Bridgestone, Corona back Vegas event.

Champ Car World Series sponsors Bridgestone and Corona have both announced that they will increase their role in the series when the championship makes its first-ever visit to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The race will be known as the Bridgestone 400 presented by Corona, and will take place on the 1.5-mile LVMS superspeedway oval on Saturday night, 25 September. The event will take place directly after the conclusion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck event, marking the first time that Champ Car will run a same-day double-header with a NASCAR-sanctioned series.

"Our partners play a major role in the success of the Champ Car World Series, and we're very pleased to see Bridgestone and Corona take advantage of this opportunity with the Las Vegas race," said series president and CEO Dick Eidswick, "Both have long been involved in motorsports and the Champ Car community is proud to be associated with them."

From acting as the presenting sponsor of the CCWS to serving as the exclusive tyre manufacturer for the series, sponsoring of race events and race-weekend street parties - and even through its work with CARA Charities in the 'Buckle Up Baby' programme - Bridgestone has left its impression on nearly everything in the Champ Car paddock. This year has seen the manufacturer increase its commitment even further with the addition of the new alternate tyres, designed to increase the race-day drama for the fans, as well as strategic options for teams. This Las Vegas announcement was made during another event already sponsored by the company, the Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey.

"The opportunity to take on a high-profile role in the Las Vegas race weekend was one we could not pass up," admitted executive director Al Speyer, "Las Vegas is such a vibrant market and to pair the Champ Cars with the truck series for a racing double-header first will make this an evening to remember.

"Sponsorship of the Bridgestone 400 Presented by Corona also will allow us to conduct a unique sales promotion involving one of our loyal, long-time Bridgestone and Firestone dealers. Every fan who enters the Bridgestone Champ Car paddock throughout race weekend will receive a money-saving coupon on new tyres at Ted Wiens Tyre & Auto Service Centres in the Las Vegas area. We're excited about this promotion and about bringing thrilling Champ Car action to Las Vegas."

Corona has also been on the Champ Car scene for a number of years, serving in the last two years as the primary sponsor of the Mexican driver Rodolfo Lavin. Corona also stepped forward this year with the introduction of the Corona Cup, which awards $100,000 to the driver that earns the most combined points in the races in Monterrey and Mexico City.

"Corona is excited to sign on as a major sponsor of the Las Vegas event, and we look forward to an exciting event that will entertain thousands of race fans there," said vice-president of marketing Timm Amundson, "Corona has long enjoyed a fun-in-the-sun image and we think this race will offer fans plenty of fast-paced fun under the Las Vegas sun as well as under the Saturday night stars, which makes this a great partnership."

"I'm really excited that Corona has decided to step up and support the series further," Lavin added, "It is great to see how excited they have been getting as the season has gone on. The Las Vegas race will be a good one for us, we had a great test there a few weeks ago. I have always been good on the superspeedway ovals from back in my days in Indy Lights and I expect to have a great race for the team, for Corona and for the Mexican fans that have supported me throughout my career."