ROVAZZINI WINS 'TRUE GRIT' AWARD

Gary Rovazzini Wins C&R Racing / IMIS 'True Grit' Award

May 22, 2012 - Officials from C&R Racing Inc., and the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) announced today that Gary Rovazzini, facilities manager at Target Chip Ganassi Racing, was awarded the IMIS / C&R Racing “True Grit” Award.

The $5,000 award is annually given to a veteran INDYCAR team member who has achieved success, overcome adversity, excelled in preparation and has exemplified dedication to the highly skilled trade of building and maintaining IZOD IndyCar Series cars.

“It’s an honor for all of us at C&R Racing and IMIS to present the ‘True Grit’ Award to Gary Rovazzini,” said Chris Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing and co-founder of IMIS. “He represents what the ‘True Grit’ Award is all about and throughout the years has been one of the hardest working guys in the sport. At C&R Racing and IMIS, we work for the hardcore racer and Gary is certainly the definition of that.”

During Ganassi’s driving career in the early 1980s, Rovazzini was his chief mechanic and was then one of the first people employed with Target Chip Ganassi Racing when it was formed in 1990.

“I’d like to thank my peers,” said Rovazzini, who was presented the check in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following Bump Day activities. “I appreciate it very much. If it wasn’t for my wife, I probably wouldn’t be here today. She said, ‘Let’s go to the racetrack.’ I thought, ‘Why?’ She said, ‘We’ve got to see what’s going on.’ I wanted to come but I didn’t think she did. I’m glad she brought me. I didn’t realize this at all until about five minutes ago. I just want to thank all of my peers, everyone at Target Chip Ganassi Racing, C&R and IMIS. Thank you very much.”

C&R Racing manufactures and distributes complete cooling systems, chassis and drivetrain components, wind-tunnel models and an assortment of other parts and pieces to INDYCAR and NASCAR teams, as well as several other racing series throughout the world. With more than 20 years of history, C&R Racing is considered one of the most important motorsports businesses in the world.

The fourth annual IMIS show, the United States’ premier hardcore racing tradeshow, is scheduled for Dec. 6-8, 2012 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Owned by Paulsen, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, IMIS has a lifetime contract with the City of Indianapolis and reserved show dates through 2015. From car builders to tire manufacturers to parts suppliers, every aspect of motorsports is represented at IMIS, which has attendees come from all levels of the sport. From NASCAR and INDYCAR team owners to weekend road racers, IMIS attracts motorsports professionals from around the globe.

Paulsen established the C&R Racing / IMIS “True Grit” Award in 1998 for crew members in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.

Past Indianapolis 500 “True Grit” Award winners include: Kyle Moyer (Andretti Green Racing), Mitch Davis (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), Rick Long (Speedway Engines), Clive Howell (Penske Racing), Rick Rinaman (Penske Racing), Owen Snyder Jr., (Eddie Cheever Racing), Dennis Lacava (Hemelgarn Racing), John O’Gara (A.J. Foyt Enterprises), Craig Baranouski (A.J. Foyt Enterprises), John King (A.J. Foyt Enterprises) Tim Coffeen (Newman/Haas/Lanigan), Tim Homberg (Newman/Haas/Lanigan), John Tzouanakis (Newman/Haas/Lanigan), Paul “Ziggy” Harcus (Andretti Autosport) and the late Davey Evans (Newman/Haas/Lanigan). Note: Team that winner was affiliated with at time of award is in parenthesis.