PHILADELPHIA — Sunoco has signed an agreement with Indy Racing League (IRL) to become the Official Fuel of the Indy Racing League, IZOD Indy Car Series and Firestone Indy Lights/Road to Indy beginning in 2011 and running through 2014.
Sunoco will team with APEX-Brasil and UNICA to promote these racing series, which run almost exclusively on ethanol.
“Indy car racing is an exciting sport with passionate fans that value innovation, technology improvements and a green approach to renewable fuels,” said Robert Owens, Sunoco’s senior vice president of marketing. “We are thrilled to have the chance to supply the fuel used in one of the greatest events in motorsports – the annual Indianapolis 500. There is no better showcase of our fuel’s quality.”
Commenting on the agreement, Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League, said, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Sunoco, a company with a great deal of passion for motorsports. We feel our key brand attributes of innovation, technology and greening align well with Sunoco and will provide a great retail platform to jointly promote the sport. We’re looking forward to working with Sunoco on creating in-store and at-pump activation initiatives to raise awareness of the IZOD Indy Car Series.”
This agreement is the latest milestone in a long history of partnership between Sunoco and open wheel racing, including the team of Roger Penske and Mark Donahue winning the 1972 Indianapolis 500 with a Sunoco-sponsored car. This duo succeeded in capturing several sports car championships, including SCCA, Can Am, and the inaugural Indy car race at Pocono Raceway.
Sunoco added that together with its 2009 acquisition of an ethanol manufacturing facility in Fulton, N.Y., this agreement with Indy Racing League demonstrates its commitment to providing alternative fuel options as customer demand and marketplace opportunities develop.
