Vote Now For Energizer Bunny's Return To IMS Balloon Festival
March 04, 2010 | By Eric Powell
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If you're a fan of the IMS Centennial Era Balloon Festival, you can have a direct say whether or not the iconic Energizer Bunny "Hot Hare" Balloon returns this May to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Several weeks ago, Energizer announced the popular Energizer Bunny balloon program would be grounded for 2010. But overwhelming fan response caused Energizer to announce March 4 that the "Hot Hare" will return for three events this year, with two rounds of fan voting the deciding factor.
For the first round, Centennial Era Balloon Festival fans should visit the Energizer Bunny's page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunny and type a message on the bunny's "Wall" that they want to see the Hot Hare balloon at the Centennial Era Balloon Festival on May 8. Voting is open until 1 a.m. (ET) Monday, March 8.
Energizer will announce the balloon festivals that reached the final round March 8, and provided the Centennial Era Balloon Festival is among the finalists, fans will have until 1 a.m. (ET) Monday, March 15 to vote for the bunny's return to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. Voting will again take place at www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunny.
The Centennial Era Balloon Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, with the Founders Race taking to Indy's skies in the morning, and a host of activities, including live music, a balloon "glow" and fireworks that evening. Admission is free.
The Energizer Bunny "Hot Hare" Balloon is the world's tallest hot air balloon, standing at 175 feet when fully inflated - 25 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. The balloon's volume is 180,000 cubic feet - the equivalent of 550 million Energizer AA batteries - and its shoe size is the equivalent of 98 EEEEE.
Approximately 5,000 standard gas grills would be required to equal the 30 million BTU-per-hour output of the Hot Hare balloon's double propane burner.
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IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. In 2009, the Speedway began the three-year celebration of its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.imstix.com at any time. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.