When the most famous (modified) words in motorsports, long since made politically correct, “Gentlemen and Lady … START YOUR ENGINES” are proclaimed, Middle America’s iconic race, the Indianapolis 500 gets underway.

When the most famous words in motorsports, “Gentlemen and Lady … START YOUR ENGINES” are proclaimed, Middle America’s iconic race, the Indianapolis 500 gets underway with some classic touches.

Jim Nabors will sing Back Home Again In Indiana, military jets will scream by overhead trailing red, white and blue colors and the mid-field will continue its weekend of excess.

But a new element has been added, bringing Indy Racing to more homes than ever before, maybe … just maybe more than the TV coverage.  Thomas Kinkade, the master artist of paintings bathed in luminous, incandescent, radiant light, has painted a special Indy 500 image that is certain to adorn the living rooms of millions of his adoring fans.

The press release announcing the commission notes, “Thomas Kinkade is America’s most collected living artist. Coming from a modest background, Kinkade emphasizes simple pleasures and inspirational messages through his paintings. As a devout Christian, Kinkade uses his gift as a vehicle to communicate and spread inherent life-affirming values.”

Art is in the eyes of the beholder. Enuf said.

Market Shares Going Up

As the slump continues unabated, a few car brands are increasing their marketshare. It’s also an oxymoronic statement, but the facts are undeniable ,according to BIGresearch. The problem is that this isn’t total market share, by redefining the category, such claims can be made.

Rolls-Royce Adding Workforce

Given the initial reaction to the introduction of the luxury brand’s newest model, te Rolls-Royce Ghost, the BMW division is increasing its manufacturing workforce by 50%.  More than 150 new jobs have been created to support the production of the company’s new model, the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Honda’s Commercial Challenge Creativity

Here’s a rare opportunity to see the back-story of how the newest Honda commercial in which only headlights were used as the visuals was produced.  It’s another example of how Honda has often taken commercials to a dimension.