Tecate back with Toyota GP for 5th year

As the Official Beer Sponsor of the 33rd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Tecate will once again be doing much more than simply quenching the thirst of adult race fans April 13-15.

On Thursday, April 12, Tecate will sponsor "Thunder on Pine," the pre-race warm up celebration on Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach that features a wide variety of motorsports displays, live music, and exhibits.

Throughout race weekend, fans will enjoy the "Tecate Cool Zone," a musical entertainment festival that begins Friday evening, when the finest in Latin music will be featured at the fourth annual Tecate "Fiesta Friday" Concert, held on the concert stage adjacent to the Long Beach Convention Center.

Last year, Fiesta Friday featured El Tri, Mexico's original Spanish rock-and-roll band. This year's headliner will be announced soon.

On Saturday, the Tecate "Rock-N-Roar" Concert Presented by the World Famous KROQ will headline a hot alternative or mainstream rock group on the concert stage, followed on stage by the Tecate Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pageant. "Bad Religion" played to a packed house at Tecate "Rock-N-Roar" 2006.

All Tecate Cool Zone events are free to race ticket holders.

Tecate will also sponsor much of the weekend's in-circuit entertainment at Cantinas, where race fans 21 years of age and older can enjoy the taste of Tecate and Mexican cuisine while enjoying live Mariachi music.

And, the Tecate Bridge, located near Turn 6 – the "Tecate Turn" – will enable race goers to safely cross the circuit at Pine Avenue.

"We are excited for the opportunity to bring events and experiences that resonate not only with Hispanic consumers but also appeal to general market adults," said Carlos Boughton, brand manager for Tecate. "Through our involvement over the past five years we have seen an increasing appreciation by consumers for the event and brand, and look forward to continuing this fruitful relationship."

"We're deeply indebted to Tecate for helping make the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach an event that appeals not just to the motorsports fan, but to a general public that enjoys being entertained on many levels," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.

"Tecate Cool Zone events are a vital part of what makes our Grand Prix weekend the Ultimate Speed Festival."

Tecate beer was first brewed in Tecate, Mexico in 1944. Today, Tecate is distributed in more than 30 countries and is the most widely-sold canned beer in the U.S.

Ticket prices for the 33rd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach range from $25 for Friday general admission up to $120 for a three-day ticket that includes Saturday and Sunday reserved seats in upper levels of the grandstands. Pre-paid parking packages are also available when ordering through the Grand Prix Ticket Office.

For information or to purchase tickets, call the toll-free ticket hotline at (888) 82-SPEED or visit www.longbeachgp.com. A handy ticket brochure – which includes circuit map, grandstand and parking locations, ticket prices and order form – can also be obtained by calling the ticket hotline. Handicapped seating, Champ Car Garage passes, super photo tickets and a variety of hospitality club packages are also available.