---

PPG Ends CART Racing Sponsorship; Business Objectives Change

2 December 1999

PPG Ends CART Racing Sponsorship; Business Objectives Change

    PITTSBURGH, Dec. 1 -- Changing business objectives and
customer requirements have led Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries to
decline renewal of its expiring sponsorship contract with Championship Auto
Racing Teams (CART) for the 2000 auto racing season.
    Richard Zahren, vice president of automotive coatings, said that as PPG
evaluated extension of its CART contract, representing a multi-million-dollar
investment, "it became clear that we should commit these resources to
initiatives that more directly and immediately meet evolving needs of
customers.
    "We have had great success in our racing program during the past quarter-
century.  We are proud of champ-car racing's growth and PPG's contributions to
that growth.  But circumstances change, objectives change.  Today's
competitive environment demands tough decisions," he said.
    "PPG's business portfolio has changed since our CART program began," he
added, "expanding our presence in aerospace, industrial and packaging coatings
in addition to automotive coatings.
    "Every expenditure is evaluated for the value it adds as perceived by our
customers.  On this basis, we prioritize all activities that commit resources.
We have concluded through this process that other areas must have priority."
    "This was not an easy decision because we have been so successful with our
CART activity," Zahren said.  "Innovations our people introduced, such as the
unique PPG pace car program, set standards for relationship-building with
customers, the great people in the sport, and the public.  Many of our
innovations have been adopted by others, so now we're moving on to bring new
innovations with greater value to an ever-widening sphere of global
customers."
    PPG has furnished paints since 1975 for cars competing in the Indianapolis
500.  It became sponsor of the then-new CART series in 1980.
    In addition to being a major coatings maker, PPG is also a leading global
supplier of flat and fabricated glass, fiber glass and chemicals.  With
manufacturing operations in 22 countries, its 1998 sales exceeded
$7.5 billion.