Indianapolis, IN (September 12, 2011) - Dreyer
& Reinbold Racing announced today that Hawaiian-based company,
Kona Deep, and Italian driver, Giorgio Pantano will return to the
team in Japan. Pantano will replace the injured Justin Wilson this
weekend and will drive the team's No. 22 Kona Deep entry for The
Final Indy Japan.
The Hawaiian-based company joined forces as a sponsor partner
with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing last year and came back on board
this season. Kona Deep has served as a team associate for the 2011
IZOD IndyCar Series and will serve as the primary sponsor on the
No. 22 machine at The Final Indy Japan this week. As for Pantano,
he competed with DRR for the Sonoma and Baltimore races and will be
back for the final road course event.
"We're elated to have Kona Deep on board as our primary partner
for the final event in Japan. We've enjoyed our partnership the
last two years and are looking forward to many years of growth in
the future. We also couldn't be any happier about putting Giorgio
back in our car for the race and having him represent Dreyer &
Reinbold Racing and Kona Deep. Giorgio did a fantastic job for us
in Sonoma and Baltimore and we believe he will be really strong
around the Japan road course," commented Dreyer & Reinbold
Racing Co-Owner, Dennis Reinbold.
As a direct result of Kona Deep's motorsports partnership with
DRR, Kona Deep became America's #1 selling deep sea drinking water
beverage. Partnering with DRR allowed Kona Deep to leverage the
domestic United States and the diverse schedule of the IZOD IndyCar
Series season, enabling the brand to be introduced in geographic
areas unable to reach otherwise.
"Through our DRR partnership, our on- and off-track marketing
and promotional activities have allowed Kona Deep to get our
differentiating message to the public of being the only 100%
natural electrolyte mineral water in the world that does not
contain any powdered electrolyte or mineral additives. Previously,
and without the nationwide marketing reach of the DRR
professionals, our important and singular message languished, and
was simply being obscured and overshadowed by the presence of our
more established competitors such as Gatorade®, Red Bull®, and the
various proliferating offerings of the "coconut water" brands now
on the market," commented Mark Mukai, Chairman, CEO and President
of the Kona Deep Corporation.
Piloting the blue and white No. 22 Kona Deep machine will be
Pantano. He will compete with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the
third time at Japan on September 17th. The Padua, Italy
native will return to the IZOD IndyCar Series after competing in
the Auto GP Series last year and Superleague Formula in 2009. The
Italian brings numerous experience to the table after winning the
GP2 title in 2008, competing in F3000, Formula One and IndyCar for
two road course events with Chip Ganassi Racing.
"I want to say thank you to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and
sponsors for giving me this opportunity again. The last two races
were really strong for us and I'm looking forward to running with
the team again in Japan. I'm here to do the best that I can as
always and I look forward to the chance to compete,"stated
Pantano.
Decisions have not been made on a driver for the remainder of
the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Season. Stay tuned for more details and
please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com
for more information.