GENE SIMMONS Named Grand Marshal Of Honda Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg

Waving the checkered flag at this year's Honda Grand Prix at St. Petersburg will be none other than venerable entrepreneur and rock legend, Gene Simmons, it was announced on Monday (March 20) by event officials. Watch on Sunday, April 2 (live on ESPN at 3:45 p.m. EST) as Simmons kicks off the second race of the 2006 IndyCar Series season from St. Petersburg, Fla.

"We're very excited to announce Gene as the grand marshal of the 2006 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg," said Kevin Savoree, managing director of the Honda Grand Prix for Andretti Green Promotions. "After meeting Gene earlier this year, his energy, passion and excitement for IndyCar racing was clearly evident. Having him in St. Pete should be a great thrill for all the fans and should bring an even greater buzz to our event."

Simmons, whose famed KISS brand has earned more gold records than any other American group (RIAA, 2003) and procured more than 2,500 licenses, continues to gain traction with a broader, more dynamic fan base than ever before. Most recently, Simmons co-founded and developed worldwide and branding marketing company, Simmons Abramson Marketing, alongside entertainment industry veteran, Richard Abramson, best known for his role as Paul Reuben's manager, where he ultimately energized his portrayal of Pee-Wee Herman's character to a multi-million dollar end.

Actively engaging in the catapulting success and fine-tuned direction of the Indy Racing League, Simmons has already established himself as a brand-marketing frontman, the likes this league has never seen before. The sagacious implementation of the "I Am Indy" campaign, anchored by its signature song, "I Am Indy", co-authored by Simmons himself and an up-and-coming band off his Simmons Records label, BAG, ejected the rocket-speed momentum for the newly-created marketing company and set a precedent with the birth of the first official theme song for a motor sports league.

"With 'I Am Indy' you're making a pledge of allegiance to the United Nations of Indy. The phrase knows no bounds — racial, sexual or otherwise. It applies to drivers, fans, sponsors," Simmons explains.

Simmons Abramson Marketing leverages myriad assets to broker deals on behalf of the IndyCar Series and effectively position the league as a competitive entertainment property to be reckoned with. The recent partnership solidified between NBA star Carmelo Anthony and Indy Racing League veteran Ron Hemelgarn of Hemelgarn-Racing to put rookie PJ Chesson behind the wheel for IndyCar exemplifies the purposeful eminence of Simmons Abramson Marketing. The new 'Car' Melo had its' debut at the Toyota Indy 300 and added explosiveness to the 2006 IndyCar Series season open, which took place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami, Florida on March 26.

"I'm perhaps the public persona of a really simple message: You should all be blessed because you're standing on hallowed ground," Simmons said. "This is the Indy, baby... These are the fastest cars on four wheels. We have rock stars and rockets. These cars will drive on the ceiling."

As the Grand Marshal of the Honda Grand Prix at St. Petersburg IndyCar race on Sunday, April 2, Simmons will carry forward a legacy as grand in tradition as his own and more glorious a spirit than any one person can contain, IndyCar Racing.

The 2006 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is promoted by Andretti Green Promotions, LLC, marks the second race in the 2006 IndyCar Series schedule. The 2006 season schedule includes 14 races with 11 ovals, two permanent road courses and St. Petersburg's 1.8-mile temporary street course. The event will be held March 31 through April 2, 2006. Tickets range in price from $25 for adult single-day general admission to $110 for a three-day, reserved seat pass and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling (813) 287-8844. Tickets are also available by calling (727) 824-7223, ext. 225.

For more information on the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, visit www.gpstpete.com.