IZOD wouldn’t be IZOD if there wasn’t a model involved, right? Personally, I might have preferred Mark Wahlberg in his CK undies, but Cameron has definitely been a welcome sight to the fans this year.

The role of IZOD Trophy Girl was born at the first race in Brazil. We found a gal. And then an interpreter. It did not go well. Our trophy chick, while gorgeous, was a little more interested in taking pictures of drivers than doing her job. So, onward to St. Pete where Miss Cameron was cast and the adventures begin.

For most fans, you’ve seen her on TV skillfully placed behind a driver during a post-race interview or hanging out in podium photos. Is it too much? Is it too “Where’s Waldo?” Possibly…but maybe you’ve noticed the Sprint Cup girls have picked up a few Cameron’isms in victory circle these days.  

I’ve definitely had a variety of roles this season, but the role of pseudo-security guard is the most comical. From red carpet police to Wahlberg’s 500 escort, I’ve already had my fair share hands-in-faces (both giving and receiving). When serving as escort, getting Cameron from one location to another is always a circus. I certainly try to be nice, but if you’re grabbing her through a fence, or yelling, gawking or hovering in excess, then momma bear kicks in. Cameron calls it “assertiveness.” Ha! My description starts with a big ole “B.”

In addition to competing for face time with the Firestone Firehawk, she’s there to be in your photos and ham it up for the crowd. Wearing a firesuit and walking around a race track can be darn confusing to people. Early in the season, she was sometimes Danica, often Ana, and (still) almost always Milka. While we zoom through crowds in a golf cart, fans yell “Good luck, today!” as if she’s driving in the race. With a smile and wave, Cameron gives a cheerful, “thank you!” and we roll on towards our destination.   

In between marathon meetings and credential duty, my race-day time with Cameron is a fun little break. Maybe I can be seen in fan pictures on random Facebook pages…but just half of me, off to the side, arms crossed, most likely staring at a phone. Tracked out in my red and white uniform (like Waldo), windblown and sunburnt, [L]IZOD looks pretty weary (and short) next to the tall, dazzling, lipglossed lady in the IZOD firesuit.

Days 1-4 in Sao Paulo have been a wild ride. My first trip out of the country. My first papaya whip (yumolicious). And my first IZOD IndyCar race weekend as something other than a crazy fan.

Wednesday was a travel recovery (and battle internet connection) day. Need a hint for a 10 hour plane ride? Download white noise to your iPod. Sounds weird, but the additional whirringbuzzyfan noice right in your ears is a lifesaver when your back muscles are screaming at you. We were met at the Sao Paulo airport by sweet Murial from CVC, the event company that has hosted us this week.

Thursday was meeting day. Me and the IZOD crew had some great sessions planning cool stuff for the rest of season. Want to see innovation? Want to see celebs? Want to see speed? It’s-a-comin’! We had dinner at a shnazzy place called Club A with purple walls and smoke oozing down from the ceiling. There were attempts at dancing after dinner, but all I saw were a lot of wax-on, wax-off impressions and some sort of an odd lasso move.

Friday was education day! Professor “Lew,” what would one do without your knowledge? He took me from pit lane to Victory Lane, and then to the garage. Not since my Astronomy class in college have I been so overwhelmed by math and science. I learned all about tech inspections, downforce, tires, carbon fiber, steering wheels and how the drivers sit in molds to have their seats custom made. Lew even made me get UNDERNEATH a car at tech inspection! 

Saturday was practice and truly a thrilling day. Rushing around in the heat, hauling radios, drooling over the Apex Brasil suite, hording fruit, dodging groupies, and getting chills from the sound of those amazing engines. The fans here are soooo excited and loving the new game in town. Mobs of people with cameras around the garage entrance, snapping picture after picture (after picture) of our charismatic drivers.

So, Sunday is…well, NOW. I’m looking forward to seeing my first race outside of the stands at the Speedway. Let’s plug in, people! Plug in the fastest drivers and the fastest cars in racing. Plug in the fans. Plug the IZOD into IndyCar! 

Get ready! You are going to love, love, love the new IZOD IndyCar commercials. Those hardworking Manhattan-ites from IZOD have been toiling away at this stimulating (can I say that in a blog?) campaign designed to excite our loyal fans and grab new fans who may not grasp the shear coolness of our race series.

