TROY, Mich. (March 2, 2000) — Penske Auto Centers Inc. will be the primary sponsor of the Penske Racing cars driven by Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves at the season-opening race of the 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series.
The March 18 event at Phoenix International Raceway will be a tune-up for Penske Racing for the May 27 Indianapolis 500; Penske Racing is competing only part-time in the IRNL series in preparation for the Indy 500, historically the most-watched motorsports event of the year.
The Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 in Phoenix will be televised live by ABC-TV, giving Penske Auto Centers nationwide television exposure. Penske Auto Centers operates 650 outlets across the U.S., selling Goodyear, Penske and Dunlop brand tires; De Ferran and Castroneves will drive Dallara chassis on Firestone tires and powered by Oldsmobile engines.