(from autosport) (This is great news for American open wheeled racing. I am hoping that Tony George has approached CocaCola about sponsoring the USGP F1 race at Indianapolis. They are global, its about time they got involved directly in racing again. The last CocaCola sponsored car I remember is Bobby Allison's red and gold NASCAR Chevrolet) ANNOUNCEMENT: The IndyCar Series has announced a major multi-year sponsorship deal with soft drinks giants Coca-Cola. The deal, with the North American branch of the company, will lead to joint marketing programmes between it and the IndyCar Series, and comes on the back of a tie-up between Coca-Cola and the International Speedway Corporation that own five of the series' tracks. Terry Angstadt, president of the Indy Racing League's Commercial Division, said: "Coca-Cola is truly a global brand, and we're thrilled to have them on board with the IndyCar Series. "Coca-Cola's enormous brand recognition and marketing capabilities create some very exciting activation opportunities as we go forward. This announcement also adds to the sponsorship momentum that we've been building over the last several months. "The growing number of partnerships we're making with quality organizations like Coca-Cola and others is really helping to build an exciting future for the IndyCar Series."
Sort of strange. While the tie-in with TG and the IRL is to be expected, I'm not sure how the labyrinth of legalese concerning the existing Pepsi sponsorship through ISC of various NASCAR properties (human as well as commercial) will jibe with an agreement with Coke. All that telco mess between car sponsorship and series sponsorship had to go through the courts, we may see some on this.
I would think these matters were already settled. It appears from this brief announcement that ISC has replaced Pepsi as a sponsor at their facilities. Coke has had a presence all along in NASCAR by endorsing certain drivers, but not directly on cars or events.
Not sure about no direct involvement with Nascar events : http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/schedules/superspeedway/coca_cola_600/
Why on earth would they even THINK of messing with F1 when they can do IRL and do THAT globally ? You can bet we will see IRL racing in Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and other places in the future. Maybe not this year or next year, but they will get there, all F1 has to do is keep pricing themselves out of racing...
I don't think you will, not anymore. I'm sure with the name change from Nextel to Sprint I'm sure they have some very definitive language in there now to cover that. Besides, one of these days Sprint/Nextel and AT&T will merge..... they have to. Beyond that, I hate the name 'Sprint Cup', because every time I hear that phrase on TV what immediately comes to mind is the World of Outlaws Sprint cars.....
In order for F1 to continue in the United States, there must be a title sponsor that does not expect a direct monetary return, no matter what the facility. A sponsor that wants exposure. I am hopng that Tony George with this new relationship with CocaCola may be able to convince them to sponsor the return of the USGP at Indianapolis.
I'm glad he's trying also, but in all seriousness: Let's block out the fact we are all F1 nuts. That said, if YOU were the CEO of Coke, would YOU put 10 mill (?) or so behind ONE event ? I wouldn't. At least not an F1 race. Super Bowl, World Series or possibly World Cup Soccer, but I don't see any other one-hit-wonders that would deserve 10 mill for a one day event. (Maybe the Masters or the British Open ?) I don't think I'd put it into Daytona, the Indy 500, Wimbledon, or the Kentucky Derby, either...
Well if everything I have heard about TG is true, those same 5 hookers that entertained Max, will be in Atlanta soon.
10 million to Coca Cola is a drop in the bucket. They really have very little to gain if you think about it, their brand recognition and awareness is easily the best in the world and there are few markets that they haven't tapped into. I could see a US company that is looking to expand overseas put some money down on the USGP for some global awareness.
