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Note: Photos are available
 
 
 
Hildebrand Offers Support to Special Racers
 
GREENWOOD, Ind., May 1 - A few hours before he was the star of ESPN2's 
coverage of Sunday's Firestone Indy Lights race at Kansas Speedway, J.R. Hildebrand 
was applauding special students at Pleasant Grove Elementary School's second 
annual Developmental Preschool Mini 500, billed as "the greatest spectacle in 
preschool racing."
 
Thursday's event provided a day of fun and sensory therapy for the 
developmental preschool children who attend the Greenwood, Ind. school. Using an oval 
course laid out with chalk and bright orange pylons in the school's parking lot, 
the children raced cars they had made out of cardboard boxes. Many carried "I 
Am Indy" decals supplied by the IndyCar and Firestone Indy Lights Series, 
which arranged for Hildebrand's appearance.
 
The 20-year-old driver of the Allied Building Products No. 25 for 
RLR/Andersen Racing of Palmetto, Fla., handed out medals to each of the young racers 
after their five heats.  The Chick-fil-A cow assisted in the awards ceremony.
 
The event got off to a rousing start with the "Star-Spangled Banner" and 
"Back Home Again in Indiana" sung by fourth-grade students. Fifth-graders assisted 
the tiny racers. A parade of all the entries preceded the races. 
 
"We wanted to increase the exposure for the exceptional programs that schools 
like our own school corporation, in partnership with Special Services of 
Johnson County, can provide families with special-needs children and their 
typically developing peers," said Cindy Price, who invited Hildebrand to participate. 
 
The event also served as the kick-off to a special fundraiser for the 
special-needs students in the area. Organized in conjunction with the Center Grove 
Education Foundation, it is called "A Little Wiggle Room." 
 
Since all the children who participated in the event are winners, they got 
milk after the race just like the Indy 500 winner does.  Cookies accompanied 
their milk, however.
 
Hildebrand, who made a lot of new fans at the event, said it was a nice way 
to give something back to the community.  He took everything in stride, but was 
taken aback at first when one preschooler asked him what his favorite letter 
was.
 
"I guess it's 'J,'" he said.
 
Apparently that same child often asks people what their favorite shape is.
 
In Hildebrand's case, that would have been easy: an oval like the one he'll 
race on Friday, May 23 when he competes in the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis 
Motor Speedway.