Atlantic title sponsor renews

Toyota Extends Title Sponsorship of Toyota Atlantic Championship Presented by Yokohama Through 2005

INDIANAPOLIS (February 19, 2004) - Officials from Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. and the Toyota Atlantic Championship Presented by Yokohama today announced that the automobile manufacturer has agreed to extend its title sponsorship of the series through the end of the 2005 season.

"Toyota is pleased to extend its involvement as the official engine supplier and title sponsor of this prestigious series," said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager. "The cumulative list of graduates from the Toyota Atlantic Championship series to the upper rungs of both American and international open-wheel racing becomes more impressive each year."

The agreement extends Toyota's long-standing association with Toyota Atlantic, a relationship that began in 1989 and is the company's longest-running open-wheel racing program. As a result of the agreement, the current 240-horsepower Toyota 4A-GE engine and Swift chassis will remain as the series' chassis and engine package for the next two seasons.

"Without a doubt, the single most important event in the history of Atlantic was when Toyota became involved in the series 16 years ago," said Vicki O'Connor, Toyota Atlantic managing director. "Over the years, Toyota has been an extremely valued partner in our series, and I am thrilled the company has decided to continue its participation in the series for the next two seasons. This announcement goes a long way toward stabilizing the series' position in North American open-wheel racing, and I know that everyone associated with the series is pleased the relationship with Toyota will continue."

As title sponsor of the Toyota Atlantic Championship, Toyota also retains the series' television rights. During Toyota's tenure, the series has enjoyed national television coverage in the United States and the manufacturer's overall involvement has been influential in the series' ability to attract quality teams, drivers and sponsors.

Toyota Atlantic is North America's premier open-wheel development series. The series is noted for its long history of graduating its stars into Champ Car competition. Among the drivers who have graduated from Atlantic are 2003 Champ Car competitors Jimmy Vasser, Patrick Carpentier, Alex Tagliani, Roberto Moreno, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Rodolfo Lavin, as well as Champ Car champions Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve, and Paul Tracy.

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