Breaking Barriers: The Indian-American Racing Prodigy Powered by OPTIMA
Yuven Sundaramoorthy is a Wisconsin native and UW-Madison grad who is proud to partner with OPTIMA as he edges closer to the Indy 500.
Fans of INDY NXT know of Yuven Sundaramoorthy, a popular up-and-coming racer and full-time driver for Abel Motorsports. They’ve also noticed a new look to Sundaramoorthy’s car as it speeds around the track: none other than the bold red, black, and white OPTIMA logo, thanks to a sponsorship by Clarios.
“The heart of OPTIMA Batteries is with motorsports and enthusiasts,” notes Cameron Douglass, OPTIMA marketing director. “We’re constantly looking for ways to fuel passion in motorsports and invest in tomorrow’s talent.”
With his enthusiasm for racing and his drive to succeed, sponsoring Sundaramoorthy was a perfect fit.
The Hometown Hero
Sundaramoorthy, from Oconomowoc, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee, is a true hometown hero. He’s a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a full-time computer science student, a member of UW-Madison’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers team, and—in his spare time—a racecar driver. After graduating, he shifted gears and became a professional racecar driver, where already he’s found great success.
Sundaramoorthy sped through the ranks of USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and F1600 racing series, and in 2021 became the first Indian-American driver to win an IndyCar-sanctioned event. In 2022, he repeated this victory, and in August 2024, claimed his first-ever podium finish in INDY NXT, an open-wheel racing series that feeds directly into IndyCar, the premier open-wheel racing series in the United States. Part of the Road to Indy developmental program, it’s the final step for drivers before joining the elite ranks of IndyCar.
The partnership was a natural win for Clarios and our mission to create the world’s best batteries. “We have a strong focus on growing tomorrow’s talent, both within and outside of our organization,” says Douglass. “Aligning with drivers like Yuven Sundaramoorthy and race teams helps us take our products to the next level.”
Debuting a New Look with OPTIMA Sponsorship
Sundaramoorthy debuted his new OPTIMA bodywork at the Hy-Vee Milwaukee 100 race in late August, with his car sporting the sharp red, black, and white OPTIMA colors and logo. He was as excited about the partnership as he was to race.
“To be working with our first major corporate sponsor – and to have it be a Wisconsin-based company – is very special,” he explains. “Especially to have our first race weekend be at the Milwaukee Mile, just a short distance [from Clarios’] headquarters. It’s a pretty cool thing.”
With the sponsorship, Sundaramoorthy now has his sights set on the road ahead, hoping to reach the Indianapolis 500 by 2026. Undoubtedly, he’ll have a legion of fans—both IndyCar and OPTIMA—cheering him toward his ultimate goal.
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