarageWorks - www.gladiatorgw.com
About A.J. Foyt Racing - www.foytracing.com
About Full Speed 2 a Cure - www.fullspeed2acure.com
About Bidaroo.com - www.bidaroo.com
About Cure Breast Cancer - www.curebreastcancer.org
About Liv Aid - www.liv.com

INDYCAR: Danica Patrick discusses the Indy 500

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – May 5, 2009

Danica Patrick was the guest on today’s Indy Racing League teleconference

About the speakers: Danica Patrick discussed the upcoming Indianapolis 500. This will be her fifth start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Danica Patrick

· 27-year-old veteran of five seasons in the IndyCar Series

· Drives the No. 7 Motorola entry for Andretti Green Racing

· Opened the 2009 season with two top-five finishes in the first three races, one of only four drivers to do so

· Has made 67 career starts, recording 13 top-five finishes, 38 top-10s and winning three poles

· Became the first woman to win a major closed-course auto race in April 2008 at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan

· Has made four starts in the Indianapolis 500, qualifying in the top 10 in each one

· Has three top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500

· Won Chase Rookie of the Year honors at Indianapolis in 2005, leading 19 laps en route to a fourth-place finish

***

Select Quotes: Listed below are select quotes from today’s teleconference. The complete transcript and audio MP3 file are posted at www.indycar.com/media.

Q: Danica, a couple of practice days this week before Pole Day on Saturday. You qualified in the top 10 all four years at Indy. What are the things that you try and accomplish the first couple of days of practice and then what are the keys to turning in another solid qualifying effort on Saturday?

DANICA PATRICK: It's a good opportunity to really just focus on qualifying. All the rest of the year we tend to not really be so heavily focused on it, and we kind of do maybe a qualifying practice run or two, but that's about it, and then we kind of fill the car up and work on race stuff from there.

We get a few days to really focus on it. It's about getting the car comfortable. You really want the car comfortable when it has more downforce on it. As you trim it out, the balance changes maybe a little bit, but really you want to start out with a good balanced car, and hopefully you can even take the downforce off and just get faster.

Q: Other than the obvious answer, to finish first after 200 laps, what are the things you need to do this year to win the Indy 500?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I think that it would be the easiest to start in the front and just stay there. I think that we're going to obviously work hard to qualify well. I think it's a matter of, in the past the qualifying's been reasonably good, but it's a matter of staying there. I think that's going to be the real focus, is just to not drop back and to not lose positions on the track on starts or restarts, to stay on top of the car throughout the race and keep up with the way that the track is changing, and then to have really clean pit stops. I think that's going to have to be a really, really big focus for me, getting in and out of the pits and getting in and out of the box at full speed all the time. If we do those things well, I hope we can qualify well and then I believe that we can stay there. Then it will be a shootout in the end.

There's no doubt that you do have to have a fast car to win the Indy 500, because it usually comes to that last sort of 20 laps or five-lap shootout where it's all about speed.

Q: I wanted to ask you about what I call the kinder, gentler Danica Patrick. The first race you were trying not to be mad all weekend, then (Raphael) Matos took you into the boards at St. Petersburg, you didn't smack him like we thought you might. Where is that all coming from?

DANICA PATRICK: Is it OK, do you think? I hope I'm not boring anybody (laughter).

I've learned from the past. Look, the emotional Danica is still there, but there's a time and a place. The time and place is not every weekend. So it's just easier. I think I always felt in the past like I had to prove to people that I cared and that I wasn't happy being fifth or 12th or something by being mad. It just doesn't really pay off, and it turns people off. It's a lot easier and a lot more fun to be relaxed. It's all bunnies and rainbows around here.

**

The 2009 IndyCar Series season continues May 24 with the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 1 p.m. (EDT) by ABC. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The radio broadcast also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season continues May 22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be telecast May 22 by VERSUS as part of its Carb Day coverage from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (EDT).

