IZOD Named title sponsor of IRL

IZOD Brings IndyCar Series a Strong Brand, Bright Future, And Vision For Growth

Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation announced today a multi-year agreement in principle with the Indy Racing League the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series, for its IZOD brand to become the title sponsor of the newly renamed IZOD IndyCar Series. The IZOD IndyCar Series, which will mark the League's first title sponsorship since 2001, introduced its new logo and key partnership details today, with additional activation, promotional plans and marketing initiatives to be revealed in the coming months, prior to the start of the 2010 season. Under the new arrangement, IZOD will also retain its designation as the official apparel partner of the Indy Racing League, which began in 2008. Key elements of the agreement are expected to include:

Multi-year, multi-million dollar activation plans and brand-building efforts around the IZOD IndyCar Series intended to broaden the promotion of the sport both off the track and beyond its traditional audience. These include:

Increased and enhanced national media initiatives with IRL's two television partners – ESPN on ABC and VERSUS. Access to drivers and 100 years' worth of motorsports assets and graphics from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, including current and vintage cars, for both on- and off-track events, both in and out of race markets.

Multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series Team Enhancement/Allocation Matrix fund. Introduced in 2008, TEAM provides a guaranteed financial foundation for all teams committed to running the entire IZOD IndyCar Series schedule

Shared Web initiatives and online promotions

Rights to use one of the most dynamic marketing events in all of sports – two parade laps in the IZOD IndyCar Series two-seater at the start of the Indianapolis 500 and other selected races –providing a one-of-a-kind experience to an IZOD-selected VIP or fan sweepstakes winner

"The combination of young, dynamic drivers representing over 14 countries, events in key domestic and global markets and its strong American racing heritage make the IndyCar Series a perfect fit for the sport-spirited IZOD brand lifestyle," said Allen Sirkin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Phillips-Van Heusen. "Our involvement with the IRL began shortly after the unification of U.S. open-wheel racing and, despite the recession, we have seen growth and sense the potential for even greater opportunity as the sport is re-energized on the American sports landscape, as well as abroad. We're excited at the opportunity to become the title sponsor f the IZOD IndyCar Series and look forward to taking our partnership with the fastest form of motorsport in the world, along with its 'cars and stars', to a new level of marketing and activation both on and off the track."

"Our relationship with the IZOD brand has been on the fast track since the day we began our partnership in 2008, and we are thrilled they have taken a bigger and more vital role in our sport," said Terry Angstadt, president of the Commercial Division of the Indy Racing League. "Their strong marketing skills, national retail partnerships and ability to bring fresh eyes to the sport have already proven powerful in our short time together. We're confident that we have found a partner with a strong brand, a bright future and a vision for growing the IZOD IndyCar Series that will benefit fans, drivers, teams, owners and tracks."

The move by Phillips-Van Heusen follows a series of recent similar decisions to shift IZOD's marketing mix towards sports and sponsorship activation. In 2008, IZOD was awarded the naming rights for what was then Continental Airlines Arena at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, home of the New Jersey Nets, renaming it the IZOD Center. Phillips-Van Heusen's efforts helped lift the IZOD Center to become the fourth-ranked venue of its kind in North America. Phillips-Van Heusen also recently announced its VAN HEUSEN brand's sponsorship of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame fan vote, a first of its kind for any professional sport.

The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in the U.S., showcases some of motorsport's leading personalities, including Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan, as well as Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti and Tomas Scheckter, heirs to some of auto racing's greatest legends. The 2010 season is scheduled to feature 17 races in the United States, Canada, Japan and Brazil, with the first green flag dropping March 14 in Brazil. The races will be broadcast in high-definition on ABC and VERSUS.

Franchitti takes Iowa victory

Iowa captured a lot of the excitement that has been missing from the 2009 IndyCar Series season, as Dario Franchitti took a well-judged second victory of the year by navigating a series of incidents and green-flag pit stops.

It was still a driver from Chip Ganassi Racing or Team Penske that wound up in victory lane for the seventh time in as many races. Franchitti was once again in a special livery - his fifth in seven races - as opposed to the standard Target red and white, the TOM TOM lime green car that he also drove to third place at the Milwaukee Mile.

"I'm completely dizzy right now," Franchitti admitted after a quick second half of the race. "We worked hard on certain parts of the setup, and it changed a lot. We did a couple little tweaks, plus the stops were great for track position."

Franchitti led home Ryan Briscoe, with Hideki Mutoh scoring his best result since finishing runner-up at this race last season in third. Dan Wheldon finished fourth and was the only other driver to finish on the lead lap, while Scott Dixon had a fraught but conservative race finishing fifth.

Dixon wins at Milwaukee

Scott Dixon didn't lead the majority of laps around the treacherous Milwaukee Mile, but led the right ones en route to winning his second IndyCar Series event of the season.

The New Zealander drove from fourth on the grid and made a late-race pass of Ryan Briscoe to take the point on lap 201, which he did not relinquish for the rest of the day. Dixon dove to the inside of Briscoe and Tomas Scheckter, a lapped car, on the back straight for the winning move.

IRL: Helio Castroneves wins Indy 500

Victory goes to the man who nearly lost everything after being in court the last six months to stand trial on charges of federal tax evasion, of which he was acquitted on April 17th. All that's behind him now, and Castroneves' future is brighter than he could've imagined a few months ago after winning the "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" for the third time in his career.

He joins eight other drivers in the three-peat club, but he's the only foreign-born driver of the bunch. Perhaps the only more amazing outcome for the race would have been a win by Indy starlet Danica Patrick. Alas, it was not to be, though Patrick did finish third behind Dan Wheldon, which beat her previous best finish of fourth back in her rookie season of 2005.

Marco sets pace on Indy 500 opening day

Marco Andretti blazed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at a speed of 225.478 miles per hour to become the fastest of 32 cars taking the first official practice laps around the 2.5-mile oval for this year's Indianapolis 500. Opening Day was pushed to Thursday afternoon due to constant showers yesterday.

The third generation driver was behind the wheel of the Team Venom Energy car from the Andretti Green Racing stable.