Banana Boat rides shotgun with Target Chip Ganassi Racing

INDIANAPOLIS — Banana Boat sunscreen is riding shotgun with Target-sponsored Chip Ganassi Racing for the second year in row at the 2013 Izod IndyCar Series. The sunscreen products producer is leveraging the partnership to market its Banana Boat Sport Performance CoolZone sunscreen and Banana Boat Protect and Hydrate Sunscreen lotions.

"We are excited to be continuing our partnership with Target Chip Ganassi Racing at this year's Indianapolis 500," said Carla Luca, senior brand manager, Banana Boat. "This ongoing partnership brings together two brands that value uniqueness and fun — sharing the goal of keeping racing fans cool and protected while they enjoy the race."

Temperatures on and around the track can hit well above 100 degrees. As a part of the partnership, Banana Boat sunscreen set up Shade Stations trackside at the recent Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, providing race fans with product samples and educational materials about proper sun protection. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti also drove a Banana Boat brand themed car at the St. Petersburg race.

"Banana Boat sunscreen provides safe and effective sun protection that fans and families attending our races need," said Franchitti. "The pit crews on the Target teams rely on sunscreen out on pit lane to get them through these events. They are a very important partner and have been a great supporter of our program."

Chip Ganassi has been in the auto racing industry for more than 25 years. Today his teams include three cars in the Izod IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and one Daytona Prototype in the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Overall his teams have 15 championships and more than 150 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and five Rolex 24 at Daytonas.