MILWAUKEE – The Miller Racing Team drivers – Bobby Rahal, Larry Dixon and Rusty Wallace – are preparing to "Lite" up race tracks around the world during the 1997 campaign.

The three Miller drivers and their respective cars and teams will sport the new blue and white colors of Miller Brewing Company announced today that its best-selling beer will be the primary brand supporting its motorsports efforts in 1997.

The new Miller Lite cars will be featured on the PPG Indy Car World Series with Team Rahal’s Reynard/Ford-Cosworth (Rahal); NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series with Don "the Snake" Prudhomme’s Top Fuel Dragster (Dixon); and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series with Penske Racing South’s Ford Thunderbird (Wallace).

"We’re excited to bring this great new look to the track, and we believe race fans on all three of the major racing circuits will enjoy the Miller Lite car designs," said Neil Harrison, vice president of marketing for Miller Brewing Company. "All of our drivers and teams are well known to racing fans across the country, and we feel the Miller Lite scheme will increase fan enthusiasm for our teams."

Long considered a leader in bringing quality sports entertainment to fans throughout the United States, Miller Brewing celebrated its 25th anniversary in motorsports with commemorative car graphics during the 1996 race season. Now the company is strengthening its efforts behind Miller Lite by featuring the brand in all of the company’s motorsports marketing endeavors, including the car design, advertising, promotional materials and merchandise.

Rahal, the three-time PPG Indy Car World Series champion and only owner/driver on the 17-race trail, is excited about his new mount.

"We finished the 1996 season on a high note and this new paint scheme really continues our team’s upbeat swing," said the Ohio native. "I think our fans are going to like the new Miller Lite car as much as I do."