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CART: Tenneco Automotive Set to Launch Inaugural Sponsorship of Grand Prix of Detroit

3 August 1999

Tenneco Automotive Set to Launch Inaugural Sponsorship of Grand Prix of Detroit

    MONROE, Mich.--Aug. 3, 1999--Tenneco Automotive, on the threshold of an historic moment as it is set to be launched as an independent, publicly traded company in the fall, also is poised to perform as the official sponsor of the Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit Aug. 8, with race events occurring in rapid succession during race week Aug. 2-8. Tenneco Automotive has assumed Grand Prix of Detroit sponsorship for three years, through the race in 2001, with an option to continue after that.
    "We're poised to become an independent company in the fall and tremendously pleased to be part of a great racing event like the Grand Prix of Detroit," said company President and newly designated Chief Executive Officer Mark P. Frissora. "With our three year commitment to the race, we're also reflecting our deep commitment to the city of Detroit, the greater Detroit metropolitan area and our customers in the automotive and transportation industries in Detroit and around the world."
    The Raceway on Belle Isle Park will be the site for five world class racing events Aug. 7-8. The premier event is the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) FedEx Championship Series Race, featuring drivers such as Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Jr., Paul Tracy and Christian Fittipaldi, on Sunday Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. Frissora will give the call for drivers to start their engines to launch the race and will be on hand after the race to award the winning driver and team their trophy. Tenneco Automotive's Original Equipment Senior Vice President Tim Jackson will participate in waving a ceremonial green flag before the start of the race.
    The Indy Lights Series presented by the Detroit News is the official "stepping stone" into the CART series, as drivers showcase talent in hopes of getting rookie seats in the CART series. The PPG Dayton Indy Lights Series Race runs at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 8.
    A morning eye-opener on CART race day is the Barber Dodge Pro Series presented by the Detroit Free Press. The race hits the track at 8:15 a.m. Aug. 8.
    Two races open race weekend, with the BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series Johnson Controls 100, sanctioned by the SCCA, being featured Saturday Aug. 7 at 4:45 p.m.
    Earlier that day, The Neon Charity Challenge will give civic leaders, media and corporate executives an opportunity to race for charity. Sponsored by the Police Athletic League, the Challenge runs at 3:00 p.m. Aug. 7 and again at 9:15 a.m. Aug. 8. Tenneco Automotive's Andrew Devenish will represent the company on the track Saturday.
    Tenneco Automotive highlights during race week include the Sneak Preview in Tenneco Automotive's Hospitality Suite near the Belle Isle track. Expected to be in attendance are some 300 journalists. Tenneco Automotive's Frissora, Detroit Mayor Archer, and IMG President Bud Stanner, will speak and answer questions.
    Tenneco Automotive's suite, which can accommodate as many as 700 people, will be open all during the week during time-trials and practice sessions. Throughout the week, Tenneco Automotive will be hosting many of its customers, suppliers, consumers, employees and friends.
    Another Tenneco Automotive highlight will be the company's hosting of the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), a group of Detroit public school students. In this year's summer project, the students have built facsimile autos out of hard paper. Winning creations will be on display near the Tenneco Automotive hospitality suite and the students will be guests of Tenneco Automotive. In addition, the students will later visit Tenneco Automotive's test laboratories in Monroe, Mich., and Tenneco Automotive will announce its intent to award college scholarships valued at $5,000.
    Joining Frissora in hosting the events throughout the week will be other members of the Tenneco Automotive management team, including Tim Jackson, Aftermarket Senior Vice President Joel Campbell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark McCollum, Director-North America Program Management and Marketing Neil Yanos, and Director Marketing and Business Planning Susan Ulrey.
    These executives will attend the Grand Prix Ball reception and dinner at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center, Thursday evening Aug. 5
    "It is truly an honor for Tenneco Automotive and its employees to be the sponsor of the Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit," said Frissora. "Our three year commitment exemplifies our dedication to the people of the area and our focus on our customers. As a global supplier to the world's original equipment and replacement markets, we are truly looking forward to playing our part in one of racing's premier events.
    "Ladies and gentlemen of Michigan, and the world, welcome to the Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit. We hope everyone has a safe, fun weekend," Frissora said.
    Tenneco is a $6 billion manufacturing company headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., with 38,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco Automotive is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and exhaust systems and products, which are sold under the Monroe(R) and Walker(R) global brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac(R) shocks and struts, Rancho(R) shock absorbers, Walker(R) Quiet-Flow(TM) mufflers and DynoMax(TM) performance exhaust products, and Monroe(R) Clevite(TM) vibration control components. Tenneco Packaging is among the world's leading and most diversified packaging companies. Among its products are Hefty(R) trash bags, Hefty OneZip(R) and Baggies(R) food storage bags, E-Z Foil(R) single-use aluminum cookware and Hexacomb(R) paper honeycomb products.