This picture of TK is just a sneak peak…watch for the first commercial to start airing this weekend. And check back to indycar.com and @indycarnation on Twitter for more info on a special web site that will go with these commercials.

While sitting in the gate area at IND, I flipped through my iPhone pictures and realized I never shared with you the coolness of the IZOD photo shoot at Barber Motorsports Park a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to the efforts and magic powers of the AH-mazing IRL operations guys, we were able to move show cars, transporters, lights, toolboxes and fuel trucks into pit lane. This made for a rockin’ backdrop for several IZOD IndyCar models…er, drivers.

Though we all froze our kahunas off in ‘Bama, the pictures turned out fantastic. I know this just from annoyingly standing over photographer Michael Voorhee’s shoulder as he perused the photos later that night.

Our drivers are hot. Nuff said.

Two things you should know about me: I’m a Colts fan and I adore Miami (please insert a Will Smith or Vanilla Ice song into your head now). So, the Super Bowl was quite the fabu combo this year. Since IZOD has the super duper, Super Bowl connections, they suggested we trick out some cars and send them south.

A New Orleans-themed car and two Indianapolis-themed cars made the rounds in Southern Florida. First stop was the Pro Football Hall of Fame golf tournament at the gorgeous Biltmore.  I waited for Steve Young. I did not see Steve Young.*Sigh*But I did see a 250 pound ex-football player happily get stuck in the car.

Next stop was the W Hotel on South Beach and this was home for our cars most of the weekend. You know how hotels have to park the chichi cars at the front to let people know that rich folk are staying there? Well, the IZOD IndyCars got more attention than the Bentley, Ferrari, Lambo and Rolls Royce. And a random scooter.

At the W, Friday was arrival day for many celebs and VIP’s. In between snapping pics of Hilary Swank and Jessica Alba, we decided to crash the party with our street-legal 2-seater. With driver Davey Hamilton, we made some serious noise and turned lots of heads giving rides around South Beach. The evening before, Indy Star photographer Danese Kenon took a night ride through Ft. Lauderdale.

The highlight of our adventure was the Leigh Steinberg party on Saturday. You know, he’s the “show me the money!” guy. Not only were we smack dab in the middle of a high-roller crowd (and a Saints fan dressed up like Darth Vader), but the cars were a huge hit. As my heels sunk into the dirt at this party-in-a-park, I managed to snap some good pictures of the curious party-goers…and Leigh Steinburg himself got in the car!

Even though I got a farmer’s tan, cussed out a shuttle van driver and didn’t get to stay for the game (still love my Colts), the trip was a total success. Thanks to the “crew” for all of your hard work. If I need an ab workout, I know where to go for some hilarious stories. And if I need a cardio workout, I’ll be sure to aimlessly walk around the wrong convention center for a half hour.

So, IndyCar has this gorgeous new thing hovering in front of it called a title sponsor. Did you see it? And are you ready to rock?!

Let me officially introduce myself.  My name is Liza and by assignment, I hang with, talk to, dream of, conspire, chauffer, corral and get coffee for everything IZOD.  Well, maybe not that last one, but from time to time I do enjoy a tall, half-caff, soy latte with a little cinnamon.

Anyway, my crazy brilliant co-workers dubbed me LIZOD. Get it? Liza + IZOD? I know. It’s like math.

So, as we charge through the 2010 race season, I’ll take you outside the track and beyond the races to show you what IZOD is doing to promote our amazing cars and stars. As we like to say, it’s a new day (or when we’re tired, it’s a new “egg”) and IZOD IndyCar is ready to rumble! From Super Bowl-themed cars to pit stop challenges in the middle of city streets, we want to get some attention for this marvelous sport.

I’ll bring you pictures, videos and musings from the runway to the yard of bricks. And if you’re the betting sort, I’m willing to wager I’ll fall off of one and trip on the other. While we spread the good word of IZOD IndyCar, we’ll need your help along the way. Follow us on Twitter @IndyCarNation and share our stories from Facebook. Lots of fun behind-the-scenes stuff coming your way…so click on that the little orange box with the dot and two white half-circles (that would be an RSS feed, people) and stay in touch with little ole me.