Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tokyo, March 7, 2018 —Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., partner of Team Penske, whose No. 1 machine is sponsored by the Hitachi Group, will take part in the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series that commences on March 11. Josef Newgarden, a driver newly sponsored by Hitachi for the 2018 IndyCar Series, will aim to retain his Series Championship this year.
Newgarden has steadily increased his capabilities since first competing in the full season of the IndyCar Series in 2012, having finished 7th in the Series Championship in 2015, and 4th in 2016. After moving to Team Penske for 2017, he stood on the podium nine times out of 17 races with four victories and won the Series Championship.
The 2018 season will see new universal aero kits introduced for all cars, allowing cars to run closer together and providing for more passing opportunities. As in the 2017 season, there are 17 races that will be held on a mixture of courses. City street courses feature cars running close together, making overtaking difficult, while permanent road courses offer a variety of corners to challenge drivers’ techniques, and oval courses deliver powerful high-speed battles. Due to the introduction of the new aero kits and the variety of circuits, this year’s IndyCar Series will again be charged with excitement for racing fans.
Hitachi will serve as the primary sponsor for eight of the 17 races, where the Hitachi logo will be displayed on the car of the new Hitachi-sponsored driver, Newgarden. As he aims to defend his championship title, his performance will certainly be worth watching.
Hitachi Automotive Systems will continue to use its sponsorship of motorsports, including the Verizon IndyCar Series, to further grow the Hitachi brand and contribute to motorsports.
Josef Newgarden
Test driving in Phoenix in February
●：Hitachi primary sponsor race
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| March 11 (Sun.) | ●St. Petersburg, Florida |
| April 7 (Sat.) | Phoenix, Arizona |
| April 15 (Sun.) | Long Beach, California |
| April 22 (Sun.) | ●Birmingham, Alabama |
| May 12 (Sat.) | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| May 27 (Sun.) | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| June 2 (Sat.) | ●Detroit, Michigan |
| June 3 (Sun.) | ●Detroit, Michigan |
| June 9 (Sat.) | Fort Worth, Texas |
| June 24 (Sun.) | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin |
| July 8 (Sun.) | ●Newton, Iowa |
| July 15 (Sun.) | ●Toronto, Canada |
| July 29 (Sun.) | ●Lexington, Ohio |
| August 19 (Sun.) | ●Long Pond, Pennsylvania |
| August 25 (Sat.) | Madison, Illinois |
| September 2 (Sun.) | Portland, Oregon |
| September 16 (Sun.) | Sonoma, California |
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/
