MCI Expands Involvement in Racing

JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing
MCI Expands Involvement in Racing
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Indy Lights communications sponsorship contract inked
Officials from MCI, the American Racing Series (ARS) and Championship Auto Racing Teams announced at this past weekend's Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix that MCI has joined the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship as the 'Official Communications Company' sponsor of the series.
The new relationship with the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship — the 'Official Development Series' of the PPG CART World Series — not only expands MCI's commitment to CART, but also establishes the company as a leading sponsor in the motorsports arena more firmly than ever.
"MCI feels right at home extremely competitive environment of open-wheel racing because we've prospered in the extremely competitive communications environment," said Andy Deas, general manager of MCI Racing. "This sponsorship further positions us as a premier partner in motorsports and provides additional opportunities for us to showcase our world class products and services the most brand loyal fans in the world."
"The new relationship with MCI takes the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship to a new area in series sponsorship," said Roger Bailey, president and chief operating officer of ARS, the Indy Lights operating organization. "This marks the first time Indy Lights has received the support of a major consumer-services corporation and also makes Indy Lights a part of MCI's impressive sponsorship program which already includes the PPG CART World Series and most of our race event operators. We are happy to be a part of the MCI team."
MCI is the 'Official Communications Company' of CART and the exclusive long distance company of 13 of the series' 17 race venues. MCI was the first corporation to take advantage of CART's new integrated sponsorship program that gives MCI and exclusive relationship with both the sanctioning body and the majority of tracks in the series.
Sponsorship of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship strengthens MCI's integrated sponsorship of CART. It provides additional racing venues in markets which are important to MCI as it moves to provide local telephone service. This sponsorship also provides MCI with additional opportunities to showcase its products and services and to work with other companies in the CART family.
"Sponsorship of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship solidifies our commitment to CART more than ever," said Craig Hoffmann, director of MCI Racing. "As a company built on competition, our involvement with CART is a natural fit and we're looking to even further MCI's offerings to the CART fans and work more closely with the family of CART and Indy Lights sponsors."
MCI also participates in the PPG CART World Series as the primary sponsor for the No. 25 Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing Reynard Toyota driven by Max Papis. At the final race of the 1996 PPG CART World Series, MCI announced its corporate sponsorship with Arciero-Wells.
Established in 1986 as ARS, the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship (the name was changed in 1991) is designed to develop drivers for the PPG CART World Series. Indy Lights graduates currently racing in CART include Paul Tracy (1990 Champion), Bryan Herta (1993 Champion), Greg Moore (1995 Champion), Andre Ribeiro (1994 Rookie of the Year), Adrian Fernandez (1992 Rookie of the Year) and 1996 Indy Lights star Gualter Salles. The 1997 season includes 12 races all of which can be seen on ESPN2. Most races are run as the primary support event to PPG CART World Series events, but the 1997 schedule includes a pair of Indy Lights feature events in Savannah, Ga. (May 18) and Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada (August 3).
Source: CART News Service


		JUST RELEASED! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		MCI Expands Involvement in Racing ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Indy Lights communications sponsorship contract inked Officials from MCI, the American Racing Series (ARS) and Championship Auto Racing Teams announced at this past weekend's Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix that MCI has joined the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship as the 'Official Communications Company' sponsor of the series. The new relationship with the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship — the 'Official Development Series' of the PPG CART World Series — not only expands MCI's commitment to CART, but also establishes the company as a leading sponsor in the motorsports arena more firmly than ever. "MCI feels right at home extremely competitive environment of open-wheel racing because we've prospered in the extremely competitive communications environment," said Andy Deas, general manager of MCI Racing. "This sponsorship further positions us as a premier partner in motorsports and provides additional opportunities for us to showcase our world class products and services the most brand loyal fans in the world." "The new relationship with MCI takes the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship to a new area in series sponsorship," said Roger Bailey, president and chief operating officer of ARS, the Indy Lights operating organization. "This marks the first time Indy Lights has received the support of a major consumer-services corporation and also makes Indy Lights a part of MCI's impressive sponsorship program which already includes the PPG CART World Series and most of our race event operators. We are happy to be a part of the MCI team." MCI is the 'Official Communications Company' of CART and the exclusive long distance company of 13 of the series' 17 race venues. MCI was the first corporation to take advantage of CART's new integrated sponsorship program that gives MCI and exclusive relationship with both the sanctioning body and the majority of tracks in the series. Sponsorship of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship strengthens MCI's integrated sponsorship of CART. It provides additional racing venues in markets which are important to MCI as it moves to provide local telephone service. This sponsorship also provides MCI with additional opportunities to showcase its products and services and to work with other companies in the CART family. "Sponsorship of the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship solidifies our commitment to CART more than ever," said Craig Hoffmann, director of MCI Racing. "As a company built on competition, our involvement with CART is a natural fit and we're looking to even further MCI's offerings to the CART fans and work more closely with the family of CART and Indy Lights sponsors." MCI also participates in the PPG CART World Series as the primary sponsor for the No. 25 Arciero-Wells/MCI Racing Reynard Toyota driven by Max Papis. At the final race of the 1996 PPG CART World Series, MCI announced its corporate sponsorship with Arciero-Wells. Established in 1986 as ARS, the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship (the name was changed in 1991) is designed to develop drivers for the PPG CART World Series. Indy Lights graduates currently racing in CART include Paul Tracy (1990 Champion), Bryan Herta (1993 Champion), Greg Moore (1995 Champion), Andre Ribeiro (1994 Rookie of the Year), Adrian Fernandez (1992 Rookie of the Year) and 1996 Indy Lights star Gualter Salles. The 1997 season includes 12 races all of which can be seen on ESPN2. Most races are run as the primary support event to PPG CART World Series events, but the 1997 schedule includes a pair of Indy Lights feature events in Savannah, Ga. (May 18) and Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada (August 3). Source: CART News Service