BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 8, 2021) – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) announced today that Nissin Cup Noodles®, an associate sponsor of Takuma Sato’s Indianapolis 500 entry since 2019, has expanded their program to a full-season associate sponsorship for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
“It’s great to not only have Cup Noodles back with the team but to also have them increase their program for the full season,” said Takuma Sato, one of only 20 drivers who have won the Indy 500 more than once. “Cup Noodles is a quick and easy meal for myself and the team at the race track and shop too.”
Nissin Foods’ 2019 involvement was the first motorsports sponsorship for the company in its 50-year history in the U.S. and they wanted to celebrate this partnership through the promotion of one of their flagship brands, Cup Noodles. The logo can be found on the rear tire ramp of Sato’s race car and on his race suit. Cup Noodles has become a staple for the team at both the race track and race shop.
“As Cup Noodles celebrates its 50th anniversary around the world in 2021, the Nissin team is happy to be partnering again with two-time Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato,” said Michael Price, President and CEO, Nissin Foods USA. “Takuma’s desire to win and to push for excellence align perfectly with the spirit on which Cup Noodles was founded: Be original, be innovative and be bold.”
The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins with the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama which will be broadcast live on NBC on Sunday, April 18 beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Sato is the defending polesitter and race winner after having won both in 2019. The 2020 race was cancelled due to the pandemic. All on-track action can be seen on NBC, NBCSN or NBC’s Peacock Premium streaming service. For more information about the series or team, please visit www.indycar.com and www.rahal-staging.ktnlcqy7-liquidwebsites.com.
About Nissin Foods USA
Nissin Food Products Co. Ltd. was established in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, who invented the first instant ramen noodle in Japan. In 1970, they established Nissin Foods (USA) Co., Inc. in Gardena, California introducing ramen noodles to U.S. consumers. In 1971, the company invented Cup Noodles, and revolutionized the industry by making it possible to package, prepare and serve noodles all in the same container. For over 60 years, Nissin Foods has been providing consumers with quick and delicious meal solutions. In the U.S., Nissin Foods USA develops and markets a variety of products including Top Ramen®, Cup Noodles®, Cup Noodles® Stir Fry™, Top Ramen® Bowl, Hot & Spicy, Chow Mein, RAOH®, and Souper Meal®, uniquely positioning them to meet the needs of today’s busy lifestyles. The company’s corporate philosophy inspires commitment to taste, convenience, and quality.
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 2021, the team begins its 30th year of competition and will attempt to add to its 29 Indy car wins – including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato — their 33 poles, 107 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. Since 2014, BMW Team RLL has competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program and has brought their total to 22 wins – including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 28 poles and 91 podium finishes as well as a second-place finish in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017. The team was also the 2020 Michelin Endurance Champions. For 2021, the team will compete for back-to-back Michelin Endurance Championships.