Notebook: NASCAR forming online racing series

NASCAR and iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations are joining forces to create a NASCAR-sanctioned online racing series, a new competition division that will be licensed by NASCAR and organized and hosted by iRacing.

Beginning in 2010, NASCAR fans around the world will be able to log onto the Internet and compete against one another, as well as a number of NASCAR drivers, in an official NASCAR series featuring digital duplicates of real-world NASCAR cars and tracks.

"The online world is an ever-growing marketplace filled with NASCAR fans,'' said Blake Davidson, managing director of licensing products for NASCAR. "To provide those fans with the most realistic NASCAR racing environment, iRacing was the right partner for us.''

Davidson said Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and A.J. Allmendinger are the drivers who will be competing in iRacing.

"Their involvement, along with NASCAR Competition, in the development will make the experience even more authentic,'' he noted.

More than 12,000 people have signed up for iRacing's service since it was opened to the public in August 2008. The company uses laser scanning and other technology to accurately simulate the tracks and NASCAR's race cars.

"Our members are passionate about racing,'' said John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox and iRacing's co-founder and chairman as well as head of the company that co-owns NASCAR's Roush Fenway Racing. "They love to drive, and they love to compete. And they do it in the context of their overall love for racing in both the physical and virtual worlds.''

Big Help

Luczo Dragon Racing, which will field a car for rookie Raphael Matos in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, is partnering with champion athletes to raise money for several charities.

The Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal is the latest star to join the effort.

"I believe in giving and I am thrilled to be joining forces with the Luczo Dragon Racing Team,'' the 15-time NBA All Star said. "My parents taught me at a young age that my goals are and should be more than just about the things I want to personally accomplish.''

O'Neal, who has also won four NBA titles and was the league's MVP in 2000, has focused his charity work on helping children and families in need.

By partnering with champion athletes each year, team co-owners Steve Luczo and Jay Penske have delivered more than $1 million to charitable organizations worldwide in two years. With the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps as their primary partners in 2009, much of the team's charitable focus will turn to organizations that support soldiers and their families.

Luczo Dragon Racing formed its first team of champions for the 2007 Indianapolis 500, its only race that year. The team included Marcus Allen, Jackson Browne, Brandi Chastain, Baron Davis, Tony Dungy, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Ronnie Lott, Jonny Moseley, Chris Mullin, Kerri Walsh and Kristi Yamaguchi.

Last year, Luczo Dragon partnered with Laila Ali, Natalie Coughlin, Sugar Ray Leonard, Donovan McNabb, Rick Mears, Bode Miller, Joe Montana, Steve Nash, Joe Thornton, Joe Torre, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.

"Shaq has demonstrated that leadership, competitiveness, winning and compassion can all be achieved at the same time,'' Luczo said. "... Shaq is the ideal individual to help Luczo Dragon Racing further its success.

TV Tenure

Sunday's broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 will mark the 45th consecutive year that the race has been aired on ABC.

In sports TV, that's second only to the 53 years that CBS has broadcast the Masters.

ESPN on ABC's telecast Sunday begins at noon.

Martin Reid will do the lap-by-lap announcing, with former Indy winner Eddie Cheever and longtime driver Scott Goodyear in the booth as analysts.

The pit lane crew will include Jack Arute, who has worked on the Indy 500 telecast every year since 1984, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo and Vince Welsh.