Indy Car Announcement on Nov. 5th

[Tim Northcutt]

A journalist posted on Trackforum last night that the Indy Cary Series has called a news conference for Thursday, November 5, at 2 p.m. EST at IMS.

Word is that they will announce both the IZOD title sponsorship and finalization of the deal for the Brazil race in Rio.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Are they also going to announce any changes to the engines or cars? I'd love to the end of those Dallaras.

[instant classic]

i kind of feel the same way as i did when Nascar got Nextel
what is IZOD?

[bjohnsonsmith]

A men's clothing company, a bit like Ralph Lauren.

[JagtechOhio]

Izod is owned by PVH, who also spent $10M for a NFL ad campaign.

They make shirts, and might be further helped through B2B business deals with textile producers who are members of Apex Brazil.

Everything's gonna be awright.
__________________________________________________________________________
Andy Bernstein

[bjohnsonsmith]

Apex Brasil are The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and also supply the ICS with ethanol so it does look very promising. However, I would really like to see something about getting other engine and chassis manufacturers involved. There was that consultation with various engine manufacturers last year but nothing since. Hopefully soon.

[JagtechOhio]

Two years and maybe $60 million dollars from now, all your dreams might come true.

That will be up to engine and chassis manufacturers, not the ICS.

Then you'll have to hope there are customers around to buy the finished product.

[bjohnsonsmith]

At the moment it's a closed shop; the official engine supplier is Honda and the official chassis manufacturer is Dallara, so unless that's changed then there will be no other engine or chassis manufacturers. It's therefore entirely up to the IRL/ICS.

If another manufacturer can produce a better package then attracting customers won't be a problem.

Obviously with the current economic situation money is tight but if things continue to improve then that will be good generally.

[JagtechOhio]

Yes, thank you very much for the dispensation of your enlightenment.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A pleasure as always, old chap.

[DanicaFan]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

A journalist posted on Trackforum last night that the Indy Cary Series has called a news conference for Thursday, November 5, at 2 p.m. EST at IMS.

Word is that they will announce both the IZOD title sponsorship and finalization of the deal for the Brazil race in Rio.

That is what Im hearing here in Indy.

[climb]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Two years and maybe $60 million dollars from now, all your dreams might come true.

....

60 millions? Two years?

Where d'you take those numbers from?

[JagtechOhio]

The $60 million is a totally fictitious number, based on the cost of new chassis R&D and construction, and new engine R&D and construction. Larry Curry once said that Menard's engine program was in excess of $30M. All of those costs will be borne by prospective manufacturers, if they look at a (yet to be released) set of regulations and decide to pony up.

This is why "we need new cars and engines" is a load of crap, nothing turns a wheel until 2012 even if anybody decides to make the leap of faith and invest. Two more years like '09 and there won't be anyone to watch the races, or teams to buy the cars.

I hope the Izod sponsorship is a great deal. If it's in the $10M a year range, and gets them named as Series Sponsor, they must feel like they are getting their money's worth.

I'm wondering what their level of participation was before: if this isn't a huge increase, how far is the $10M going to go now that the IMS checkbook is closed? Every little bit helps, but I'd like to know that this is really not just a case of a little bit more.
_________________________________________________________
Andy Bernstein

[JagtechOhio]

To Tim:

I realize this will continue to be a point of contention, but I am dismayed at the way the Izod news has been dribbled out to achieve minimum effect.

There's also a disturbing trend developing around Curt Cavin's perspective: today he declares the news as official, and prints quotes from Zack Brown to create the impression that Mr. Brown and his company were involved in the deal.

A comment that follows the USA Today reprint of Cavin's article says that Brown had nothing to do with the Izod sponsorship. Curt Cavin's other recent pronouncements have contained similar word puzzles, as I'm sure you have noticed.

By the way, Marco Andretti appeared at the SEMA show today. Let me know if you see any TV coverage. SEMA is a haunt for industry insiders, and not the platform for any announcement that will reach the general public. USA Today is, and now the story has been leaked with additional ambiguous information attached to it.

That's no way to run a publicity campaign.
____________________________________________________________
Andy Bernstein

[Yannick]

So where will this title sponsorship deal lead Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is IZOD's man and looking for a drive. AGR maybe?

[fieldodreams79]

maybe IZOD will have "throw back" uniforms and have the drivers race in their collared shirts, a Rolex and goggles.

seriously, if IZOD can do ANYTHING to make this series better, God bless them. they need all the help they can get.

[cos]

Originally Posted by Yannick

So where will this title sponsorship deal lead Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is IZOD's man and looking for a drive. AGR maybe?

Looks like it: According to Robin Miller RHR should land at AGR (or whatever they'll be called in 2010).

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Izod is owned by PVH, who also spent $10M for a NFL ad campaign.

They make shirts, and might be further helped through B2B business deals with textile producers who are members of Apex Brazil.

Everything's gonna be awright.
__________________________________________________________________________
Andy Bernstein

Izod was originally a tailor's shop in London, owned by Jack Izod in the early C 20th making bespoke shirts for King George V of England. He sold his company to a US businessman. Interestingly, Izod merged with Lacoste in the early 1950s. I think that's enough of this digression.

[JagtechOhio]

Please do go on...I'd like to know how that '50's merger bore fruit to their subsequent permanent press development program.

[fieldodreams79]

now that we've had our IZOD history lesson, seems the apparel company has made a sizeable commitment with a 6 year agreement to be the title sponser of the IRL.

from the IRL.com ARTICLE

• Increased and enhanced nationalmedia initiatives with television partners ESPN on ABC and VERSUS.
• Multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series Team Enhancement and Allocation Matrix. Introduced in 2008, TEAM provides a guaranteed financial foundation for every team committed to running the entire schedule.
• Access to drivers and 100 years' worth of motorsports assets and graphics from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, including current and vintage cars, for both on- and off-track events in and out of race markets.
• Shared Web initiatives and online promotions.

sounds like there is potential.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Izod was originally a tailor's shop in London, owned by Jack Izod in the early C 20th making bespoke shirts for King George V of England. He sold his company to a US businessman. Interestingly, Izod merged with Lacoste in the early 1950s. I think that's enough of this digression.

Nope, not until we state that Izod is no longer involved with Lacoste. Not a fan of Izod myself, but hey, thanks for the sponsorship dollars!

[johntt]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

now that we've had our IZOD history lesson, seems the apparel company has made a sizeable commitment with a 6 year agreement to be the title sponser of the IRL.

from the IRL.com ARTICLE



sounds like there is potential.

All sounds very promising, but unless there is a good on track product to back up the promotion then it may be for nothing or little in return...

[DanicaFan]

Here is the new logo...

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by johntt

All sounds very promising, but unless there is a good on track product to back up the promotion then it may be for nothing or little in return...

preeeecisely.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by johntt

All sounds very promising, but unless there is a good on track product to back up the promotion then it may be for nothing or little in return...

And as long as the series is run with the current cars there won't be a good track product..