Verizon IndyCar Series to Participate in Krewe of Bacchus Parade

INDYCAR announced today that four Verizon IndyCar Series drivers, and two drivers from the Mazda Road to Indy developmental ladder, will be traveling to New Orleans to be featured in the Krewe of Bacchus parade on February 15, just two days before Fat Tuesday, the last day of the Carnival season.

Three-time race winner James “the Mayor of Hinchtown” Hinchcliffe, who drives the No. 77 for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, rising star and Nashville native Josef Newgarden, who will start his fourth season driving the No. 67 for CFH Racing, 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year and Andretti Autosport driver Carlos Munoz and last year’s Indianapolis 500 rookie sensation, Chip Ganassi Racing driver Sage Karam will be joined by Mazda Road to Indy drivers Aaron Telitz (Cooper Tires U.S. F2000 Championship Powered by Mazda) and Neil Alberico (Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires), on the Krewe of Bacchus Officers’ Float. Academy Award-nominated actor John C. Reilly, best known for his roles in “Chicago,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Step Brothers,” is serving as the king of this year’s Bacchus parade and its surrounding festivities.

“The Krewe of Bacchus is delighted to have several of the world’s fastest race car drivers join us for Mardi Gras 2015. It will be an unforgettable experience ” said Clark Brennan, Bacchus captain.

“It is always our goal to bring the spotlight of the world on Mardi Gras and New Orleans by having fantastic celebrity kings and outstanding celebrity guests and this year is no exception.”

The Verizon IndyCar Series, which features a 17-race season that is highlighted by the Indianapolis 500 — the world’s largest single-day sporting event — each May, will compete in the New Orleans market for the first time this spring at the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana on April 10-12 at NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, LA.