Sunoco To Sponsor Indianapolis 500 Rookie Of The Year Award

Kurt Busch is hopeful to put his likeness on the Borg-Warner trophy on Sunday. [Russ Lake Photo]

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, May 21, 2014 – Sunoco, Inc., an American company with an illustrious history in auto racing, will be the title sponsor beginning in 2014 of the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced today.

Now in its 63rd year, the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award has been presented to an amazing list of legendary drivers including Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Tony Stewart, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Arie Luyendyk and many more.

“The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award has long been one of the most coveted honors that a first year driver in the race can receive and the list of its recipients is a ‘Who’s Who’ among professional racing drivers,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “What makes the award exciting is that a driver who might not have had the best of practice or qualifying leading up to the race, could put it all together on race day and make a strong showing when it really counts. We are looking forward to seeing who that Sunoco Rookie of the Year is for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500.”

Sunoco has a long and successful history in motorsports. In the late 1960’s, the team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue competed in several different series with Sunoco-sponsored cars. This legendary team won many major events including the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and numerous high-profile sports car championships.

“Sunoco is proud to sponsor this year’s Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award,” said Sunoco Director of Marketing Drew Kabakoff. “We are thrilled to expand the Sunoco Rookie program and our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through this historic and prized award.”

Sunoco has been the official fuel partner of the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2010, providing the opportunity to demonstrate the performance and durability of Sunoco gasoline in the most demanding and competitive forms of racing in the United States.

Previous Sunoco Rookies of the Year entered in the field for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday, May 25 include Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the race in his only Indianapolis 500 start in 2000, and Helio Castroneves, the last rookie to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2001. Other entrants in this year’s race who captured top rookie honors include 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villenueve (1994), Marco Andretti (2006), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2008), Alex Tagliani (2009), JR Hildebrand (2011) and Carlos Munoz (2013).

The Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award electorate is comprised of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR officials, and members of the media. The 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year announcement is scheduled for Monday, May 26 during the Indianapolis 500 Victory Awards Celebration at IMS.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Sunoco, Inc. markets its brand of gasoline through more than 5,000 retail outlets in 25 states, from Maine to Florida and west to Michigan and Louisiana, including more than 600 APlus convenience stores. Sunoco is proud to sponsor INDYCAR, NASCAR and more than 50 other racing sanctions. For more information on Sunoco Retail, or to find a local Sunoco location, visit http://www.gosunoco.com/.
2014 ticket information: Ticket information is available for the remaining three events in 2014 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the Indianapolis 500, Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

Fans can order tickets at www.ims.com/tickets, by calling 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or by visiting the Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

RacingNation Crew