Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 IndyCar accelerates sponsorship push in glum economy By Michael Marot Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — The Indy Racing League is pulling out of the economic pits as it battles for sponsorship. If all goes well, the series could be headed toward a big payoff. It's a major turnaround for a series that has long been overshadowed by NASCAR in the U.S. and recently cut a handful of jobs from league offices. Even the IRL's premier facility, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has had to cut jobs and close its hotel because of the recession. Suddenly, the IRL's future looks brighter. "Is it challenging out there? Absolutely, no question about it," said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL's commercial division. "But we feel, in motorsports, that we are the value league. We have a lot to offer and we are going to grow in 2009 in the most challenging economic environment in 50 years." Apparently, some companies like the sales pitch. On Monday, the series hosted officials from APEX-Brasil, a Brazilian trade organization, after recently completing one of the biggest deals in league history. The multiyear contract was expected to pump millions of dollars (euros) into the sport as the company provides ethanol for the series and television advertising. On Tuesday, Sarah Fisher announced discount store chain Dollar General was doubling its commitment to the second-year team, giving one of the IRL's most popular drivers enough cash to attempt to qualify for four races this season. Last year, Dollar General sponsored Fisher's startup team in two races. "Dollar General is excited about being a part of IndyCar racing for a second season by sponsoring Sarah Fisher in four races," company chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling said in a release. "We look forward to cheering for Sarah and SFR as her team continues to grow and succeed." Series officials believe those deals could be a harbinger. While the more lucrative NASCAR circuit has spent the past several months contending with team mergers and spending cutbacks from struggling automakers, some longtime supporters, like Kyle Petty, worry attendance could drop in 2009. So the IRL is trying to make its case to companies that now find NASCAR investments too costly. "We pursue sponsors on a regular basis and there is interest, but I'm not ready to say there's a groundswell," Angstadt said. "When you're the value property in any economically-challenged environment, you've got an advantage." Not all is rosy in Indy, though. The APEX-Brasil deal came only after the previous ethanol fuel maker pulled out of the series, prompting Midwestern farmers to air radio ads complaining the IRL had switched from an American product to a non-American product. Angstadt said he doesn't anticipate more staff reductions in the IRL offices although he acknowledges those evaluations will be on a month-to-month basis. And other well-funded teams aren't sure there's enough money to add cars to the lineup. Team Penske announced on Tuesday that it had hired Australia's Will Power as a replacement driver for two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves until Castroneves' tax-evasion case is settled. If Castroneves is exonerated, Roger Penske, one of the series' icons, may not have enough money to run all three cars full-time. "I can't tell you the last time we ran three cars," team president Tim Cindric said. "But we are a business in the motor sector and the racing sector is a very small part of the Penske operation. If the funding were there, we'd be running three cars." READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Lawsuit blames county and weed inspector in man’s death 2. Cost of dispute falls on Monroe 3. Salish Sea: Huge body of water now has common name 4. Mind if I smoke? 5. Boeing says 787 fixes are done 6. Worker dies after falling 4 stories from Lynnwood building 7. FOOTBALL FORECAST: Battle of unbeatens highlights first week of state-playoff action 8. Granite Falls-area fire chief placed on paid leave 9. Everett dentist travels world to help 10. Benefit to help injured soldier, his family 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Memorial for Peggy Pritchard Olson set • Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million