Gainsco, sponsor of first unified race news

GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 to usher in new era of open-wheel unity next month at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Dallas-Based Insurer sponsors first unified IndyCar race in 13 years

DALLAS (February 22, 2008) -- The newly unified world of North American open-wheel racing will make a high-profile debut with next month's GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the Dallas-based auto insurer is honored to serve as the premier sponsor of the most significant IndyCar race to be run in more than a dozen years.

Sharing the card with the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series GAINSCO Grand Prix of Miami on Saturday, March 29, the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 will be the first race run since the recently announced unification of IndyCar and Champ Car World Series racing, which essentially ends the 12-year split that the sport of open-wheel racing has endured since 1996.

"We knew that sponsoring both the GAINSCO Grand Prix of Miami and the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 made a lot of sense for the company," said GAINSCO Southeast Division President Michael Johnston. "Now that the eyes of the motorsports world will be fixed on Miami for the most important IndyCar race in years, we have the opportunity to couple our business goals with a greater sense of honor and responsibility to ensure that the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 is an event worthy of its place in history."

Since announcing the dual race sponsorship at last month's Rolex 24 At Daytona, GAINSCO and Homestead-Miami Speedway have worked together on marketing and promotional efforts to make the Saturday double-header event a success. Now, the greater significance of the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 adds a new dimension of importance to those initiatives.

"South Florida is a very important market for GAINSCO's personal auto insurance products, which is why the sponsorship made great business sense in the first place," said GAINSCO Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing Andy Jordan. "Now we find ourselves in the fortunate position of sponsoring a race of great international interest and lasting historical significance. The GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 will provide greater market reach and exposure than we anticipated. Frankly, we're thrilled. We are up to the job and feel privileged to have the opportunity."

Kicking off the Saturday, March 29 double-header, the GAINSCO Grand Prix of Miami will begin at 3 p.m. A rock concert will follow that race in the 6 p.m. hour before the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 takes the green flag at 8 p.m. to start not only the race but a new era in open-wheel IndyCar racing history.

"This is a historical opportunity," Jordan said. "We want everyone from race fans and GAINSCO corporate partners and customers to the racing team owners and drivers to know that GAINSCO is proud to be a part of a very positive moment in open-wheel racing history. We look forward to an incredible event."

-credit: gainsco