For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
NOTE: Photos to accompany this feature are available for media use.
What's on Those iPods?
Andersen Racing's Drivers
Have Music Wherever They Go
PALMETTO, Fla., May 18 - Andersen Racing's drivers definitely follow a
beat, even when they're sitting still.
Drivers often have to sit in the cockpits of their race cars in the paddock
for long periods of time while their engineers and mechanics scurry around
them, making changes to their cars that take into account each driver's
weight. Now and then the drivers are asked for input or to express a preference
for one thing or another. Although crucial for success on the track, the
process can be a bit boring for young people who live for going fast.
To make that time more fun, some of today's drivers listen to music through
tiny headphones attached to iPods.
It's often rock, but Andersen Racing's drivers enjoy an amazingly wide
variety of musical styles.
So, what's on those iPods?
"I like so many different things," said Conor Daly, one of the team's Star
Mazda drivers and a son of noted racer and broadcaster Derek Daly. "Usually
it's rock, but I also like some techno, electronic stuff."
Daly, of Noblesville, Ind., a MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development
pilot, termed the Australian-turned-British electronica-rock band Pendulum
"pretty good." He also likes the Qemists, who are also from Great Britain.
But Daly is American after all, and rock-wise he likes Rage Against the
Machine. "I also like Throwdown," the 17-year-old added. "They're more like
heavy metal, but they're definitely good."
Daly can commiserate with teammate Richard Kent about the British bands,
since Kent is from Clifton Reynes, England. "I like a huge variety of songs,"
Kent said. "Right now I'm enjoying the album from the film Nick and
Norah's Infinite Playlist.
"I also like Taylor Swift, because she's beautiful," he added, "but you
can't use that.
"I guess I'm a bit obsessed," he admitted. "A friend of mine and I tried
to add her as a friend on Facebook.
"If you put that in your story, do you think she'd come to one of our
races?" he added with the enthusiasm typical of a 20-year-old male thinking about
a beautiful and talented 19-year-old female. "Taylor, if you see this,
I'll get you a full-access pass if you'll come."
A third Andersen Racing Star Mazda driver, Denis Navarro, naturally likes
Brazilian music since he's from Sao Paulo. The 22-year-old may have been the
only driver at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on Saturday who is
into sambas.
"For Brazilian music, I listen to Jota Quest and Maria Rita," said Navarro,
who must be assisted by a translator but always remains positive and
affable. "Maria Rita is a very famous Brazilian singer.
"For American music, I like Jason Mraz," he added. Mraz's influences
include reggae, pop, rock, folk, jazz and hip hop.
The newest addition to Andersen Racing's Star Mazda roster is Canadian
Mikael Grenier. He said he likes techno club music the best, but like the
others he's very open to a wide range of styles.
"I like to listen to my iPod before a race," said the 16-year-old from
Stoneham, Quebec. "It gets me going."
RLR/Andersen Racing driver Jonathan Summerton listens to his iPod a great
deal too, but primarily on airplanes going to and from races from his home in
Kissimmee, Fla. rather than while he's on the set-up pad in his race car.
"I like everything from country to rap, but mostly R&B," said Summerton,
21, the Firestone Indy Lights points leader going into Friday's Firestone
Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "My favorites change all the
time. Right now I have country music from Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson on
my iPod, as well as dance music and Fall Out Boy.
"Usher is probably one of my favorites," added Summerton, who drives a car
advertising team sponsors Allied Interior Products and Lafarge North America.
Another RLR/Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights driver, Mario Romancini,
hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil just like Navarro.
"In my iPod I have everything from country and lounge to pop and rock,
because I think every moment needs a different type of music," said Romancini,
21. "Usually I listen to R&B, hip hop and electronic, but I can't choose a
favorite group because there are quite a few that I like very much."
When pressed, he said he listens a lot to John Mayer, The Killers and Jack
Johnson.
"Before qualifying or a race, I like to listen to Era," he added. "It's
more instrumental, but it really helps me to concentrate."
"I listen to everything," said another one of his teammates, Ireland's Ali
Jackson, who uses his iPhone rather than an iPod.
Jackson, 20, appreciates the classics.
"Elvis rocks," he said with conviction. "He is one of my favorite artists.
But I like everything from Linkin Park to Metallica; you know, all the usual
stuff."
If many of these artists are unknown to older readers, don't fear. Remi
Lanteigne, one of the Andersen Racing engineers who have to get the drivers'
attention while they're "plugged in," has a suggestion from a slightly
different era.
"I think I'll get them to download Survivor's 'Eye of the Tiger' from
'Rocky,'" he suggested with a smile. "Maybe they'd do even better if they
listened to that before a race."
Not to be outdone, team co-owner Dan Andersen had a favorite too. "Mine is
'Money' by Pink Floyd, because it reminds me how little of it I have left
after a race weekend," he said.
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is
one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States.
Founded in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion
building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than
200 branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and
warehouse space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from
residential roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured
stone, interior products and commercial roofing systems. For more information
see alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training
possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing
partners media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most
prestigious events in North America. It provides a unique, four-step program
utilizing multiple entries in four different platforms: karting, Formula BMW
Americas, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights (televised on VERSUS). In 2008 it
fielded multiple entries in 42 races in 18 states and provinces at some of
the best facilities on the continent, including the famed Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.
Andersen Racing won the team championship for 2008 for both the F2000
Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire and the Star Mazda
Championship presented by Goodyear. Two of its drivers finished first and second in
the F2000 driver point standings, while another was sixth. Three of its Star
Mazda drivers placed third, fifth and sixth in that series' driver
standings. RLR/Andersen Racing finished sixth in the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights team
standings, while one of its drivers placed fifth in that series' driver
point standings.
Andersen Racing's principals, brothers Dan and John Andersen, have
extensive experience in series administration as well as team management. They've
worked with many of today's top open-wheel stars, including several Indy 500
winners.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. and Lafarge
North America. It is the official development team of Rahal Letterman
Racing. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre facility in
Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile road course test track. For more
information see andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.