Firestone and Pioneer to sponsor Texas CART.

Texas Motor Speedway has announced that Firestone and Pioneer Corporation will sponsor the 29 April CART FedEx Championship event at the Fort Worth circuit

The Firestone Firehawk 600, presented by Pioneer, is the first ever CART-sanctioned event to run at the Texas oval, and highlights a year in which the three premier US race series - including IRL and NASCAR - all visit the venue in the same season.

"This event will be one of the most highly watched CART races of the season," said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage, "Both Firestone and Pioneer have been involved in motorsports for a number of years and we're glad to have them as race sponsors at Texas Motor Speedway. It's going to be a great event."

Firestone tyres made their first racing appearance at the speedway in 1997 as part of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series. The Firestone Firehawk 600, presented by Pioneer, will be one of two CART events sponsored by the US arm of the Bridgestone company in 2001.

"This sponsorship connects us with a world-class racing facility and a great competition where our tyres will be an integral part of the excitement," said Bridgestone/Firestone director of motorsports Al Speyer, "Every car in that race will be on Firestone racing tyres, and we're sure this strong presence at Texas Motor Speedway will support sales and generate additional enthusiasm. It's going to be very rewarding to see Firestone have such a commanding presence at what we're sure will be a great race."

Presenting sponsor, Pioneer Corporation, has a 25-year history as a sponsor in motorsports and is entering its third year as a team sponsor in the CART series.

"With the addition of the Firestone Firehawk 600 to the CART series for 2001, race fans will see 600 kilometres of pure racing entertainment," said Ed Sachs, Pioneer's executive vice president of car electronics, "The beginning of a new race allows for the beginning of new traditions, and Pioneer is proud to be presenting sponsor at this exciting new venue. We will make every effort to make the Firehawk 600 one of the most entertaining and memorable events of the season."

Tickets for the Firestone Firehawk 600, presented by Pioneer, are available by calling the speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.