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NEW INDY TEAM BACKING U.S. ARMED FORCES

Yellow Ribbon Racing plans to run two cars in the upcoming 2006 Indy Racing League series (IRL) supporting the US armed forces.

The not-for-profit organisation says it is acting as a "support vehicle" seeking private sponsorship from corporate America and the grassroots backing of the American people.

Yellow Ribbon Racing’s managing director, James Occhipinti, said: “It paves the way for our team to begin its quest to do something we believe has never been seen in professional sports, a team solely dedicated to keeping America connected with our troops here and abroad, during peace time as well as during war time."

Both cars will be dressed in the colours of all five branches of service.

One car will have the Navy’s Blue Angles colours on one half of the car with the other half adorned with the Marines' camouflage.

The other car will have the Air Forces Thunderbirds colours, with the other half sporting the colours of the Army’s camouflage.

Both cars will display the colours of the United States Coast Guard as well.