Legendary US-based Australian motorsport commentator Leigh Diffey says he is ready to meet the winners of the 2024 Ultimate Indy 500 Motorsport Prize at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.
After three successful years, the Ultimate Motorsport Prize program has been extended to include a second raffle to the 2024 Indianapolis 500.
The Ultimate Motorsport Prize to the Bathurst 1000 was created by Pirtek as a fund-raising activity for the Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Centre at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney and has been an incredible success thanks to the generosity of Pirtek and other stakeholders.
The Ultimate Indy 500 Prize has been created as an extension of that and has been done in partnership with Pirtek, Team Penske and Speedcafe.com.
Diffey, the popular face of NBC's IndyCar coverage, will be one of several VIPs who will do a meet and greet with the winners during the four days of next year's event.
“The Ultimate Motorsport Prize has been a tremendous initiative from Pirtek and some of the sport's biggest stakeholders,” said Diffey.
“I have watched what an incredible experience the Bathurst 1000 winners have had the past three years and it will be great to see the winners of the Indy 500 raffle have a similar experience.
“No matter whether the winners have been to the 500 before or will be coming for the first time, there is little doubt they will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to Pirtek and guys at Team Penske.
“I am looking forward to meeting the winners and showing them around a little.
“With all the funds going to the Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Centre at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, why wouldn't you buy a ticket or five?
“It would make sense for a few tickets to end up in Christmas stockings next month.”
Tickets for the raffle are just AUD 20 and can be purchased directly through www.ultimatemotorsportprize.com – with all proceeds going to St Vincent's.
The prize will include return economy airfares to the US, four night's accommodation in Indianapolis, tickets to the 2024 Indy 500, a meet and greet with Team Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin and/or Will Power, access to the Team Penske hospitality area, a meet and greet with Diffey, a Team Penske merchandise pack, Pirtek Merchandise pack and USD 1000 spending money.
Pirtek CEO Stephen Dutton, said the involvement of Diffey had guaranteed a unique component of the inaugural Ultimate Indy 500 prize.
“Leigh is one of Australia's greatest motorsport success stories and we were delighted when he agreed to be a part of our inaugural Indy 500 raffle,” said Dutton.
“His knowledge and contacts are first class and will add to the whole experience for the winners.
“We have been pleased with ticket sales to date, but we are expecting a major push in the coming weeks as we head into Christmas.”
Pirtek Team Murray owner and original founder of Speedcafe.com, Brett “Crusher” Murray, will be the winners' personal host at the event.
Winner of the Ultimate Indy 500 Prize raffle will be announced on Friday, February 23, 2024 – leaving plenty of planning time for the Indy 500 which will be run from May 23-26, 2024.
The inaugural raffle has been made possible by Pirtek, Team Penske and Speedcafe.com.
About Peter Duncan Neurosciences Unit at St Vincent's Hospital
The Peter Duncan Neurosciences Unit at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney was established in 2012 and made possible by a donation by Mr Peter Duncan AM Executive Chairman of Pirtek.
The focus has been turning Neurosciences research into treatments for patients suffering chronic neurological neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, MS and Parkinson's disease.
Funds raised from the Raffle will support a senior postdoctoral neurosciences research fellow within the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit.
The new researcher will study adult neuro stem cells and consider ways to improve their regenerative capacity in order to develop new real treatments for brain injury common in high impact sports, and degenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease.
THE ULTIMATE INDY 500 PRIZE
- Return economy airfares to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from your nearest Australian capital city
- Four nights four-star accommodation in Indianapolis
- Airport and racetrack transfers
- USD 1000 spending money
- Meet and greet with Scott McLaughlin and or Will Power
- Personal tour of the Team Penske garage
- Access to the Team Penske hospitality area
- Police escort to the track on race day
- Race tickets
- Reserved seats at the legendary downtown Saturday parade
- Access to the starting grid and pitlane for the 2024 Indianapolis 500
- Meet and greet with US-based Australian NBC commentator Leigh Diffey and tour of the event's TV compound and studio
- Team Penske merchandise pack
- Pirtek Merchandise pack
- Photo on the Indy 500 podium
- Photo with the famous Indianapolis 500 BorgWarner trophy
- Personal concierge from 2016 Pirtek Team Murray owner – Brett ‘Crusher' Murray