The Holmatro Safety Team has become synonymous with the Verizon IndyCar Series and the safety of their drivers when on track. No sooner does a driver get into trouble and the ubiquitous bright orange and black Holmatro Safety vehicles are on the scene.
Over the years, the safety team has been credited with the quick, safe extrication and rescue of numerous drivers who all sing their praises to the way they are taken care on trackside. This allows the IndyCar medical team to get to them as quickly as humanly possible
And that reliable relationship will continue with today's announcement that INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have renewed the agreement that keeps Holmatro as the Official Rescue Tool Provider. As such, Holmatro will provide cutting-edge technology tools and training to support every Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy event for the next five years.
"Holmatro has been a trusted partner and supplier in Indy car racing for more than 20 years," said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. "Holmatro's growth parallels some of the great strides made in safety for INDYCAR drivers and teams. We're pleased to see this partnership continue, as it is a great benefit to everyone in the paddock."
A recent analysis of the safety team's response to James Hinchcliffe's serious practice accident for the 2015 Indy 500 pointed out a need to extricate a driver from the cockpit faster in similar situations. Working in collaboration with IndyCar and the safety team, Holmatro developed a tool to more quickly cut a section of the car's tub away and allow easier access to the driver.
Tony Barboza, General Manager for Holmatro also paid tribute to the safety team’s members: "Members of the safety team serve on their home fire departments when not at INDYCAR events and, like them, we believe in constant improvement and innovation. When the race is for life, you can count on the INDYCAR Safety Team and Holmatro rescue tools."