Novo Nordisk and Chip Ganassi Racing Team Up for 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series

INDIANAPOLIS and PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, has partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing, LLC to create the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team for 2011 IZOD IndyCar season.

The team will sponsor a new entry in the series driven by American racecar driver Charlie Kimball. This partnership makes Kimball one of the first drivers from the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights series to move up the official "Road to Indy" with a full season sponsorship.

Kimball, 25, finished fourth in the 2010 Indy Lights season, capturing five podium (top three) finishes, including four second-place finishes. With this team, he will become the first licensed driver with type 1 diabetes in the history of the Indy Racing League to race at the highest level of the Series.

"We have sponsored Charlie for the past two seasons in the Firestone Indy Lights series and seen his development not only as a race car driver, but also as a role model to thousands of people with diabetes," said Camille Lee, Vice President of Diabetes Marketing at Novo Nordisk. "We are excited to join Chip and the entire Ganassi organization to ensure Charlie's success not only on the race track, but also with Novo Nordisk to show that diabetes does not have to get in the way of your dreams."

The creation of the new team allows Novo Nordisk to continue as Kimball's primary sponsor, with naming rights to the car, as well as other branding elements. Kimball will also continue to make appearances for Novo Nordisk throughout the country, with the award-winning Race with Insulin™ and other diabetes campaigns. Novo Nordisk has sponsored Kimball since he joined the Indy Racing League in the 2009 season.

"Many don't realize this, but we have had a relationship with Charlie for a number of years now. I have been keeping close tabs on him and his successes in racing from afar for a while now – whether he was racing in Formula 3 in Europe, or running in the Firestone Indy Lights Series the past few seasons," said racing legend and team owner Chip Ganassi. "We're excited to have the opportunity to turn this longstanding relationship into a reality with Charlie and Novo Nordisk."

Diagnosed with diabetes in 2007, Kimball monitors his blood sugar before, during and after each race, and uses the Novo Nordisk insulin Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) and NovoLog® (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) and a pre-filled insulin pen device, called FlexPen®, to help manage his diabetes.

"I am honored to join Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing and excited to be moving up to the IZOD IndyCar Series," said Kimball. "This is a dream come true and I am very proud to work with Novo Nordisk and continue to spread the message that diabetes does not have to slow you down."

The 2011 IZOD season includes the following race events in 17 cities across North America, and in Canada, Japan and Brazil:

• March 27:  Streets of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
• April 10:  Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, Ala.)
• April 17:  Streets of Long Beach (Long Beach, Calif.)
• May 1:  Streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sao Paulo)
• May 29:  Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis)
• June 11:  Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, Texas)
• June 19:  The Milwaukee Mile (Milwaukee)
• June 25:  Iowa Speedway (Newton, Iowa)
• July 10:  Streets of Toronto (Toronto)
• July 24:  Edmonton City Centre Airport (Edmonton, Alberta)
• Aug. 7:  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Toledo, Ohio)
• Aug. 14:  New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, N.H.)
• Aug. 28:  Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.)
• Sept. 4:  Streets of Baltimore (Baltimore, Md.)
• Sept. 18:  Twin Ring Motegi, Japan (Motegi, Japan)
• Oct. 2:  Kentucky Speedway (Sparta, Ky.)
• Oct. 16:  Season Finale - TBD

Follow Kimball and his work with Novo Nordisk on Twitter @racewithinsulin or www.novonordisk-us.com. For more information about Chip Ganassi Racing, visit www.chipganassiracing.com.

About Charlie Kimball

Kimball, who began racing go-karts at age nine, was accepted into Stanford University and chose to defer admission to follow his dream to become a racecar driver.  He finished the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights season in fourth place. Prior to his diabetes diagnosis in 2007, Kimball shattered the European stereotype that "Americans are not fast" by becoming the first American in 11 years to win a British Formula 3 race. He went on to secure two track records and several F3 victories in both Britain and Europe. Kimball has also raced in the Formula 3 Euroseries and the World Series by Renault.

About Chip Ganassi Racing

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, three in the IZOD IndyCar Series and one Daytona Prototype in the Rolex GRAND-AM Sports Car Series. In 2010, Ganassi's teams scored victories across the three touring series, including the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500, making him the only team owner in history to win both crown jewels in a single season. His team also won the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 87 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to social responsibility to employees and customers, environmental soundness and economic success. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 30,000 employees in 81 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

About Diabetes

In the United States one in 13, or 23.6 million people, have diabetes, a condition in which the body does not produce enough or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.  

Prescribing information for Levemir® and NovoLog® is available by contacting Novo Nordisk at 1-800-727-6500 or visiting Levemir-us.com and NovoLog.com.

About Levemir®

Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection) is a man-made long-acting insulin that is used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information for Levemir®  

Do not take Levemir® if your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to anything in Levemir®.  If you take too much Levemir® your blood sugar may fall too low.

Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugars should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels. Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect your blood sugar when you take Levemir®.

Do not change the type of insulin you use unless told to do so by your health care provider. The amount of insulin you take as well as the best time for you to take your insulin may need to change if you take a different type of insulin.

Never mix Levemir® with other insulin products or use in an insulin pump.

Needles and Levemir® FlexPen® must not be shared.

Tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your Levemir® dose may change if you take other medicines.

The most common side effect of Levemir® is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Other possible side effects include reactions at the injection site (like redness, swelling and itching), and allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you experience signs of serious allergic reaction such as body rash, trouble with your breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further information.

About NovoLog®

NovoLog® (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) is a man-made insulin that is used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information for NovoLog®

Do not take NovoLog® if your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to anything in NovoLog®. If you take too much NovoLog® your blood sugar may fall too low.

NovoLog® is a fast-acting insulin. You should eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after using NovoLog® to avoid low blood sugar. Do not inject NovoLog® if you do not plan to eat right after using NovoLog®. Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugars should be and when you should check your blood sugar levels. Alcohol, including beer and wine, may affect your blood sugar when you take NovoLog®.

Do not change the type of insulin you use unless told to do so by your health care provider. The amount of insulin you take as well as the best time for you to take your insulin may need to change if you take a different type of insulin.

Do not mix NovoLog® with any other insulins when used in a pump or with any insulins other than NPH when used with injections by syringe.

Needles and NovoLog® FlexPen® must not be shared.

Tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your NovoLog® dose may change if you take other medicines.

NovoLog® has not been studied in children with type 2 diabetes or in children with type 1 diabetes under the age of two.

The most common side effect of NovoLog® is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Other possible side effects include reactions at the injection site (like redness, swelling and itching), and allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you experience signs of serious allergic reaction such as body rash, trouble with your breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further information.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk