Team Penske inks new 2-yr Verizon deal – will sponsor both Power plus Montoya for 8 races

Will Power bounces his Verizon IndyCar over the Baltimore Chicane curbs

Team Penske and Verizon Wireless are growing their partnership beginning in 2014. Utilizing Verizon’s unique technology and communication capabilities to aid performance on the track while helping to bring new fans to the sport of INDYCAR racing, Team Penske proudly unveiled details of the enhanced partnership today.

Team Penske is building on a strong bond as a team sponsor and technology partner with Verizon established over the last five seasons. As part of a new multi-year extension of its partnership, Team Penske will expand its use of Verizon’s wireless services across all of its race teams, incorporating the company’s latest technology and 4G LTE and 3G networks to maximize results in competition and to improve communication both on and off the track.

As part of the agreement, Verizon will continue its full-season sponsorship of the iconic No. 12 Team Penske car driven by Will Power in the IndyCar Series. In 2014, Verizon will also serve as primary sponsor of the No. 2 Team Penske IndyCar driven by former champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya in his return to open-wheel racing for at least eight IndyCar Series events this season (photo of Montoya attached).

The relationship with the Colombian-born Montoya, who has cultivated a strong international following through his success in Formula One and NASCAR racing, is expected to help grow the IndyCar Series fan base. As Verizon continues to find new ways for fans to connect with INDYCAR through innovations like the INDYCAR 14 mobile app, the opportunity to work with Montoya represents an exciting addition to the partnership.

Verizon will also be the primary sponsor for all three Team Penske entries – the No. 2 and No. 12 cars as well as the No. 3 Team Penske machine driven by three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves – at the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Saturday, May 10, 2014.

“Verizon has been a terrific partner for Team Penske and we are excited to continue to grow our relationship with them in 2014 and beyond," said Roger Penske. “Verizon’s technology and marketing activation has meant so much to Team Penske and the sport of INDYCAR racing and we look forward to building on this special partnership in the future."

“We want to see Juan win some races and he wants to win the championship," Penske said. “He’s really motivated, and he feels he has something to prove. To me, he’s done well in tests and he’s gotten comfortable in the car, and now it is up to us to give him the tools he needs, and to be sure he understands how competitive it is out there."

Montoya has shed more than 20 pounds since last summer, and Penske believes he’s adapted quickly with Castroneves and Power.

Penske said he just needed to get Montoya out Jeans and into professional looking black pants

“We just had to get Montoya out of the jeans and into the black pants," Penske said. “Other than that, it should be easy to work with him."

Montoya was scheduled to be back in an Indy car Monday during a test session at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., where the Penske organization hoped for a better showing than last month’s session at Sebring, Fla. All three cars ranked near the bottom on the speed charts, and Montoya was last out of the 11 drivers at the test.

“It shows we have more work to do, although Juan was faster than the time showed," said Tim Cindric, president of Team Penske. “He knows he needs to pick up the pace. His time off is working against him, and the braking is so much more than he is used to. It is the commitment and the balance between working up to it and being fully committed."

Team Penske first welcomed Verizon as a partner in 2009. That season Verizon served as primary sponsor for the No. 12 car driven by Power in the Indianapolis 500. Since then, Verizon and Team Penske have teamed up for a remarkable record of success producing 17 race victories, 25 pole positions, 28 podium finishes and three series road course championships with Power behind the wheel of the No. 12 Verizon IndyCar.