American Honda subsidiaries Honda Motorcycle and Honda Power Equipment have extended their affiliation with Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (CART) through the 2002 season as the ‘Official Motorcycle and Power Equipment’ of CART and the CART FedEx Championship Series.

‘We are pleased to continue our partnership of Honda Motorcycle and Power Equipment with CART,’ said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda. ‘This program, now entering its seventh year, helps introduce our wide range of motorcycles, ATVs and power equipment to an enthusiastic, and performance appreciative audience. And through the efforts of our demonstration riders at selected CART events, we are able to add to the entertainment value offered by CART at their race weekends.’

Honda Motorcycle provides scooters for CART officials and a number of the CART FedEx Championship Series drivers, while generators from Honda Power Equipment are frequently utilized at Champ Car venues around the world.

In addition to Honda serving as ‘Official Motorcycle and Power Equipment,’ the company also supports the sanctioning body through the ‘Honda Fast Lap Award,’ which recognizes the CART FedEx Championship Series driver who sets the fastest race lap at each event and, in turn, presents the driver who records the most fast laps of the season with a Honda motorcycle at the season-ending awards banquet. Honda is also a four-time winner of the CART manufacturers’ championship, has six consecutive CART drivers’ championships (1996-2001) and recorded seven victories in the 2001 season.

‘Not only is Honda a valued competitor in the CART FedEx Championship Series, but they are also a great sponsor partner and we are delighted to welcome them back for another season,’ said CART Vice President of Marketing Steve Fusek.

‘The main reason any company enters into a sponsorship agreement is because it is able to derive good value and reach its customers. The fact that Honda has signed on for a seventh season of CART sponsorship speaks to the fact that CART fans are also some of Honda’s most loyal customers. We’re committed to helping Honda reach its customers in 2002, and hopefully for many years to come.’

American Honda, based in Torrance, Calif., joined the CART FedEx Championship Series in 1994 as an engine manufacturer and has been an official CART partner since 1996 with Honda Motorcycles.

For further information please contact:

Adam Saal
CART
T: +1 (248) 830-0078