The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 45

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2005 D9 AUTO RAGING CAN'T Miss A Qui i mmmm 1 "We've had some discussions with others, but it never felt appropriate." Speedway president and chief operating officer Joie Chitwood, about the deal with Allstate Speedway moves fast, teams up with Allstate personal insurance company in the country with 17 million customers, 39,000 employees and 13,600 agencies in the U.S. and Canada. Chitwood said the company's reach, its long history and its reputation as a safety innovator made it appealing as a partner. "We've had some discussions with others," he said, "but it never felt appropriate." Besides title sponsorship, the deal has other components that will enable Allstate and the Speedway to work on cross-promotions and, as Chitwood put it, "leverage the equity of both brands." Chitwood expects little or no backlash from fans over the sale of the Brickyard name. "We're in the business of racing, and sponsorships are an integral part of it," he said.

"It was important for us to find the right company that would take care of that brand. "I always refer to myself as a caretaker for this property; that's what I do. You talk about taking the tradition, the pageantry, all the special things about our property those are things partners want to be involved with. I'm very comfortable Allstate will take those and enjoy those for the next couple of years." Call Star reporter Steve Ballard at (317) 444-6184. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard When: Aug.

7 Time: 1:30 p.m. Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway keting officer for Allstate, said that deal was signed a couple of months ago, but the company held off on the announcement while it worked on something bigger. The sports marketing company that introduced Allstate to NASCAR initiated discussions with Speedway officials. Chitwood said it took less than a month from the time negotiations began until they had a signed contract. "I guess it's appropriate in racing that things should move fast," he said.

Tripodi said he has been involved in countless business deals for Allstate, which also has sports sponsorships with the U.S. Olympic Committee and college football's Bowl Championship Series, and said this one set a record for speed. "It came together more quickly than any deal I've ever been associated with," he said. "This one just felt very good from the start." Allstate, based in Northbrook, 111., is the largest publicly held NASCAR race gets title sponsor, new name by joining forces with insurance giant. By Steve Ballard steve.ballardindystar.com The Brickyard 400 is getting a new name under a multimillion-dollar sponsorship agreement announced Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Speedway president and chief operating officer Joie Chitwood would not divulge financial details of the deal that on Aug. 7 will turn NASCAR's 12th visit to Indianapolis into the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. But Chitwood said the multi-year arrangement is on the high side of Nextel Cup race sponsorships, which NASCAR director of corporate marketing Brian Corcoran said range from $1.5 million to $5 million annually. "In terms of our leadership position and where we are in the industry," Chitwood said, "it would be safe to say we would be a leader in terms of the entitlement of our product." The Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 had been the only major NASCAR events that neither had a title sponsor nor were in active pursuit of one. The break with tradition at IMS, Chitwood said, was the result of a deal too good to pass up.

But he said he has no interest in title sponsorship of the Indianapolis 500. "We've had a great race here since 1911," he said, "and there's no reason we would ever want to change that." Allstate, which next year celebrates its 75th anniversary, also announced a multiyear agreement to become the first insurance company to officially partner with NASCAR. Joe Tripodi, chief mar- WAYNE GRETZKY MICHAEL JORDAN PEYTON MANNING TIGER WOODS SAMMY SOSA Superb Custom Exceptional Service! The jersey Memorabilia Framing Experts OF AUTOGRAPHS Sport Celebrity Music History Disney Animation Art The Life and AP Photo Collection Movie Posters Golf Prints City Stadium Panoramas 1 tiZZ- CSI FOR A DAY Ever wondered what it's really like to be a crime-scene investigator or white-water rafting guide? Sunday's Travel section explores a new kind of vacation that lets you find out. Save the animals! Edinburgh, seems a rather unlikely site for a national rescued-animals auction. Turn to Sunday's Indiana Living to find out who and what was there, and why it's so popular.

TO CONSOLIDATE OR NOT TO CONSOLIDATE Are you confused by all of the student loan consolidation offers showing up in your mailbox lately? Look in Sunday's Business section for tips on whether consolidation is the right way to go. Any progress? Turn to City State for an in-depth look at whether our state legislators earned their paychecks this session. ERMJiimiiM-ina N0SIQ3 SVW0H1 S1H380H WW 3S0U 3i3d N0S10H0IN Wf H3T1IW 3I993H H399Vf K9IW The Revolutionary RX400h with Hybrid Technology coming this month iff i I "ut Reg-gie, Reg-gie, Reg-gie 2005 LEXUS RX 330 1(1 2005 LEXUS ES 330 Did Reggie Miller make his last playoff appearance in Indiana? Turn to Sports for all the gritty details from the team's fourth playoff game against the Celtics. i in i MM 2005 LEXUS GX 470 I 2005 LEXUS LS 430 i i IJUL, mi jiiuiMM-wiimiii ti i in ii JuJlMWii'JUMi-- mm, in Better odds than the lottery Be sure to clip the coupons in Sunday's Star they can save you more than $108! Planes, trains and okay, just automobiles Check out the Star Classifieds for this week's best deals on cars, boats, houses, furniture, and lots of other great stuff. And while you're there, you might even find a new job.

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