Penske announces Sony sponsorship for Mayfield.

Sony Electronics will team with Penske Racing and the Mobil 1 Taurus team of driver Jeremy Mayfield as an associate sponsor beginning in 2001.

Sony has selected the award-winning FD Trinitron WEGA (pronounced "VAY-Ga") television line to be represented on the race car. Throughout the season, the WEGA logo will appear on the associate sponsorship capacity on the upper-front rear quarter panel of Mayfield's Mobil 1 Taurus, as well as on his uniform.

"We are pleased that a world class organization like Sony Electronics is joining Penske Racing, ExxonMobil and Jeremy Mayfield in our effort to win the NASCAR Winston Cup championship," said Walter P. Czarnecki, President, Penske Racing LLC. "We believe Sony's commitment to the highest quality standards and its position as an industry leader clearly complement the competitive philosophy of Penske Racing."

Mayfield is coming off a very successful season that saw the Mobil 1 Taurus win races at Fontana, Calif., and Pocono, Pa., as well as four poles last season. Fourth in laps led among all NASCAR Winston Cup drivers, Mayfield is considered one of the top contenders in the series this year.

"You're known by the company you keep, and to have a company with the quality of Sony Electronics joining us means a lot to everyone at Penske Racing and everyone involved with this Mobil 1 Taurus team," Mayfield said. "I am really happy with Sony's participation."

"We are confident our affiliation with NASCAR and the powerful combination of Penske Racing and Jeremy Mayfield will fuel brand exposure for Sony WEGA TV's among fans of this premier racing circuit in the nation.," said Tim Alessi, director of Sony Electronics' Television Marketing Group. "With televised NASCAR events taking the next step in technology through increased network coverage, fans are going to demand the best performance from their televisions and home theater systems. For that, Sony and WEGA TVs will deliver the true racing experience."

Sony will also continue the Sony Tech Pit, which made its debut last season at Winston Cup tracks. The Sony Tech Pit is a 60-by-80-foot mobile road show engineered to give fans a front-row seat for an interactive look at the latest products in home entertainment, digital imaging, car audio and personal computers.

It features a fast-moving sensory experience, giving fans the opportunity to interact with Sony products, and present the many ways to assemble their own home entertainment system, and enjoy the thrills of WEGA televisions and home theatre demonstrations in Dolby Digital surround sound.

The exhibit will also include computer-simulated races, a Sony showcar and feature personal appearances by Jeremy Mayfield at selected events.