IRL: '99 Indy racing league champion Greg Ray moves into 2000 with Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks
27 January 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
DALLAS, TEXAS--Greg Ray is happy to announce that
Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks is returning as a sponsor for the 2000 Indy
Racing League Series (IRL). Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks first sponsored
Ray
at the 1998 Indianapolis 500 when his major sponsor pulled out and has
continued to support Ray during his 1999 Championship season.
"What I'm involved in now is such an excellent opportunity I feel truly blessed. With Team Menard, Conseco and my associate sponsors Mitsubishi and EDS all moving into 2000, what a year it will be," Ray stated. "Entering my 4th year in Indy Cars, and my second full year of sponsorship will certainly be exciting. The 1999 Indy Racing League Championship was a very special time for my family and I. Once you taste that success, you just want to repeat it if possible," Ray concluded.
Ray looks forward to the 2000 season as he approaches the first Indy Racing League race at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, January 29. ABC Television will broadcast this event live at Noon (EST). The 2000 Conseco/Team Menard/Dallara/Aurora/ Firestone will now be the #1 car and fans will view a new paint scheme created by the primary sponsorship of Conseco. The green and yellow open-wheeled, indy car will display the ongoing partnership of Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks as an associate sponsor with their logo on both sides of the front nose.
Ray, from Plano, Texas, won the championship and the Pep Boys Million Dollar bonus after finishing third on October 17, 1999 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mark Dismore finished first one lap ahead of Davey Hamilton. It was only the second time in league history that a driver has won by one lap. Ray overcame damage to his car to win the series, 293-256, over runner-up Indy 500 champion Kenny Brack, who finished 16th.
Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is home to more than 800 employees dedicated to becoming a premier producer of world-class quality forklift trucks. Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks provides a full line of forklifts with complete sales and product support through more than 250 dealer locations in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. For more information, please contact Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks at (888) MIT-LIFT or www.mit-lift.com.
Text provided by Mistubishi
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