Auburn Hills, Mich, March 26, 2015 – Magneti Marelli, a global automotive systems and component supplier, announced today that it has renewed its partnership with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season. This marks the third consecutive season that Magneti Marelli has supported the SPM Team.
Magneti Marelli Motorsport provides powertrain technology and fuel components to different teams in the Verizon IndyCar series, and is a technical partner of Honda Performance Development. SPM will continue to utilize fuel system and ignition system components in the #5 SPM entry driven by three-time Verizon IndyCar Series race winner James Hinchcliffe. Hinchcliffe signed with SPM in October 2014.
“Our relationship with SPM has been extremely rewarding, from the technological side,” said Roberto Dalla, Head of Magneti Marelli Motorsport. “We are proud to support the SPM team with our technical solutions and to use this experience to grow in the application of new technologies in the motorsport arena”.
SPM Team owner Sam Schmidt also expressed his excitement over the renewed partnership.
"We are pleased that Magneti Marelli has renewed its partnership with SPM for the third consecutive year,” said Schmidt. “The company is a major force in the automotive industry as a ‘Tier One’ supplier to many manufacturers, so we are proud to represent its brand in the Verizon IndyCar Series."
Hinchcliffe, too, acknowledged his appreciation of the partnership.
“I'm looking forward to a very strong 2015 season with our great partners, including Magneti Marelli. I'm honored to be part of what has obviously been a successful partnership for the past three years, and we'll work hard to put the #5 car in Victory Lane this season to continue that success."
Magneti Marelli has been involved in motorsports since its very beginning in 1919, and throughout its history has been supporting world champion teams in two-wheel and four-wheel series. Its involvement with motorsports is directly connected to its devotion to technological advancement through innovation.
“We pursue innovation in all that we do,” said Stephane Vedie, president and CEO of Magneti Marelli Holding USA. “Our partnership with SPM helps us to position our brand here in North America as one dedicated to quality, technology and performance. Competition is in our DNA.”
The Magneti Marelli logo will be prominently displayed on SPM’s #5, which is scheduled to begin the 2015 season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29.
About Magneti Marelli
Magneti Marelli produces advanced systems and components for the automobile industry. Its parent company, Magneti Marelli S.p.A., was founded in Italy in 1919 and is headquartered near Milan, Italy. With 89 production units, 12 R&D centers and 26 application centers in 19 countries, the group supplies all leading carmakers in Europe, North and South America and the Asia. Magneti Marelli is part of FCA.
Magneti Marelli Holding USA was established in 1976 and coordinates the activities of all Magneti Marelli divisions in the NAFTA region from its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Currently, all business units of Magneti Marelli S.p.A. are represented in the NAFTA region, including Powertrain, Automotive Lighting, Electronic Systems, Suspension Systems (Shock Absorbers), Plastic Components, Exhaust Systems, Aftermarket and Motorsport. It has eight industrial operations around the U.S. and Mexico.
For more information, please visit: www.magnetimarelli.com
About Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) was established in 2001 and is owned by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt and Canadian businessman Ric Peterson. Schmidt was paralyzed (quad) in 2000 after an accident during testing at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla. SPM fields cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, and the Indy Lights Series presented by Cooper Tires. SPM is the most successful team in Indy Lights Series history with sixty-five race wins and seven championships. In addition, SPM won the coveted Indy 500 pole position in 2011, and has won four Verizon IndyCar Series races in 2013 and 2014.
