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IMS set for major ‘Race for Equality & Change’ announcement

(photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will Tuesday make what they’re calling a significant development in the ongoing Race for Equality & Change initiative. IMS says the announcement will also include a key update on the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

First announced in July, Race for Equality & Change was created to support diversity and inclusivity throughout INDYCAR.  Part of the effort included a $1 million fund to support internal and external programs “that will create fundamental change,” as well as efforts to diversify the driver field at all INDYCAR racing levels.

Last month, IMS announced the formation of Force Indy, a team that will compete in this year’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, which is part of INDYCAR’S Road to Indy ladder series. The team will be led by Team Principal Rod Reid, who appeared on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick and said a key component of the team will be to bring minorities into all aspects of motorsports and not just drivers.

“I’m not a racecar driver, but I’ve always been behind the scenes in doing management, sponsor development and so forth,” said Reid. “And I think that’s why this seems to be very sustainable because we’re looking it as a whole, more horizontally than just getting a driver to be in the 500.”

You can watch the full interview by clicking here.

IMS President Doug Boles and Penske Entertainment Corp. Chief Diversity Officer Jimmie McMillian will be joined by special guests for Tuesday’s announcement.

We’ll have more on the announcement in Tuesday afternoon’s INside Edge e-newsletter.