American Honda Motor Company, Inc., announced today it will be the title sponsor of the April 8-10 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama IZOD IndyCar Series race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.
The multi-year agreement with event promoter ZOOM Motorsports of Birmingham, Alabama, adds the 2.38-mile Barber road course to a roster of Honda-titled IndyCar events that includes the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida and Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course north of Columbus.
"Barber Motorsports Park will be a great addition to the Honda family of IndyCar events," said Steve Center, vice president, national marketing operations, for American Honda. "The Barber facility is incredible; it's state-of-the-art and very spectator-friendly. It has already developed a large and enthusiastic fan base, and many associates at our nearby Alabama auto assembly plant are a regular part of that audience."
Located in nearby Lincoln, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (HMA) employs 4,000 associates at its $1.4 billion vehicle and engine operation. The plant began production in 2001 and produces the Odyssey minivan, Pilot SUV, Ridgeline pickup, Accord V-6 Sedan and V-6 engines. Honda has the capacity to produce 300,000 vehicles and engines annually at its Alabama facility.
With today's announcement, the opening two events of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series - at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park - will feature Honda title sponsorship.
In a North American open-wheel racing history that dates to 1994 - beginning with nine seasons (1994-2002) in the former CART/Champ Car Series, now the IZOD IndyCar Series - Honda has recorded 174 race victories, 12 drivers' championships, 10 Manufacturers' Championships and seven Indianapolis 500 victories.
The 2010 Indianapolis 500 marked the 100th Honda victory in IndyCar Series competition. The company recorded its 109th IndyCar win in the most recent IndyCar event at Kentucky Speedway on September 4.
For the fifth consecutive year, Honda powered the entire 33-car starting field in May's Indianapolis 500, and for a record-extending fifth consecutive time - the only five times in Indy 500 history - there was not a single engine failure.
For more information on Honda multiple racing programs, explore the Honda Racing/HPD website at http://hondaracing.com/hpd.
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