Champ Car reiterates faith in Steve Johnson

AutoRacing1.com was able to obtain this internal memo to Champ Car staff and stakeholders put out today: The owners have renewed Steve Johnson's contract for multiple years to remain on as President and CEO of Champ Car. Tony Cotman, as Exec. VP of Operations, will report to Johnson. The series needs to land more sponsorship so it made sense to free up Johnson to work on that end of the business and not have to worry about the day-to-day issues.

To: All Champ Car World Series Stakeholders

From: Champ Car Ownership Group
(Gerald Forsythe, Paul Gentilozzi, Kevin Kalkhoven & Dan Pettit)

Date: 7/16/2007

Re: Champ Car Organization

As we reach the mid-point in our season, we have implemented an adjustment within our senior management team to help us maintain the positive momentum that we currently enjoy with the Champ Car World Series.

Steve Johnson, our President and CEO, is shifting his energy and attention toward sales and sponsorship during a critical period when companies finalize 2008 budgets and we have several major organizations considering sponsorship of the Series and its partners (teams, events, et al). To allow this shift in responsibilities to take place, Steve promoted Tony Cotman last week to Executive Vice President, Operations so Tony could manage our day-to-day operations through the rest of the year. We’re thrilled that Tony will be able to extend his leadership and creativity to other areas of our business, and we’re certain this change in Tony’s role will be welcome both inside and outside the Champ Car organization.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce today that we have provided Steve with a multi-year extension of his contract with the Champ Car World Series, providing us with stability in the President/CEO position as we look forward to the years ahead. Steve has been instrumental over the past two years in enhancing our organization, and we’re pleased that he will continue to add value to Champ Car.

Please join us in congratulating both Steve and Tony, and we thank them for their on-going commitment to the Champ Car World Series.