pcsave.com, Lycos Team to Sponsor Indy Car

Dallas-based pcsave.com, an Internet computer retailer, signed a joint marketing agreement with Lycos Inc. that includes co-sponsorship of the Team Xtreme Indy Racing League car featuring rookie driver John Hollansworth.

The marketing initiative is designed to provide high visibility for both the Lycos and pcsave.com brands. Spending details were not disclosed.

As part of the promotion, pcsave.com will conduct an Indy 500 sweepstakes on its Web site, offering a grand prize, all-expense-paid trip for two to the race on May 30.

The sponsored Team Xtreme driver leads the Rookie of the Year points chase after a strong showing in the season-opening TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando.

“The Indy 500 is the most popular single day sporting event in the world,” said Philip Wise, president and CEO of pcsave.com. “We are thrilled to be joined with Lycos to support one of the rising stars in the racing world.”

“Lycos.com is one of the fastest sites on the Internet, so sponsoring a young team in the fastest sport around is a natural way to reinforce our brand image,” said Jan Horsfall, vice president of marketing for Lycos. “We are the only Internet-based group sponsoring an Indy Racing League team this year and we expect to reap some of the same rewards in terms of media attention that we gained with our NASCAR sponsorship (last year).”

In the joint marketing arrangement, pcsave.com will also be a featured Internet merchant throughout the Lycos Network. pcsave.com, a subsidiary of CompuCom Systems Inc., sells customized personal computers, peripherals, and software products.