INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar officials are expected to announce on Thursday that clothing maker Izod will become the series' title sponsor next season.

A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed the move on Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced. The league has scheduled a news conference on Thursday.

It would be the first time since 2002 that the IndyCar Series has had a title sponsor, and it comes at a time when some companies have been tightfisted because of the tough economy.

Speculation has grown this week that Izod, which became a key player in the series last year, would take on a bigger role in the series in 2010.