Johnson Controls Renews Sponsorship With Rocketsports Racing in 2000 Trans-Am Season
25 January 2000
Johnson Controls Renews Sponsorship With Rocketsports Racing in 2000 Trans-Am Season
Team HomeLink Racing to return
to BFGoodrich Trans-Am Series for 2000
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Jan. 24 -- Johnson Controls
under its HomeLink(R) brand - has renewed its primary sponsorship with
Lansing, Michigan-based Rocketsports Racing for the 2000 BFGoodrich Tires
Trans-Am Series season. The announcement was made today by team owner/driver
Paul Gentilozzi and Michael Suman, group vice president for advanced sales,
marketing and development worldwide for Johnson Controls.
Gentilozzi, who won back-to-back Trans-Am Drivers' Championship in 1998
and 1999, will again handle the driving responsibilities. The 2000 racing
season marks Johnson Controls' third season with Rocketsports Racing in Trans-
Am competition.
HomeLink, Johnson Controls' electronic communications system that
activates garage doors as well as home lighting, security, gate, and door-
locking systems, will enter its second season as the primary sponsor with the
team.
"Johnson Controls has become an integral player on the Rocketsports team
and in the Trans-Am series," said Gentilozzi. "Our success can only be
achieved with the support of a sponsor who shares our passion for excellence.
We're privileged to have a major sponsor the caliber of Johnson Controls and
we are pleased to play a role in their marketing efforts."
In addition to winning his second consecutive drivers' title in 1999,
Gentilozzi scored four poles and six victories, including four flag-to-flag
wins. Gentilozzi ranks first in all-time Trans-Am "Fast Five" qualifying
starts (82) and second in all-time top-five (72) and top-ten (97) finishes.
"Racing is a great example of the team work, dedication and commitment to
automotive performance that Johnson Controls brings to the 23 million vehicles
we supply each year with automotive interior products," Suman said. "Paul and
the entire Rocketsports team has been great to work with and we look forward
to a third winning season."
Suman added that HomeLink is one of the most successful brand-name
products for Johnson Controls and the industry overall, available on more than
100 different 2000 model year vehicles.
"Racing has been a great outlet to increase consumer awareness and
interest for the HomeLink Transceiver," Suman said.
The HomeLink Universal Transceiver from Johnson Controls can be integrated
into a vehicle's overhead console, visor, or rear-view mirror. Future versions
of HomeLink will enable drivers to remotely check tire pressure and will
integrate remote keyless entry devices.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$12 billion in sales for the 1999 fiscal year. In 2000, it will supply
interior products for more than 23 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls,
founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 1999
totaled US$16.1 billion.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For access to other Johnson Controls new releases and
additional company information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web
at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com . Additional information about HomeLink and
Team HomeLink Racing can be found at http://www.homelink.com or
http//www.rocketsportsracing.com .
CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, Inc., 734-254-5632; or
Wendy Gabers of Rocketsports Racing, 517-371-3230
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547
Web site: http://http://www.homelink.com
Web site: http//www.rocketsportsracing.com
Web site: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com