Pippa Mann’s Indy 500 program official as #GetInvolved launches

By May 2, 2016, 9:15 AM EDT
Photo: Pippa Mann Racing
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Although it’s been highly expected and anticipated since December, Pippa Mann’s program for the 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil has been officially confirmed on Monday.

Mann will attempt to qualify for her fifth Indianapolis 500, and fourth straight with Dale Coyne Racing in the team’s No. 63 Honda. She’ll return with engineer Rob Ridgely, and will serve as the most experienced driver on Coyne’s team. Conor Daly and Bryan Clauson have qualified for two Indianapolis 500s apiece and Luca Filippi, who’s expected to continue, will be an Indy rookie this year.

Her 2016 Pink #GetInvolved campaign launches as well, which sees Mann work tirelessly to raise funds for Susan G. Komen, and sport a pink helmet to go along with her pink car.

“This cause is something very personal to me, and to Dale Coyne Racing,” she said in a release. “While racing a pink car the past two years certainly attracts attention and awareness for Susan G. Komen, the most important part of our partnership is taking this amazing stage that is the Indianapolis 500, and using it to raise money that can actually go towards care and research.

“Over the past two years, we’ve raised over a $100,000 through activities surrounding the racing program that support Komen’s mission, including the 2015 campaign; and we’re hoping to double last year’s goal this year!”

The 2016 campaign, which launched today, May 2, is looking to raise $100,000. For those who wish to donate, there are a variety of support packs available. These include new artwork from Doug Garrison, the return of the “Turn the Cockpit Pink” option, a total run of 300 “Pippa” Bell mini helmets — 100 of which will be signed and available via the campaign — as well as her signed helmet and suit that she’ll be wearing during this year’s event.

Last year, the campaign raised $61,150 for the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer.

“Pippa has been a tireless advocate for our mission to end breast cancer and the funds she has raised are helping to fund research and serve women facing this disease. We are grateful to her and the Indy 500 family for their life-saving support,” said Dr. Judy Salerno, Komen president and CEO.

In addition to representing Komen, Mann has recently welcomed new partner Genetic Technologies Limited (Nasdaq: GENE), a molecular diagnostics company specializing in women’s health, and provider of BREVAGenplus®, a first-in-class, clinically validated risk assessment test for sporadic breast cancer. The BREVAGenplus logo will also be featured on her car.

Mann also reflected on her thanks and commitment to the Coynes, who’ve taken her in and really welcomed her as part of the family.

“I’m so happy to be confirmed for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with Dale Coyne Racing. I fell in love with the Indy 500 when I saw it live for the first time in 2009, and it’s always such a special event to be part of,” said Mann. “Dale Coyne Racing has been my home now for the past three seasons at this race, and I am so thankful for the support and opportunities I have had with Dale and Gail’s team.”

Ford unveils a new Mustang for 2024 Le Mans in motorsports ‘lifestyle brand’ retooling

Associated PressJun 9, 2023, 7:00 PM EDT
Ford Mustang Le Mans
Ford Performance
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LE MANS, France — Ford has planned a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its iconic Mustang muscle car next year under a massive rebranding of Ford Performance aimed at bringing the automotive manufacturer “into the racing business.”

The Friday unveil of the new Mustang Dark Horse-based race car follows Ford’s announcement in February (and a ballyhooed test at Sebring in March) that it will return to Formula One in 2026 in partnership with reigning world champion Red Bull.

The Mustang will enter the GT3 category next year with at least two cars in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship, and is hopeful to earn an invitation to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The IMSA entries will be a factory Ford Performance program run by Multimatic, and a customer program in WEC with Proton Competition.

Ford CEO Jim Farley, also an amateur sports car racer, told The Associated Press the Mustang will be available to compete in various GT3 series across the globe to customer teams. But more important, Farley said, is the overall rebranding of Ford Performance – done by renowned motorsports designer Troy Lee – that is aimed at making Ford a lifestyle brand with a sporting mindset.

“It’s kind of like the company finding its own, and rediscovering its icons, and doubling down on them,” Farley told the AP. “And then this motorsports activity is getting serious about connecting enthusiast customers with those rediscovered icons. It’s a big switch for the company – this is really about building strong, iconic vehicles with enthusiasts at the center of our marketing.”

Ford last competed in sports car racing in 2019 as part of a three-year program with Chip Ganassi Racing. The team scored the class win at Le Mans in 2016 in a targeted performance aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford snapping Ferrari’s six-year winning streak.

Ford on Friday displayed a Mustang with a Lee-designed livery that showcased the cleaner, simplified look that will soon be featured on all its racing vehicles. The traditional blue oval with Ford Performance in white lettering underneath will now be branded simply FP.

The new mark will be used across car liveries, merchandise and apparel, display assets, parts and accessories and in advertising.

Farley cited Porsche as an automaker that has successfully figured out how to sell cars to consumers and race cars in various series around the world while creating a culture of brand enthusiasts. He believes Ford’s new direction will help the company sell street cars, race cars, boost interest in driving schools, and create a merchandise line that convinces consumers that a stalwart of American automakers is a hip, cool brand.

“We’re going to build a global motorsports business off road and on road,” Farley told the AP, adding that the design of the Mustang is “unapologetically American.”

He lauded the work of Lee, who is considered the top helmet designer among race car drivers.

“We’re in the first inning of a nine inning game, and going to Le Mans is really important,” Farley said. “But for customer cars, getting the graphics right, designing race cars that win at all different levels, and then designing a racing brand for Ford Performance that gets rebranded and elevated is super important.”

He said he’s kept a close eye on how Porsche and Aston Martin have built their motorsports businesses and said Ford will be better.

“We’re going in the exact same direction. We just want to be better than them, that’s all,” Farley said. “Second is the first loser.”

Farley, an avid amateur racer himself, did not travel to Le Mans for the announcement. The race that begins Saturday features an entry from NASCAR, and Ford is the reigning Cup Series champion with Joey Logano and Team Penske.

The NASCAR “Garage 56” entry is a collaboration between Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and is being widely celebrated throughout the industry. Farley did feel left out of the party in France – a sentiment NASCAR tried to avoid by inviting many of its partners to attend the race so that it wouldn’t seem like a Chevrolet-only celebration.

“They’re going right and I’m going left – that NASCAR thing is a one-year deal, right? It’s Garage 56 and they can have their NASCAR party, but that’s a one-year party,” Farley said. “We won Le Mans outright four times, we won in the GT class, and we’re coming back with Mustang and it’s not a one-year deal.

“So they can get all excited about Garage 56. I almost see that as a marketing exercise for NASCAR, but for me, that’s a science project,” Farley continued. “I don’t live in a world of science projects. I live in the world of building a vital company that everyone is excited about. To do that, we’re not going to do a Garage 56 – I’ve got to beat Porsche and Aston Martin and Ferrari year after year after year.”

Ford’s announcement comes on the heels of General Motors changing its GT3 strategy next season and ending its factory Corvette program. GM, which unlike Ford competes in the IMSA Grand Touring Prototype division (with its Cadillac brand), will shift fully to a customer model for Corvettes in 2024 (with some factory support in the IMSA GTD Pro category).