GP of Cleveland Announces Strong Corporate Support

CLEVELAND – When the turbocharged rocketships of the Champ Car World Series roar back to the shores of Lake Erie this weekend for the 2007 Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by LaSalle Bank, the event will be supported by one of the strongest rosters of corporate sponsors in years. In the event's second year under new owner Mi-Jack Promotions, the Grand Prix has experienced a large increase in corporate hospitality and corporate sponsorship for this year's event, which takes place June 22-24 at Burke Lakefront Airport.

In addition to new presenting sponsor LaSalle Bank, the Grand Prix announced today the complete sponsor lineup for the 2007 event: American Interiors, AutoMart.com, BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, BP, Bridgestone, Budweiser, Chandon, Cleveland CVB, Coca Cola, ComDoc, Crocker Park, Cuyahoga County, Full Throttle Kustomz, Gehl, Hudson & Keyse LLC, Hyatt Regency Cleveland, Jackson Hewitt, Johnsonville Brats, LaSalle Bank, Marc's, Mazda, Metro Life Flight, Ohio Technical College, Cleveland Area Porsche Dealers, Shearer's Snacks, Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes, State Farm, University Hospitals and Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, U.S. Army, Winking Lizard, and Zeppe's Pizzeria.

A total of thirty-three new companies are supporting the Grand Prix this year through sponsorship, corporate hospitality, or merchandising/vending that have never been involved with the event before. In addition to the new sponsors, the Grand Prix experienced a great response for corporate hospitality offerings, including Pit Lane Suites, Executive Coaches, and Turn One Club. Total corporate hospitality sales are already up more than 30% over 2007, and the popular Turn One Club is completely sold out.

In addition to Presenting Sponsor LaSalle Bank, the Grand Prix will have two prominent international brands serving as featured sponsors in 2007: Bridgestone and Mazda.

Bridgestone returns as a featured sponsor of the Grand Prix. The Ohio-based company is a long-time supporter of the Grand Prix of Cleveland, and also is the official tire of the Champ Car World Series, meaning that every car on the Champ Car circuit is equipped with Bridgestone tires. The company's name will be featured on one of the most important new features at this year's Grand Prix, the Bridgestone Bridge, which will allow spectators to cross over the pit lane into the Infield Pit Area. Mazda joins the Grand Prix as the event's official car and as Featured Sponsor alongside Bridgestone. Mazda will also provide the official "hot lap" program at the event, with special guests zipping around the famed Burke circuit on Mazda MX-5 racecars in the "Mazda Zoom Zoom Experience".

For more information on the Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by LaSalle Bank contact the event's downtown business office at (216) 619-RACE (7223) or visit www.grandprixofcleveland.com.