7-Eleven returns to INDYCAR as associate sponsor for Kanaan

It's a pairing that won a Verizon IndyCar Series championship. Tony Kanaan and 7-Eleven are together again in a partnership announced Tuesday by Chip Ganassi Racing.

The convenience retail chain will serve as an associate sponsor on Kanaan's No. 10 Honda for four Verizon IndyCar Series races this season. Kanaan drove with 7-Eleven primary sponsorship for eight seasons when he was with Andretti Autosport, including the 2004 season when the Brazilian completed every race lap and won the championship.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to be back in the 7-Eleven family," said Kanaan, whose primary car sponsorship this season still comes from NTT Data. "7-Eleven was my home for most of my career in INDYCAR and they were with me for 14 out of my 17 wins. It's definitely special to have them with me to celebrate my 20th Indy car season and I'm looking forward to getting them to victory circle again like we did many times in the past."

7-Eleven, Inc., based in Irving, Texas, franchises or licenses more than 61,000 stores in 17 countries, including 10,900 retail outlets in North America. The associate sponsorship will be in place for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, as well as the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and the Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway.

"Tony has proven himself to be an enthusiastic brand ambassador, both for the sport of racing and for 7-Eleven," said Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven CEO and president. "Whenever he and the show car made a store appearance, crowds of customers would turn out to meet him. Tony would stay and sign photographs and talk to 7-Eleven customers for hours. He is a winner in everything he does."

Contact:

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