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FIRESTONE NAMED OFFICIAL TIRE FOR THE CART FedEx CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

4 March 2000

FIRESTONE NAMED OFFICIAL TIRE FOR THE CART FedEx CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES   

DETROIT (March 3, 2000) - Championship Auto Racing Teams
announced today that it has entered into a sponsorship agreement with
Firestone to become the Official Tire of CART.

        Since its 1995 return to open-wheel racing, Firestone has
been dominant, establishing win and performance records seldom encountered
in modern motorsports. Since midway through the 1997 FedEx Championship
Series season, the Nashville-based tire manufacturer has won 48 out of 50
events. Firestone has also won every street course event and every
500-mile event in the last three years.

        "Firestone has been a tremendous supporter of the FedEx
Championship Series," said CART Chairman and CEO Andrew Craig. "CART is
looking forward to a very beneficial and successful relationship with
Firestone in the 2000 Champ Car season."

        The arrangement does not exclude or prevent another tire
manufacturer from participating in CART competition.

        Bridgestone/Firestone Motorsports Director Al Speyer said
"it was only natural" for Firestone to become the Official Tire of CART.

        "Having carried the past four champions to their CART titles
and dominating in virtually every statistical category, it's certainly
fitting that Firestone has been named the Official Tire of CART," Speyer
said. "We are proud to continue our support of this excellent showcase of
racing.  We strongly embrace CART's philosophy of open competition, and
this agreement for Firestone to become the Official Tire of CART in no way
precludes another tire manufacturer from entering the series.  We look
forward to the day when another tire company joins us in taking on the
challenges and rewards that CART offers.  For now, we will continue to
enhance our already aggressive marketing efforts in association with our
CART activities."       

Bridgestone/Firestone will prominently feature the CART and
FedEx Championship Series logos in its advertising and promotional
materials.

        Firestone Official Tire  2-2-2-2

        "Firestone's unique ability to activate its new designation
and the CART brand through mass advertising and retail centers is
strategic in building value for all partners of CART," said John Rowady, General
Manager of ISL USA, exclusive worldwide sponsorship agent for CART.

        Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. is the largest
subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber
company. Bridgestone/Firestone develops, manufactures and markets
Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, associate and private brand tires. The
company also produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic
rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles.

        ISL United States, a part of the ISMM Group, is the world's
leading independent sports event media & marketing group, marketing on
behalf of international sports federations and other governing bodies on
an exclusive worldwide basis. ISL's major business partners include the
International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), Championship
Auto Racing Teams (CART), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP Tour,
Inc.) and others.

        Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. owns,
operates and markets the FedEx Championship Series, which, in 1999, was
comprised of 20 races in five countries on four continents. Champions Juan
Montoya, Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser are among the drivers who
battle for the series title on oval circuits as well as temporary and permanent
road courses. CART also owns and operates its top two development series -
the Dayton Indy Lights Championship and the Toyota Atlantic Championship.
Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at www.cart.com.