CROWN ROYAL ENLISTS RACING ICONS MARCO ANDRETTI AND ALEXANDER ROSSI TO HONOR MILITARY HEROES HEADED INTO THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
The
whisky brand built on generosity will display enough honoree names on its Wall
of Gratitude to equal the length of the racetrack at the iconic Indianapolis
Motor Speedway
For the second year in a row, and as part of the brand’s
“Live Generously and Life Will Treat You Royally” campaign, Crown Royal is enabling
race fans of legal drinking age to submit names of their military heroes for display
on the Crown Royal Wall of Gratitude.
Today, Crown Royal and the Andretti Autosport team held a
press conference to announce the driving force behind the program, which aims
to honor military men and women at one of racing’s most legendary venues. Names
of military honorees will be collected by Crown Royal now through Memorial Day weekend,
with a goal of 31,680 names. Each name will be engraved on a five-inch gold
plaque and, when placed side-by-side on the Wall of Gratitude, the plaques will
equal the length of one complete lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Serving our nation is the most generous thing a person can
do for this country,” said 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi. “I have the
utmost confidence race fans will do their best for the Crown Royal Wall of
Gratitude by Indy 500 weekend, honoring so many deserving troops and veterans.”
To officially green flag the initiative, Andretti, along
with fellow Verizon IndyCar Series driver Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
CEO and Chairman Michael Andretti and Crown Royal Director of Whisky Engagement
Stephen Wilson each submitted their own military hero’s name to the Wall. Representatives
from Long Beach’s U.S. Vets also joined and were recognized as part of the
ceremony.
“At our heart, Crown Royal represents exceptional
generosity. For the past seven years, we’ve brought that to life honoring
servicemen and women during races in memorable and impactful ways,” said Nicola
Heckles, Brand Director of Crown Royal. “Following the success of last year’s
program, we’ll celebrate our nation’s heroes, past and present, on an even
larger scale than last year with our record setting military name collection.”
Submissions will be accepted online at www.CrownYourHero.com, and in-person
during a variety of at-track executions leading up to the biggest weekend in
motorsports, including at the Andretti Autosport Hospitality during Grand Prix
of Long Beach weekend and during the Armed Forces and Indy 500 weekends in
Indianapolis.
“The month of May is such a thrilling experience for a
driver with all the history and prestige leading into to the Indy 500, but this
year part of my enthusiasm will be to support race fans in honoring their
heroes on behalf of Crown Royal on the Wall of Gratitude,” said Verizon IndyCar
Series driver Marco Andretti.
Crown Royal asks that all race fans honor generously, but
drink responsibly.
