IndyCar Series CEO Mark Miles revealed at a Wednesday media announcement regarding the IndyCar Series television schedule with NBC Sports that he is confident a new series sponsor will be announced soon.
It may come as early as next week, according to an official media conference list that has IndyCar reserved for a tentative announcement next Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit.
Miles remains confident and optimistic a deal to replace Verizon as the IndyCar Series sponsor will be revealed by the middle of this month.
"Today we are not making an announcement about our next title sponsor, but I would just say to you we expect that that will be very soon, and we are delighted at the news that we expect to be able to make quite quickly," Miles said Wednesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "And every time we say that, it's hard for me not to say how much we appreciated the relationship we had with Verizon. They set a great foundation for the growth of the series, but we're that much excited or more with what's to follow with our next title for the series.
"I won't be specific at all, but we're quite optimistic now that we will soon be able to name a new presenting sponsor for the Indianapolis 500-mile race. All these are great companies that love IndyCar racing and the 500 and will be, I think, great partners in helping us grow the sport."
Miles would not confirm the name of the new sponsor, but speculation has centered on a wide-ranging international technological company that is very well connected within the international and domestic business communities in the United States.
During last Sunday’s NFL Wild Card Playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, NBC Sports debuted a 15-second commercial featuring five-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and the Indianapolis 500. Several close-ups of Dixon prominently featured “NTT-Data” on Dixon’s visor.
NTT-Data is the sponsor of the No. 10 Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing. Dixon drives the No. 9 Honda sponsored by PNC Bank.
Autoweek asked Miles if the commercial may have inadvertently revealed the new series sponsor? That company has been the focus of heavy speculation within the IndyCar community as a potential series sponsor for the past six weeks.
"You don’t think that was by design, do you?" Miles told Autoweek with a smile. "But right now, I’m not even going to confirm if we have a deal signed or not.
"That will be revealed soon."
It may have been a sneak peek into IndyCar’s future.
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