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Mercedes-Benz Partners With Magneti Marelli in CART
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Italian company to supply engine control systems in 1998

Official Press Release

Just as Mercedes-Benz'sthree-pointed star has adorned championship-winning racing cars for morethan a century, Magneti Marelli's distinctive mark has appeared in victorylanes around the world for decades. Starting in 1998, all Mercedes-poweredentries in the PPG CART World Series will carry both of these racing icons,as the Italian electronics and automotive technology company becomes theexclusive engine control and fuel system supplier to the Mercedes-Benz CARTprogram.

"An engine built from the finest materials in the world cannot runwithout the proper electronics," said Paul Ray, vice president, IlmorEngineering, the race engine-building arm of Mercedes. "Having MagnetiMarelli as a technical partner on the Mercedes-Benz CART program is asignificant step forward. We must always look for ways to remain on top inthis series, and Magneti Marelli offers us the finest electronics systemsin the world."

"Having the right partners — both in terms of technology and teams— was a key factor in Mercedes-Benz's winning eight races and the CARTManufacturer's Championship this season," said Hal Whiteford, vicepresident, Mercedes-Benz of North America. "For 1998, we've added thestrength of Magneti Marelli, a company that includes three Formula OneWorld Champion teams (Ferrari, Benetton and Williams) among its customersand is known worldwide as a technology leader. This relationship is anotherstep towards a successful defense of our championship title."

A supplier of automotive technology to passenger car manufacturersaround the world, including Mercedes-Benz in Europe and Americanmanufacturers such as Chrysler, General Motors, Ford and Harley-Davidson,Magneti Marelli's products include a wide variety of original equipment andaftermarket parts.

"Magneti Marelli is eager to introduce its products to the U.S.market," said Giancarlo De Angelis, technical manager for the 78-year-oldcompany's racing department. "Associating our brand with Mercedes-Benz, oneof the most serious advanced-technology companies in the world, in CART,one of the most popular championships in the world, delivers a very strongmessage about who we are and what we do. Teaming with Mercedes in this wayalso offers Magneti Marelli an exciting new platform for doing additionalbusiness in North and South America."

In addition to its headquarters in Milan, Italy, Magneti Marellihas plants in 16 countries in Europe, South America, the Far East and twosites in the United States: Detroit and Sanford, N.C.

Relationship Rekindled

Magneti Marelli will supply the three "black boxes" (engine controlmodule, alternator control box, data logger) to the Mercedes-powered teams,in addition to ignition coils, alternators and steering wheels (with datadisplay) and will support the program with trackside technical support.

"The products Magneti Marelli will be supplying to us are the bestequipment available and represent state-of-the-art technology," said Ray. "It is very closely related to their Formula One system, and Marelli'srecord in Grand Prix competition speaks for itself.

"The forward-looking, inventive and cooperative nature of MagnetiMarelli as a company and the high quality of the individuals that workthere played the largest part in our decision," said Ray. "We had alreadyworked with them, in the early days of Mercedes' return to F1 with theSauber team, and we needed only a short time with them to realize that thiswas the same pro-active, innovative and cooperative group we knew from fouryears ago."

Founded in 1919, Magneti Marelli designs, develops andmanufactures automotive components worldwide and invests approximately 13%of its revenues in research and development and new technology. Withcombined worldwide sales of more than $3.8 billion, Magnetti Marelliproducts include a wide variety of nearly 30 corporate brand names andtrademarks. Their major product lines include engine control systems,instrument panels, lighting, fuel delivery systems, mirrors, exhaustsystems, mechanical and electronic components and lubricants.

Source: Mercedes-Benz USA