Johnson Controls Renews Sponsorship of Rocketsports Racing in Champ Car World Series

[The Snout]

The boys at Johnson Controls are convinced.


Johnson Controls Renews Sponsorship of Rocketsports Racing in Champ Car World Series
Tuesday January 6, 11:48 am ET


DETROIT, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI - News) today announced its continued sponsorship of Lansing, Michigan-based Rocketsports Racing in the 2004 Champ Car World Series. Brian Kesseler, group vice president and general manager of customer business units for the Automotive Group of Johnson Controls, and Rocketsports team owner, Paul Gentilozzi announced their return to the premier open-wheel racing series with ambitious plans for the upcoming season.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO )
The automotive systems and facility management and controls leader entered Champ Car competition in 2003 with the No. 33 Johnson Controls Lola driven by Alex Tagliani.

Tagliani took the young team to the podium three times, secured two pole positions and finished tenth place in the championship standings.

Johnson Controls and Rocketsports Racing share a rich history, which started in 1998, with support of Rocketsports in what is now known as the Motorock Trans-Am Tour. An accomplished driver, Gentilozzi earned three Trans- Am championship titles for Johnson Controls and holds numerous Tour records. Gentilozzi has now shifted his primary focus from the cockpit to pit lane, directing the open-wheel team efforts.

"Johnson Controls is pleased to join Paul Gentilozzi and the Rocketsports team for a second Champ Car season," said Kesseler. "Through our involvement, we're able to enhance our relationships with key customers and gain new opportunities."

"Involvement in the Champ Car World Series has taken Rocketsports Racing and Johnson Controls to new levels of competition and business relationships," said Gentilozzi. "We are excited and proud to continue to build on the foundations we have established in our first season and plan to further utilize the opportunities available to us through racing."

"Johnson Controls has been an effective and supportive part of our Champ Car effort," continued Gentilozzi. "They have become an integral part of the team and have been involved in many aspects of the competition, making the most of their sponsorship and access to the team and paddock."

Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI - News), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.





http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040106/cgtu049_1.html

[gomick]

can they chuck in enough $$$$ to run 2 cars

[Dov]

Thanks for some positive news, Snout!

[Jay]

Great to hear their support will continue - they're a well recognized name and a great company to deal with. Hopefully their involvement in Champcars will be a long one.

[Ac.]

Let's hope this helps convince other sponsors to hop in for 2004 and make an announcement.

[Snrub]

The thing I wonder about Johnson Controls is, was it simply by chance that they got into CART the same year Ford became title sponsor and spec engine supplier? (Johnson Controls does a lot of business with Ford making ECUs)

[macdaddy]

Thanks, Snout.
I'm expecting to hear more sponsorship announcements in the coming weeks, now that the new year is upon us.

[Snrub]

I'm quiet surprised we haven't heard from Forsythe. He said last fall he had sponsorship lined up. I figured we'd have a mass of announcements in the first couple of weeks of 2004, but so far it hasn't happened. Perhaps there are done deals but they are waiting for the 28th. Assuming it goes the way we all hope, maybe then the announcements happen then.

[GTRMagic]

Who in their right mind would line up sponsorship in a series that may not even exist??

*calms down*

And I thought Johnson Controls was primarily a battery and car seat supplier to the motor industry?

[Tiresmoke]

Originally posted by GTRMagic
Who in their right mind would line up sponsorship in a series that may not even exist??

*calms down*

And I thought Johnson Controls was primarily a battery and car seat supplier to the motor industry?

someone who knows and believes in something!

*calms down*

Johnson Controls makes seating and interior systems like instrument panels, interior electronics and features like HomeLink. They also make Optima batteries and work with almost every auto manufacturer on the planet.

[carsten66]

PG sets a sign, something like: everthing is under control...

[Omega99]

Originally posted by GTRMagic
Who in their right mind would line up sponsorship in a series that may not even exist??

It probably wouldn't cost them anything if they didn't race. Maybe a contract clause or something.