|
New support for Conquest, 'Tag' in for '09? |
Alex Tagliani's confirmation in the Conquest Racing team for the remaining two events of the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule has led to the team picking up a couple of new sponsors.
The #36 machine driven by the Canadian veteran will now feature the logos of long-time personal partners Ubisoft and Sennheiser at the PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300. The companies will be prominently featured on the sidepods and engine cover of the car.
“We're pleased to welcome world-renowned companies Ubisoft and Sennheiser to our team this weekend,” team owner Eric Bachelart commented, “We're looking to build our future with Alex and I hope this is the beginning of a long relationship between all of us.”
Ubisoft, whose logo will be featured on the sidepod of the #36 Dallara-Honda, is a leading international developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products such as
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six,
Assassin's Creed and
Rayman, while Sennheiser is a world leader in the supply of high-end audio equipment to the aviation, entertainment and telecommunications industries.
“We're excited to be able to support Alex in his racing endeavours and, with Alex having the chance to drive for Conquest Racing in the IndyCar Series, it's an added bonus for us to be associated with such a professional race car team,” said Ubisoft Canada president Olivier Ernst, “Alex has been, and is, a great ambassador for us. He deserves the chance he has been given and we're happy to be able to continue our relationship with him.
"And, thanks to his partnership with Sennheiser, there has been a great business to business relationship between each company, which makes even greater sense to continue with Alex.”
After announcing it was extending its sponsorship of Tagliani through 2009, Sennheiser will get additional exposure on the engine cover of the Canadian's car at this weekend's Chicagoland finale.
“We're very excited that Eric Bachelart has decided to give Alex a chance," a company spokesman said, "We've been with Alex for a long time and getting the opportunity to display our brand in the IndyCar Series with Conquest Racing is a great opportunity for us. We feel this can become a long relationship with Alex and a professional organisation like Conquest Racing. We know that it has not been easy this year for the teams coming in from Champ Car but, with one oval and one street course left, we feel this can be the beginning of great things to come.”
Comments from all involved in the latest sponsorship dealings would suggest that Enrique Bernoldi's time with Conquest is limited. The Brazilian, who had expected to contest the now defunct Champ Car World Series with Rocketsports, has struggled to make his mark in IndyCars and missed last weekend's Detroit street race after injuring his hand at Infineon Raceway. Tagliani replaced him there and was recalled for Chicagoland when it was alleged that Bernoldi's injury was still bothering him.
However, there have been rumours for some time linking Tagliani to the Brazilian's seat and many believe that the switch has been on the cards for a while. Bachelart's latest comments now suggest that the Canadian could be on board for 2009, possibly alongside the team's second, more impressive, Brazilian, Jaime Camara.
