Futaba to sponsor IPS Freedom 100 at Indy.

Futaba Corporation of America, an $800-million worldwide corporation, will sponsor the Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series event May 22 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The second annual Futaba Freedom 100 is scheduled for 1 pm [local time] Saturday, May 22. It is the marquee event for the Menards Infiniti Pro Series, the official development series of the Indy Racing League.

Futaba, headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., is a longtime sponsor of open-wheel racing.

The company was the primary sponsor of the car driven to victory by Ed Carpenter last May in the inaugural Infiniti Pro Series race at the Speedway. Futaba also has been a longtime sponsor of the Delphi Kelley Racing entry driven by Scott Sharp in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.

This is Futaba's first title sponsorship in racing in North America.

"It's exciting that Futaba is extending its support of open-wheel racing to include title rights for the Freedom 100," said Tony George, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Joe Dorris, president of Futaba Corporation of America added: "This is an opportunity for us to support the next-generation drivers and to be associated with the most famous speedway in the world. Our business partners will share in our activities in the month of May, and we really look forward to successful event."

Futaba Corporation of America is a division of Futaba Corporation, which has been in business for more than 50 years.

Futaba products include manufacturing of vacuum fluorescent displays, field emission displays and flat-panel display modules. Futaba is also a world leader in industrial and hobby radio remote-control systems and mold base and die sets. Futaba Corporation is ISO 9000 and QS-9000 certified, the highest quality in manufacturing standards.