PVH to provide IZOD apparel to Indy Racing League

09 Jul '08

4 min read

Phillips-Van Heusen announced a new agreement with the Indy Racing League (IRL), the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, that will make PVH's IZOD brand, one of the United States' most recognized clothing brands, the official apparel of the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

For the remainder of the 2008 season, PVH will provide IZOD apparel to Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials and staff that work on and off the track. Beginning with the 2009 season, PVH will also supply the Indy Racing League with an exclusive IZOD fashion collection, inspired by the heritage of American racing and designed to address the performance needs of the League's executives and crew. The partnership between the IndyCar Series and IZOD includes promotional, merchandising and co-branding opportunities at and away from the Series' racing venues, as well as online.

"IZOD is truly a sport-spirited lifestyle brand and we're thrilled to have them on board with the IndyCar Series," said Terry Angstadt, President of the Indy Racing League's Commercial Division. "This announcement also adds to the sponsorship momentum that we've been building over the last several months. The growing number of partnerships we're making with quality organizations like PVH is really helping to build an exciting future for the IndyCar Series."

PVH also announced that IZOD would sponsor two drivers, Ryan Hunter-Reay of the IndyCar Series and Logan Gomez of the Firestone Indy Lights, as well as the Guthrie Racing Team.

The IZOD sponsorship made its official debut this past weekend at the Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen at Watkins Glen International. "As a brand built upon the pillars of performance, lifestyle and Americana, what better moment than the Fourth of July to celebrate our new relationship with one of America's favorite past times," said Allen Sirkin, Chief Operating Officer of PVH, adding, "The IndyCar Series is an ideal fit with the spirit of IZOD.

We're also extremely excited to inaugurate our relationship with Indy Racing by also sponsoring two rising stars in drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Logan Gomez. These two young men embody the bold determination and active lifestyle of IZOD." Ryan Hunter-Reay capped off the weekend's celebration with his first-ever IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International on Sunday.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, who drives the no. 17 Ethanol entry for Rahal Letterman Racing, co-owned by 1986 Indy 500 winner and three time Indy car champion Bobby Rahal and late night talk show host David Letterman, burst onto the racing scene in the late 1990's winning six National Karting Championships before graduating to open-wheel formula cars. In 2007, Ryan earned the Rookie-of-the-Year title in the IndyCar Series, and followed that by winning the Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year title in 2008.

"IZOD is a perfect fit for me since the style and dedication to high quality for which the brand is known delivers the ultimate in performance for my very active lifestyle," stated Ryan, adding, "It is an honor to have IZOD as a personal sponsor of mine and I am looking forward to representing the IZOD brand on and off the race track for many years to come."

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