Chip Ganassi Racing today announced that Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank will "become the full-season primary sponsor of Scott Dixon’s No. 9 Honda" for the '18 Verizon IndyCar Series campaign, according to Adam Stern of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. PNC has had a "smaller deal with the team for several years, but this marks the first time it will become a primary sponsor." Target had been a sponsor of CGR for nearly 30 years before the retailer "exited the IndyCar side" after '16. Assets of PNC's deal "include hospitality and access to appearances with Dixon." PNC "plans to promote the deal on its digital and social channels." PNC President, Chair & CEO Bill Demchak said that "eight of the race markets for IndyCar events are key markets for PNC, which has a strong footprint of retail banks in the East Coast and Midwest, and also does some work on the West Coast." In addition to the previous relationship between PNC and CGR, Demchak and team owner Chip Ganassi "went to high school" together near Pittsburgh (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/5 issue). CGR used "three different sponsors on Dixon’s No. 9 car last season" to fill the void left by Target (AP, 2/6).
