NAPA AUTO PARTS is coming back to IndyCar, aboard the No. 98 of Alexander Rossi, which was also on his winning 100th Indianapolis 500 car in 2016. A return to blue and yellow for the 2017 season gives the auto parts distributor added open-wheel racing exposure with the NAPA AUTO PARTS name already well-known in American racing circles, sponsoring NASCAR drivers and NHRA drag racing.
Andretti Autosport representatives confirmed on Wednesday that Rossi’s car will carry NAPA AUTO PARTS sponsorship for seven races in 2017, starting in St. Petersburg. NAPA AUTO PARTS will continue sponsorship in Long Beach, Indianapolis, Road America, Watkins Glen, and Sonoma.
The exposure NAPA AUTO PARTS received being on Rossi’s historic Indianapolis 500 win in 2016 was huge for the iconic American brand. Continuing the IndyCar partnership into the new season is a no-brainer. Coupling the NAPA brand with the Andretti racing name together seems only natural, add to that a promising IndyCar talent in Rossi and it is surely a recipe for success in 2017.
“We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with one of the more iconic brands in all of motorsports, the Andretti brand,” stated NAPA President, Dan Askey.
“NAPA is a storied, American brand and I couldn’t be more proud to announce our partnership is continuing,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “We were pleased to have previously announced that Alexander will be returning for the full season, and now to be able to confirm that NAPA is back on board – what a great way for us to start 2017. Our relationship with NAPA came together quickly during our Month of May program last year, and it wasn’t long before the partnership was written into history books. We can’t wait to add a few more pages to history together.”
The NAPA-Andretti partnership starts anew in St. Petersburg, FL on March 12.
