Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com
Taya Kyle, widow of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, is the ambassador for PRITek Team Murray who is fielding the car for rookie Matthew Brabham in both the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis as well as the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil next month. On Friday, Kyle was named the honorary starter for the 42nd annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 17th.
She will be waving the flag to start the 80-lap race and will also be introducing the next member of the CK crew, the honorary pit crew of military veterans and first responders that will be participating in the TAG Heuer PitStop Competition that will take place during the Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27th.
The CK Crew will gather in early May for intensive training to help them be able to compete against full-time pit crews of the Verizon IndyCar Series teams. The program was set up by the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, which was founded by Tara Kyle, and is dedicated to families of serving military member as well first responders. On March 13 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg former Navy SEAL David Rutherford was announced as the first CK Crew member.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has also stepped on board to support the foundation and promote the release of the film “American Sniper – the Christ Kyle Commemorative Edition Blu-ray which will be released in May.
“I was at the St. Petersburg race and the atmosphere was amazing. The fans, the dedication of the pit crews and the work of the first responders in protecting the drivers and crews really struck a chord with me,” said Kyle, who just released the paperback of her memoir, “American Wife.”
Oscar De La Hoya will be the grand marshal for the Long Beach race. He is a 10 time world champion boxer, has won in six different divisions and is also one of the top promoters of Boxing as a sport.
Scott Dixon is the reigning Verizon IndyCar Champion as well as the defending winner of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. When the IndyCar Series rolls off the grid on April 17, it will be the 33rd straight time that an indycar has raced on the 1.968-mile temporary street circuit.
