Is Toyota showing their early hand in Long Beach?

UPDATE AutoRacing1.com spoke to Long Beach GP President Jim Michaelian this morning and he said that indeed Toyota has started their full promotional campaign of the race as they have done in recent years. Because it just recently started that may explain why our Long Beach contacts had not seen anything yet. "We really didn't start a full promotional campaign until after the NASCAR race in Fontana. Now we are hitting it hard and the city is feeling very good about this year's race. Hotel reservations are up, our hospitality sales are up and our grandstand ticket sales are up over last year. Hopefully our rainy season, which traditionally ends around April 1st is over and we can get a few weeks of sunshine to get everyone in the mood for the Grand Prix," said Michaelian. "Toyota has their usual $69 promotional deal going on." 03/21/05 Toyota's history with the Grand Prix of Long Beach traces back to the inaugural race in 1975 and its current contract to serve as the race's title sponsor -a role the Japanese automaker has filled since 1980 -concludes when the checkered flag is waved for the main Grand Prix race on the afternoon of April 10.

"At this point in time, we are waiting to hear back from (Grand Prix Association parent) Dover (Motorsports) and the Grand Prix Association on what way they will have … their featured (race) starting next year, Champ Car or another direction," said Les Unger, national motorsports manager with Toyota Motor Sales. "From our perspective (a decision) isn't time-sensitive. We don't have to know in the next two days, three days or a month. We've told the folks at Dover that they need to do their due diligence to come up with a plan for the future of the race."

Complicating matters is that Toyota left Champ Car after the 2002 series for the rival Indy Racing League. Unger reaffirmed that Toyota will not influence or demand the Grand Prix Association to ink the IRL to guarantee Toyota's return.

"Next year will be the 30th year of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and it's our intention to stay involved as the title sponsor," Unger said. The feeling is mutual for officials at the Grand Prix Association.

"There's not enough words to describe what Toyota means not only to us but the city of Long Beach," said Kevin O'Brien, head of sales and marketing at the Grand Prix Association. "Toyota has been responsible for the heightened awareness of this event to the level it is today." Long Beach Press-Telegram [Editor's Note: Toyota is doing virtually no "co-op" advertising so far this year for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Toyota is NOT offering the traditional Fri/Sat ticket with a $70+ tune up…. which they've done forever. In the early years they sold discount tickets and gave a gift bag. Sometimes actions speak louder than words.]