PPG Industries Inc., the company that has held title
sponsorship to CART's IndyCar Series since '80, is angry at both
CART and the new Indy Racing League in a feud "that threatens to
tear the sport apart." According to a wire service report picked
up in several papers this morning, Carol Wilkins, Motorsports Dir
for PPG, said they urged CART not to stage a race opposite the
Indy 500, and that CART's decision to do so could threaten PPG's
relationship as sponsor. Wilkins: "Our contract with IndyCar is
up May 31, so we'll make our decision in the beginning of the
year on whether or not we will come back in '97." PPG is said to
spend $3.75M a year on Indy car racing. Wilkins added that PPG
officials had warned CART leaders that they would not support
another race and that their customers would still want to go to
Indy, instead of CART's U.S. 500 -- to be held at Michigan Int'l
Speedway. Wilkins: "Whether we're going to take customers to
Indianapolis, I don't know. We will not be taking any of them to
Michigan, I can tell you that." Meanwhile, PPG has also refused
IRL Founder Tony George's plea that the company sponsor his new
five-race series. Wilkins: "We're not going to dump a bunch of
money into getting these programs connected. They split it up,
so why should we pay to put it back together?" Wilkins, noting
the growing popularity of Indy car racing: "The series is better
now than it has ever been. ... Why would you want to shoot
yourself in the foot?" (AP/WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/21).
OTHER SPONSOR PRESSURES: CART team owner Jim Hall joined
IndyCar CEO Andrew Craig and other owners to express unanimity
behind the U.S. 500. Hall's sponsor, Pennzoil, has pressured him
to compete at Indy, but Hall reported yesterday that their
position "is not known at this time." Hall did say, "I think my
sponsor is going to stick with me and IndyCar" (Dan Proudfoot,
TORONTO SUN, 12/21).
