(INDIANAPOLIS) April 23, 2019 – Preferred Freezer Services announced today a continuation of their partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing for a sixth consecutive year. New for 2019, the only owner/driver in the NTT IndyCar Series will be behind the wheel of a blue and white Preferred Freezer Services car for the first time. Ed Carpenter’s No. 20 Chevrolet will showcase the classic colors and famous Preferred Freezer Services polar bear at the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2019.
Preferred Freezer Services (PFS), a global leader in the cold storage, warehousing, distribution and logistics industry, first teamed up with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) to field a second car for the team in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. The company has supported ECR’s Month of May program each year since, serving as primary partner on six entries for the 500-mile race over the past five years. Of those six entries, four have yielded Top 10 finishes, including a 3rd place in 2016. Last year, full-time ECR driver Spencer Pigot started a Preferred Freezer Services Chevrolet on the outside of the second row after making the prestigious Fast Nine Shootout during qualifying.
Carpenter is honored to have the opportunity to make his 16th Indianapolis 500 start in the No. 20 Preferred Freezer Services Chevrolet. “Preferred Freezer Services, along with DEEM, has been an amazing partner of ECR over the years,” remarked Carpenter. “I have always thought that the bold blue livery stood out and looked fast on track. I can’t wait to represent Preferred Freezer, DEEM, SMC and all of their employees at the Indianapolis 500.”
While Carpenter now races exclusively at the oval events, he remains one of the most experienced drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series field with over 175 career starts. In 2018, he became just the 10th driver to collect three or more Indianapolis 500 pole positions in the century-plus history of the race. When Carpenter took the green flag from the coveted first starting position, 2018 became the 11th season in a row that he has led at least one Indy car race. The Indianapolis native went on to lead the most laps of all drivers (65) on his way a runner-up finish in the 102nd running of the 500-mile classic. Of Carpenter’s 15 Indianapolis 500 starts, last year’s second place was the highest of his career.
Utilizing leading-edge technology, Preferred Freezer Services offers the most modern temperature-controlled, full-service warehouses in a network of strategically located state-of-the-art facilities. PFS now operates 39 locations in 9 regions across the United States with 3 more scheduled to commence construction shortly. After starting with one refrigerated warehouse in New Jersey 30 years ago, PFS has grown to more than 2,300 employees, close to $350 million in sales and has over 330 million cubic feet of warehouse space from coast-to-coast. PFS also maintains an international presence with several cold storage warehouses in China and one in Vietnam.
Indianapolis-based Ed Carpenter Racing will also enjoy ongoing support for the No. 20 from two companies with deep Hoosier ties. SMC Corporation of America (SMC) has returned for a second Indianapolis 500 with Carpenter. SMC Corporation, based in Japan, is the world’s largest pneumatics company dedicated to factory automation. SMC is the U.S. subsidiary of SMC Corporation and is headquartered in Noblesville, Ind.
Additionally, DEEM Mechanical and Electrical Company will continue as one of ECR’s longest-tenured partners as the relationship with the No. 20 dates back to 2013. DEEM is centrally located in Indianapolis, Ind. with satellite offices throughout the Midwest down to the southeastern United States. “We are excited to be a big part of the 103 Running of the Indy 500,” stated Trut Edwards, Head of Operations. “Ed and ECR continue to deliver a great experience that reflects what May in Indianapolis is about.”
A Preferred Freezer Services Chevrolet will also take to the track for the INDYCAR Grand Prix, the road course race immediately preceding the Indianapolis 500. Ed Jones too will race a blue and white No. 20 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, albeit on the 2.439-mile road course before handing the car over to Carpenter for the “500.” The famous PFS polar bear will also be present on the No. 20 of Carpenter (ovals) and Jones (road/street courses) and the No. 21 of Pigot for the remainder of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season.
All three Ed Carpenter Racing drivers will participate in a test at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. It will mark the first time Carpenter will be behind the wheel of the No. 20 Preferred Freezer Services Chevrolet. Pigot will remain in his No. 21 while Jones will shift over to ECR’s third Indianapolis 500 entry in conjunction with Scuderia Corsa. Jones will race the blue and white PFS livery in the INDYCAR Grand Prix on May 11, 2019, after which Carpenter will take over the No. 20 for the remainder of May. Practice for the Indianapolis 500 begins May 14 with the 103rd Running set to take place on Sunday, May 26, 2019.
By Admin
