Novo Nordisk Extends Kimball, Chip Ganassi Racing Sponsorship

Charlie Kimball, 26, driver of Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 83 IZOD IndyCar Series race car is the first licensed driver with Type 1 diabetes in the history of INDYCAR. 

Racing at the highest level of the series, Kimball was diagnosed in 2007. He monitors his blood sugar before, during and after each race.

For his rookie season in the IZOD IndyCar Series, Kimball arrived with sponsorship from Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care and control. The partnership has been so successful that Novo Nordisk and Chip Ganassi Racing have announced a multi-year sponsorship extension, keeping the company as Kimball's primary sponsor.

"After an exciting first year, we are extremely proud to continue our partnership with Charlie Kimball and Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing," said Camille Lee, corporate vice president, diabetes marketing at Novo Nordisk. "This team represents a unique opportunity for us, as a pharmaceutical company, to raise disease awareness on a broader scale and show everyone that diabetes doesn't need to slow you down."

The new agreement begins at the start of the new 2012 INDYCAR season, which features new cars and multiple engine manufacturers. The coming season also marks the fourth year that Novo Nordisk and Charlie Kimball have been partners. Novo Nordisk came onboard with Kimball while he raced two years in the Firestone Indy Lights Series and continued as he worked his way up the racing ladder to the Indy cars.

"My partnership with Novo Nordisk is very unique," Kimball said, "because they make the insulins I take every day and they produce the delivery device I use to manage my diabetes. I am fortunate to have Novo Nordisk and Chip Ganassi Racing support me in my career and I am proud and honored to be associated with these two outstanding organizations."

Novo Nordisk as been actively producing information about diabetes awareness at INDYCAR events. The agreement extension retains the company's primary sponsorship of Kimball's race car, his fire suit and other branding opportunities. Kimball continues to make appearances on behalf of Novo Nordisk throughout the term of the agreement.

"It speaks volumes that a company like Novo Nordisk is making this type of long-term commitment to our team, to Charlie and the IZOD IndyCar Series," said Chip Ganassi, team owner. "Charlie has done everything that we have asked of him on the track and we certainly feel his future is bright. Novo Nordisk have been a tremendous partner both on- and off-track. The IndyCar Series could use more partners like them," he declared.

Kimball finished 19th in the 2011 series standings, his pair of top-ten results came later in the season as he became more confident in his work in the Indy cars. Kimball has been testing Ganassi's new 2012 Dallara/Honda/Firestone combination and performed demonstration laps in the new car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the season finale weekend.