Audacious Brand Campaign Showcases What It Takes To Compete In The NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Pato O'Ward (Mexico), Colton Herta (USA), Josef Newgarden (USA). Alexander Rossi (USA). Simon Pagenaud (France), & Scott Dixon (New Zealand) are shown from left to right as just a few of the great competitors that will fill the field in the most dynamic professional racing series on the planet Earth. Image Credit: NICS (2020)

Audacious Brand Campaign Showcases What It Takes To Compete In The NTT INDYCAR SERIES

INDYCAR unveiled its brand campaign - "A Different Breed" - for the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season that showcases the extraordinary mindset of its athletes and features narration by Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon.

"A Different Breed" was created in partnership with Chicago-based agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) to convey the distinctive mental, emotional and physical strength required to excel as an INDYCAR driver. These athletes - whether 39-year-old, five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon or 19-year-old rising star Colton Herta - have the ambition and drive to harness a carbon-fiber rocket at speeds that can reach 240 miles per hour while always aware that the smallest miscue can change everything.

The newly aeroscreened (safety feature added beginning this season) orange and black liveried Arrow McLaren SP Dallara as driven by Pato O'Ward during the first open testing day scheduled at Circuit of the Americas. Image Credit: Getty Images via NICS (2020)

"Fearless and aggressive by nature, our athletes push the limits of speed and possibility every single lap of every single race," INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. "This campaign reflects both the skills and intangibles that set them apart, giving fans an up-close and personal look at what it takes to be an INDYCAR driver."

Video content for "A Different Breed" focuses on the athletes' unique skill set and mentality as described by Damon, the 2019 Indianapolis 500 honorary starter. He witnessed the breath-taking capabilities and fearlessness of INDYCAR athletes while standing atop the flagstand for nearly 40 of the 200 laps of one of the world's most iconic races.

The video features several NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, including Dixon, Herta, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, 2019 Indy 500 winner and former series champ Simon Pagenaud, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi and 20-year-old emerging talent Patricio O'Ward. Click here to view A Different Breed.

Promotional image for 45 East event scheduled in Portland Oregon - June 22, 2019

In addition to narration by Damon, DJ/producer MAKJ lends an original song - "Green Light" - to the campaign. MAKJ, a fan of the sport and former professional racer, has collaborated with some of today's most talented artists, including Steve Aoki, Tinashe, O.T. Genesis and Lil Jon. He also has played some of the most prestigious music festivals including Coachella, Voodoo, Electric Zoo and Ultra.

"INDYCAR racing is the ultimate expression of audacious athleticism," said David Selby, Co-Chairman of SCC. "The drivers are among the most courageous and committed athletes in the world - a different breed for sure... our goal was to celebrate them and introduce them to new fans."

The campaign's video content is complemented by dramatic still images energized with a shock of color to contrast the black-and-white heroic images. The campaign style and multiple-driver approach provides the flexibility to seamlessly tailor the creative to the needs of various stakeholders and partners in the sport.

Logan Cascia | Director/DP | Unscripted Sizzle Reel from Cascia Films on Vimeo.

INDYCAR tasked SCC with identifying a young, rising director to capture the true voice of the campaign and selected Logan Cascia. As the founder, director and DP of Los Angeles-based Cascia Films, he has produced work that includes Emmy and Peabody award-winning television features, commercials and film festival premieres.

UPDATED - "A Different Breed"

Check out the amazing athletes of "A Different Breed" when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens Sunday, March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).
(ht: NICS)

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: 2020, NTT, INDYCAR, SERIES, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, NBC, NBCSN, Pato O'Ward, Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden. Alexander Rossi. Simon Pagenaud, Scott Dixon, Logan Cascia, MAKJ, The EDJE

Home EV-Conversion Made Easy In Nigeria For Only $6,000.00

Roughly 8,000 miles away from Tesla’s Palo Alto headquarters, Segun Oyeyiola has also managed to make something extraordinary on a smaller scale. Image Credit: Co. Exist via Fast Company (2020)

Home EV-Conversion Made Easy In Nigeria For Only $6,000.00

Nigerian Segun Oyeyiola took a Volkswagen Beetle and turned it into a fully renewable energy-powered off-road vehicle from a Volkswagen and hunted scraps.

The engineering senior at Nigeria’s Obagemi Awolowo University spent a year retrofitting a Volkswagen Beetle into a wind and solar-powered car, partly made of free scrap parts donated by friends and family. Everything else cost under $6,000.00.

There’s little question as to why Oyeyiola, who is taking his finals in the next two weeks, would devote so much of his extra-curricular time and resources to the project.

As he wrote in an email to Co.Exist:

“I wanted to reduce carbon dioxide emission[s] going to our atmosphere that lead to climate change or global warming which has become a new reality, with deleterious effect: seasonal cycles are disrupted, as are ecosystems; and agriculture, water needs and supply, and food production are all adversely affected.”

“Therefore, I came up of building a car that will use both winds and solar energy for its movement,” Segun Oyeyiola continued. “This was my personal project because of the problem I’m planning to solve.”

Dr John Preston, chair of McMaster University’s engineering physics department and faculty advisor to the school’s solar car team, says he’s never seen anything like Oyeyiola’s contraption, which also comes with a GPS app that monitors car health.

“If you could find a way to use both wind and solar in the same vehicle, that would be a marvelous thing,” Dr. Preston said. “Using wind and solar means you wouldn’t have to drive just during daylight hours. If he has figured a way to do it, that would be quite remarkable.”

