Mercedes-Benz Key Supporter
Of IndyCar's U.S. 500
MONTVALE, N.J. (Feb. 7, 1996) - Mercedes-Benz of North America has signed an agreement with Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) to join an elite group of sponsors in supporting the U.S. 500, the IndyCar-sanctioned race scheduled to run May 26 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. IndyCar expects to announce additional sponsors later this week."Mercedes-Benz's racing heritage goes back more than a hundred years," said Hal Whiteford, vice president of operations for Mercedes-Benz. "And in that time we have had the good fortune to participate in and be associated with some of the greatest competition among the most talented drivers in the sport.
"We are committed to continuing that competitive tradition and our associate with the greatest racing drivers in the world. That is why we are an IndyCar competitor and sponsor, and why we have chosen to support the U.S. 500 at Michigan."
Mercedes-Benz re-entered Indy car racing, after a 71-year hiatus, in 1994 and powered Al Unser Jr. and Marlboro Team Penske to victory in the Indianapolis 500, the manufacturer's sole Indy car appearance that year. In 1995, the first full year of competition for Mercedes-Benz in the era of modern Indy Car racing, the 2.65-liter Mercedes-Benz IC108 was the engine-of-choice for six teams. Mercedes-powered drivers accumulated a total of six wins in 17 races and claimed two of the top three positions in the final points ranking. For 1996, the manufacturer will again supply engines to a total of eight drivers and will return as the Official Car of IndyCar.
Reminiscent of the trademark three-pointed star, the Mercedes-Benz motorsport program includes three branches of competition - the PPG Indy Car World Series, the International Touring Car championship and the Formula One world driving championship - and, along with sponsorship of PGA TOUR golf and ATP Tour tennis, comprises the Mercedes-Benz sports marketing campaign.