Bridgestone Confirmed as 2005 Title Sponsor

[Snrub]

I'm not sure this will come as any great surprise, but Bridgestone will be back for 2005. http://www.champcarworldseries.com/N...le.asp?ID=8715

Thoughts?

[luke]

IMHO I think it's positive, I believe long term the longer we have Bridgestone as a series sponser the better. Then when people hear Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, then they know what it is, but when it's changed every few years it gets comfusing, in particular for new fans.

[Kicking-back]

Is it still powered by Ford?

I'm not sure the Cosworth engines will carry any badging.

[enemy-ace]

The press release refers to the series as "powered by Ford" so I would assume so.
Biggest news of the announcement is the $10,000 pole award. Plus the $30,000 end of year award. Nice to see Bridgestone putting some cash into the series.

[macdaddy]

This is great news. Just a few months ago, Bridgestone/Firestone were on record as saying that they only wanted to supply one American OW series. It was rumoured that they were the driving force behind the meeting in the Michigan airport hangar.

[Snrub]

I don't remember that macdaddy, but that's definately an interesting point, particularly with Bridgestone's increasing their support of CC. A couple of years ago Bridgestone started to attempt to revive the Firestone brand, but they don't seem to be pushing that too hard anymore. Do you think one of the series will be running on Hoosiers soon?

[macdaddy]

Here's an article from last July, Snrub.

a significant sponsor of both Champ Car and the IRL has let it be known it wants just one series, or it might pull out of both.

While no one at Bridgestone will talk on the record, sources tell The Sun it was the tire manufacturer who was behind Penske's peace offering.

"Bridgestone wants there to be just one open-wheel series where it can park its money," the source said. "Without that happening, the threat is implicit it will pull out of both."

[The Snout]

If CCWS can continue to do things like let Bridgestone experiment with alternative compounds etc then Bridgestone should find CCWS a good platform, that's how I read it. As for Ford, not sure of their status, however, in that article it starts by saying "Bridgestone brand would again serve as the presenting sponsor and the official tire of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford."
So either an agreement is already in place and continuing or CCWS are on good faith with them for 2005 at the moment.

[brightline]

Originally Posted by Snrub

I don't remember that macdaddy, but that's definately an interesting point, particularly with Bridgestone's increasing their support of CC. A couple of years ago Bridgestone started to attempt to revive the Firestone brand, but they don't seem to be pushing that too hard anymore. Do you think one of the series will be running on Hoosiers soon?

I'd say that in the USA Firestone is more known and popular than Birdgestone. That's probably why Bridgestone is associated with Champ Car, an international series, and why Firestone is associated with the IRL, a domestic series. Even though it is the same company they're branding to the marketplace.