From IndyCar

INDYCAR: Paul Tracy and the Gecko seek revenge at the Indy 500

Long Beach, CA (April 17, 2009) – A year ago, open wheel star Paul Tracy was suffering through an awkward departure from Forsythe Racing that left the racing world scratching their heads. Oh, how things change in twelve months.

After enjoying his freedom and racing everything from trucks in the desert to trucks in NASCAR’s Truck Series, Tracy has decided that it’s time to return to the place that stole his joy.

In just a few weeks, Paul Tracy will re-visit the atmosphere that saw him depart Indianapolis with a 2nd place finish in 2002. KV Racing Technology will field the #15 entry for the Indianapolis 500 and GEICO will provide primary sponsorship, with the ‘gecko’ adorning several areas of the race car.

Tracy recorded an Indianapolis 500 win in 2002 before a controversial ruling by the Indy Racing League sent him home with runner-up honors. Race officials ruled that Tracy passed Helio Castroneves under caution on the final lap of the race even though videotape would indicate otherwise. Tracy took the decision in stride, but vowed to never again step foot in Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A year later, in 2003, Tracy joined Forsythe Racing in the Champ Car World Series and became the first driver in thirty-two years to win the first three races of a season. After recording seven wins and six poles, he notched the series championship and rebounded from the pain he felt in Indy a year earlier.

Tracy has been a member of the GEICO Racing family since driving the GEICO NASCAR entry in Mexico City in the spring of 2006 for Biagi Bros. Racing. The 2003 Champ Car Champion was also featured on geicogarage.com alongside close friend and current GEICO NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and former open wheel standout Max Papis in 2008.

“We’re pleased to be able to accompany Paul Tracy on his return trip to the Indianapolis 500,” expressed Ted Ward, GEICO’s vice president of marketing. “Having a relationship with two world class drivers such as Paul Tracy and Max Papis, as well as KV Racing Technology, allows us to spread our message of safety on a much broader scale and we are excited about the opportunity.”

Regarded as one of the top race car drivers in the world, Tracy is one of the most cerebral wheelmen in the business and he possesses unparalleled passion and enthusiasm. His return to Indianapolis is much anticipated and could quite possibly be auto racing’s story of the year.

KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser said, “I think I can speak for everyone at KVRT when I say that running Paul Tracy at the Indy 500 is very exciting. I also want to thank GEICO for supporting our efforts. Even though Paul hasn’t been in an open-wheel car much the last year, having raced against him and knowing his ability, I am sure he will get up to speed immediately.”

Tracy’s colorful personality and aggressive style is what has earned him the nickname ‘The Thrill from West Hill’, and makes him one of the most globally recognized racers in the business.

“This is a great opportunity and I can’t thank GEICO and KV Racing enough for stepping up and making it happen,” Tracy said. “Jimmy (Vasser, team owner), Kevin (Kalkhoven, team owner) and I are close friends and I have long been associated with GEICO, so it is exciting to have it all come together. It’s also a nice association to be teammates for a month with Max Papis who drives GEICO’s Cup car. Max is one of my closest friends, so I am sure he will join me in Indy at one point during the month.”

He continued, “Indianapolis is a special place and I look forward to returning and taking a run at getting a win and putting my name in the history books. I’ve committed my life to racing and a win at Indy is something that is very important to me. The past is the past and I’ll go to IMS focused on the present putting forth my best effort for GEICO and KV Racing.”

Tracy is nothing if not versatile and he will get up to speed quickly. In July 2008, he hopped in a car for Vision Racing in Edmonton’s IndyCar race and turned in a 4th place finish despite having been out of a car since Long Beach in April.

In May, Tracy will have plenty of practice time and he will also have support from one of the Indy Racing League’s top teams in KV Racing Technology, so stay tuned. One thing is for certain: When Paul Tracy is involved it will be nothing short of exciting.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 15 million vehicles. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, please visit www.geico.com.

From Doug Barnette / Player Management International, Inc.