A1 Grand Prix and Cooper Tire Lead Motorsports Revival in Indonesia

February 14, 2006

FINDLAY, OHIO, February 14, 2006 - COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY's
Cooper-A1 Grand Prix racing radials were part of the return of
top-notch motorsports to Indonesia at the A1 Grand Prix's latest stop of
the season at the Sentul Circuit. 

 

Sean McIntosh and A1 Team Canada won with a time of 55.55.779 while Alex
Yoong and A1 Team Malaysia took second with a time of 55.57.710 and
Marcus Marshall and A1 Team Australia grabbed third with a time of
56.08.396. Former Formula 1 and Champ Car racer Christian Fittipaldi
guided A1 Team Brazil to fourth place in his first A1GP race. Philip
Geibler and A1 Team USA finished ninth with a time of 56.22.092

 

The safety car was busy throughout the race as only 12 teams finished
and several of them visited the gravel traps before pulling the car back
onto the track. The crashes did not deter the crowd of 32,000 from
passionately welcoming motorsports back to Indonesia. 

 

"The country of Indonesia has been amazing and the people are really
passionate and excited about A1GP," said McIntosh. 

 

Drivers from 23 teams in the series, dubbed the World Cup of Motorsport,
competed on 370/660R13 Cooper-A1 tires fitted to 16-inch wide racing
rims.

 

Designed to run at very high temperatures, the Cooper-A1 tire's
distinctive blend of compounds create a soft and tacky tire to provide
an incredible level of grip by literally sticking the car to the track.
Cooper Tire has also designed a grooved wet weather tire to handle even
the most severe weather conditions but with a construction that provides
enough resilience to endure a full race distance.

 

"We are very happy to be a part of the series that brought top-notch
racing back to the numerous motorsports fans in Indonesia," said Thomas
A. Dattilo chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cooper
Tire & Rubber Company. "We congratulate McIntosh and A1 Team Canada on
their victory and look forward to watching all the teams compete on
February 26 at Parque Fundidora in Mexico." 

 

A1 Team France continues their stranglehold on first place in the
overall season point race with 132. A1 Team Switzerland is in second
with 104 followed by A1 Team Brazil with 70.