IZOD IndyCar Series Q & A – Tim Cindric
Below are select quotes from his interview. A full transcript and MP3 audio file can be downloaded at the IZOD IndyCar Series media website at www.indycar.com/media
Q. The team had a pretty exciting event last night in Las Vegas, which is where Helio is somewhere between here and there. You unveiled the livery for the No. 3 Shell V-Power Pennzoil Ultra Dallara/Honda that he will drive in the Indianapolis 500. I guess it is a homecoming feel with Pennzoil's great history with Penske Racing, and especially at Indy.
TIM CINDRIC: Absolutely. We're excited to have that association and relationship. Obviously, it's far-reaching in terms of not only the IndyCar program, but obviously the NASCAR program is a huge part of that relationship. Not only the Pennzoil association they used to have obviously with Rick Mears and the nostalgia that that brings, the Shell V-Power brand is obviously a very strong brand and one that we're very proud to carry the colors for, especially at the centennial of Indy and Helio chasing his fourth 500, it will be special.
Q. Can you talk about the significance of bringing back a sponsor to IndyCar, especially one that has a strong history in our racing?
TIM CINDRIC: Anytime you bring on a sponsor, the whole Shell-Pennzoil brand, it continues to build the momentum. I know they'll continue to put more and more I guess awareness about IndyCar racing behind it, as has the IZODs and Verizons of the world that have recently come onboard to continue moving forward the sport.
Q. Tim, last year it was a great season for Will, Helio had success, Ryan some. It wasn't probably the final result you wanted. What's in the plans for the coming season and where do you need to improve to win that championship?
TIM CINDRIC: Yeah, like you said, if we look back in our history, I think last year is one of the most successful years we ever had when you look at the number of polls and races we won as an organization. But we fell short of winning the Indy 500 and winning the championship. Those are the two marquee things within the series, the two things we strive for. The rest of it is building blocks for that.
So going forward, the thing that we were most focused on for 2011 is ensuring we could bring the three drivers we have back into the fold for next year. It seems as though that's going to continue.
To last year add a third car and have that car compete for the championship, we're proud of that, because for anybody that's been in the business, it's difficult to put a third car in and continue to keep a level of success. When that third car becomes a frontrunner for the championship, it's something that's important, for sure.
I think last year we as a team expanded to that third car. That said, we probably were a little weaker than what we needed to be in the pits. I think we took two A-Teams and we made three B-Teams out of two A-Teams. I think we need to approach this year with three A-Teams in the pit lane.
I think every year you go, when we ran the Indy 500 last year, I felt like qualifying first, second and fourth is a pretty good feat there. We were very strong in the race, we just didn't execute. We need to continue to execute when it's our day.
Q. Tim, can you confirm that all three drivers are signed and what are the primary sponsors going to be for all three?
TIM CINDRIC: I think obviously this is the primary sponsorship for what we're going to have at Indianapolis. I think with regard to the other races for Helio, stay tuned. We'll continue to announce those as they're available, as we will with Ryan.
I'm confident that all three guys will be on the track all year next year is the best I can tell you today.
Q. So just to make sure I got this right, this is for Indy only?
TIM CINDRIC: It's Indy only. I'm sure you'll see that livery in more than just one race this season. We wanted to announce the Indy 500 program and Helio now. We'll continue to build on that. But I'm sure there will be more to come.