Bryan Herta Autosport Signs Commercial Partnership

Bryan Herta Autosport, winners of the centennial Indianapolis 500 with the late, great driver Dan Wheldon and partners Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Curb/Agajanian Racing, have decided to contract with Bowen & Bowers Motorsports, a firm that focuses on commercial needs for motorsports entities like BHA.

BHA is about to embark on their first full season as a full-time IZOD IndyCar Series squad - as one of three factory partner Lotus teams along with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and HVM Racing, both located in the Indianapolis area.  

Former Andretti Green Racing driver Herta, the backbone of that original IndyCar Series team, decided to go with engine manufacturer Lotus because they "presented a great opportunity to be involved with them at a high level."  With partner and engineer Steve Newey, " We have faith and confidence with the people involved in the project and they've shown faith in us that we're going to have a good car.  Together," he told me, "we can achieve something great."

Bryan Herta Autosport, together with Wheldon, were the original testers of the new INDYCAR Dallara chassis, now dubbed the DW12.  Herta felt he could "bring something different or unique to the Lotus project," because of that testing experience.  Lotus was the final engine manufacturer to commit to the series and has not yet had any on-track testing that anyone has acknowledged.  

In committing to work with Bowen & Bowers, Herta knew he wanted to develop strong marketing relationships and needed an entity to assist in developing a first-class commercial division for BHA.  Both David Bowen and Chris Bowers have extensive backgrounds in motorsports, "So pairing their expertise with the team's on-track proficiency just made sense.

"David and Chris are well-known within the Indy car paddock," Herta confirmed, "having fostered and been involved in numerous successful sponsorship programs in the past.   "We are thrilled they have agreed to join our team moving forward, as they provide the stability, expertise and client services infrastructure we need to operate as a top tier program."

Bowers acknowledged B&B joined BHA because, "It is obvious Bryan and Steve Newey are fully committed to BHA's long-term success in INDYCAR.  They have a vision, a deliberate and steady approach to achieving the vision and have met every milestone along the way."

Bowen added, "At this point in their development, adding our expertise to the mix provides another dimension to their already successful organization and further solidifies Bryan Herta Autosport as a significant force both on and off the track today and into the future.  We are honored by the opportunity to partner and work with Bryan Herta, Steve Newey and all the team members of Bryan Herta Autosport."

Bryan Herta Autosport - and the balance of the IZOD IndyCar Series - start the 2012 season on March 25 with the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg on the city streets and airport runways of this metropolis on the West Coast of Florida.  Additional details regarding BHA's driver and sponsorship plans for this coming season will be announced in the near future, the team said.  Based on his appearance at the IMIS kart contest wearing the No. 98 affiliated with BHA, it's a good guess 2011 Indianapolis 500 polesitter Alex Tagliani may be driving the team's car.