Motorola Becomes ``Official Communications Hardware of Championship Auto Racing Teams''
22 March 1999
Motorola Becomes ``Official Communications Hardware of Championship Auto Racing Teams''
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--March 21, 1999--Motorola and Championship Auto Racing Teams announced today that Motorola has become the "Official Communications Hardware of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART)" providing wireless communications to the world's fastest open wheel racing series for the next three years.For the past nine years, Motorola has been the official two-way radio supplier to CART. However, this newly developed sponsorship with the sanctioning organization for the 20-race FedEx Championship Series will allow Motorola to continue its support of champ car racing by becoming the "Official wireless phone of CART," the "Official pager of CART," and the "Official two-way radio of CART."
Currently Motorola participates in the FedEx Championship Series as the title sponsor of the PacWest Racing Group's No.18 Champ Car piloted by British driver Mark Blundell and is the title sponsor of the Motorola 300, May 29 1999, at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis, Mo.
"Champ Car racing provides Motorola the ability to showcase its state-of-the-art wireless products," commented John Lynch, Director of Sports Marketing for Motorola. "This is one of the best environments to demonstrate the ability of our products to keep people in constant communication."
This sponsorship will provide CART with a new, state-of-the-art race event radio network, new digital wireless phones and new two-way pagers to be used by race officials, medical personal and series staff to communicate during the 20 FedEx Championship Series events. The same equipment utilized by CART and the PacWest Racing Group for communication can be purchased from select authorized Motorola communications dealers. Not many products utilized in this competitive sports industry can make the same claim.
"Being at the forefront of technology is what Motorola is all about. Ensuring our customers have the ability to communicate in all types of adverse conditions and in virtually any location is what has made Motorola a proven leader in the wireless industry;" commented Fred Tucker, Executive Vice President and Deputy to the CEO.
"Like our friends at Motorola, we are in a very high technology business," said CART Chairman and CEO Andrew Craig. "Motorola's support of our racing series, as well as one of our teams and one of our race events, indicates their strong commitment to CART and the value they see their sponsorship deliver."
The 1999 FedEx Championship Series begins March 21 at Homestead, Florida and, after conducting races in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and the United States, concludes October 31 in Fontana, Calif. All races are broadcast in 195 countries and territories and in 19 different languages to a total audience of approximately 1 billion viewers.
Motorola is a global leader in advanced electronic systems and services. It liberates the power of technology by creating software-enhanced products that provide integrated customer solutions and Internet access via wireless and satellite communications, as well as computing, networking, and automotive electronics. Motorola also provides essential digital building blocks in the form of embedded semiconductors, controls and systems. Sales in 1998 were $29.4 billion.
Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. owns, operates and markets the FedEx Championship Series, which is comprised of 20 races in five countries on four continents in 1999. Drivers such as Michael Andretti, Adrian Fernandez, Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta, Greg Moore, Al Unser, Jr., and Jimmy Vasser race 900-plus horsepower, open-wheel cars at speeds of more than 230 miles per hour on some circuits. CART also owns and operates its top two development series, the PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Championship and the KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship.
Motorola and the Motorola logo are registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.