The successful IZOD IndyCar Series rookie campaign of Simona de Silvestro is starting to bear fruit for 2011.
HVM Racing and Entergy Nuclear announced that they have entered into a three-year partnership for primary sponsorship in the IZOD INDYCAR Series and de Silvestro, the 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.
"It's a really special feeling, and I'm excited for 2011," De Silvestro said. "It's the first time in my career that I know I will be able to race not only this year, but for the next couple of years. We have a great partnership with Entergy and I'm glad they are coming aboard. Hopefully we can bring the awareness of Nuclear Clean Energy and promote clean, low-cost and reliable nuclear energy."
Keith Wiggins, team owner of HVM Racing and John Herron, President, CEO and Chief Nuclear Officer at Entergy unveiled the livery of the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/Entergy Dallara at the InterContinetal hotel in downtown Baltimore. De Silvestro then got some extra pit stop practice on a portion of the circuit that will play host to the Baltimore Grand Prix in September.
"This is great news for HVM and for Simona," Wiggins said. "It gives Simona a long-term opportunity to develop into a top IndyCar driver while the team will have a stable platform over multiple years to support our championship effort. It is a terrific marketing opportunity with a strong partner who has an important message and role in our world's future. We are going to make an impact on many fronts; within the nuclear energy industry, with Simona as an individual driver and within our sport overall."
Entergy is in its fourth year of the "Nuclear Clean Air Energy" national education campaign and got its first exposure to the IZOD IndyCar Series with HVM Racing at the 2010 Indianapolis 500.
Having reached millions of people at the racetrack, across U.S. college campuses and in community events, the goal of the Nuclear Clean Air Energy initiative is to use the platform of the IZOD IndyCar Series to spread the message about the benefits of nuclear energy as a source of carbon-free electricity. In addition to the element of education and public awareness, this campaign assists in recruiting quality engineers and professionals to the nuclear energy sector, an exciting job-growth industry.
"It is an important time for our country to hear our nuclear clean air energy story," Herron said. "With Simona as a lead spokesperson for our effort, teaming up with HVM and IndyCar brings visibility to the issue of U.S. energy policy, with multiple national opportunities to reach out to families and fans. Education is key to smarter energy consumers and doing so with a young role model like Simona couldn't be better. Having 'nuclear' on the side of a race car is as all-American as racing itself, since nuclear energy generates 20 percent of all U.S. electricity already. Entergy wants everyone to learn more and get excited about our reliable, green source of electricity."
The sponsorship will be a reunion of sorts for Entergy and de Silvestro. The company sponsored the native of Thun, Switzerland, when she won her first Atlantic race in 2008 and was on her car when she was named Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year last season. She hopes to add another milestone in 2011 in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
"I was Entergy's first brand ambassador in 2008 and I won my first Atlantics race that year," she said. "Their first IndyCar sponsorship was with me at Indy and I was Rookie of the Year. We've had a really good start, hopefully it can continue. Now that they are full time, hopefully we can add more memories."
