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CLEVELAND (AP) -- McDonald's has added CART to its drive-thru menu.
The fast-food giant will sponsor the Newman/Haas car of rookie driver Sebastien Bourdais for three races this season, giving the troubled racing series an image boost as well as some much-needed financial support.
``I think it's very important,'' said Chris Pook, CART's president and chief executive officer. ``For us, it's a ringing endorsement for CART.''
The series has been in a downward spiral since the rival IRL was born in 1996.
In recent years, a succession of presidents and CEOs have tried to turn around embattled Indianapolis-based CART. Sponsors, drivers, teams and manufacturers have left and TV ratings dropped.
McDonald is returning after leaving the series two years ago.
``It is reassuring,'' said driver Paul Tracy, the series points leader. ``This a positive thing. I think the series is getting stronger and it's getting more healthy.
``People are renewing. We have new teams that have come into the series. Only time will tell what will happen, but these are all positive things.''
McDonald's will join Eli Lilly & Co. as primary cosponsors of Bourdais' car for the race Saturday night in Cleveland, and for the events Aug. 31 in Denver and Sept. 28 in Miami.
Pook hopes the sponsorship deal with McDonald's will show other businesses that CART is here to stay.
``We're very happy with what's going on in CART, but we have to keep working hard at it,'' said Pook, who became president and CEO at the end of 2001.
Pook said he has met two of his goals since taking over; stopping CART's slide and getting the series more competitive. His next project is to restructure the company.
Last month, Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc., a publicly traded racing league, announced it would consider selling the company and hired Wall Street investment firm Bear Stearns.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and BAR-Honda shareholder Craig Pollock, who also fields F1 cars, have acknowledged an interest in buying CART.
The 62-year-old Pook is under contract through 2004, but hasn't decided if he'll stay longer.
``I would like to see the mission completed,'' he said.
McDonald's has been allied with actor Paul Newman, the racing team's co-owner, since March, when the fast-food chain began carrying his salad dressings.
``It's a perfect blend of methanol, salad and olive oil,'' said Newman, who donates to charity all the profits of his Newman's Own salad dressings.
Its good to see a major sponsor come to CART instead of the IRL or NASCAR but I don't think it will help CART at all.
The fast-food giant will sponsor the Newman/Haas car of rookie driver Sebastien Bourdais for three races this season, giving the troubled racing series an image boost as well as some much-needed financial support.
``I think it's very important,'' said Chris Pook, CART's president and chief executive officer. ``For us, it's a ringing endorsement for CART.''
The series has been in a downward spiral since the rival IRL was born in 1996.
In recent years, a succession of presidents and CEOs have tried to turn around embattled Indianapolis-based CART. Sponsors, drivers, teams and manufacturers have left and TV ratings dropped.
McDonald is returning after leaving the series two years ago.
``It is reassuring,'' said driver Paul Tracy, the series points leader. ``This a positive thing. I think the series is getting stronger and it's getting more healthy.
``People are renewing. We have new teams that have come into the series. Only time will tell what will happen, but these are all positive things.''
McDonald's will join Eli Lilly & Co. as primary cosponsors of Bourdais' car for the race Saturday night in Cleveland, and for the events Aug. 31 in Denver and Sept. 28 in Miami.
Pook hopes the sponsorship deal with McDonald's will show other businesses that CART is here to stay.
``We're very happy with what's going on in CART, but we have to keep working hard at it,'' said Pook, who became president and CEO at the end of 2001.
Pook said he has met two of his goals since taking over; stopping CART's slide and getting the series more competitive. His next project is to restructure the company.
Last month, Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc., a publicly traded racing league, announced it would consider selling the company and hired Wall Street investment firm Bear Stearns.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and BAR-Honda shareholder Craig Pollock, who also fields F1 cars, have acknowledged an interest in buying CART.
The 62-year-old Pook is under contract through 2004, but hasn't decided if he'll stay longer.
``I would like to see the mission completed,'' he said.
McDonald's has been allied with actor Paul Newman, the racing team's co-owner, since March, when the fast-food chain began carrying his salad dressings.
``It's a perfect blend of methanol, salad and olive oil,'' said Newman, who donates to charity all the profits of his Newman's Own salad dressings.
Its good to see a major sponsor come to CART instead of the IRL or NASCAR but I don't think it will help CART at all.
then I take back everything I said...lol