Wheels & Deals: Player's Drops Sponsorship Of CART Program

Player's To End CART Sponsorships

Player's Ltd. announced yesterday that its primary sponsorship of CART's Team Player's team will end after the '03 season due to Canada's impending tobacco legislation, which includes a ban on sponsorship activities as of October 1, 2003. Team Player's, a team which the company co-owns, currently features drivers Paul Tracy and Patrick Carpentier. The sponsorship ends after the November 2 Fontana 500 at California Speedway (Player's).

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGESTONE: Recent speculation had Bridgestone exiting F1 at the end of the '04 season, but in London, Gary Emmerson reports the company denied those reports. Bridgestone supplies tires to Ferrari's F1 team. A Bridgestone statement: "We have no intention of withdrawing from the Formula One World Championship" (TELEGRAPH, 7/11).

PICK-UP LINES: In L.A., Shav Glick notes speculation that Toyota is eyeing an eventual move to NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series and writes that "at this point, top-level Toyota people — perhaps not wanting to appear greedy, or overly aggressive — claim their full concentration" is on next year's Craftsman Truck Series program. Toyota National Motorsports Manager Les Unger: "Trucks are our entire focus. Our whole emphasis is to generate more exposure for our trucks in Middle America." Glick adds that "to further solidify its relationship" with NASCAR, Toyota is sponsoring November's Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in CA, a "first-ever" event for the top drivers in NASCAR's regional touring series, "even though there will be no Toyotas eligible" (L.A. TIMES, 7/11).