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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (February 17, 2016) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Fifth Third Bank has joined the team as an associate sponsor. The bank logo will appear on the No. 15 Verizon IndyCar Series entry of Graham Rahal.
“I’m very pleased that we have entered into this partnership with Fifth Third Bank,” said Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. “Fifth Third Bank is a major force in the banking industry in the Midwest and is known as one of the top banking institutions in the industry. It’s only fitting to come together for these great races and especially the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500.”
Events in St. Petersburg, Fla., Indianapolis, Detroit and Mid-Ohio, among others, have been identified as key markets, and the company is currently planning initiatives that align with their corporate goals for those markets. The 100th running celebrations across Indianapolis will allow Fifth Third and the racing team to join forces to make an impact on the local community, especially during the bank’s annual hunger initiative leading up to the month of May.
“Fifth Third Bank is thrilled to support the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team as it chases the checkered flag this year at several races, including at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indy 500,” said Steven Alonso, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank, Greater Indiana. “For the past century, this series has helped to define Indiana, so we look forward to celebrating this rich tradition this year with our employees, customers and racing fans across the country.”
RLL was a championship contender entering the season-finale of the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series with Graham Rahal, who was ranked a career-best second place entering the double-points race at Sonoma Raceway and the highest-ranked Honda-powered driver. He was in sixth place with nine laps to go but was hit from behind and ultimately finished 18th in the event and fourth overall in series standings. Rahal earned a series-high six podium finishes including wins at Auto Club Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2015.
The 16-race 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season begins on March 13 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg which will be televised on ABC. For more details about the Series, please visit www.indycar.com.
About Fifth Third: Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $141 billion in assets and operates 1,254 full-service Banking Centers, including 95 Bank Mart® locations, most open seven days a week, inside select grocery stores and 2,593 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has an 18.3% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of December 31, 2015, had $297 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $26 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Member FDIC.
About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and Brownsburg, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2016 the team will compete in their 25th year of open wheel competition and attempt to add to their 22 wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice — their 29 poles, 87 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 – Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. In 2014, BMW Team RLL moved to the GTLM class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a two-car program and earned six podium finishes including four second-place finishes. In 2015, the team earned three wins, two poles and a total of eight podiums to finish second in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships. In 2016, BMW Team RLL will attempt to add to their 13 wins, 20 poles and 57 podium finishes.
– RLL –
