Indy sponsor

When Dave and Tim Poole launched their high-performance bicycle company, they carried with them dreams of having one of their creations entered in the most prestigious cycling race in the world.
On Sunday, they'll watch as a car competing in the world's most famous auto race will have the name of their latest business venture emblazoned on its side.
ECat, a Portland-based electronic bicycle company in which the Poole brothers are partners, is one of the main sponsors for driver Wade Cunningham’s No. 41 car than will run for A.J. Foyt Enterprises in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
“It’s great,” said Dave. “It’s pretty cool to see a picture of A.J. Foyt standing next to Wade Cunningham with the (ECat) logo on his chest that we designed and originated.”
The Pooles were involved in the Indianapolis 500 last year, having provided their AeroCat bicycles to several drivers — including Josef Newgarden. With their new company, their involvement has grown.
In addition to the logo on Cunningham’s racing suit, ECat also has the most prominent logo on the car located on the sides near the rear tires. The company, which is working to produce electronic bicycles (see related story page one), is helping Cunningham make his first start at the Brickyard.
“It’s been a big deal for us,” said Cunningham in a phone interview Monday. “Without them we wouldn’t get on the racetrack. … They are the reason that I’m getting to compete. I’m overly happy to … be involved. They’re dedicated guys who are trying to build a great product.”
The Pooles got connected with Cunningham through Alan Lewis, ECat’s CEO, a fellow Jay County High School graduate and the former owner of Createc.
Lewis, who lives in Indianapolis, became friends with Cunningham through his involvement in developing the safety seat that is in most Indycars. When ECat was looking for a way to launch the company, the Indianapolis 500 seemed like a good fit.
“Alan was able to negotiate a really good deal to help us launch the brand,” said Dave. “So the idea is to just use it as a marketing tool to get the name out there.”
ECat presented Cunningham with one of its prototype electronic bicycles on Tuesday, and he’s been using it as transportation between the garage and pit areas at the speedway. The company also invited representatives from several police departments, including Indianapolis and Chicago, to check out their new product.
In addition to using the ECat prototype this week, Cunningham is among the drivers who also ride an AeroCat bike as part of his training regimen.
“As a professional athlete, fitness is probably the second most important attribute you bring to the racecar other than talent. So you need to be training a lot,” said Cunningham. “Running … can actually be quite harmful. There’s so much impact that many, many drivers have always went toward cycling. It’s something you can do for long periods of time. It’s pretty similar to simulating the heart rate in a racecar … It’s a great workout.”
“The drivers have to do something to stay in shape,” added Tim, who likes to say Portland has a car in the Indy 500. “The sport that they’re in doesn’t keep them in shape. A lot of them are cyclists. That’s where that connection came from.”
Cunningham, who is from New Zealand, has had success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, having won there in half of his six starts in the Firestone Freedom 100 as part of the Firestone Indy Lights Series. This will be his first start in the Indy 500.
The 27-year-old said his first goal is to finish the race. He said if he is able to do that, he believes he has the team and equipment in order to put together a good showing.
Cunningham will start in Row 9 alongside Michel Jourdain Jr. and Sebastian Saavedra.
“I’m just really excited to be part of the Indianapolis 500,” said Cunningham, who made his first IZOD IndyCar Series start at Texas Motor Speedway in June. “It has such a rich tradition of innovation, and it’s great to be sponsored by an Indiana-based company that is on the forefront of electric bike technology. … It’s an honor really to be involved with them and to be in the Indianapolis 500.”[[In-content Ad]]