FIRST Press Release - October 1, 2013

[Hallry]

Posted on the USFIRST.org site, 10/1/13: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/frc-t...alry-trackside

Press Release - October 1, 2013

Beginning in June 2013, IZOD IndyCar Series racer Charlie Kimball and FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a not-for-profit organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen, took their passion for technology and engineering to the race track as they teamed up to inspire young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Since then, Kimball has hosted a number of FIRST teams at races over the summer, and has even convinced fellow IndyCar racer Josef Newgarden to get involved.



On October 5th, 2013, Kimball and Newgarden will team up with FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC®) teams from Texas and their disc-throwing ULTIMATE ASCENTSM robots for a “roborivalry” between the drivers trackside at the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, Texas.

Kimball will partner with FRC team 148 “Robowranglers,” from Greenville, Texas. He first met the team in June 2013 when he hosted them at Texas Motor Speedway and showed them the technology and engineering behind his No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara. The team will be bringing their robot Viper to the match.

Newgarden, driver of the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda Dallara, will join the League City, Texas-based FRC team 118 “Robonauts” and their robot Apex.



Kimball’s introduction to racing and STEM came at an early age. Kimball’s father was a race engineer in Formula 1 racing, and his mother was a mathematician. Kimball began racing at age nine on the go-kart track and deferred his acceptance into Stanford’s mechanical engineering program to pursue a career in racing.

At 22, Newgarden is the youngest driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series. As a child, he would build theme parks made out of LEGO bricks in his backyard and has always had a strong interest in knowing how things work. Last year, Newgarden met with ASIMO the humanoid robot at Disneyland.

Join the #RacingRobots conversation on social media!

Great friends off the track, Newgarden and Kimball remain fierce competitors and they will surely bring their game faces to the FRC playing field for this highly-anticipated IndyCar roborivalry! The driver on the losing team will have to succumb to a pre-determined wager on Sunday, October 6th prior to the race start – but we need YOUR help to determine their fate!

Ahead of the event, fans are encouraged to support their favorite driver and team, and also suggest what the wager should be by reaching out on Twitter to @FIRSTweets, @racewithinsulin, @josefnewgarden, @Robowranglers, and @Robonauts118 using #RacingRobots. Also, be sure to join the conversation on Facebook by ‘liking’ the following pages: Official FIRST Facebook, Charlie Kimball, Josef Newgarden, Robotics Team 148 - Robowranglers, and Robonauts.

Some sweet advertising for FIRST and STEM! Are you Team Robotnauts or Team Robowranglers?

Be sure to submit your suggestions for what the wager should be before this weekend! What are your ideas?

[Chris Hibner]

This is awesome. Kimball has been my guy in IndyCar for the last two seasons. He's been a great ambassador for the sport in addition to other causes. Great to see him get on board with FIRST.

[IKE]

Did anyone else think that Newgarden really should get to operate the HOT Bot (#67...).

What a neat opportunity.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by IKE

Did anyone else think that Newgarden really should get to operate the HOT Bot (#67...)..

I did actually haha, I forgot to write it in my post

[nicholsjj]

Does anyone else feel like the loser should have to wear a fake mustache and jump into a pile of play pin balls?

[Calvin Hartley]

Originally Posted by IKE

Did anyone else think that Newgarden really should get to operate the HOT Bot (#67...).

What a neat opportunity.

That's exactly what I thought.

[Rosiebotboss]

I think BOTH drivers should be declared winners and provide $10,000 in sponsorship funding to bith teams AND put the FIRST logo on their cars.

[wilsonmw04]

SFHR has been a class act for years. They are a small team that understand what the sport is about. I'm so stoked they got hooked up with FIRST. It's a great fit. Now if we can get Sarah and Josef to Richmond...

[BBray_T1296]

Im going to go Team Robowranglers as they are just up the highway from us. (though it is annoying to see this billboard all the time)

[Kims Robot]

I am really excited to see that FIRST is reaching out to more and more common media/advertising outlets to get increased recognition. From teaming with Will I Am to the video with all of the stars in it, to getting into NASCAR, big Kudos to Dean and his staff working to get more recognition among the general population!

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by BBray_T1296

(though it is annoying to see this billboard all the time)

That's AWESOME! I never knew that they had a billboard ad like that before.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

I am really excited to see that FIRST is reaching
out to more and more common media/advertising outlets to get increased recognition. From teaming with Will I Am to the video with all of the stars in it, to getting into NASCAR, big Kudos to Dean and his staff working to get more recognition among the general population!

Agreed! I wonder what's next...

[Adrienne E.]

We are honored to be representing FIRST, and our team again with Charlie Kimball. Him and the entire Honda Racing team were so impressed with the program and were treated like rock stars.
We are ready to Make it Loud with the Robonauts this weekend!

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Adrienne E.

We are honored to be representing FIRST, and our team again with Charlie Kimball. Him and the entire Honda Racing team were so impressed with the program and were treated like rock stars.
We are ready to Make it Loud with the Robonauts this weekend!

Awesome stuff and I love that billboard!

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by Adrienne E.

We are honored to be representing FIRST, and our team again with Charlie Kimball. Him and the entire Honda Racing team were so impressed with the program and were treated like rock stars.
We are ready to Make it Loud with the Robonauts this weekend!

Did you guys settle on that pit cleaning bet we suggested ?

Good luck this weekend!