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Colt Becomes Partner for SSCGR with Graham Rahal for 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 11, 2011) – Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing announces today that it has partnered with Colt, the leading manufacturer and designer of reliable, high quality firearms, to become an associate sponsor during the 2011 Indianapolis 500 on the No. 38 Indy car driven by Graham Rahal in the IZOD IndyCar Series. This partnership comes during the 100th anniversary of the Colt 1911 and Indianapolis 500 and becomes a celebration for these two uniquely American icons.

Notes of Interest:

About Colt: For 175 years the name Colt has been synonymous with reliable, high quality firearms. In that time, Colt has designed and manufactured multiple products that have become woven into the fabric of American history: the 1873 Single Action Army® or “Peacemaker”® revolver that helped win the West; the M16 automatic rifle and M4 carbine, both of which became the standard U. S. Army rifle and, perhaps most notably, the Model 1911 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The 1911 was the standard U.S. military sidearm for 74 years and remains the handgun of choice for thousands of military personnel and shooting enthusiasts. www.colt.com and www.coltsmfg.com.

Rahal and the 500: The 2011 Indianapolis 500 will be Rahal’s fourth start in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after posting a career-best 12th place finish in 2010. The 2011 race will also mark the 25th anniversary of Rahal’s father, Bobby Rahal’s only Indianapolis 500 win. Rahal’s IZOD IndyCar Series career consists of 62 starts, two poles and one victory. This season he is seeking to add to Chip Ganassi Racings’ open wheel tallies of over 700 starts, 81 victories and 70 poles. Rahal was announced as the driver for Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing in December.

A History of Excellence at the Brickyard: Over Chip Ganassi Racing’s first 21 years of operation they have made 36 starts in the Indianapolis 500 and have brought home three victories (2000, 2008 and 2010), three poles, 11 top-fives and 21 top-10s at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. CGR’s most recent win was captured just last year by Dario Franchitti on route to winning the team’s third consecutive IZOD IndyCar Series championship.

Quote Board:

Steve Lauletta, President, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “We are excited to announce a new partnership with Colt for our Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing team. We are happy to be a part of their celebration as this year marks the 100th anniversary for the Colt 1911 and the Indianapolis 500. We feel the partnership between Colt and Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing will help them drive awareness of their brand with the race fans who will watch our team compete in the famed race. We look forward to a successful partnership with Colt.”

Gerald R. Dinkel, President and CEO, Colt Defense, LLC: “Colt is proud to be a part of the 2011 Indianapolis 500 in partnership with Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 38 Indy car driver Graham Rahal. As we celebrate the joint centennial of the 500 and the Colt 1911, we are reminded that innovation, quality and superior performance are essential to such longevity. Colt remains committed to providing customers with products worthy of this heritage. Additionally, Colt has been a huge supporter of the US Military throughout our history. With the Indianapolis 500 traditionally being held on Memorial Day weekend, there is no better time to launch this partnership than during this time of recognition of the many contributions and sacrifices our service men and women make on behalf of the nation. We look forward to Graham’s success, and to seeing the fans at the Colt display at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.”

Graham Rahal, Driver, No. 38 Honda: “I think this is going to be a great new relationship with Colt. Launching the partnership around the Indy 500 makes so much sense because of the history and tradition of both Colt and the race. Plus, coming off the team’s second place finish in Brazil we carry some great momentum as we head into the month of May and the Indianapolis 500. I can’t wait.”

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with sponsor, Target. Today, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams includes four entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series, two in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and one Daytona Prototype in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Cars Series. Overall his teams have 12 championships and 138 victories, including three Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and four Rolex 24 At Daytonas. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Ind. and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn.

- Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Press Release