Castroneves to drive No. 3 Hitachi car
Hitachi will serve as the primary sponsor for nine races – including two doubleheader race weekends – on the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet driven by three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series.
“Hitachi is a world-class company that proved to be a terrific partner for us this past season," said Roger Penske. “With the technical support Hitachi provides to Chevrolet in its IndyCar engine program, this relationship represents a winning formula on many levels."
In 2013, Hitachi will be the primary sponsor on the No. 3 machine driven by Castroneves in IndyCar Series races at St. Petersburg, Sao Paulo, Detroit (two races), Iowa, Pocono, Toronto (two races) and Sonoma.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to drive the Hitachi Team Penske car next season," said Castroneves, who will look to add to his 27 career IndyCar victories next season. “We will race in the Hitachi colors at some great events in 2013, including my hometown race in Brazil, and it will be awesome to have them on board with the team."
Hitachi joined Team Penske for the 2012 season and was the primary sponsor on the No. 2 Team Penske IndyCar for several races this past season, including its first victory in the sport as Ryan Briscoe captured the checkered flag at Sonoma.
“We’re very excited to be back with Team Penske in 2013 and we look forward to working with Helio and the No. 3 car team," said Rob Sharpe, Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This valued partnership provides the Hitachi Group with the opportunity to grow our brand globally with a well-respected team built on a tradition of winning and excellence. It also creates great business-to-business and customer networking opportunities at some of the world’s premiere racing venues."