Big Machine Records Wins Second Consecutive Indy 500 
 

Last year the label sponsored Dan Wheldon's winning car;
this year Big Machine Records sponsored Champion Dario Franchitti 
 

Big Machine Label Group’s Martina McBride Gave an
Incomparable and Momentous Performance of the National Anthem   

Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Country Superstar Martina McBride and 2012 Indy 500 Winner Dario Franchitti. (Photo by Becky Fluke/Big Machine) 
 

NASHVILLE-- May 29, 2012 -- Country music's leading record label, Big Machine Records, earned its second Indy 500 championship on Sunday when IndyCar driverDario Franchitti raced into Victory Lane for the third time in his career. Big Machine Records sponsored Franchitti who sported the Big Machine Records logo on his helmet and firesuit. The race, which aired nationally on ABC, is known as the second most watched sporting event in the United States each year.
 
The win comes just one year after Big Machine Records sponsored the late Dan Wheldon's winning car at the 2011 Indy 500.
 
Big Machine Records had a prominent presence at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday through various Indy 500 sponsorships and entertainment activations. The record label, home to superstars such as Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Rascal Flatts, provided fans with pre-race entertainment and distributed over 250,000 white Big Machine Records-branded sunglasses to honor last year's Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Fans were asked to wear the sunglasses on laps 26 and 98, which are the numbers of the Wheldon's winning Indy 500 cars in 2005 and 2011, respectively.
 
Big Machine Label Group/Republic Nashville recording artist Martina McBride kicked off the racing event by performing the National Anthem in front of a crowd of almost 350,000 spectators. McBride gave a chilling and momentous rendition of the anthem that brought tears to many eyes and earned her roaring applause from the overzealous crowd. In honor of the late Dan Wheldon, McBride wore a Dan Wheldon championship ring on her right hand during her performance, paying tribute to both Wheldon and his family.
 
"I felt so excited and proud to be performing our anthem, especially since I was surrounded by so many of our military men and women. I was also wearing the championship ring from Dan Wheldon's win last year and that was really special," said McBride. "It was an honor to be a part of the tradition of the Indianapolis 500."
 
Big Machine Label Group President/CEO and racing aficionado Scott Borchetta was on location at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to experience the win firsthand. Borchetta tweeted from his Twitter account @ScottBorchetta all weekend, where he was spotted with Country stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on Friday night.
 
"This is truly an unbelievable moment. Dario and I have become friends over the last year directly due to my relationship to Dan Wheldon which lead to today's partnership. Dario's brilliant drive today will serve as one of the all-time great finishes for the world's biggest and most important race," said Borchetta. "We all had our white sunglasses on in tribute to Dan and Dario joked with me in Victory Lane that Dan was certainly looking down on us with a huge smile and likely having a great laugh that a quarter of a million people wore white sunglasses at today's 500.Tears of joy and celebration."
 
Big Machine Records will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July for the "Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com." The race weekend will treat fans to a special concert before drivers start their engines, featuring Country music stars The Band Perry, Justin Moore, The Mavericks, Greg Bates and others.
 
Last year's "Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com," created a unique festival environment at the track and was the first time a record label has ever presented a nationally-televised race in the 100-year history.
 
For ticketing and additional information visit indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
 

Franchitti's Car Number Changes to No. 50 For Indianapolis 500 in Celebration of Target's 50th Anniversary

INDIANAPOLIS,  -- Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) announced today that the traditional No. 10 Target Honda of four-time and defending INDYCAR Champion and two-timeIndianapolis 500 Winner Dario Franchitti will change to the No. 50 for the 96th Running of the Indianapolis500 in honor of Target's 50th Anniversary in 2012.  Target and Team Owner Chip Ganassi have partnered together for nearly half of those 50 years.  TCGR was established in 1990, making the 2012 season the 23rd year of partnership between the two organizations.  

Franchitti's car will feature a very unique look as the distinctive Target Bullseye will serve as the zero in the car number, which debuts Opening Weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Saturday, May 12, and at the Indianapolis 500 Sunday, May 27 (12:00 PM ET, ABC Sports).  Both he and Target teammate Scott Dixon (2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner) will also have the traditional Bullseye on the chest of their fire suits changed to the 50th Anniversary logo for the entire month.

QUOTEBOARD:

"Partnering with the Ganassi team has been a true highlight of Target's first 50 years in business," saidGregg Steinhafel, Chairman, President and CEO, Target. "We are excited that our guests and team will see our 50th anniversary commemorated with the new No. 50 on Dario's car during the Indianapolis500. What an outstanding tribute from a tremendous partner."

"It's really incredible to think Target has been with us for nearly half of their 50 years of existence," saidChip Ganassi, Owner, Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "It's a tremendous source of pride for not only myself, but our entire race team. They have been, and continue to be true 'partners' in every sense of the word.  Running the No. 50 car at Indianapolis is a fitting way to pay tribute to their longstanding success and achievements in the business world over the past half century."

"Over the past four seasons with the team, I've come to find not only what an incredible sponsor Target has been in their 23 years with this race program, but what a truly amazing corporation they are," saidDario Franchitti, Driver, No. 50 Target Honda.  "They are a retailer with such an amazing culture. I look forward to representing them at Indianapolis again this May, especially in such a landmark year."

NOTES OF INTEREST:

• Looking good at 50:  2012 marks Target's 50th Anniversary, opening its first store in Roseville, Minn. in May 1962.  Target was born out of department store roots from the Dayton Company and has become a leader of design and innovation. Now in 1,764 communities across the United States, Target has a strong legacy of giving back through support and volunteerism. This year, Target celebrates its legacy with a nod to the past and a look ahead to the exciting things to come.
• Making History Together:  Minneapolis-based Target also celebrates its 23rd year in motorsports with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2012.  Since its formation, TCGR has amassed 86 victories and nine titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), including three Indianapolis 500 victories (2000, 2008, 2010).  The 2012 season includes two full-time entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Scott Dixon and Franchitti and a full-time entry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) for 1999 IndyCar Champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya, as Team Target continues to feature some of the world's most accomplished race car drivers.  The Target Racing Program enters 2012 with 95 wins across four series (INDYCAR: 86; GRAND-AM: 4; ARCA: 4; NSCS: 1).
• Three-Time Winners:   Dating back to the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, there have been six three-time winners of the event.  As Franchitti looks to become the seventh to accomplish the feat onMemorial Day, it's interesting to note that of all six three-time winners (Louis Meyer – 1928, 1933, 1936; Wilbur Shaw – 1937, 1939, 1940; Mauri Rose – 1941, 1947, 1948; Johnny Rutherford – 1974, 1976, 1980; Bobby Unser – 1968, 1975, 1981 and Helio Castroneves – 2001, 2002, 2009) none had the same car number in all three races.  Franchitti will look to add a third 500 win to his racing resume in the No. 50 car after wins in cars No. 27 (2007) and No. 10 (2010). 
• Ganassi's IMS Glory:   Ganassi's history at IMS over the years includes four wins as a team owner in the Indianapolis 500 (1989, 2000, 2008, 2010) in addition to winning the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400.  He was also named Rookie of the Year as a driver in the 1983 Indianapolis 500.

For more information and photos log onto www.chipganassiracing.com or visit www.abullseyeview.com.

SOURCE Chip Ganassi Racing Teams