DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and partner Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, announced today that their IZOD IndyCar Series driver, Charlie Kimball (No. 83 Novo Nordisk Honda), of the Race with Insulin™ program, has gained the support of his fellow CGRT teammates across NASCAR, INDYCAR and GRAND-AM, combining for a Race with Insulin™ Unites initiative.

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During the weekend of April 5-7, CGRT NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) teammate Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Chevrolet SS) and Kimball will sport Race with Insulin™  paint schemes at Martinsville Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park, respectively, to show that with the right management plan and "team" support, people with diabetes can start to get their diabetes on track.

In addition to the special paint schemes, all other CGRT cars (Juan Pablo Montoya's No. 42 Chevrolet SS – NASCAR, Scott Dixon's No. 9 Honda – INDYCAR, Dario Franchitti's No. 10 Honda – INDYCAR and Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas' No. 1 BMW – GRAND-AM) will run blue tire rims to help launch the Race with Insulin™ Unites campaign. The rims will emulate a blue circle, which is the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) global symbol for diabetes, to support Kimball's quest to educate more people about diabetes.

"If our team can help others understand that even with diabetes, you can live life to the fullest, then we are glad to help," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "Charlie is an emerging talent in the race car, and he is an even better human being. A program like this speaks volumes about him."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 26 million people are currently living with diabetes in the United Statesⁱ. For many patients and their families, diabetes management can be daunting.

"Diabetes is one of the greatest health threats of our time," said President, International Diabetes Federation, Sir Michael Hirst. "With the support of such programs, we can begin to tackle a disease which is expected to affect 552 million people around the world by the year 2030."

Now in his third season with Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing, Kimball was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during a routine physician's visit in 2007 while racing in Europe. Kimball returned to the F3 Euroseries in April 2008 and finished second in his first race back after the diagnosis.

Determined to get back on the track, Kimball strategized with his doctor to create some innovative solutions for keeping him safe and healthy in and out of the race car. Along with diet and exercise, Charlie uses a pre-filled insulin pen and a continuous glucose monitor to ensure that his diabetes is properly managed, so that when he gets in the car, he can focus on racing.

"I am able to live my dream and compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series because I have been fortunate to have the support of Novo Nordisk and my teammates, who are extensions of my on-track pit crew," said Kimball, who recently became an IDF Blue Circle Champion for diabetes. "Follow me at @racewithinsulin to learn how you can enter to win a chance this year to become my honorary pit crew member."

Visit www.RaceWithInsulin.com for more information.  

About Novo Nordisk
Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global health care company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy, and hormone replacement therapy. For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com or follow our news in the US on Twitter: @NovoNordiskUS

About the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950. IDF's mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention, and a cure worldwide.  

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams
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 three cars in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall, his teams have 15 championships and 150 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, and five Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Brownsburg, IN and Concord, NC, with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, log on to www.chipganassiracing.com.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk