American Suzuki Named Official ATV of Mario Andretti Racing School

Brea, CA (2/28/2007) -American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced a new partnership with Driving 101, parent company of the Mario Andretti Racing School and Jeff Gordon Racing School, making Suzuki the Official ATV of the Mario Andretti Racing School. This school will use the Suzuki KingQuad 450 at all school facilities in the United States. Mario Andretti Racing School has headquarters at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the Jeff Gordon Racing School has headquarters at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

“Suzuki has always been associated with racing champions,” said Mel Harris, vice president of ASMC’s motorcycle and ATV division. “Our motorcycles and ATVs have carried some of the industry’s greatest riders to championships, and we’re thrilled to extend that connection to a champion like Mario Andretti, one of the best-known names in motorsports.”

Suzuki’s feature-packed KingQuad 450 ATV will be used at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and eight other locations nationwide to help start and move the school’s race vehicles and serve in the pits at these famous circuits. The three-year agreement, coordinated with the help of NASCAR Scene magazine’s Carol Stacy and Driving 101’s Scott Gordon, will continue the growth of the Suzuki KingQuad ATV brand beyond its utility roots.

“Suzuki’s KingQuad ATVs have long been known for their strong utility capabilities,” said Rod Lopusnak, ATV operations manager for American Suzuki. “And now we’ll grow that reputation as the premier sport-utility vehicle through this association with the Mario Andretti organization.”

Founded in 2003, the Mario Andretti Racing School is operated with the goal of providing the most professional, technically advanced racing school in the world, and to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

About American Suzuki
The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC). ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles, and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries.

About Driving 101
Driving 101 – the parent company of the Mario Andretti Racing School – was founded by Robert Lutz in 1997 as “the world’s fastest racing experience.” Mario Andretti Racing School opened in 2003 with headquarters in Las Vegas, and today operates at 10 world-class race track facilities, including California Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chicago Land Raceway, Homestead Miami Speedway and others. Since its founding, Driving 101 has entertained more than 1 million driving enthusiasts and race fans alike. Driving 101 opened Jeff Gordon Racing School in 2005, and operates at 11 world-class racing facilities across the United States.