New and returning sponsors announced

CHAMP CAR ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WELCOMES NEW AND RETURNING SPONSORS FOR MUCH-ANTICIPATED 2006 SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (April 4, 2006) -- With a series renovation bolstered by a sleek new competition package and its unique $2 million champion's bonus, the Yokohama Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda has seen an influx of competitors and teams in 2006. But the infusion of life into North America's top open-wheel development series isn't just limited to the race track.

A number of new and active sponsors have entered the Atlantic Championship for 2006, joining the many returning businesses that lend support to the series, for one of the most anticipated seasons in the 33-year history of Atlantics.

The series itself welcomes a new partner this season with Mazda North American Operations signing on as both an engine supplier and Atlantic Championship sponsor. The Yokohama Tire Corporation also returns in '06 for its 18th season as a series sponsor.

Many of this season's Atlantic teams have also opened up new doors with sponsorship opportunities. Sealy Posturepedic, the world's leading bedding manufacturer, joins the Polestar Racing Group team for the upcoming season, serving as the primary sponsor on the entry driven by talented young American Alan Sciuto. Western Union, the global leader in money transfer services, also joins the Atlantic family as the primary sponsor on both of the Gelles Racing cars, lending support to rookie drivers Stephen Simpson and Robbie Pecorari.

A well-established international brand and returning Atlantic team partner will be taking its sponsorship to a new level this season. Epson has enhanced its support and efforts with the Jensen Motorsport team and rookie driver Tim Bridgman. The team will now be known as Epson Team Jensen as one of the global leaders in imaging products takes a more active role in the squad, entering its ninth Atlantic season.

The Forsythe Championship Racing team returns to Atlantic competition in '06 and the team brings along some new sponsors with its re-focused effort in the series. Joining longtime primary sponsor INDECK, one of the world's leading suppliers of standardized steam power packages and components, are two new team partners. Emexis Integrated Solutions, a rising information technology system integration company, will sponsor Forsythe rookie racer James Hinchcliffe this season. Fuel maker Eneos also joins the Forsythe squad as a sponsor on its four-car Atlantic super team.

The Canary Fund, dedicated to developing a discovery platform for the early detection of cancer, enters the series as well. The organization that also serves as one of the main sponsors of the San Jose Grand Prix will help sponsor Danilo Dirani's entry with the defending Atlantic champion Condor Motorsports team in 2006.

Mi-Jack Conquest Racing expands from the Champ Car World Series to Atlantics this season and the team welcomes the Gehl Company, Champ Car World Series partner and makers of compact construction and agricultural equipment, to the fold as the sponsor for promising teen racer Graham Rahal. Another one of Champ Car's top teams joins Atlantics with Team Australia entering the series. The team's chief sponsor, Aussie Vineyards -- one of Australia's top wine merchants -- also comes aboard this season supporting rookie drivers James Davison and Simon Pagenauld.

Accent Card, an international pre-paid debit card, joins the series as primary sponsor for the Transnet Racing entry piloted by Charles Hall. Miracle Sealants also is new to Atlantic in '06 as the company that manufactures products for the marble, stone and tile industry will sponsor both the PR1 Motorsports cars driven by Mike Forest and Jonathan Bomarito.

Established series team sponsors are also elevating their commitment in 2006. The Room Store, Arizona's largest volume furniture store, returns to sponsor owner/driver Dan Selznick this year and the business will also be the primary sponsor on the car driven by former Atlantic champion Alex Barron as he makes his return to the series. Pro Works, the longtime sponsor for Sierra Sierra Enterprises and one of Silicon Valley's leading contract manufacturing companies, returns this season serving as the main sponsor for the entry driven by Brazilian rookie Raphael Matos.

Additional team and series sponsors for the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship are listed below:

Team sponsors

Bite Racing -- Speedway Motors, Days Inn, Spinnakers

Brooks Associates Racing - Asfaltadora Maracay, Energy Freight, UP Racing, Palfinger, Sonax, Remus

Condor Motorsports - Funcional Card, M TEL, Perkons

Forsythe Championship Racing -- Wirth Solar

Gelles Racing - Diamon-Fusion, USA Today

Mathiasen Motorsports -- RLM Investments

McAtee Motorsports -- UP Racing, All-American Racing, Pacific Sunset

NCDL TECH -- DUC Housing Partners

Polestar Racing Group - PKV Racing, W.S. Deans

PR1 Motorsports -- The Spirit of Edmonton, Dynacor

Team Australia -- Location U, Cons. Gen. Vienne

Transnet Racing -- OmniSource, Dixien, Australian Motorsport Foundation

Series Contingency Sponsors

Bosch

Performance Friction

BBS

Impact Racing

Tilton

Coast Fabrication

Sherwin-Williams

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship continues to be the premier open-wheel development series in North America. Beginning its 33rd season in 2006, the championship is noted for its long history of graduating its stars into Champ Car competition and has helped produce past Champ Car champions Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti and Jacques Villeneuve. 2005 Champ Car competitors Alex Tagliani, Andrew Ranger and Ronnie Bremer are also established Atlantic graduates along with 2004 Champ Car Rookie of the Year and 2003 Atlantic champ A.J. Allmendinger. Competing in newly-designed Swift 016.a chassis powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda-Cosworth engine riding on Yokohama ADVAN Racing Slicks, 2006 competitors will fight for the 12-race championship and the unique $2 million Champ Car series champion's bonus.

-atlantic