IMS to Present Racing Safety Conference

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 – Officials from the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) announced Nov. 9 that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will serve as a partner in the inaugural IMIS Safety Conference Dec. 1 in the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.

The IMIS Safety Conference presented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will help kick off the inaugural IMIS show, set for Dec. 2-3, also at the Indiana Convention Center. The safety conference will feature a world-class panel of 17 racing safety experts presenting insight for those at the top levels of racing to the weekly, grassroots racer.

“One of the core values of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1909 has been the advancement of safety for competitors, officials and fans,” said Chris Schwartz, vice president of marketing for the Speedway. “For 100 years, the Speedway has been at the forefront of technology and safety, and the IMIS safety conference is something we feel very strongly about and are proud to be a part of.”

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a medical center on the grounds as early as 1910 and was the first speedway to use the rear-view mirror (1911), track warning lights (1935), mandate helmets (1935), use crash data recorders on cars (1993) and install the SAFER Barrier (2002).

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a long and proud history of safety innovation that is second-to-none,” said Tom Weisenbach, co-founder of IMIS and executive director of the Indiana Motorsports Association. “We’re thrilled to have them as a partner for this historic conference. Whether you race on the biggest stage or participate at your local track on Saturday night, the IMIS Safety Conference presented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a must-attend for drivers, team members, safety equipment manufacturers and suppliers, as well as track promoters and series officials.”

Kirk Russell, former vice president of competition for Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and a world-renowned consultant on motorsports safety, serves as the IMIS Safety Conference Coordinator and assembled the panel of experts.

The individuals that will make presentations at the IMIS Safety Conference presented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are:

Trevor Ashline
President, Safety Solutions, Inc.
Mooresville, N.C.

Dave Brown
Track Safety Coordinator, Indy Racing League
Indianapolis

Tom Gideon
Director of Safety Initiatives, NASCAR
Daytona Beach, Fla.

Hubert Gramling
Head of Research, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Paris

Robert Hubbard
Creator, HANS Device; Professor, Michigan State University
East Lansing, Mich.

Dan Jones
Fire Chief, Town of Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, N.C.

Arnie Kuhns
President and CEO, SFI Foundation, Inc.
Poway, Calif.

Randy LaJoie
President, The Joie of Seating
Concord, N.C.

Joe Marko
Owner, HMS Motorsport, Ltd.
Danvers, Mass.

John Medlen
Project Manager, Eric Medlen Project; Crew Chief, John Force Racing
Brownsburg, Ind.

Andrew Mellor
Head of Technical Affairs, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Paris

John Melvin
Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Wayne State University