Shell and Pennzoil Announce Their Return to the Indy 500 with Veteran Driver Helio Castroneves

In April, Shell and Penske Corp. announced a multi-year cross-business alliance to begin with the 2011 racing season. The two brands say the alliance will allow them to expand their motorsports presence to include primary sponsorship of 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Kurt Busch and the No. 22 Dodge, as well as associate sponsorships promoting Shell V-Power and Pennzoil Ultra with IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Ryan Briscoe.

HOUSTON — On Thursday, Shell Oil Co. and Penske Corp. unveiled their 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and IZOD IndyCar Series car line-up along with important driver details for the 2011 season. Officials from both companies met with members of the media at the Penske-Wynn Ferrari dealership at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas to unveil both the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge that Kurt Busch will pilot throughout the 2011 season and the No. 3 Shell V-Power-Pennzoil Ultra Dallara/Honda that three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves will pilot at the Indianapolis 500 in May 2011.

"I am honored to represent the Shell and Pennzoil brands in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2011," said Busch. "I look forward to building on the success of our storied past at Penske Racing with our new sponsors at Shell and Pennzoil."

Shell and Pennzoil also announced their return to the Indianapolis 500 Thursday as they unveiled the No. 3 Shell V-Power-Pennzoil Ultra Dallara/Honda that three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves will drive in the centennial celebration of the Memorial Day weekend classic.

"I am very excited to be working with Shell and Pennzoil this season, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to drive the beautiful Shell V-Power-Pennzoil Ultra car in the 2011 Indianapolis 500 representing the No. 1 premium gasoline and Pennzoil’s most advanced motor oil in the U.S.," said Helio Castroneves, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske IndyCar. "Shell and Pennzoil have such a great history in IndyCar racing and they have certainly had some special moments with Penske Racing at the Indy 500. I hope we can create a little bit more history together this May at Indianapolis!"

"Shell has more than a half-century of motorsports expertise and alliances, allowing our organization to bring quality fuels and lubricants technology from the track to the road," said Lisa Davis, president, Shell Lubricants, Americas. "Strategic alliances are very important to our organization and the new relationship with a winning team like Penske provides us with additional opportunities to continue furthering our technological leadership and product development through the invaluable knowledge gained both on and off the track."

While Shell and Pennzoil will be the "Official Fuel and Motor Oil Supplier" to the Penske organization in the U.S., the relationship goes beyond a typical sponsorship. Beginning in 2011, Penske will work with Shell and Pennzoil to embark on a technical alliance that will offer insights into motor oil and fuel technology.

The renewed alliance will provide Penske’s IndyCar and NASCAR teams with cutting edge Pennzoil Ultra racing oil technology for all their racecars. Additionally, this alliance will enable further product development for Shell and Pennzoil through the invaluable knowledge gained surrounding fuels, lubricants and engine technologies. Like Shell and Pennzoil, Penske Corporation has a close relationship with Chrysler and Ferrari, both part of the Fiat Group.

"Shell and Pennzoil are two established and winning brands, and they will be strategic business providers for our Penske Automotive Group and Penske Truck Leasing businesses," said Roger Penske. "This is a very important global relationship for our organization and we look forward to producing many victories for Shell and Pennzoil in NASCAR, in the IZOD IndyCar Series and across our businesses."