elf Race Fuels Named Official Fuel Supplier for CART
©2000 SpeedCenter Publishing

elf replaces Valvoline

DETROIT (January 5, 2000) - Championship Auto Racing Teams announced today that it has entered into a three-year agreement with fuel supplier elf Race Fuels and its exclusive agent in the U.S. and Mexico, Competition Fuels, Inc. to become the Official Fuel Supplier for the FedEx Championship Series.

elf Race Fuels has an impressive track record of competition in the Formula One World Championship, capturing 15 F1 championships and 134 Grand Prix victories since its association with the series began in 1968.

In 1998, elf Race Fuels entered into a partnership with the CART Dayton Indy Lights Championship, beginning an effort to enter into mainstream American motorsports. The fuel supplier takes the next major step in that effort with today's announcement.

"elf Race Fuels is a world-class brand with a strong history of success in international motorsports promotions," said CART Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Craig. "Their involvement in Champ Car racing in 2000 and beyond underscores how interest in CART is growing throughout the world."

"Entering into this agreement to become the Official Fuel Supplier for the FedEx Championship Series shows the company's commitment to compete at the highest level of North American motorsports," said James G. Wurth, Vice President of Competition Fuels, Inc., which is headquartered in Indianapolis. "We have had a wonderful relationship with the Dayton Indy Lights series and we felt it was time to expand our relationship with CART and Champ Car racing and take it to the next level."

Competition Fuels Inc. will begin supplying Champ Car teams with fuel for testing within the next several weeks and the company will be on hand and ready to provide full service to the teams when Spring Training begins at Homestead-Miami Speedway in South Florida on February 8.

"We are proud to start the new millennium with this major partnership," said John Rowady, General Manager of ISL United States, CART's exclusive worldwide marketing agent. "The agreement with elf Fuels is a prime example of ISL's integrated sponsorship philosophy in which global partners like elf will reap the rewards of not only being associated with Champ Car racing, but all levels of CART's development system."

elf and Competition Race Fuels, Inc., which replaces Valvoline as the Official Fuel Supplier for the FedEx Championship Series, also announced today that it has extended its agreement with the Dayton Indy Lights series for three more years.

Through Competition Fuels Inc., elf currently supplies racing exclusively to the Auto Value Super Sprints Series, Shelby American Automobile Club, SuperkartsUSA, U.S. Formula Three Championship and the World Karting Association. Several notable championships were won in 1999 using elf race fuels, including Paul Gentilozzi's repeat SCCA Trans Am title.

Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (NYSE: MPH) 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.

ISL, the leading sports event media and marketing group, markets on behalf of international sports federations and other governing bodies on an exclusive worldwide basis event media and marketing rights including television, video and other electronic media rights, sponsorships, licensing and merchandising rights and all related services. ISL's major business partners include the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the Union of European Football Association (UEFA), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the International Amateur Athletic Association (IAAF), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the International Cycling Federation (UCI), Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), ERC-Rugby, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and others. ISL and its affiliate companies Sri Research, Sri PRIME Consulting, En-Linea Inc. and IVS are part of the ISMM (International Sports Media and Marketing) Group. The ISMM Group has served its business partners and sponsor clients since 1982 with 320 staff members in 14 offices located in the world's major markets. More information about ISMM and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.islworld.com.


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