THE LINE

January 5, 2011

(Image © 2010 - John Thawley)
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón has announced (in their words) "a ground-breaking, multi-year broadcast and digital agreement." The deal involves televising the world’s premier sports car series over several ESPN programming and media platforms, including ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. The core of the new ALMS broadcast and digital package will deliver delayed television coverage either on ABC or ESPN2. ABC will feature race telecast coverage on March 20 - which means that America's most prestigious road racing event will not be broadcast live on a TV network, ugh - the day after the 59th running of the prestigious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida with remaining ABC broadcasts featuring Road America (August), Baltimore (September) and the season-ending Petit Le Mans (October), all on a tape-delayed basis. ESPN2 will feature the American Le Mans Series in two-hour, tape-delayed telecasts from Long Beach (April), Lime Rock and Mosport (July), Mid-Ohio (August) and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (September). All four ABC race telecasts will receive an encore airing on ESPN2 as part of the new agreement. ABC and the ESPN family of networks will provide a multi-faceted platform to bring the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón to a significantly larger audience than previous years. ABC has 100 percent coverage in 115.9 million U.S. households, including more than 230 local affiliates, while ESPN2 is available to 99.7 million homes and is one of the most widely distributed cable broadcast outlets in the United States. All ALMS races will be carried live in their entirety and fully produced on ESPN3.com with ESPN2 and ABC providing televised coverage on a delayed basis. ESPN3.com – ESPN’s signature broadband sports network – will deliver nearly 60 hours of live coverage including 60-minute qualifying shows from each event along with pre- and post-race content. The ESPN3.com coverage can also be seen worldwide on a variety of ESPN’s global Web-based platforms. The network is currently available in more than 65 million households nationwide in the U.S. at no additional cost to users who receive their Internet connection of cable TV video subscription from an affiliated provider. Customers of an affiliated service provider will also be able to watch the Series live via an ESPN3.com pop-off player on americanlemans.com and Xbox LIVE Gold. Atherton called the multi-platform productions “a here-and-now benchmark example of how fans will be able to access their favorite sports programming whenever and however they wish. It combines a core conventional television component, a live digital Web delivery component, an on-demand option and potential other methods of viewing that are being embraced by our ever-growing 18-34 demographic.” Intersport, an award-winning media and marketing agency, represented the Series in the new television and digital agreement with ESPN.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Rally Driver Ken Block’s Gymkhana Three Part 2; Ultimate Playground: L’Autodrome debuted last September on YouTube.  It's winter and you're probably bored, so watch it again here. - PMD

Falken Tire, Derrick Walker. The two are joining forces for the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Walker Racing will take over race operations for Team Falken Tire program in the coming season. “The ever increasing competition amongst the already fierce GT class in which Falken competes has forced us to look in all directions - outward and inward - in pursuit of excellence,” said Andrew Hoit, Falken's Director of Marketing. “Derrick Walker's motorsports career spans over 40 years including management positions within the Penske organization before beginning his own motorsports company in 1990. His experience in such series as Champ Car, Indy Car and Formula One combined with the involvement from manufacturers such as Porsche, McLaren and Cosworth, make us confident that Derrick will bring the highest level of professionalism and knowledge to our team for 2011. We are very excited for this new chapter in our motorsports history and cannot wait for the season to begin.” The team will now be based at Walker Racing's facility in Indianapolis. To learn more about the 2011 Falken Tire American Le Mans Series Team visit wegetyougoing.com.

(Ron McQueeney/IMS)
The 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 will be honored on a United States Postal Service commemorative "Forever" stamp that will go on sale in May, 2011. Award-winning illustrator John Mattos created the stylized, art deco illustration of Ray Harroun driving the Marmon "Wasp," winner of the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Text along the bottom of the stamp reads "Indianapolis 500," with small type along the bottom of the stamp opposite the year 2011 reads "100 YEARS OF RACING." The USPS receives thousands of suggestions annually to honor various subjects on postage stamps, with the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee recommending 20 to 25 subjects for final approval by the Postmaster General. Stamp subjects must stand the test of time, reflect the cultural diversity of the United States and have broad national appeal. This is the second time the Marmon "Wasp" has been featured on a U.S. postage stamp. The car also was highlighted as a 17.5-cent stamp in the Transportation series in 1987. "It's a great honor for the Indianapolis 500 to be featured on a United States Postal Service stamp," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. "The stamp recognizes the "500" as a vital part of American culture and is a wonderful addition to our celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the race in 2011." The 2011 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

(Cadillac)
Cadillac released the first photographs of its CTS-V Coupe race car which will debut at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday, Jan. 10. Cadillac is re-entering the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge GT racing series for the 2011 season, which begins March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Johnny O’Connell - a three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series with Corvette Racing - and Andy Pilgrim, who won the 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac, will drive the CTS-V racers. The first on-track tests will be conducted in late January at Sebring International Raceway. 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: If you really must keep up on all of the latest F1 developments and the potential U.S. GP in Austin, Texas, go here. - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

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