Wheels & Deals: Recent Deals Make IndyCar Officials Optimistic
The AP's Michael Marot reported IndyCar Series officials believe that the circuit's recent deal with APEX-Brasil and Sarah Fisher Racing's partnership with Dollar General "could be a harbinger" for the series. IRL Commercial Division President Terry Angstadt: "We pursue sponsors on a regular basis and there is interest, but I'm not ready to say there's a groundswell." Marot noted IndyCar Series officials Monday hosted officials from APEX-Brasil, which in November agreed to a multi-year deal to become the official ethanol supplier of the circuit beginning with the '09 season. The agreement, one of the "biggest deals in league history," is expected to "pump millions of dollars into the sport as the company provides ethanol for the series and television advertising." The Dollar General deal gives Fisher, one of the IRL's "most popular drivers," enough funding to "attempt to qualify for four races this season." Meanwhile, Angstadt said that he "doesn't anticipate more staff reductions in the IRL offices although he acknowledges those evaluations will be on a month-to-month basis" (AP, 1/13).
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Logano's Ad For The Home
Depot Debuting Soon |
NEXT BIG THING: ESPN.com's Marty Smith noted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano recently participated in a commercial shoot for primary sponsor The Home Depot, and the director said that Logano is "ahead of schedule, a natural actor." Logano "soon will be in your living room often," as the ad he shot "will be on national television within the month." Logano is "more mature than most 18-year-olds." Logano: "In this sport, you have to be more mature about it than other sports. Sponsors spend millions of dollars on us" (ESPN.com, 1/14).
NOTES: The AT&T Williams F1 team has extended and expanded its sponsorship agreement with Randstad Holding, which has sponsored the team since '06. Under the terms of the new three-year extension through '12, Randstad will be promoted to a senior partner of the team (AT&T Williams)....McDonald's will sponsor the No. 77 Doran Racing Ford Dallara Daytona Prototype throughout the '09 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, beginning with this month's Rolex 24 at Daytona Int'l Speedway (Grand-Am)....ServiceMaster Clean has signed a multi-year deal to be the first-ever official sponsor of the caution period during races at ISC and SMI tracks nationwide. When there is a problem on the track, the company's yellow trucks will be dispatched to clean the track (ServiceMaster Clean).
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