A little more than a week after announcing Josef Newgarden as its driver for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing announced bigger plans as it moves from Indianapolis to the heart of Speedway, Ind., for its new headquarters.
The new $2.5 million-plus facility features both its new race shop and offices for the team, and is a two-story, 37,000sq.ft. facility. The building will encompass space for composite and paint departments along with a fan interactive section, with a retail element. Construction is expected to begin in late February 2012, with completion in early September. Most of everything affiliated with the team will now be done in-house, said new team co-owner Wink Hartman.
“The excitement of building a new shop in Speedway for SFHR is yet another step in becoming a top-tier IZOD IndyCar Series team,” he said. “The new shop will allow SFHR to control most all aspects necessary to win including engineering, service, expanded machine shop, paint and composites, family friendly home-style kitchen and the new SFHR gift shop with an interactive area for the fans to enjoy. On the second floor is the new 2,500sq.ft. executive style gym and conference room overlooking the shop floor.”
Fisher's team has yet to announce its engine and sponsor partners for 2012, but those should be forthcoming in the next several weeks.