“Gotta Be Fit to Be in the Pit”
HVM Racing Waves Green Flag on Team Weight-Loss Challenge
 
 
St. Petersburg, Fla. (April 3, 2009) – HVM Racing is ready to lose a few spare tires.  The team kicked off a two-month fitness challenge Friday afternoon at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with the goal to collectively lose 100 pounds – about the weight of a set of IndyCar Series tires – by the Indy 500.   
 
Huddled up around a stack of tires representing the amount of weight they will aim to lose, the team gathered at the HVM transporter to hear the details of their challenge from Luigi Gratton, M.D., a member of Herbalife’s Nutrition Advisory Board.  Dr. Gratton will work with the team over the course of the challenge to teach smart nutrition habits to help reach their goal.
 
HVM recognizes the importance of team members being in shape and wants to help them perform at their best.
 
“Being on a pit crew is no easy job,” said Keith Wiggins, team owner.  “The team members carry a lot of weight on the shoulders, often literally.  And we want them to be at their best for every race.”
 
E.J. Viso, driver of the No. 13 PDVSA HVM Racing Honda Dallara, is a big believer in fitness and nutrition and wants his team members to enjoy the same benefits of eating right and keeping in good health.  Viso, who is sponsored by Herbalife, introduced Dr. Gratton to the team and encouraged them to try the doctor’s advice.
 
In addition to setting the goal of dropping 100 pounds by the Indy 500, Dr. Gratton also challenged the team to lose a total of 300 pounds by the end of the racing season.
 

 
HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its eight years of competition, the team has earned six wins, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums since 2001. The team finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car championship standings in 2006 and 2007, and earned its drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. In 2008 with driver E.J. Viso, the team earned seven top-10 finishes, including a fourth at St. Petersburg in its inaugural year in the IRL Championship. 
 
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