Castrol Enters Three-Year IndyCar
Partnership With Toyota, AAR
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Continuing a relationship that already has resulted in the 1993 and 1994 World Rally Championships, lubricants specialist Castrol has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Toyota and All American Racers (AAR) to become a major sponsor of Dan Gurney's new Toyota-powered AAR Eagles.The partnership will see Castrol's familiar red, white and green colors adorn two AAR Eagles through the 1998 PPG Indy Car World Series season.
"This is a great opportunity for Toyota and Castrol to expand our successful joint motorsports program and to develop further our business partnership, in addition to renewing our relationship with Dan Gurney and All American Racers," said Tim Stevenson, Castrol International chief executive officer. "Castrol has teamed with Dan to win Formula One and Indy car races in the past, and we look forward to winning again with AAR in the future."
In addition to its motorsports partnership with AAR, Castrol, which already sponsors Toyota efforts in Europe, Asia and Africa, will become a technical partner with the auto maker in the development of its new Indy engine.
"Castrol and All American Racers have been a winning combination since as far back as 1967 when we won two Formula One races with the #36 Castrol-lubricated Eagle," says AAR team owner Gurney. "This year's program has Castrol and the car number 36, so hopefully it bodes well for us winning in the future. Castrol will play a major role in providing the strong foundation that any organization needs to become successful."
The AAR program will be Castrol's first venture into IndyCar racing in recent years.
"One of the great aspects of IndyCar racing is the potential for corporations to build strong business relationships through joint sponsorship programs," said J. Davis Illingworth, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. senior vice president - Toyota Division. "Castrol and Toyota have enjoyed a tremendous sporting relationship in the past, and now we plan to expand on that relationship. This is one of the reasons that Toyota transferred supervision of its motorsports programs from its External Affairs department to its Toyota Division where alliances like this can be forged more easily."
Juan Manuel Fangio II will debut the all-new Toyota-powered Eagle at this weekend's Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota at the Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex. He will be joined by P J Jones in a second Castrol-lubricated Eagle in mid-season.
Source: IndyCar WebsiteUsed by permission