HONDA GEARS UP FOR THE 100TH RUNNING OF INDIANAPOLIS 500 WITH LAUNCH OF ROBUST 'FASTEST SEAT IN SPORTS' EXPERIENCE

May 11, 2016 by Honda

◾IndyCar® 'Fastest Seat in Sports' experience adds 360-degree video: https://youtu.be/KDTEHcYg-OE

◾Country music star Keith Urban to take 'Fastest Seat in Sports' ride with Mario Andretti in Honda-powered two-seat Indy car at Indy 500

◾Racing fans can enter sweepstakes to take their own 'Fastest Seat in Sports' Honda Indy car two-seater ride throughout racing season

◾Honda is most successful carmaker of all-time at the Indy 500

TORRANCE, Calif. – As Honda readies for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29, the winningest automaker of all-time at the Indy 500 is commemorating its racing heritage and unprecedented success at the Indy 500 by taking its 'Fastest Seat in Sports' campaign to the next level. Four-time GRAMMY Award winner Keith Urban is scheduled to ride with legendary Indy 500 champion driver Mario Andretti in the custom-built, two-seat Indy car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

To further celebrate Honda's longtime affiliation with the Verizon IndyCar Series, the brand will launch a 360-degree video of the Honda two-seater leading the parade laps at Barber Motorsports Park during the recent Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Created in partnership with USA TODAY NETWORK, the 360 'Fastest Seat in Sports' video will virtually put racing enthusiasts behind the wheel of a Honda-powered IndyCar for one unforgettable ride. The video launches today on Honda's Facebook and YouTube channels (https://youtu.be/KDTEHcYg-OE), USA TODAY online, the VR Stories by USA TODAY app and soon on www.racewithHonda.com.

'In this very special year for the Indy 500 we have created several new opportunities to enjoy the 'Fastest Seat in Sports' experience,' said Ernie Kelsey, senior manager of social, experiential and regional marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 'In addition to lucky fans winning the sweepstakes, every racing fan and enthusiast now can experience what it is like to drive a Honda-powered Dallara car through our new 'Fastest Seat in Sports' 360 video.'

'Fastest Seat in Sports' Sweepstakes

The campaign will continue to include Honda's popular 'Fastest Seat in Sports' Sweepstakes that gives racing enthusiasts the chance to win a two-seat ride leading the start of an IndyCar Series race with legendary Indy 500 champion driver Mario Andretti. All racing enthusiasts can enter Honda's 'Fastest Seat in Sports' sweepstakes at www.racewithhonda.com.

The 'Fastest Seat in Spots' campaign also includes print running in USA TODAY and digital display placements. A Honda IndyCar TV spot released in 2015, 'Finish Line,' started running in network and cable at the beginning of the season in March and will run through September.

'Fastest Seat in Sports' Gets Social

Throughout the 2016 IndyCar season, several social influencers are scheduled to take two-seat rides at four races and post the videos to their social channels. Influencer Cody Johns posted a video at the Long Beach Grand Prix, Marcus Johns (https://vine.co/marcusjohns) is scheduled to take a two-seat ride at the Indy 500, Nigel Sylvester in Detroit at The Raceway at Belle Isle Park and an additional influencer at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

Fans will get the opportunity to see Graham Rahal (https://youtu.be/XXsDPgrYgZE), Ryan Hunter-Reay (https://youtu.be/J13Km-shyyk) and James Hinchliffe (https://youtu.be/ishYuz84Np8) as well as their teams in a series of 'Team Behind the Dream' social videos that launched today.

Honda Has Long Successful History in IndyCar Racing - Highlights Include:

◾Long before Honda power joined IndyCar, Honda motorcycles were the 'official field vehicles' for the 1965 Indianapolis 500, both for race officials and for the Firestone and Goodyear race teams.

◾After careful thought and preparation, Honda entered IndyCar in 1994, and is the most successful carmaker of all-time at the Indy 500. During Indy 500 competition:

◾Honda has won more Indianapolis 500 races than any automaker: 10 wins

◾Honda has had more starts at the Indianapolis 500, leading all other automakers: 301 starts

◾Honda has completed more race laps at the Indianapolis 500 than any other carmaker: 50,019 laps completed

◾Honda has competed in 15 Indianapolis 500 races.

◾Honda has powered 10 drivers to the Borg Warner trophy, emblematic of the Indianapolis 500 championship.

◾Since 1994, Honda has scored 12 Manufacturers' Championships and drivers have won 217 races and 15 series championships with Honda power.

◾No other automaker has been able to achieve Honda's record number of wins and titles since Honda entered the IndyCar series in 1994.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the soon-to-be-launched Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Photo credit: Honda
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