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©2002 SpeedCenter Publishing MIAMI, Fla., November 22, 2002 – It’s official: the 2003 CART Championship will be "Powered by Ford." Officials from Ford and Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) jointly announced today they have entered into an exclusive, two-year marketing relationship that will see Ford provide marketing and promotional support, as well as develop regional and national marketing initiatives in select race markets throughout the season. As part of the exclusive agreement, the Series will be re-named, "Bridgestone presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford." In addition, Ford cars will become CART’s official pace vehicles, Ford trucks will become the official truck of the Simple Green Safety Team, and Ford Racing Technology will continue in its role as the "Official Safety Technology Provider" of the Series. "We’re very happy to have this agreement with CART finalized," said Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology. "Ford has been a staunch supporter of the CART Series since our debut in 1992, and this is a continuation of our involvement. Not only does this relationship allow us to support our technical partner, Cosworth Racing, but the race series and its high-profile markets will make an excellent platform for Ford to showcase the many new and exciting products that will debut over the next couple of years." "We are obviously quite pleased and very excited about joining forces with one of the legendary names in all of motor racing," said Chris Pook, CART President and CEO. "The partnership gives us a world-class marketing platform, as well as a rock-solid performance base on which to propel CART well into the future. Adding Ford to a ever-growing list of outstanding corporate partners has everyone excited about the future of Champ Car racing." Cosworth Racing, a wholly-owned subsidary of Ford Motor Company, had previously reached an agreement with CART to provide a detuned version of its Ford-Cosworth XF 2.65-liter, V8 powerplant for all series competitors in 2003 and 2004, as well as trackside engineering support for all teams. This new agreement will provide Ford with specific naming rights to that engine, as well as logos, signage and other marketing opportunities with all CART drivers and teams. Cosworth Racing has supplied race engines to the CART FedEx Championship Series every year since the organization’s first race in 1979, and had won 127 races before partnering with Ford in 1992. Since then, Ford and Cosworth have combined to capture 67 pole positions and win 59 races, two manufacturers’ championships (1995, 2000) and one drivers’ championship (1995).
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