A1 TEAM USA Holdings in the Indianapolis 500

A1 TEAM USA Holdings has been a co-owner and sponsor in the Indianapolis 500 the past two years, backing entries for Indy 500 champions Buddy Rice in 2007 and Al Unser Jr. in 2006.

"We have been able to carry the American spirit of A1 TEAM USA Holdings and the international appeal of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport into the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing,' " A1 TEAM USA Holdings owner Rick Weidinger said. "What better race, what better sporting event in the world than the Indy 500 to bring greater awareness of our team and expand the relationships with our fans.

"We've been privileged to have Indianapolis 500 champions in Buddy Rice and Al Unser Jr. driving the 'We The People' car. We're also proud that Phil Giebler, who has driven for us in both previous A1GP seasons, was Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2007."

Rice, the Indy winner in 2004, had a top-10 finish in sight before being hit from behind in a multi-car crash on lap 163 and was eliminated. He finished 25th in the Dallara-Honda.

"I saw Marco (Andretti) get up in the air and I had to slow way down and avoid the crash," Rice said. "But then someone just punted me from behind. I couldn't do anything about it. I guess some of the guys behind me didn't see the crash. It is a shame because after the last pit stop, the car felt really good. I was moving well and looking to make some passes. I feel we had a top-10 finish."

Rice had started from the inside of the sixth row and ran in the top-10 in three different segements. He ran as high as third.

Unser, the Indy winner in 1992 and 1994, was also in contention for a top-10 when he was knocked out by debris from Jeff Simmons' Panoz-Honda crash in Turn 3 on lap 148. Unser had started 27th and driven to12th in the Dallara-Honda before being eliminated. He finished 24th.

A1 TEAM USA Holdings has partnered with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, a full-season IndyCar operation, in both of its Indy 500s. In 2006, insurance giant GEICO was a major sponsor.

"We've had two better finsihes taken from us," Weidinger said, "but we're still proud of have represented A1 TEAM USA Holdings and A1GP in this great race and the largest attended sporting event in the world."