By alley - May 1, 2015, 1:35 PM ET

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and Ivy Tech Community College Partner for Indianapolis 500

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announced today that Indiana-based Ivy Tech Community College has partnered on the No. 8 COMFORT REVOLUTION/Big Machine Records Chevrolet with driver Sage Karam in May for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Karam will be the centerpiece of a social/digital media campaign during the month of May in Indianapolis leading up to the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The partnership with Karam, 20, provides Ivy Tech a direct connection to the demographic of their student body, and specifically to their automotive tech students with a look to the future of potential careers in motorsports.NOTES OF INTEREST

About Ivy Tech: Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

About Sage Karam: Karam signed a multi-year deal last season as a CGRT development driver which began with the 2014 Indianapolis 500, where he was the team’s top-finishing driver in ninth. The former Indy Lights Champion became the youngest Indy Lights Champion in history at 18 years old in 2013. Karam is also the first driver to compete in all levels of the Mazda Road to Indy program, where he also became the only driver to win races at each level. Prior to that he was the youngest winner of the Skip Barber scholarship, where he also became the youngest (13) winner ever in the Skip Barber shootout. Earlier this year, Karam was also teammates on the No. 01 Ford Eco-boost/Target Riley for the Rolex 24 At Daytona with Scott Pruett, Joey Hand and Charlie Kimball.

He Really Is Just a Kid: With his first start in St. Petersburg this season, Karam became the youngest driver in CGRT history to start an IndyCar race for the team at 20 years old. Team Target driver Scott Dixon previously held the mark at 22 years old when he debuted for CGRT at the Milwaukee Mile in 2002.

CGRT at the Brickyard: CGRT has started the Indianapolis 500 52 times, posting four wins (2000, 2008, 2010, 2012), three poles (1993, 2002, 2008), 15 top-fives and 28 top-10s. CGRT has completed 91-percent of a possible 10,292 laps attempted and has led 1,141 laps.

CGRT QUOTEBOARD

Jeff Fanter, Senior Vice President for Student Experience, Communications and Marketing, Ivy Tech: “We are pleased to partner with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and Sage Karam in the month of May. This will not only provide exposure for our brand to hundreds of thousands of people at the track, but more importantly provide a wonderful experience for our students and potential students. We believe Sage can relate with a large number of our students here at Ivy Tech and to give them access to Sage and the Ganassi team only helps enhance an already rewarding educational experience.”

Steve Lauletta, President, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “The partnership with Ivy Tech and Sage is a great fit for us, highlighted by the connection between Sage’s age and that of Ivy Tech’s student body. Ivy Tech’s reach and activation with Sage, combined with the team’s focus on millennials, makes for a great program for the No. 8 team during the month of May.”