Champ Car to announce Ford replacement

UPDATE #7 Further investigation of this rumor by AutoRacing1.com tells us that yes, another manufacturer is getting involved in Champ Car to replace Ford, but they will NOT be badging the Cosworth engines. And the rumor is that although they will not badge the engines they will contribute more to Champ Car than Ford.

02/14/07 We are bumping this rumor up to 'strong' today as AutoRacing1.com has learned that indeed there will be a replacement for Ford, that indeed Champ Car pushed Ford out to make room for this replacement, and that an announcement will be made before the season opener in Las Vegas, possibly as early as Champ Car Spring Training at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in March. We are embargoed from telling you who the replacement will be.

02/02/07 Possible more proof that Mazda is in the driver's seat to land the Champ Car engine deal. AutoWeek reports that an associate of Mazda, engine supplier for Champ Car's Atlantic series, confirmed talks about a Champ Car World Series association. However the source said that if Champ Car does not pick Mazda to badge their Champ Car engines, they would have to have a second look at the Atlantic program. "If we see something like 'Champ Car, Powered by Kia, happen I'm not sure if Mazda would be interested in playing second fiddle for that."

02/01/07 Another reader adds, Does the Ford employee not remember that Ford Motor Company has been the engine sponsor in Champ Car for years now and has not done a thing with it? Ford very easily could have advertised using Champ Car, but chose not to or were just not sure what to do. Ford is doing the exact same thing for the new Ford GT. Not much advertising and not racing it. The GT could very easily be the flagship for a new era for Ford, but they choose not to or are just not sure what to do. I myself tend to purchase American cars (Saturn has been great for me), but have been disappointed with what most of the American manufacturers want to sell. It is time that they started to get better at making and marketing their products. Unless, as I heard said in "The Water Boy", "what are you too st st st st stupid". Anonymous

02/01/07 Another reader adds, I laughed out loud when I read the tirade from the Ford employee who twice blamed Ford's dismal position on consumers and race fans. It's our fault Ford makes lackluster, boring products and markets them poorly? This is the attitude that has produced Ford's continual problems. Make a better product, market it effectively, and consumers will respond. It's called the open marketplace, and it works. Bill Gerken

02/01/07 A reader writes, Dear Autoracing1, I am a long time subscriber to your website and an avid Champ Car fan. I can no longer listen to the Ford bashing that is going on lately. Having worked for Ford Motor Company for the past fourteen years, I would like to comment on a few things;

a) Mazda will NOT be replacing Ford as the primary engine sponsor of Champ Car. Mark Fields, the brainchild behind Mazda's zoom-zoom strategy and resurgence is now in charge of Ford's turnaround. He has no interest in involving Ford or any of its subsidiaries in Champ Car because of the obvious lack of publicity and return on investment. Champ car will not have a manufacturer as a sponsor in the near future–of any kind…guaranteed!!! Ford owns AND controls Mazda–they DO NOT have separate budgets for anything anymore. Any Ford brand suddenly sponsoring Champ Car is a true fallacy!

b) Ford Motor Company is very much on track in its rebuilding efforts. It will fall to become the fourth or maybe even fifth largest automobile manufacturer this year—GOOD!!! That is what Bill Ford Jr, Mark Fields and Alan Mulally have in mind in order to become profitable again. Let's let Toyota take over the #1 spot in America for a year or two and see how the southern right wing extremist NASCAR fans feel about that for awhile–how could they let Toyota become #1–simple ignorance and neglect of the American automotive industry!! Let's see how long that lasts! Ford will rebound stronger than ever with new products and a stronger overall base and marketing strategy.–shame on so called American race fans and consumers for letting this happen.–This is the plan for Ford and General Motors–let America rebel and we will succeed long term and consistently!!!

Champ Car had better smarten up quick–I love the series and this is the first negative thing I have had to say…but considering the fact that they cannot get a corporate sponsor worth a damn, someone like Paul Tracy cannot get a sponsor, the series is still virtually unknown to most of America and people like AJ leave, not to mention the Hunter-Reay fiasco–I just don't know anymore…I am losing faith.

These are very sad things for a Champ Car/Ford lover. Let's all get our heads together and fix this! Anonymous

01/31/07 Champ Car is reportedly in negotiations with Mazda, which badges Cosworth engines and serves as the presenting sponsor for the Champ Car sanctioned Atlantic Championship series. Zoom-Zoom is said to be a perfect fit for Champ Car's street festival atmosphere. What is curious about this rumor is that Ford partially owns Mazda, and Ford just backed out of Champ Car. However, Mazda is the only part of Ford that turns a profit these days, and can afford sponsorship. We hear Mazda is also keen on selling their Zoom-Zoom concept in China in a big way and Champ Car can now deliver a China race to them. This article will help you understand the relationship between Ford and Mazda.

01/26/07 According to AutoRacing1.com sources, Champ Car is close to announcing a replacement for Ford. These sources tell us that the replacement is an Asian company (sorry that detail is embargoed) that is a much better fit for Champ Car's 3-day street festival racing model. Recall that Champ Car was not too upset when Toyota left the Atlantic series – they soon announced Mazda as a replacement. And again this week Champ Car was not too upset when they and Ford severed ties on Wednesday. In fact Kevin Kalkhoven was so unmoved by the announcement, which he knew was coming, he decided to spend two weeks in Antarctica on a science/research project. We expect the replacement to be announced in the not too distant future. Expect the cam covers on all the Cosworth engines to be changed at or around that time.

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