Speedway 'excited' by new sponsor for Indy race.

The October finale for Indy Racing's Northern Light Series at Texas Motor Speedway is getting a new name, as the Excite@Home-sponsored event becomes the 'Excite 500.'

The one-year sponsorship deal was officially announced today at the Indy Racing Northern Light Series event at Kentucky Speedway, with Redwood, California-based Excite@Home - the leading provider of broadband high-speed Internet service in the world - increasing its presence in the IRL.

''It seems fitting that the season finale, for what has been proven to be the most exciting racing series in America, will now be called the Excite 500,'' said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage, ''Our June Indy Racing event was the most exciting race in motorsports history but, with the Indy Racing Northern Light Series championship on the line, the Excite 500 is appropriately named.''

The Excite@Home name is already firmly entrenched in the minds of IRL fans through its association with race-winner and championship challenger Eddie Cheever, a relationship that had a bearing on the company's decision to take on the sponsorship of the season finale.

''Through Excite@Home's sponsorship of Eddie Cheever, we have been impressed with the professionalism of the league and track owners, and the sheer excitement that surrounds the races and the devotion of the fans,'' said Byron Smith, executive vice president, consumer broadband services & chief marketing officer of Excite@Home ''We jumped at the opportunity to sponsor this year's final Indy Racing event at Texas Motor Speedway, as we see it to be the perfect conclusion to a thrilling season.''

Former F1 and CART star Cheever is making a bid for his first Indy Racing championship. The former Indy 500 winner ranked second in points before last weekend's race at Kentucky, and already has one win this year, at Pikes Peak in June.

''Excite@Home's sponsorship of the Excite 500 is one more step towards solidifying the internet's position in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series,'' said Cheever, ''It's great for Excite@Home and great for the fans, and it's a perfect way to celebrate a great year for the #51 Excite@Home team. I'm looking forward to a fantastic Excite 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, and to competing for the Northern Light Cup in my Excite@Home car.''

Excite@Home replaces Mall.com as the sponsor of the season-ending Indy Racing event at Texas Motor Speedway.

''It's unfortunate that Mall.com could not meet its obligations,'' said Gossage, ''We're simply pleased to join up with a company like Excite@Home that will help make the Indy Racing championship race a big hit.''

''We're pleased that Excite is increasing its involvement with Indy Racing through its sponsorship of the season-ending race at Texas Motor Speedway,'' said IRL VP of sales and marketing Bob Reif, ''Excite has enjoyed tremendous benefits through its relationship with Team Cheever, and its sponsorship of this thrilling race at such a great venue like Texas Motor Speedway is further proof of the growth and business potential of our series.''

The Excite 500 takes place on 15 October.