MKevin Savoree
Sponsorship is the heart and soul of an IndyCar Series team. That’s why Kevin Savoree is frontand- center when it comes to AGR’s lifeline. Savoree has what it takes to find and keep difficult sponsorship backing from not just anyone, but from major companies including Motorola, 7-Eleven and Panasonic.

During Andretti Green’s five years of operation, the company has set industry benchmarks – not only on the race track, but also in the area of sponsorship acquisition and activation.

If running a four-car IndyCar Series operation isn’t a sizable enough task, Savoree has succeeded in stretching AGR’s reach into many different areas. In 2006 and again in 2007, AGR found two partners to back Michael Andretti’s return to the Indianapolis 500. Additionally, the team capitalized on new IndyCar Series rules and added valuable test days to AGR’s plate by fielding an Indy Pro Series team. Savoree also played an integral part in forming AGR’s ALMS team in 2007 with backing by XM Satellite Radio and Acura.

For the 2008 season, AGR has again shown that they lead the Indy Racing League in sponsorship sales and retention. AGR resigned 7-Eleven as the main sponsor on the #11 IndyCar Series entry driven by Tony Kanaan for an unprecedented number of seasons. In addition to the current sponsors, AGR continues to bring new sponsors into the mix for the 2008 season.

In July 2004, Savoree teamed once again with Andrettiand Green, this time in a joint venture with Barry Green to form Andretti Green Promotions. Together, they successfully promoted the Indy Racing League’s first nonoval race on a temporary street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla. Savoree became managing director of the Honda Grand Prix, an event that has seen tremendous growth, and is now one of the premiere events on the IndyCar Series Schedule. In an effort to add value to all race fans, Savoree was a leading force behind adding a three-hour ALMS race to the St. Petersburg slate that debuted in 2007.

After growing up within hours of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and being a life-long racing fan, Savoree has progressively increased his involvement in motorsports. In December 2002, he made the ultimate professional commitment when he joined forces with Michael Andretti and Kim Green to form Andretti Green Racing. That venture has paid off handsomely for the trio with three championships and two trips to victory lane at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2005 and 2007.

Having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Eastern Illinois University in 1981, Savoree started his career as an accounting intern at Larsson, Woodyard & Henson (LWH) that year. He was admitted as partner to the firm in 1987. While at LWH, Savoree acquired significant experience in the negotiation and administration of professional drivers’ contracts, team contracts and sponsorship contracts.

Savoree’s clients at LWH included such notable racing professionals as Indianapolis 500 winners Jacques Villeneuve and Dario Franchitti, Alessandro Zanardi, Greg Moore and Helio Castroneves.

Concurrent with his time at the firm, Savoree served as treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of Team Green from 1994 through 2002. In 1997, he rose to the level of Vice President of Finance for Team Green and held that position until the sale of the team’s assets in 2002, which launched Andretti Green Racing.

A committed family man, Savoree spends as much time as his busy schedule will permit with his wife, Pam, and their sons, Nathan and Nicholas. He enjoys participating in such family activities as model building, bike riding, reading and movie watching, as well as being involved in sports activities like swimming, baseball, basketball and football. On occasion, the Savoree family even enjoys spending time together in the kitchen, splitting up duties among the four of them to prepare a family dinner.

Savoree, who resides in Indianapolis, remains a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.



 

MICHAEL ANDRETTiFOUNDATION
Founded in 2003, the Michael AndrettiFoundation was formed after the retirement of racing legend Michael Andretti. His retirement from racing provides him the opportunity along with the support of the racing community, including drivers, teams, sponsors and fans to generously help others. It allows his legacy the chance to help the charitable purposes of others.

The Michael AndrettiFoundation is a 501(c)(3) foundation organized to help people who have shown need and to promote programs for better health, education and welfare of America’s children and citizens.

If you would like to make a donation to the Michael AndrettiFoundation, visit the donation page below.

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