Ex-Air Force member plans IRL team

Ex-American Air Force serviceman James Occhipinti is behind a plan to field two Yellow Ribbon Racing cars in this year's event, painted in the colours of the four branches of the American military.

If the Indy 500 plan is successful, then the new team is likely to compete in the remaining 10 events of the 2006 season. The race operations of both cars are likely to be out-sourced to existing IRL teams for the Indy 500, with the possibility of starting up as a new in house operation for 2007.

The cars will be liveried similar to the zip design that the BAR Formula One team used in 1999. One branch of the armed services will have half a car each, split by a yellow ribbon.

The Army and Air Force will share one car and the Navy and the Marines will share the second car. The yellow ribbon is a symbol associated with those waiting for the return of a loved one or of military troops who are temporarily unable to come home.

Occhipinti told autosport.com: "I found out that the Indy 500 is the second most watched events by our troops other than the SuperBowl. Then after watching this year's race I decided I had to do something.

"It is all very well having all these yellow ribbons on our bumper stickers but the troops never get to see them. We want them to know we are thinking about them, and I thought an IRL would be a great way to do that.

"This team is a way of keeping in touch with our troops and is a way to say thank you. The Indy 500 takes place on Memorial Day weekend and there is a strong military presence."

The driver-line up will not necessarily be all-American, and Occhipinti admits that a driver from an allied-nation could just as be easily be involved.

"Naturally we are focused on an American driver line-up but we are open," he added. "A driver from an allied country would also be acceptable, for example Britain. Shortage of drivers is not going to be a problem, and we've had both experienced and rookie drivers interested so far."

One key part of the plan is to allow American citizens and the troops to connect with each other via the team. Troops will be invited to register on their website www.yellowribbonracing.com, and citizens will be able to sponsor them through the programme. Both the sponsor and troop will receive replica crew shirts.

The team is being set up as a strictly non-profit organisation, and any funds left over from the race programme will be donated to the America Supports You Foundation, which donates to a number of charities.

"No one is going to make any money from this and it is important that is made clear now," Occhipinti added. "We don't want any perception that money is the motivation here.

"Getting this together for the start of the season was too soon, but for the Indy 500 itself is looking very positive. We will see for the rest of the season, but I'm hopeful."