Last modified: Thursday, May 15, 2008
IUPUI enters into racing partnership with Sarah Fisher
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS -- Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) today (May 14) announced a partnership with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), an urban research and academic health sciences campus with 21 schools and academic units, that would sponsor Fisher's No. 67 Honda powered Dallara for the upcoming Indianapolis 500.
Sarah Fisher
"The group at IUPUI has become great friends of mine over the years," said Fisher, who will attempt to qualify for her seventh Indianapolis 500 this weekend. "I have talked with students many times and at one time, I too was a student at IUPUI. I'm honored to be associated with a university that has such prestige."
She said education has always played an important role in her life and that she hopes through this association, others can share in that importance.
"Sarah is an excellent role model for IUPUI students," said Amy Conrad Warner, vice chancellor at IUPUI. "She is passionate about her chosen career and is defying the odds. Starting her own race team shows the entrepreneurial spirit that we want all of our students to possess."
Fisher was one of the first students in the Engineering Dual Degree Program, a joint effort between Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI and Butler University. Fisher has been a helping hand with the School of Engineering and Technology as well as several units on campus and has made personal appearances to meet and talk with undergraduate students.
The Sponsorship of Sarah Fisher Racing is a collaborative effort between the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, and the IUPUI campus administration.
"This is another example of the great collaboration on the IUPUI campus," said Robert White, dean of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.
Oner Yurtseven, dean of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, will further discuss the partnership with Fisher when he formally announces a first in the nation four-year Motorsports Engineering program on Tuesday, May 20, at 12:45 p.m., during the INgear Growing Racing and Education event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (More information about the INgear event is available at https://www.indianamotorsports.org)
Fisher returns to the track today for practice after honorary starter Jon Laski, 2008 Purdue Grand Prix winner and IUPUI student, waves the green flag for the start of practice at noon.
The 2008 Indianapolis 500 is set for May 25 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's the 92nd running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The hallmark IndyCar Series in DIRECTV HD event will be featured through worldwide comprehensive coverage through ABC/ESPN in HD with additional coverage available on the IMS Radio Network and XM Satellite Radio. Broadcast coverage summaries will be available at https://www.indycar.com and https://www.brickyard.com.
About IUPUI:
Created as a partnership between two world-renowned universities and destined to be the state's urban research and academic health sciences campus, IUPUI has rapidly grown in size and stature since it was established in 1969. The partnership between the state's two major public universities -- Indiana University and Purdue University -- enables IUPUI to bring together a tremendous range of degree programs in 21 schools and academic units for nearly 30,000 students who earn their degrees from Indiana University or Purdue University. Today, IUPUI is the third strong pillar supporting public higher education in Indiana.
About the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI:
Through the creative work of faculty, staff and students, The IU School of Liberal Arts helps Indiana's economy grow and prepares its citizens to understand and work with people from all parts of the world. Through the study of human cultures, of differing economic structures, geo-political systems, historical, and sociological structures, Liberal Arts graduates are uniquely equipped to function in a changing world. They gain important insights into the human condition through literature, religion, language and cultural studies, and they develop critical thinking and effective communication skills. Its graduates are positioned to serve our state's needs in all areas: the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, computing environments, non-profit management, and arts and culture. The interdisciplinary nature of the IU School of Liberal Arts contributes to graduates' ability to work in virtually any realm, locally and internationally. For more information on the IU School of Liberal Arts, go to https://www.liberalarts.iupui.edu.
About the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI:
The mission of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI is to be one of the best urban university leaders in the disciplines of engineering and technology recognized locally, nationally and internationally. The school's goal is to provide students an education that will give them the leverage to be leaders in their communities, industry and society. For additional information on the School of Engineering & Technology, go to https://www.engr.iupui.edu.
About Sarah Fisher Racing:
Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR), based in Indianapolis, is owned by female race car driver Sarah Fisher. The team will begin competing in the IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 in 2008. In 2008 SFR will compete with Fisher behind the wheel beginning with the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. For more information, please visit Sarah Fisher Racing on the World Wide Web at https://www.sarahfisher.com.
About Sarah Fisher:
She's merely 27 years old, has six Indianapolis 500s under her belt and been voted the Most Popular Driver four times in two separate series (IndyCar & NASCAR). Fisher made her first appearance in the IndyCar Series in 1999 for Derrick Walker, making her the youngest person ever to pass the IndyCar Series Rookie test at that time. In 2000, she became just the third woman and one of the youngest drivers ever to compete in the world's greatest race - the Indianapolis 500. Sarah continued to make history that year at Kentucky Speedway, becoming the youngest person to lead laps during an IndyCar Series event and the youngest woman to ever stand on a podium with her third-place finish in that event. In 2001, Sarah claimed a second-place finish at the IndyCar Series inaugural race at Homestead Miami Speedway, the best result ever by a woman in the IndyCar Series. In 2002, Sarah became the first woman to ever qualify fastest for a major North American open-wheel event capturing the pole and setting a new track record at Kentucky Speedway. She was again voted the IndyCar Series' Most Popular Driver for the second consecutive year. In 2003, Fisher became the fastest women to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 with a four-lap average of 229.439 mph. She was also awarded the Most Popular Driver award for the third consecutive year. In 2004, Fisher made a one-off start for Kelly Racing in the Indianapolis 500 then shifted to NASCAR racing. In 2005, Fisher was part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, piloting the No. 20 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Bill McAnally Racing/Richard Childress Racing Development Program in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series, and capturing four top-ten finishes from 13 starts and awarded the Most Popular Driver. In 2006, Fisher returned to IndyCar Series for first time since the 2004 Indianapolis 500. She made two starts for DRR with a best start and finish of 12th at Kentucky Speedway. Fisher returned full-time to the IndyCar Series in 2007 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the first time since 2003 with a best start of eighth at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a best finish of seventh at Iowa Speedway.
Fisher raced quarter-midgets and go-karts until she was a teenager, winning the 1991, 1993 and 1994 World Karting Association Grand National Championships, the 1993 Circleville Points Championship and the 1994 WKA Grand National Championship. By age 15, Sarah was racing Winged Outlaw Sprint cars winning the 1995 Dirt Track Racing Round-Up Rookie of the Year. Sarah has been a guest or profiled on a variety of television programs including, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Good Morning America and The Today Show. She has also appeared in the pages of People, Teen People, Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, Glamour, Sporting Woman, Mademoiselle, Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and many other magazines. Sarah currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband Andy and their chocolate lab, Wrigley. For more information, please visit Sarah Fisher on the World Wide Web at https://www.sarahfisher.com.
