IRL, Indy 500: Yahoo! In Driver's Seat with Pagan Racing Team at 83rd Running of Indianapolis 500 Motor Race

22 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Pagan Racing, one of the top motor racing teams in the Indy Racing League (IRL), today announced that Yahoo! Inc. , a leading global Internet media company, is the primary sponsor of the team's entry into next weekend's 83rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition, MerchantOnline.com (OTC BB: MRTO), a one-stop e-commerce provider offering real-time credit-card processing, checks online, and shopping cart services, will serve as an associate sponsor of Pagan Racing, which has driver Jeff Ward at the wheel.

Beginning with the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 30, Yahoo! and MerchantOnline.com will sponsor Pagan Racing throughout the 1999 Pep Boy IRL season, which ends Oct. 17, 1999. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Ward, one of the favorites to capture this year's Memorial Day title, is currently ranked second in the IRL Series Championship standings. He is driving the Pagan Racing car wrapped in classic Yahoo! purple and yellow, and branded with Yahoo! and MerchantOnline.com logos. Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com), part of Yahoo!'s globally-branded network of properties, will also appear on Ward's racing suit, on the pit crew's shirts, as well as on selected Pagan Racing transportation vehicles.

"We're thrilled to have Yahoo! and MerchantOnline.com support Pagan Racing's efforts during the Indy 500 and throughout the IRL season," said Allan Pagan, Pagan Racing co-owner. "Yahoo! is known around the world for its highly-recognized brand and we look forward to running the 83rd Indy 500 with our new sponsors."

"Yahoo! and MerchantOnline.com's involvement is great for the Pagan Team and for the IRL in general," said Ward. "We're looking forward to working with everyone and getting in the winner's circle."

"The Indy 500 is recognized as one of the greatest single-day events in sports," said Cindy Bishop, senior brand manager, Yahoo! Inc. "Yahoo! brings its globally-recognized brand to this event, which will be seen by hundreds of thousands at the raceway and millions of viewers worldwide. We wish the best of luck to the entire Pagan Team and driver Jeff Ward."

"Both MerchantOnline.com and Yahoo! are setting the pace when it comes to business on the Web and we're pleased to be associated with Pagan Racing, one of motor sports leading teams," said Tarek Kirschen, MerchantOnline.com president and CEO. "Just as cars on the racing circuit are going faster than ever before, e-commerce is booming at record speeds."

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