IRL title sponsor hunt heats up

August 6, 2009
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penskeTerry Angstadt, president of the Indy Racing League’s commercial division, admits the search for a series title sponsor has been up and down. “It’s been a bit schizophrenic,” he told IBJ recently.

The heat from the series’ teams to get a deal done has been ratcheting up despite the lagging economy.

“The on-track product, I think as you saw at Kentucky, is good,” said Penske Racing President Tim Cindric, shown above, right with his boss Roger Penske. “It comes down to promotion and perception. We need someone in the mainstream who believes in the series, and I think the perception will change. The popularity of any sports property has a lot to do with the marketing dollars behind it.”

Angstadt said he has heard the message, and league officials are making progress. He points out that series sponsorship revenue this year is up “six fold” over last year and that elusive title sponsor may be at hand.

“You’ve caught me on a good week,” Angstadt said. “We are talking to a company that is in the third stage of consideration. We’re darn close to being able to get that [title sponsor deal] done. The company we’re talking to is a big consumer brand, and it would be very good for the series.”

Angstadt added that it’s still too early to start celebrating, but he is hopeful a title sponsor will be in place for the 2010 season. Cindric doesn’t want any more excuses—including the economy.

“It’s certainly a challenging time, but there are opportunities in challenging times,” Cindric said. “Ask my boss about that. He’s out there buying car companies.”

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  • HELl YEah GIt er doned. I hope that not having TOney Gorge involved no more doesnt hurt getin a sposner. WHy dont the IRl get PEnske to sposner the IRl? Taht woud rock.

    THe IRl - its all bout perception baby
  • Cindric is right. It is time to get a deal done. It will be interesting to see if this current one comes through, and if it is one that has been discussed in the past.

    Anthony,

    Any chance of getting an article on Schumcher and Massa?
  • Is the big consumer brand Clabber Girl?
  • Indyman, I'm working on it. Sorry for the delay.
  • Third stage of consideration. Now that is funny Angstadt, I don't care who you are. You got game, boy.

    If that doesn't speak volumes about where the IRL stands right now. Or sits in its own stuff, rather. But you get my point.
  • Up six-fold over nothing is still nothing :p
  • They're reupping with PEP Boys - has everything for you. And that means you DaHooey!!!
  • I'm not one of the complainers, but we have been hearing this for years and something always comes up that kills it. Many thanks for the update, but I just can't get excited about this until the story reads 'Title Sponsor Found'.

    I was interested to hear that, I believe, John Menard had offered to become title sponsor, but was a little bit off the mark $ wise. At what point do they take the lower #, even if it's a short term deal??? Just blows my mind that they would turn anyone away at this point, especially a sponsor who has skin in the game.
  • Is Cindric on meth? :lol: The 'league' sucks and no one likes it.

    Talkin' Terry should be updating his resume.
  • I am thinking Gillette. Curt Cavin's Q&A at the Start website mentioned Gilette people had been and several IRL races including Indy. His story was in reference to a possible temp street circuit around Gillette Stadium. Could that just be a cover while investigating the IRL? Maybe both?
  • This story has been written every year for the last several years. The league always says it's close on a title sponsor and NEVER delivers.
  • Gilette is part of the Target sponsoship, Einstein.Race.Fan.....


    Talkin Terry is hangin on for dear life. You don;t think his kahunas are on the chopping block next? WTF has he ever done? I am Mindy? Chesson? Milky Donuts? That boy's dumber than a bag of hammers....or Steve Johnson, ChampCar Saviour, according,,,to,,people who,,,know


    The IRL: Just burn the sucker down and start over.

    :lol:
  • Da Poopey Pants,

    You are an uninformed fool. But you knew that right? So why do you post? Anything interesting and relevant from you, well, not so much. Bummer, but just how it is, I guess. You are not to interesting.
  • What part of my post is wrong Count?
  • Ya'll no waht, I gotta tell ya'll sumpin thas been on my mind, I dun like to do much of that there thinkin a whole lotta much but i was using my mind (gotta keep that there baby sharp so i dun get old-timers sindrum). Now ya'll think the IRL is gonna get isself outdoors and i tell ya why, real americans like to hunt and fish, them that dusn't, well, them all is comyanists. the IRL should gonna introduce a 25/8 rule for 25 americans and 8 other kinds of folks for Indy 500 qualifying. anyways i'm a just thinkin myself out loud but i tell ya what the IRL will rattle again, they just gotta git themselves out to Eldora and also they gotta git some drivers that are real americans that are more like guys like me ya'll know the kind like tony stuarts. I tell ya'll what if the IRL can do itself that and git tony jorges back they gonna have 38 title sponsors.

    sum pastabilities i see:
    extenze
    sam hornish jr
    albama drydock and shipping company
    airtran
    southern nuclear
    foodmax
    macdonalds
    milo's hamburgers

    what does ya'll think to that?

    LONG LIVE THE FIVE HUNRET MILE RACES BOYS!!!!
  • Vag Sam:



    weak dood, weak.

    go back to Funny School and get yur money back.
  • Dahooey,

    You are asking Count to actually give you an answer? That is like asking Stan to give a straight answer. As has been shown over and over, they like to say everything posted is wrong, but give no reasoning or proof. You'd have a better chance of asking T.O....I mean Ocho Cinco to be a team player.
  • indyman



    .14


    HAHAHA LMFAO!
  • Did the Mug and Bun people see the .14 Spartucky rating? They may take their $500 title sponsorship offer off the table.

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  1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

  2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

  3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

  4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

  5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

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