Not only did Oyeyiola install a giant solar panel to the top of the Beetle, but he also inserted a wind turbine under the hood. As Preston explains, that allows air to flow into the grill while the car is moving, subsequently turning the turbine’s rotors and charging the battery at the back of the car. Oyeyiola also built a strong suspension system to deal with the weight of the battery.

The battery takes 4-5 hours to charge, but Oyeyiola says he’s working on that. The biggest challenges, he says, came from finding the best materials to use, and ignoring the people telling him he was wasting his time.
[ht: Fast Company, Co. Exist, & City Scrollz]

No challenge is too big when one wishes to experiment through applying alternative technology power options to everyday mobility platforms.

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TAGS: Segun Oyeyiola, Nigeria, Obagemi Awolowo University, Volkswagen, Wind, Solar-Power, Fast Company, Co. Exist, City Scrollz, EVHNews, The EDJE

Future Of Transportation As Articulated By Frank Stephenson Captured By 2025AD

The world where art and science intersect, is where Designer Frank Stephenson feels alive and is most comfortable. Image Credit: 2025AD Screengrab (2020)

Future Of Transportation As Articulated By Frank Stephenson Captured By 2025AD

Speaking to 2025AD - The Autonomous Driving Community powered by Continental, Art Center College of Design trained and world renowned designer Frank Stephenson highlights his ideal way of getting from A to B, the future of vehicle interiors and of course, our move towards autonomous vehicles.

One of the world’s most successful and prolific automotive designers, Frank Stephenson has created some of the most instantly recognisable cars out there, ranging from the ubiquitous (Fiat 500, BMW X5, New Mini) to the unique (McLaren P1, Lilium flying taxi.)

For many, creating something iconic is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, based on hard work, good timing, and the right conditions. For Frank Stephenson, whose work creating icons has come seemingly naturally, is now turning his attention away from the car design world and towards the future of transportation.

"Chasing Perfect" is a bio-documentary that gives one insight into the complex world of designing for the masses while maintaining the integrity found in the definition of perfect. Find out more of what influences drive and inspires the designer behind what gets us around and surrounds us with space that speaks to our mobility & stylistic needs.

"Chasing Perfect" can be acquired via digital download order, streaming, and DVD purchase through the following resources.

Amazon
iTunes
Google Play
REDBOX
VUDU

... or, just Search for your favorite portal of choice.

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TAGS: Frank Stephenson, 2025AD, Autonomy, Continental, Chasing Perfect, Salon Pictures, Lionsgate UK, Head Gear Films, Ford, Escort, McLaren, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW X5, Mini, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Art Center College Of Design, The EDJE

HAAS F1 2020 Livery Unveiled To Mixed Reaction

Better visibility than modified single color presentations. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

HAAS F1 2020 Livery Unveiled To Mixed Reaction

Last Thursday, HAAS F1 Team unveiled its competition livery on the car with which it will contend the 2020 Formula One season.

Everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to F1, but one opinion posted by Bradley Brownell of Jalopnik was particularly pointed.

This excerpted and edited from Jalopnik -

Here's The First Boring Ass Formula One Livery Of 2020 
By Bradley Brownell - Thursday 10:00PM

Freed from the ridiculousness of its Rich Energy partnership, the team was able to ditch its boring black and gold livery - which Elizabeth gave a D+ rating last year. 

Able to forge their own path, starting from scratch, the sky was the limit when it came to designing the team’s new livery. They had an opportunity to seize the carp and make their car look totally fresh and new. And what did they do? 

Left-rear quarter panel look. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

They went as boring as they absolutely could, painting the damn thing black, red, and white. I have no other reaction than to throw up my hands in disgust. When you have every color available to you on the face of the planet, why why why go with the most boring choices possible? Ya basic.
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As boring as the livery is, the rest of the car looks alright. 
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The team says it has learned from its mistakes and put them into making this 2020 car better. The car was allegedly derailed by an upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix which did not produce the results the team was hoping for. Shortly after that the team put all of its efforts into the 2020 chassis development. It’ll be interesting to see if that paid off.

Differentiation in color helps, going away. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

“It’s always exciting to see the development of a new Formula One car and undoubtedly the VF-20 has to deliver where our previous car didn’t,” said team boss Guenther Steiner. “With the regulations remaining stable into this season, it’s allowed us to improve our understanding of the car and to scrutinize ourselves more in order to find solutions and applications to channel into the design of the VF-20.

“Last year was definitely a set-back, one I would never have asked for, but you learn from such situations – we all have. Everybody at the team was forced to look at themselves and understand what they can do better. I’m looking forward to seeing the VF-20 make its track debut. As always in testing, you want many things, but lots of mileage, reliability and speed would be welcomed as we ready ourselves for the first race in Australia.”

The team will again use the same driver pairing employed in 2019 of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grossjean.
[Reference Here]

Straight on, this car will be seen in a crowd. Image Credit: Jalopnik, Modified - Edmund Jenks (2020)

The only redeeming value of this somewhat simplistic livery, it may translate more easily to the broadcast viewer from the side to previous HAAS liveries.

From the side, the broad top to grounding bottom White then Black with the bold Red letters of the team name, will capture one's eye much more easily than most of the liveries of last year's display.

Then upon considering front view shots, the stark definition from White to Black may help to pick HAAS cars out from others in the pack (where HAAS traditionally hangs) - this may be interesting to observe.

As always, one person's boring may end up another's observation point. In movement, in a pack, this may serve HAAS better than previous body wrapped presentations during in-race visual activity than on stationary display.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: HAAS, F1, Formula One, 2020, Kevin Magnussen, Romain Grossjean, Guenther Steiner, Australia, VF-20, Jalopnik, Bradley Brownell, PEAK, Jack & Jones, BlueDEF, The EDJE