Mecachrome Announces Indy Racing League Involvement

MONTREAL, Feb. 26, 2004 -- With a long-standing reputation for excellence in the motor sport industry, Mecachrome announced today a partnership with the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series Red Bull Cheever Racing team.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Mecachrome. This alliance will allow our highly dedicated engineers to work side by side with the Red Bull Cheever Racing team in the quest for the IRL championship title," stated Mr. Guillaume Casella, President, Mecachrome Canada and Mecachrome Switzerland and Executive Vice-President, Mecachrome International.

Mecachrome's reputation as an integrator in the motor sport industry will contribute to the success of the Red Bull Cheever Racing team through various spheres of expertise and critical processes including engineering, research, development as well as chassis and component aerodynamics and design. Mecachrome has been involved in motor sports for 30 years. It was a Mecachrome engine that powered Jacques Villeneuve to his Formula 1 World Championship victory in 1997. More recently, the company's distinction in the motor sport industry was once again demonstrated when the Mecachrome JPX C65 engine, at its race debut, claimed victory at the 1,000 km du Mans in the LMP675 category.

"Our partnership with Mecachrome is the beginning of an opportunity to utilize some very intelligent engineers and advanced resources in the automobile and aeronautical industry," said Eddie Cheever Jr., owner of Red Bull Cheever Racing. "Mecachrome's international expertise and Formula 1 experience will not only enhance development within our team, but will bring us to a whole new level of motor sport innovation."

Red Bull Cheever Racing, based in Indianapolis, is the brainchild of 1998 Indy 500 champion Eddie Cheever Jr. A leader in American motor sports, the IRL IndyCar Series team is built on Cheever's experience in Formula One, sports cars and open-wheel oval racing. Corporate and technical partnerships include the world's leading energy drink Red Bull, Chevrolet, Dallara, Firestone, and Mecachrome.

Mecachrome International, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, has operations in three major sectors: the aeronautic sector since 1950, the production automobile sector since 1995 and the sport automobile sector since 1976.