INDYCAR, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT AND DISNEY JUNIOR’S “MICKEY AND THE ROADSTER RACERS” TEAM UP TO DELIVER YOUTH AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE 2017 INDYCAR SEASON
Michael Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay to Lead Andretti Autosport
Participation in Special “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” Events at the St.
Petersburg Grand Prix, Long Beach Grand Prix and the 101st Running
of the Indianapolis 500
INDYCAR announced today
that it will team up with Disney Junior’s newest hit series “Mickey and
the Roadster Racers” to deliver youth and family entertainment for the 2017 Verizon
IndyCar Series season. As part of the
program, Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will lead the team’s
participation as teammates Marco Andretti, Alexander Rossi and Takuma Sato help
share the racing excitement by participating in special “Mickey and the
Roadster Racers Pit Stop” events at three INDYCAR races this season – the
series’ kickoff at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix on March 12, the Long Beach
Grand Prix on April 9 and the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500
on May 28.
The collaboration will
include at-track family activations in the Disney Junior Kids’ Zone at all
INDYCAR racing events, special surprise appearances at key races, and unique
digital content and social experiences for fans, bringing an entirely new level
of family fun to the INDYCAR experience.
“We are excited to
bring Disney Junior’s ‘Mickey and the Roadster Racers’ to the Verizon IndyCar
Series,” said CJ O’Donnell, INDYCAR’s Chief Marketing Officer. “The collaboration increases our appeal to a
younger audience and adds new excitement as we kick off our 2017 season.”
“Mickey Mouse is such an iconic character that
has been part of all our lives. He was a big part of my childhood, and now my
three sons enjoy Mickey and his friends in ‘Mickey and the Roadster Racers’ which is entertaining and
also includes important lessons for young kids. And with this new
show, Mickey and I have a lot in common – we both drive yellow and red race
cars and we both carry the number 28,” said Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy 500
champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.
“I’m really honored to have Andretti Autosport as part of
this great Disney Junior activation,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “My
youngest children are huge fans of ‘Mickey and the Roadster Racers’ and I can’t
think of a better way to start the 2017 season than with Mickey by our side.”
About
“Mickey and the Roadster Racers”
“Mickey and the Roadster Racers” is a madcap car-racing
adventure for preschoolers led by Disney’s No. 1 star, Mickey Mouse and his
pals Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy, along with their unique transforming
vehicles, on humorous high-spirited races around the globe, as well as hometown
capers in Hot Dog Hills. NASCAR stars
Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, who got her start in INDYCAR, and Jeff Gordon
recur as race car drivers Jiminy Johnson, Danni Sue and Gordon Gear,
respectively. Since its January 15
debut, the series has
generated over 50 million viewer engagements across linear and digital viewing
platforms. Episodes air daily on
Disney Channel and Disney Junior and are also available on the Disney Junior
app and Disney Junior VOD.
