IZOD IndyCar Driver Simona De Silvestro Announces Winner of Charity Helmet Design Contest
Indianapolis, IN (May 19, 2012) - Twelve year-old Jason R. Steenberger II of Greenwood, IN and patient of the Burn Unit at Riley's Hospital for Children, was announced as winner of Simona De Silvestro's helmet design contest during Tuesday's Indy 500 Party. The helmet will be worn by De Silvestro, driver of Lotus HVM's #78 Nuclear Clean Energy Car, and later auctioned with all proceeds being donated to Riley Hospital's burn unit.
Steenberger's rendering was chosen from a number of imaginative drawings submitted by patients of the burn unit. The helmet, to be painted by Austin Polen of Polen Designs Inc. of Goodland, Indiana, uses Steenberger's winning creation as the main concept for his design. The helmet will make its on-track debut during Carb Day practice on May 25, 2012.
"I'm really excited to be doing this contest for the children's burn unit at Riley Hospital," Simona said. "I'd like to thank Bell for donating a helmet to the cause and also thank Austin for donating his time and creativity to the project. I feel that it's very important for me, as a burn survivor, to help these kids in any way I can. I'm really lucky to be able to use the resources that I have as a driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series to give back to the kids who've suffered burns like I did during a practice session at last year's Indy 500. It just makes me happy that I'm able help."
Contest winner, Jason Steenberger II was thrilled to have his design chosen by Simona. "I'm just so excited that my simple design was chosen. I never win anything like this and to have it picked is just so great. I also want to thank my dad for his help," the 12-year-old said.
Jason's dad, Jason R. Steenberger, is also excited about his son's winning design. "I am just so proud of Jason," he said. "He is very proud to have his design chosen. He and all the kids at Riley did a great job designing this helmet. I want to thank Simona and all the other drivers for their support of the children at Riley. From Jason, myself, and our entire family, we want to thank Simona for everything and wish her the best of luck in this year's Indianapolis 500."
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is open daily for practice from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. this week with qualifying beginning on Saturday, May 19th at 11:00 a.m. for the first 24 positions and finishes up on Bump Day, Sunday, May 20th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Both days of qualifying will be televised on NBC Sports Network. Tune in and root for Simona and the Lotus HVM #78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy car.De Silvestro's helmet design contest is the latest in a continuing effort by the driver to bring awareness and support for the important work being done by Riley Children's Hospital, the Children's Burn Foundation and other charities supporting child victims of burn tragedies around the nation. IZOD IndyCar Series community, sponsors and fans who choose to make a donation to the Children's Burn Foundation will have the chance to sign a banner that will be presented to the organization at the season finale in Fontana.
To make a donation online or find more information on the Children's Burn Foundation visit their website at: www.childburn.org.
About HVM Racing
HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. HVM enters 2011 as its tenth year of competition since forming in 2001 and has earned six victories, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. They earned "Indianapolis Rookie of the Year" honors with driver Simona De Silvestro at the 2010 event and since joining the IZOD INDYCAR Series in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Follow HVM Racing at www.hvmracing.com, on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMracing, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.
HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. HVM enters 2011 as its tenth year of competition since forming in 2001 and has earned six victories, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. They earned "Indianapolis Rookie of the Year" honors with driver Simona De Silvestro at the 2010 event and since joining the IZOD INDYCAR Series in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Follow HVM Racing at www.hvmracing.com, on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMracing, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.
About Lotus
Group Lotus plc, is based in Norfolk, UK, and has three operating divisions: Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering and Lotus Motorsport.
Group Lotus plc, is based in Norfolk, UK, and has three operating divisions: Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering and Lotus Motorsport.
Lotus Cars builds world class, high performance sports cars including the award-winning Evora, the iconic Elise and the stunning Exige and the road / track orientated 2-Eleven. Lotus New Era, the future product line-up, was unveiled in Paris on 30th September 2010 featuring the new Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy. Global facilities include those in the US, Malaysia, China and offices in Germany and Japan. Lotus is a global high-tech company, committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.
Lotus Motorsport operates the motorsports activities of Lotus and includes the strategy to return the Lotus name to a great number of series including endurance racing with GT2, GT4 and LMP2, single seater racing with GP2, GP3 and IndyCar. Lotus has also returned to F1 with Lotus Renault GP from the start of the 2011 F1 racing season onwards.
For more information about Group Lotus please contact:
PR Department, Group Lotus plc, Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: +44 (0)1953 608264 Email: pr@lotuscars.com
PR Department, Group Lotus plc, Potash Lane, Hethel, Norfolk, UK, NR14 8EZ
Tel: +44 (0)1953 608264 Email: pr@lotuscars.com
About Entergy
Entergy is the second largest owner and operator of U.S. nuclear energy plants. They operate or provide management services to 12 reactors at 10 sites. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity and delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees. Follow at www.NuclearCleanAirEnergy.com and www.entergy-nuclear.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EntergyNuclear and www.twitter/NuclearCleanAir, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/Nuclear Clean Air Energy.
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Entergy is the second largest owner and operator of U.S. nuclear energy plants. They operate or provide management services to 12 reactors at 10 sites. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity and delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees. Follow at www.NuclearCleanAirEnergy.com and www.entergy-nuclear.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EntergyNuclear and www.twitter/NuclearCleanAir, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/Nuclear Clean Air Energy.