INDYCARNATION

and Firestone Indy Lights since their foundings, will be the sponsor of the Indy Racing League Safety Team, it was announced today during the IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham.

 

The Holmatro Safety Team unveiled its new look for the 2010 season that opens in Sao Paolo, Brazil, next month.  Holmatro has provided trackside support at every Indy Racing League race since its January 1996 inaugural event at Walt Disney World Speedway.  In 2010, the Holmatro Safety Team will accompany the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, at 17 events in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Japan.

 

“Holmatro is excited to take our involvement with the Indy Racing League to the next logical level. We have worked with the men and women of the Indy Racing League since the league began in 1996 to ensure that the on track response to accidents is as efficient and effective as possible,” said William “Giff” Swayne, President of Holmatro. “As a world leader in rescue equipment, our gear is called upon everyday to save lives. What we learn in racing helps us to keep ahead of the new technologies that will ultimately make their way into the cars that our customers will deal with on the street. The Holmatro Safety Team will continue to be the world leader in motorsports safety and on track response.”

 

Under the supervision of Dr. Mike Olinger, Indy Racing League director of medical services, and Mike Yates, Indy Racing League manager of track safety operations, the Holmatro Safety Team consists of approximately 24 safety personnel with a minimum of 14 attending each event--two trauma physicians, three paramedics and nine firefighters/EMTs. Team personnel have an average of 20 years of experience in their respective areas.

 

The team travels with four safety vehicles and brings the most sophisticated racing technologies with its state-of-the-art, high-performance Holmatro rescue equipment to each venue.  It continually evaluates its on-track procedures to be at the forefront of motorsports safety for participants and spectators.  The Holmatro Safety Team works in conjunction with and coordinates the safety personnel staffing each venue, including firefighters, ambulance and tow-truck providers and track maintenance crews.  An eight-hour instructional course is held at every new venue on the schedule and the team meets with tracks for update sessions before each event.

 

“Holmatro tools have been a staple of our safety team’s equipment over the years, and we’re excited to now have the company serve as the title sponsor of the crew,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division, Indy Racing League.  “We continue to take pride in our role as a leader in on-track safety in the motorsports community and with Holmatro’s support, we look forward to further expanding our leadership position.”

 

The Holmatro Safety Team transporter, safety vehicles and crew members also will represent Holmatro at trade shows/conferences and during spectator access to the paddock at Indy Racing League events.

 

 

Founded in 1967, Holmatro has over 40 years of experience designing and manufacturing high-pressure hydraulic equipment for rescue, industrial and marine applications. With the philosophy that only harnessed power can be put to use effectively, they design their products to be innovative and of the highest quality, and above all effective under the most adverse conditions. Holmatro is a global company with manufacturing operations in the USA and The Netherlands, and offices in the UK, China and Poland. With equipment in service around the globe, Holmatro’s extensive dealer network offers sales and service on every continent. For more information, visit www.holmatro-usa.com.

 

The Indy Racing League was formed in 1994 to preserve the heritage and excitement of the Indianapolis 500 in U.S. open-wheel racing.  The Indy Racing League is the sanctioning body of the IZOD IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in the United States, and Firestone Indy Lights, which serves as an essential steppingstone for drivers and teams striving to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series.  Indy Racing League events are available to a worldwide audience through a variety of multimedia platforms, highlighted by long-term and broad-reaching partnerships with ABC and VERSUS.  The Indy Racing League is continually at the forefront of motorsports innovation with drivers, teams and tracks benefiting from major safety and technological improvements such as the SAFER Barrier, SWEMS wheel tethers, chassis enhancements, ethanol fuel and the Holmatro Safety Team.