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03.07.18
STAGE SET FOR DANICA’S EPIC RACING CAREER FINALE
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (March 7, 2018) – GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the world’s largest cloud platform dedicated to small, independent ventures, and Danica Patrick are teaming up with Ed Carpenter Racing for the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500, May 27. Danica will be driving the No. 13 GoDaddy Chevrolet at the legendary event, known as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
The racing classic marks the second of the so-called “Danica Double” races and will go down in history as the final motorsports event for the woman widely acknowledged as a pioneer, an American icon and international trailblazer who transcends athletics.
Her new team, Ed Carpenter Racing, is owned and operated by the only driver/owner competing in the Verizon IndyCar Series. As one of the most experienced drivers in the field, 2018 will be Ed Carpenter’s 16th season of IndyCar competition, and his seventh year of team ownership. Ed Carpenter Racing has qualified a car on the front row of the Indianapolis 500 four of the past five years, including Carpenter’s back-to-back pole positions in 2013 and 2014, and his second place qualifying effort in 2017.
“I love how everything is coming full circle. I’m going to close out my racing career at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the place where so many amazing things have happened for me. I’m back in GoDaddy green and joining a great team,” said Danica. “Ed Carpenter Racing is consistently competitive at Indy. I can’t think of a better way to finish out my racing career than at the Indianapolis 500 with this team and GoDaddy.”
As for how Danica landed the number 13 for her final race, a number generally considered bad luck, she said looking at what was available, she picked 13 simply because she liked it. “Back in the day, the color green was also said to be bad luck in racing,” she said referencing her GoDaddy green that has since become iconic. “I think it’s cool. I’m a firm believer that superstitions are only real if you believe them.”
Danica is scheduled to make her debut behind the wheel of an Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet on March 29 during a Chevrolet test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She’s looking forward to getting back into an Indy car, which has been updated with a universal aero kit for this coming year. The manufacturer modifications return the cars to a downforce more akin to the open-wheel car Danica drove before shifting to stock car racing following the 2011 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
Carpenter, an entrepreneur and long-time GoDaddy customer, has a reputation for excelling on oval tracks and running a close-knit team. He owns the Indianapolis-based race team alongside local businessmen Tony George and Stuart Reed, who are revved up to be adding Danica to their lineup. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to be the team powering Danica in her final race, and to do it together here in Indianapolis is especially significant for ECR. When you consider Indianapolis Motor Speedway is where Danica first made her mark in racing, it’s easy to see why this is the perfect way for her to end her career,” said Carpenter.
In addition to being the only woman to win a Verizon IndyCar Series race, the Indy Japan 300 in 2008, Danica has an impressive track record at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 2005, her “Rookie-of-the-Year” season, she made history as the first woman to lead laps at the Indianapolis 500. Seeing her grit in that early-career competition inspired GoDaddy to sign Danica the following year. In seven attempts in the marquee race, she earned six top-10 finishes, qualified on the second row in 2008, and in 2009 she finished third, scoring the highest finish for a woman.
“Let there be no question about Danica’s ability to go out with a win at what is arguably the most recognized race in the world,” said longtime sponsor and fan GoDaddy EVP and CMO Barb Rechterman. “One of the best parts of all this for us is that it’s never really been about whether she wins – it’s more about Danica’s moxie, her commitment and her ability to compete at the highest levels of a male-dominated sport. Now that she’s on the verge of retiring to pursue her own businesses and entrepreneurial interests full-time, like so many of our customers, we are aligned better than any time in our decade-plus long relationship. It’s all so poetic from our perspective.”
Danica is not waiting to retire before flexing her creative side. Earlier this year, she helped design her new Danica Double logo, now she’s working on the design of her own IndyCar firesuit.
GoDaddy is supporting Danica’s life-after-racing by powering the online presence for her business endeavors related to health, apparel and wine – all of which are enriched with her brand, and GoDaddy’s savvy in helping people turn their business dreams into reality.
To find out how you can create your own website, or get coaching from our personalized customer service, visit: http://www.GoDaddy.com.
Source: GoDaddy Inc.
About GoDaddy
GoDaddy powers the world's largest cloud platform dedicated to small, independent ventures. With over 17 million customers worldwide and nearly 75 million domain names under management, GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers and manage their work. Our mission is to give our customers the tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.