Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Indianapolis-based Angie's List will join the 2015 kickoff to the Month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the title sponsor of the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 9.

Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said the race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn circuit would be telecast on ABC for the second consecutive year.

Company founder Angie Hicks said that in conjunction with the race entitlement through 2016, it would host service providers from around the country in a networking "Festival of Service" event. The 19-year-old company collects and shares reviews on local service performance with subscribers.

"There's no better time to be in Indianapolis than in the Month of May," she said during a news conference at the Speedway. "Angie's List has long sponsored race cars in the Indianapolis 500, but getting involved with the Grand Prix brings a new kind of excitement. This is a world-class race, and we'll bring in world-class service companies, not just to reward them, but to work hand-in-hand to change the way local service is delivered. Our 'Festival of Service' will celebrate companies that are working alongside us on this mission."

The Grand Prix of Indianapolis, featuring Verizon IndyCar Series race won by Simon Pagenaud, also included races in all three rungs of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder. Miles said the atmosphere, fan experience and attendance during the Grand Prix weekend surpassed internal goals and expectations, and set the stage for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

"The lift from that incredibly successful month continues with this announcement," he said. "The idea was to bring a new event, a Verizon IndyCar Series road course race, to jump-start May and get people excited that we're on our way to the culminating event that is the Indianapolis 500. Looking back on it, it was a remarkable success. Race fans just loved the atmosphere. It started off in exactly the way we had in mind for May.

"All the metrics were very positive. Even if we're still celebrating that, it's time to look forward. For Angie's List to step up is really exciting."