DHL Extends Primary Sponsorship Deal With IndyCar Champ Hunter-Reay Through '13

DHL has reached an agreement to be the full primary sponsor for Izod IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay for the '13 season. The agreement extends DHL's sponsorship of the race team into its third consecutive season. Continuing sponsorship elements in '13 include DHL image and advertising rights as well as VIP hospitality platforms for DHL customers at races (DHL). Hunter-Reay will change his car number from No. 28 to No.1, and he said that his team "deserved to have No. 1 on the car." In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin wrote it was a "difficult decision because Hunter-Reay has an emotional tie to No. 28, which represents to him the 28 million people fighting cancer on any given day globally." Andretti Autosport Owner Michael Andretti was a "driving force in the decision." Andretti said, "We earned that number as a team, and we felt we should run it. It’s such a hard thing to get. I’m surprised more teams don’t do that" (INDYSTAR.com, 12/5).