Chip Ganassi Racing Teams Expands IZOD IndyCar Series Program for 2011

INDIANAPOLIS, December 16, 2010: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGR) today announced the formation of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing featuring rising American Indy car star driver Graham Rahal. Ganassi’s IZOD IndyCar Series stable will expand with the addition of the new team, which will be sponsored by TBC Retail Group. Rahal will drive the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing entry in 2011.

In October, TBC Retail Group announced it inked a multi-year spokesperson and sponsorship association with Rahal to represent its family of tire and automotive retail brands, which include; Service Central®, Tire Kingdom®, NTB-National Tire and Battery®, Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers® and Big O Tires®.

At just age 21, Rahal has made 60 starts in the top levels of American open wheel racing. He has one win, two poles, 12 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes, with 59 laps led.

Notes of Interest

About Graham Rahal: The son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 Winner and three-time CART Champion Bobby Rahal, Graham became the youngest winner in the IZOD IndyCar Series era when he drove to victory in his series debut in the 2008 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at the age of 19 years and 93 days old. Rahal contested 12 of the 17 events with four teams in 2010, completing 98.0% of the total laps. His prior experience includes stints in Champ Car, Formula Atlantic, Star Mazda, A1 Grand Prix, Formula BMW, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car and the American Le Mans Series from 2004-2007.

About Service Central: Service Central® is the automotive service offered exclusively at Tire Kingdom®, NTB-National Tire and Battery®, Merchant's Tire and Auto®, and Big O Tires®. Available at over 1,300 locations nationwide, our trained and certified ASE technicians use state-of-the art equipment to provide quality service on your car or truck. Our nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects you and your investment in over 40 states.

About TBC Retail Group: Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, TBC Retail Group, Inc., a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, operates more than 800 tire and automotive service centers under the brands: Tire Kingdom®, NTB - National Tire and Battery®, and Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers®, along with nearly 500 franchised Big O Tires® locations. The contingent of nearly 1300 stores has trained and certified ASE technicians who use state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality service on cars and trucks. The nationwide warranty provides peace of mind while it protects consumers and their investment in over 40 states. TBC Retail Group employs more than 300 associates at its Juno Beach, Fla. headquarters and approximately 10,000 associates nationally. To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE. TBC Corporation, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the nation's largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel retail and wholesale strategy.

Chip Ganassi Racing Teams 2010 Recap: Team owner Chip Ganassi had an historic year in 2010. After wrapping up the GRAND-AM Rolex Series Championship, Ganassi claimed his second championship of the season by winning the IZOD IndyCar Series title for the third straight year. In addition, Ganassi became the first owner in history to win what has become known at the Triple Crown of American Racing by winning the Daytona 500, the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season. Also, on the weekend of Aug. 6, for the first time in team history Ganassi brought home wins in all three series when Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas won the GRAND-AM race in Watkins Glen, Juan Pablo Montoya won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Watkins Glen and Dario Franchitti won at Mid-Ohio in the IZOD IndyCar Series. In all, Ganassi’s teams shattered a team record with 19 total victories (previously 14) across the three series, and now boast 134 total wins since 1994.

Quote Board:

Graham Rahal, Driver, Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing: “This is the kind of opportunity every driver dreams of. I have been working diligently, specifically over the past several months, to get into one of Chip’s Indy cars, and now that dream has become a reality with the help of Service Central, and many others. Chip’s 2010 season was definitely one for the ages – 19 wins, Indianapolis (twice), Daytona, another IndyCar Series Championship, I could go on and on– but like Chip often says, I’m looking forward to the next race, which is in St. Petersburg in March. I’m thrilled to be a part of this great organization and look forward to making the most out of this opportunity.”

Orland Wolford, CEO, TBC Retail Group, Service Central: “It’s an excellent opportunity for us to start a new team and showcase our brands; Service Central, Tire Kingdom, NTB, Big O Tires and Merchants Tire. We’re thrilled to be a part of Chip Ganassi’s team. His tenacious drive to win championships and reputation for building some of the best teams in auto sports match our drive and commitment to be the best in our industry. We feel the IZOD IndyCar Series has unmatched momentum heading into the future, and having an American driver like Graham competing for wins in a Service Central-sponsored Ganassi car is sure to create considerable excitement in 2011.”

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: “It’s no secret that we’re always looking for ways to get better and expand our racing programs. Finding new ways to get better or go faster is what this business is all about, really. Graham has shown us all over the past few years that he can be a frontrunner in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and I welcome both he and Service Central to our racing program for 2011. This should create some excitement for the series both on and off the track.”