MONTREAL (August 27, 2004) – The Champ Car World Series and the world’s leading fast-food chain McDonald’s today announced a partnership that will see the restaurant chain serve as the ‘Official Fast Food Restaurant of Champ Car’ through the 2006 season.

The three-year agreement was announced today at the Molson Indy Montreal, Round 10 of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, which runs August 27-29 on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.

‘Champ Car is very pleased to announce this partnership with a great company like McDonald’s,’ said Champ Car CEO Dick Eidswick. ‘We look forward to a long and successful relationship as we continue to build a solid future for the Champ Car World Series. What could be better? ‘

McDonald’s joined the Newman/Haas Racing team last season for three Champ Car races, and expanded this year to see the fast-food giant become the full-season primary sponsor for the #2 McDonald’s Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone for points leader Sebastien Bourdais. The agreement between McDonald’s and Champ Car will run concurrently with the Newman/Haas team’s Champ Car sponsorship through the end of the 2006 Champ Car World Series season.

‘McDonald’s is very proud of its association with Newman/Haas Racing and is proud to become the ‘Official Fast Food Restaurant of The Champ Car World Series,’ said Director of Alliances, McDonald’s USA, John Lewicki. ‘We look forward to a successful relationship together.’

‘McDonald’s serves over 20 million meals every day in the U.S. then throw in the rest of the world and that’s a lot of hamburgers and salads,’ said Paul Newman, co-owner of Newman/Haas Racing.  ‘To have a company like McDonald’s involved with the Champ Car World Series is exactly the kind of partnership that will help us reach our current and potential fans and to triumph in the battle to build this sport that we are so passionate about.’   

For more details contact Champ Car Communications on (317) 715-4100