Cooper will replace Yokohama Tire Corp. as the series’ tire supplier and signed a three-year deal to serve as series sponsor and exclusive race tire supplier.
The Champ Car Atlantic Championship is a support series to the Champ Car World Series, supported and supplied by Bridgestone.
"We’re very excited to welcome Cooper Tire to both the Atlantic and Champ Car family," said Vicki O’Connor, the series’ managing director. "We’re certainly proud of the legacy and the high level of competition that has become a staple of Atlantic racing over the last 33 years, and the Atlantic Championship is looking forward to beginning a new partnership with Cooper in 2007.”
"This new strategic partnership positions Cooper squarely at the forefront of the motorsport world,” said Tom Dattilo, Cooper chairman, president and CEO. “It provides an excellent platform to showcase our ultra-high performance racing products and technological capabilities to enthusiasts around the world.”
Cooper recently completed its first season as the tire sponsor of the A1 Grand Prix series, a global open-wheel championship.
Now in its 33rd year, the Champ Car Atlantic Championship was formerly known as the Players Atlantic Championship and as the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Over the years, well known drivers like Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti and Jacques Villeneuve have raced in the series.
Yokohama has provided tires to the series since 1988.
