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Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League Name Pepsi Official Soft Drink

3 April 1998

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation and Pepsi-Cola Company today announced an agreement that names Pepsi the "official soft drink" of Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indy Racing League (IRL).

This alliance gives Pepsi:

Exclusive pouring rights for all IMS events, including the two best-attended single-day sporting events in the world, the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400, as well as the Comfort Classic at the Brickyard, a senior PGA Tour event. Entitlement in Indy FanFest, now renamed "Pepsi Park." Indy FanFest is an interactive entertainment complex operated during May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pepsi Park is a live entertainment area, located near the Hall of Fame Museum. Year-round theme identification with the IMS Hall of Fame Museum food and beverage services, now renamed the "Pepsi Pit Stop."

Official soft drink of the Indy Racing League. "We're are pleased to have an enthusiastic new partner in Pepsi, one of the world's most prominent brands," said Tony George, President and CEO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Pepsi's active involvement in promoting our events through their marketing efforts will help us grow. This is another step in attaining our vision of world leadership in motorsports entertainment."

"Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of motorsports' premier organizations, and we are extremely proud to be associated with such an American racing icon," said Rick Rock, VP, Media and Entertainment, Pepsi-Cola Company. "Through our new partnership with IMS, we're looking forward to greatly strengthening Pepsi's foothold in motorsports, and further connect with racing fans everywhere."

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was founded in 1909. On May 24th, IMS will conduct the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the best-known auto race in the world. Arie Luyendyk will defend his championship in a field that will include the 33 fastest qualifiers in open wheel cars. The fifth Brickyard 400, a NASCAR Winston Cup event, is scheduled for August 1. Ricky Rudd is the defending champion. The Comfort Classic at the Brickyard is scheduled for September 8-13 at the PGA Championship Course located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The IRL has 11 races in 1998 at Indianapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Ft. Worth (2), Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dover, Del., and Loudon, NH.

The Indianapolis agreement broadens Pepsi's long involvement in auto racing that dates all the way back to 1903 when pioneer roadster Barney Oldfield served as a Pepsi spokesperson. Today, Pepsi is the "soft drink of choice" at 14 of 20 NASCAR Winston Cup race tracks across the country. In addition to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pepsi has "exclusive" pouring rights at California Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Michigan Speedway, New Hampshire International Speedway, North Carolina Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Richmond International Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International.

Also, Pepsi is the title sponsor of four major races, two of which are in the prestigious NASCAR Winston Cup Series: the "Pepsi 400 at Daytona," and the "Pepsi 400 presented by DeVilbiss at Michigan." In addition, Pepsi has a relationship with racing's premier superstar and "Indiana's favorite son," Jeff Gordon (Jeff won the inaugural "Brickyard 400" back in 1994). Pepsi recently launched Jeff's first national commercial, titled "Stunt Racer," at Super Bowl XXXII.

Pepsi-Cola Company, the worldwide beverage division of PepsiCo, Inc., spans more than 190 countries and last year generated more than $10 billion in worldwide sales. Pepsi-Cola Company is based in Somers, NY.