The apparel brand Izod is dropping its partnership with the IndyCar Series after the conclusion of the 2013 season, leaving the open-wheel racing series without a title sponsor.
IndyCar announced the decision in a statement Friday afternoon. The move does not come as a surprise to series officials, who have been pitching potential replacement sponsors since last summer.
"We are proud of our partnership with Izod over the past six years," Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said in a statement. "But circumstances change, and now we're seeking new partnerships with brands looking to align with the fastest, most versatile form of racing."
The six-year, $60-million title sponsorship deal with Izod was supposed to stretch through the 2014 season. But, as IBJ reported in July, many expected Izod to attempt to end the agreement early.
Terms of the separation were not…