INDIANAPOLIS (February 17, 2015) – Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announced today that development driver Sage Karam will join the team’s Verizon IndyCar Series lineup in the No. 8 GE LED Chevrolet for the season-opening race at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Karam’s No. 8 Chevrolet will bear the GE LED livery to start his first Verizon IndyCar Series event outside of the 2014 Indianapolis 500.

NOTES OF INTEREST

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Wonder Boy: The newest edition to the Verizon IndyCar Series lineup for 2015 will be Rookie of The Year candidate Sage Karam. Karam signed a multi-year deal last season as a CGRT development driver which began with the 2014 Indianapolis 500. 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 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.

The newest edition to the Verizon IndyCar Series lineup for 2015 will be Rookie of The Year candidate Sage Karam. Karam signed a multi-year deal last season as a CGRT development driver which began with the 2014 Indianapolis 500. 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 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 scheduled start in St. Petersburg, Fla in March, Karam would become the youngest driver in CGRT history to start an Indy car race for the team at 20 years old. Team Target driver Scott Dixon currently holds the mark at 22 years old when he debuted for CGRT at the Milwaukee Mile in 2002.

History of the No. 8 : The No. 8 car made its debut with the Target Racing program at CGRT in 1991, one year after the team’s inception, in the CART series with Eddie Cheever behind the wheel. After a two-year hiatus, the No. 8 returned to the program with team newcomer Michael Andretti. Andretti earned CGRT’s first-ever win in the No. 8 car in Australia. The No. 8 car would not return until 2013, when Ryan Briscoe piloted the number in the 97 : The No. 8 car made its debut with the Target Racing program at CGRT in 1991, one year after the team’s inception, in the CART series with Eddie Cheever behind the wheel. After a two-year hiatus, the No. 8 returned to the program with team newcomer Michael Andretti. Andretti earned CGRT’s first-ever win in the No. 8 car in Australia. The No. 8 car would not return until 2013, when Ryan Briscoe piloted the number in the 97 th running of the Indianapolis 500 and continued to drive the No. 8 full-time in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season.

Some Old Friends: COMFORT REVOLUTION and Big Machine Records will continue to back Karam after his Verizon IndyCar Series debut at the Indianapolis 500 in 2014, where he was the highest-finishing CGRT driver with a ninth-place finish. Both partners have also supported Karam’s drives in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Karam in 2014: Karam was able to gain experience and help the team at select races in 2014 in both the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Verizon IndyCar Series. Karam made his debut in the Verizon IndyCar Series at the 2014 Indianapolis 500 where he earned his first top-10 finish crossing the finish line in ninth. He was able to boost the IMSA program at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Indianapolis. Paired with seasoned veteran Scott Pruett, Karam helped move the No. 01 from a sixth-place start to a second-place finish at the Brickyard Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

CGRT QUOTEBOARD

Sage Karam, Driver: “It’s such an honor to get the opportunity to race in the Verizon IndyCar Series, especially in a CGRT car. The 2014 season was a great learning experience with the team as a whole and I feel prepared to get out there and be competitive. I’m really glad that I’ll be able to represent COMFORT REVOLUTION and Big Machine Records. COMFORT REVOLUTION has been with me throughout my racing career and the guys at Big Machine Records have been great partners. This is truly one of the biggest days of my life and now I’m just ready for the season to get started.”

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.: “I am very happy to be making this announcement about Sage. If there ever was a kid that deserved an opportunity in this series it is Sage. He has done everything that we have asked him to do and has turned a lot of heads whether it is driving an Indy car, sports car or simply making appearances. Sage is a class act and we are happy to have him run in St. Petersburg as we continue to work on the rest of the season.”