Pittsburgh, PA -- SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare today announced its 1997 Indy car marketing program, "SmithKline Beecham Sets the Pace" (SBSP) featuring driver Dennis Vitolo. This corporate effort backed by participating Brands -- Aquafresh, Aquafresh Flex, Contac, Massengill, N'ice, Oxy, Tagamet HB 200, Tums and Sucrets -- is designed to bring leading edge technology to consumers on and off the track.

On the track, SBSP features the newest team competing in the ultracompetitive world of PPG CART World Series. Vitolo will drive a 1997 Lola / Ford XD / Goodyear Indy car fielded by Andreas Leberle's Project Indy team in six PPG Cup events. He also plans to drive a Dallara / Infiniti / Goodyear entry in the 1997 Indianapolis 500.

This state of the art SmithKline Beecham Indy car features a three dimensional computer modeling grid. SmithKline Beecham employees actually voted for this design when two Indy cars with alternate paint schemes appeared at corporate headquarters in October, marking the first time that sponsor employees selected graphics for their company's race car.

Off the track, SBSP provides shoppers with innovative, leading edge Indy car premiums and prizes. Unique, exclusive promotions conducted at participating retailers offer: - FREE SmithKline Beecham Indy car merchandise -- posters, and race packs stuffed with SmithKline.

Beecham samples, plus race caps and T-shirts autographed by driver Vitolo; - Race car or pace car rides with Dennis Vitolo at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Fast Lane Driving School, Nazareth Speedway and Watkins Glen Raceway; and - Race vacations including "once in a lifetime" opportunities such as Caribbean and Alaska cruises from Norwegian Cruise Line and the chance to serve as a pit crew member on the Indy car team.

Further, selected retailers who meet merchandising requirements will have their logo appear on the SmithKline Beecham Indy car as a cosponsor at designated races. Retail employees selected as "Most Valuable Displayers" earn team merchandise and vacations.

In announcing the program, SmithKline Beecham Senior Category Promotion Manager R. Gene Page noted, "SBSP is a natural and exciting partnership of two high tech leaders -- Indy car provides some of the most sophisticated racing in the world, while SmithKline Beecham provides leading edge healthcare products to meet consumer needs worldwide."

R. E. George, President of SmithKline Beecham event marketing agency exsportise, added "Timing is perfect for an innovative Indy car marketing program since the sport is so underdeveloped at retail, much the same way NASCAR was when we got involved at Procter & Gamble ten years ago. Dennis Vitolo is an integral part of this business plan -- he generates enthusiasm in sales presentations to retailers, enthusiastically makes countless public appearances . . . and is the only Indy car driver you will find in stores building displays."

SmithKline Beecham -- one of the world's leading healthcare companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, over the counter medicines, health related consumer products and clinical laboratory testing services.

Source: CART News Service