Hitachi Automotive to Sponsor No. 3 Team Penske IndyCar at Nine Races in 2013

HARRODSBURG, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced that Hitachi Automotive Systems will serve as the primary sponsor for nine races on the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet driven by three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series. Hitachi Automotive Systems began its partnership with Team Penske for the 2012 season as the primary sponsor on the No. 2 Team Penske IndyCar. While the sponsorship is held by Hitachi Automotive Systems, the 2013 sponsorship will be leveraged to benefit multiple Hitachi Group companies in the Americas.

“The technical expertise Hitachi provides to Chevrolet in its IndyCar engine program underscores this relationship and represents a winning formula on many levels. We are pleased to have them back on board for the 2013 season.”

“Hitachi is a world-class company that has proven to be a terrific partner for us during the 2012 season,” said Roger Penske, Founder and Chairman of Penske Corporation. “The technical expertise Hitachi provides to Chevrolet in its IndyCar engine program underscores this relationship and represents a winning formula on many levels. We are pleased to have them back on board for the 2013 season.”

In 2013, 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; São Paulo, Brazil; Detroit (doubleheader race weekend); Newton, Iowa; Long Pond, Pa; Toronto, Canada (doubleheader race weekend) and Sonoma, Calif. Hitachi will also serve as an associate sponsor for all other IndyCar races during the 2013 season.

“We’re very excited to be back with Team Penske in 2013 and we look forward to working with Helio and the No. 3 car team,” said Rob Sharpe, Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In addition to its sponsorship, Hitachi Automotive Systems supplies several components on the Chevy IndyCar race engine. “Hitachi Automotive has a long standing relationship with General Motors and we will continue to collaborate on the fuel system delivery for Chevy’s racing engine used in the 2013 IndySeries. Our involvement with the engine itself gives added significance to this partnership,” Mr. Sharpe continued.

Additionally, Lauren Raguzin, Director, Branding and Corporate Communications Group for Hitachi America, Ltd., noted, “This sponsorship provides great visibility for the Hitachi brand in the Americas. We look forward to working with Team Penske to leverage the strong brand recognition by involving multiple companies within the Hitachi Group and look forward to an exciting year. The recent NASCAR Cup Series championship won by Penske Racing clearly exemplifies the motor sports expertise Penske commands and we are thrilled to partner with them in 2013.”

About Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.

Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is engaged in the development, manufacture, sales and services of automotive components, transportation related components, industrial machines and systems, and offers a wide range of automotive systems including engine management systems, electric power train systems, drive control systems and car information systems. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi-automotive.co.jp/en/.

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 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 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 364 major race wins, 423 pole positions and 24 National Championships, including the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. The team has also earned 15 Indianapolis 500 victories and 165 IndyCar wins. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.