GMAC to back Fisher at Indy and beyond.

With anticipation building for Sunday's Indianapolis 500, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing expressed its relief at finally having secured a sponsor for the #23 Chevrolet-powered Dallara driven by Sarah Fisher.

As a result of seemingly interminable negotiations, the team announced on Carb Day that GMAC Financial Services would back the only lady racer in the Indy Racing League for the 500 and, importantly, for the remainder of the 2003 season.

"Everyone has been working very hard to bring this deal to fruition, and we're extremely pleased to have GMAC riding with us for the remainder of the season," said team co-owner Dennis Reinbold, "We've been insistent from the start that Sarah deserved a strong, competitive programme, and we welcome GMAC's solid support in helping to make that happen."

Long active in the racing community, GMAC has been affiliated with NASCAR racing since 1994, supporting Winston Cup drivers Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jimmie Johnson and Joe Nemechek, and Busch series drivers Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch and the recently retired Ricky Hendrick.

"We're very excited about this opportunity to expand our presence in racing to the Indy 500 with such an outstanding representative as Sarah Fisher," said Jim Farmer, vice-president of GMAC's merchandising, advertising and communications department,. "She'll be a great addition to the GMAC racing team."

Fisher, still only 22, is one of the leading drivers in the Indy Racing League despite never really having the finance to run a competitive season. In 2002, she became the fastest woman ever to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to qualify on the pole for a major league open-wheel race in North American motorsports' history. She was the youngest driver in Indy Racing League history when she made her debut at 19 in 1999, and was only the third woman ever to qualify for the Indy 500, a feat she first accomplished in 2000. Fisher's Indy 500 effort is also supported by AOL Broadband, Raybestos Brand Brakes, and the Girl Scouts' new 'Girls Go Tech' campaign.

"It's taken some time, but support continues to grow for our efforts, and we appreciate the confidence that GMAC has in our race team," Fisher said, "With the business issues falling into place, we can keep our focus on the track and getting the most out of our race car."

GMAC Financial Services includes automotive financing, commercial finance, insurance and mortgage products, and real estate services.