Latest news with #MelHarder
Fox Sports
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Java House To Serve as Primary Sponsor of Laguna Seca Race
INDYCAR Java House, the innovative, Indianapolis-based cold brew coffee brand, has been named title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES event this month at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, which will take place July 25-27 at the iconic road course, marks the only visit to Northern California for North America's premier open-wheel series. This is Java House's first event title sponsorship. 'We are delighted to welcome Java House as a sponsor for our INDYCAR event weekend,' said Mel Harder, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. 'Cars and coffee are a classic combination, and we're excited to share this fantastic coffee with our guests.' Race fans can enjoy samples of Java House's full line of beverages, including its Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, hydration drinks and more, throughout the race weekend. Java House products also will be integrated throughout all hospitality areas, including premium luxury suites and club style pavilions. The fun won't stop at the track, as Java House Cold Brew Espresso Martinis will be served at select restaurants in the Monterey area leading up to and during the race. In addition to its support of the Monterey event, Java House serves as a primary sponsor on Alexander Rossi's No. 20 and Christian Rasmussen's No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) Chevrolets throughout the 2025 season. 'We are thrilled for Java House to become the title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Monterey,' said Ted Gelov, owner and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group. 'INDYCAR has been an outstanding platform to grow our brand and connect with a passionate fan base. This partnership continues our commitment to expanding Java House's presence on a national stage – with more big things to come in 2025 and beyond.' For more information or to purchase tickets for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, visit Learn more about Java House at
Business Wire
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Indy Autonomous Challenge to Join Grand Prix of Monterey Weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) will help jumpstart the Grand Prix of Monterey with an autonomous race held on the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The race event will include a time trial competition of the world's fastest autonomous racecars piloted by AI driver software developed by university teams from North America, Europe, and Asia. 'Running an autonomous race as part of the Grand Prix of Monterey, on the same track and the same weekend as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES event, is a powerful testament to how far the IAC and our university teams have advanced the field of AI and autonomy,' said Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and its parent company Aidoptation BV. 'Bringing this race and AI summit to the doorstep of Silicon Valley creates a high-impact moment to showcase the world's fastest racecars to industry leaders in AI and robotics.' This will be the second time IAC has raced on a road course; the first time was at the Monza F1 Circuit in 2023. The AI drivers will be pushed to new limits navigating one of the most technical circuits in the U.S., including the infamous Laguna Seca Corkscrew drop. 'Laguna Seca has a long history of supporting technology and innovation, and we are thrilled to welcome the world's fastest autonomous racecars to the Grand Prix of Monterey,' said Mel Harder, president & general manager, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. 'We are excited to host IAC and its global network of university and industry partners to explore piloting their SMART Track technologies and how they can enhance safety and fan engagement.' In addition to the autonomous race event, IAC will host an AI & Automation Summit on the grounds of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during the morning of July 24. This invitation-only summit will convene leading experts, innovators, and policymakers to discuss the future of AI and robotics, and their impact on the physical world, including autonomous mobility. The summit will include leading researchers from top engineering universities involved in IAC, global industry trailblazers drawing heavily from Silicon Valley, and government leaders from the US (state and federal), EU countries, Asia, and the Middle East. Eight IAC university teams will participate in the IAC race during the Grand Prix of Monterey weekend, including: AI Racing Tech - University of California, Berkeley (California), with University of Hawai'i (Hawai'i), University of California, San Diego (California), Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) Autonomous Tiger Racing - Auburn University (Alabama) CAST Racer - California Institute of Technology (California) Cavalier Autonomous Racing - University of Virginia (Virginia) IU Luddy - Indiana University (Indiana) KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (South Korea) PoliMOVE-MSU - Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Michigan State University (Michigan), University of Alabama (Alabama) Purdue AI Racing - Purdue University (Indiana) The two IAC university teams not joining at Laguna Seca will instead run an exhibition race at the Monza F1 circuit during the Milan Monza Motor Show (MIMO) from June 27-29, 2025, including: TUM Autonomous Motorsport - Technische Universität München (Germany) UNIMORE Racing - University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) Companies, governments, universities, and non-profits interested in participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge event at Laguna Seca can contact info@ Indy Autonomous Challenge Media Contact: Allison Fried - IAC@ About Indy Autonomous Challenge Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is dedicated to advancing autonomous technologies through high-speed racing. IAC engineers and constructs the IAC AV-24 racecar and organizes competitions among 10 university-affiliated teams from around the world, challenging them to program AI drivers to pilot the fully autonomous racecars. IAC aims to create a platform for the development and real-world validation of physical AI systems, driving innovation in the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2019, IAC has been based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In February 2025, IAC established a commercial spin-out company, Aidoptation BV, headquartered at Droneport in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Aidoptation seeks to transition the learnings and technology of IAC's autonomous racing program to advance safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways. Follow IAC on social media for updates and highlights: X: @IndyAChallenge LinkedIn: IndyAutonomousChallenge Instagram: @IndyAChallenge Facebook: @IndyAChallenge YouTube: @IndyAutonomousChallenge About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned motorsport facility located in Monterey, California operated and managed by Friends of Laguna Seca, a 501c(3) non-profit. Nestled among scenic hills, it has a rich history of hosting premier racing events, making it a favorite destination for motorsport enthusiasts from around the world. The raceway features challenging turns and elevation changes including the world-famous Corkscrew, providing a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans. Friends of Laguna Seca is committed to delivering top-tier racing and entertainment experiences year after year. Find out how you can get involved at
