Magneti-Marelli Partners With Schmidt-Peterson-Motorsports in IZOD IndyCar Series

INDIANAPOLIS and MILAN, March 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Magneti Marelli, a global automotive systems and  component supplier, has chosen Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) as its sponsorship visibility vehicle in the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2013 season.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130322/604951 )

Magneti Marelli Motorsport division is supplying fuel system components and technology to several IZOD IndyCar Series teams. Magneti Marelli has an expanded sponsorship involvement with SPM however and its logos will be displayed on the side of the cockpit and nose of the No. 77 Schmidt-Peterson-HP Motorsports entry driven by Simon Pagenaud.

"We are pleased that our technology is being integrated into the SPM team," said Roberto Dalla, Head of Magneti Marelli Motorsport. "The sponsorship of SPM is a demonstration to our desire to strengthen our brand presence in the IZOD IndyCar Series through strategic technical collaboration."

Team owner Sam Schmidt is happy to ally his team's name with a company that has had a role in motorsports since 1919. "Magneti Marelli is a name that is synonymous with all major forms of motorsports and is a leader in electronic engineering worldwide," Schmidt said. "It is an honor for us to have them join our existing partner base."

Its work with SPM creates an opportunity for Magneti Marelli to design and test in an environment with extreme conditions that can be applied to mass-produced vehicles. Building a bridge between the two worlds of motorsports and road cars in a technological transfer brings added value to both areas.

"This sponsorship has grown from a technological starting point," said James Rosseau, Head of Magneti-Marelli North-America. "It is the correct way to raise visibility and communicate to the North American market what Magneti Marelli really is: technology with quality, passion and performance. We want people to know that we are part of their world and have been for many years, in their head lights, fuel systems, shocks absorbers, racing components, electronic systems, etc., and the racing venue allows them to see this."

"As we continue to grow our technical resources as a team it is fantastic to welcome a company with the racing heritage of Magneti Marelli as a partner," SPM General Manager Rob Edwards said. We look forward to using their technology to increase our competitive advantage while at the same time promoting the Magneti Marelli brand to fans of IndyCar racing."

Magneti Marelli's logo can be seen on Simon Pagenaud's No. 77 car at the Honda-Indy-Grand-Prix of St.Petersburg on March 24 and throughout the rest of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

Company info at:

http://www.magnetimarelli.com

http://www.spmindycar.com

SOURCE Magneti Marelli