Marco Andretti Joins Forces with Blockbuster and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Source: Andretti Green Racing
Jul 24, 2008 - 3:48:08 PM
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STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Car at Infineon Raceway
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 23, 2008) – For a few days in late August, the front lines of the upcoming animated adventure STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS will shift to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Andretti Green Racing driver Marco Andretti will lead his own army against the ”dark side” of his IndyCar Series foes.
Andretti Green Racing, Blockbuster Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. are collaborating for the second time in 2008, this time in support of the upcoming release of the first-ever animated feature from Lucasfilm, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. Andretti’s #26 IndyCar will feature a promotional design during the Grand Prix of Sonoma, which will be run Aug. 24 on the Infineon road course. “I can’t wait to roll out the Clone Wars car at Infineon,” said Andretti. “I had a lot of fun with the Indiana Jones car at the Indy 500 and I’m hoping that my upcoming battle at Infineon will be as exciting as anything in a Star Wars movie so I can win it for both Blockbuster and Lucasfilm.”
Andretti Green Racing, Blockbuster and Lucasfilm created an alliance earlier this year to bring Indiana Jones to the Indianapolis 500, which ultimately ended with a third-place finish for Andretti. The #26 Blockbuster/STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS IndyCar Series car will be unveiled tonight as part of preview activities at the 2008 Comic-Con International show in San Diego, Calif. “Blockbuster is excited to unveil the Clone Wars car today with our friends from Lucasfilm and Andretti Green Racing,” said David Podeschi, senior vice-president, Blockbuster Inc. “We wish Marco the best as he drives the #26 Blockbuster/STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS car in Sonoma.”
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, the first-ever animated feature from Lucasfilm Animation, will be released only in theaters on Aug. 15 in the U.S. and Canada. The latest installment of the epic Star Wars Saga also introduces a weekly animated TV series of the same name that will premiere this fall on Cartoon Network.
Andretti, the 2006 IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, scored his first career victory at Infineon Raceway in August 2006, becoming the youngest member of the legendary Andretti family to win an Indy car race.
The STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS promotion is the latest effort from Blockbuster as a sponsor of Andretti Green Racing. Blockbuster is a full-season major associate sponsor of Andretti’s IndyCar Series car and serves as his primary sponsor at eight events. As a first time sponsor of Andretti Green Racing, Blockbuster is using the platform to promote both theatrical and rental films.
About Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, the company's global activities include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual-effects and audio post-production; LucasArts, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide; Lucas Licensing, which manages the global merchandising activities for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties; and Lucasfilm Animation, which produces cutting-edge digital entertainment. Additionally, Lucas Online creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties and businesses. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in San Francisco.
About Andretti Green Racing
Founded in December 2002, Andretti Green Racing® (AGR) is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and is owned and operated by partners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. The winningest team in Indy Racing League history, Andretti Green Racing fields a series-high four full-time entries in the IndyCar Series, two Firestone Indy Lights cars and a single-car entry in the American Le Mans Series. Andretti Green also features a promotional side to its business, owning and operating street races in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
About Blockbuster
Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI)(NYSE: BBI.B) is a leading global provider of in-home movie and game entertainment, with over 7,700 stores throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company may be accessed worldwide at www.blockbuster.com.
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