TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned-subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. today announced that the Hitachi Group will serve as the primary sponsor for eight races on the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet driven by three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves in the 2014 IndyCar Series. Hitachi Group companies in the Americas included in the sponsorship include: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd., Hitachi America, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Hitachi Consulting, Hitachi Data Systems, Hitachi High-Technologies America, Inc and Hitachi High-Technologies Canada, Inc.
Hitachi began its partnership with Team Penske for the 2012 season as a primary sponsor on the No. 2 Team Penske IndyCar and continued its relationship with Team Penske during the 2013 season by sponsoring Castroneves’ No. 3 Team Penske Car.
“I’m excited to represent Hitachi again during the 2014 IndyCar Series season,” said Castroneves. “We were so close to winning a championship together last year. Through hard work and their continued support, I believe an even better season is on the horizon for us.”
Castroneves will first race in the Hitachi colors at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the season-opening event for the 18-race IndyCar Series season that begins on Sunday, March 30. In addition to serving as an associate sponsor for the No.3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet, Hitachi will also serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 2 Dallara/Chevrolet driven by Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 12 Verizon Dallara/Chevrolet driven by Will Power in 2014.
“Through our collaboration with Team Penske we have been able to transfer both technology and application experience from racing components into production vehicles that are on the road today. The relationship in 2013 with both Team Penske and Chevrolet has truly been a collaborative partnership,” said Rob Sharpe, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc. “We are thrilled to continue this relationship in 2014,” said Sharpe.
The relationship between Team Penske and Hitachi began at the start of the 2012 IndyCar season. In 2013, Hitachi grew to become a primary sponsor on the No. 3 Team Penske machine driven by Castroneves at select IndyCar Series races. In addition to being a part of a number of race wins, pole positions and podium finishes since the start of the relationship, Castroneves has become a true brand ambassador for the company through a very focused and integrated branding, digital and social media perspective.
“One of our goals at Penske Racing is to create true, integrated global partners for our race teams,” said Roger Penske. “Hitachi Automotive Systems and the Hitachi Group have certainly represented this type of partnership with Team Penske. Working closely with Chevrolet on the fuel injection systems on our IndyCars, Hitachi has been instrumental in many of our race wins, but our relationship extends far beyond what you see on the racetrack."
“The 2014 sponsorship will provide Hitachi Group companies ‘as a whole’ with the opportunity to leverage the tremendous branding and social media value for Hitachi’s more than 70 companies in North America as well as globally for Hitachi,” said Lauren Raguzin, Director, Branding and Corporate Communications, Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd.
“Partnering with such well-established and successful entities like Team Penske and Helio Castroneves puts Hitachi in a strong position as we continue to refine our new global brand business strategy around Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business," said Raguzin.
“Helio is a great representative of Hitachi and the multiple group companies that continue to leverage this impactful relationship receive tremendous value on so many levels,” said Sharpe.
In 2014, the Hitachi primary sponsorship for the No. 3 machine driven by Brazilian-native Castroneves in the IndyCar Series will be for races in St. Petersburg, Fla; Detroit; Newton, Iowa; Long Pond, Pa.; Lexington, Ohio; Milwaukee; Sonoma, Calif.
As part of its branding strategy, Hitachi will continue enhancing its Hitachi Motorsports microsite and Hitachi Motorsports Facebook page, so racing enthusiasts should stay tuned for some exciting content enhancements and promotions supporting the sponsorship in 2014.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal 2012 (ended March 31, 2013) totaled 9,041 billion yen ($96.1 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, power systems, construction machinery, high functional material & components, automotive systems and others.
For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
About Hitachi America, Ltd.
Hitachi America, Ltd. headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and its subsidiary companies offer a broad range of electronics, power and industrial equipment and services, automotive products and consumer electronics with operations throughout the Americas. For more information, visit www.hitachi-america.us. For more information on other Hitachi Group companies in the United States, please visit www.hitachi.us.
About Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc.
Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., manufactures, remanufactures and markets a wide range of automotive systems including engine management systems, electric power train systems, drive control systems and car information systems for all major automotive original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers worldwide, providing leadership within Hitachi Automotive Systems’ global operations as the regional headquarters in the Americas. The company is headquartered in Harrodsburg, KY. For more information, please visit www.hitachi-automotive.us.
About Penske Racing
Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 384 major race wins, 437 pole positions and 25 National Championships. The team has also earned 15 Indianapolis 500 victories in its storied history. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.
