Sunoco to sponsor Indy 500 rookie award
Now in its 63rd year, the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award has been presented to an amazing list of legendary drivers including Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Tony Stewart, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Arie Luyendyk and many more.
"The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award has long been one of the most coveted honors that a first year driver in the race can receive and the list of its recipients is a 'Who's Who' among professional racing drivers," said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. "What makes the award exciting is that a driver who might not have had the best of practice or qualifying leading up to the race, could put it all together on race day and make a strong showing when it really counts. We are looking forward to seeing who that Sunoco Rookie of the Year is for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500."
Sunoco has a long and successful history in motorsports. In the late 1960's, the team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue competed in several different series with Sunoco-sponsored cars. This legendary team won many major events including the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and numerous high-profile sports car championships.
"Sunoco is proud to sponsor this year's Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award," said Sunoco Director of Marketing Drew Kabakoff. "We are thrilled to expand the Sunoco Rookie program and our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through this historic and prized award."
Sunoco has been the official fuel partner of the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2010, providing the opportunity to demonstrate the performance and durability of Sunoco gasoline in the most demanding and competitive forms of racing in the United States.
Previous Sunoco Rookies of the Year entered in the field for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday, May 25 include Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the race in his only Indianapolis 500 start in 2000, and Helio Castroneves, the last rookie to win "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in 2001. Other entrants in this year's race who captured top rookie honors include 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve (1994), Marco Andretti (2006), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2008), Alex Tagliani (2009), JR Hildebrand (2011) and Carlos Munoz (2013).
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award electorate is comprised of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR officials, and members of the media. The 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year announcement is scheduled for Monday, May 26 during the Indianapolis 500 Victory Awards Celebration at IMS.