WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- A New York Army National Guard Soldier stands beside the Army National Guard Indy Car, No. 4. Driven by Vitor Meira for Panther Racing team owner John Barnes, the Dallara IR car has a 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine and runs on ethanol.
It's the latest addition to the team of Race cars sponsored by the National Guard.
Thirty-seven New York Army National Guard Soldiers from across New York had the opportunity to meet with the car's crew, tour the pits, and even get a spin in a specially constructed tandem racecar on Thursday, July 2 as the team prepared for Fourth of July race weekend.
The car will be wearing a hood feature 27th Brigade Combat Team, based in Syracuse, N.Y. The brigade returned from deployment to Afghanistan at the end of 2008 as the headquarters for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, training and mentoring the Afghan national army and police forces.

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