BAD NEWS at Rocketsports

Tenoch · 9 Aug 2004, 20:38 (Ref:1061455)

I really dont want to put a damper on Alex Tagliani's first victory party but I feel to not share the infromation i acquired today would be selfish.

I have been studying Business at the University of Michigan and today i was able to meet with the Business Director of Johnson Controls, and after quetioning him on Business schools. I asked him what Johnson Controls plans were for sposoring Alex Tagliani and Rocketsports and he told me that Johnson Controls is going to stop sponsoring Rocketsports at the end of this year.

Kicking-back · 9 Aug 2004, 20:58 (Ref:1061474)

As far as I know it's not a genuine commercial sponsorship anyway - more a business to business contra with Gentilozzi.

macdaddy · 9 Aug 2004, 21:14 (Ref:1061498)

Thanks for the heads-up, Tenoch.

cartpix · 9 Aug 2004, 21:16 (Ref:1061501)

As I remember PG & the head honcho, at Johnson Controls are good buddies. He used to race on PG's TA team.

Jeff

BootsOntheSide · 9 Aug 2004, 21:27 (Ref:1061517)

PG can probably cover this, but it wouldn't be good to see another largely sponsorless car on the grid. Also, we were told sponsors would flood in, and there's little evidence of it - Johnson Controls feeling that they aren't getting enough exposure and recognition for it isn't good.

marcus · 10 Aug 2004, 04:23 (Ref:1061707)

who knows , Tag's has a win under his belt now , maybe this will change Johnson's Controls minds ?

I hope so anyway

drivergrOupie · 10 Aug 2004, 05:06 (Ref:1061723)

The sponsors must have seen how badly gentillozi treated nelson and put in replaced him with badder drivers.

they did the right thing hopfully take there money to a better team (liek with nelson to conquest will be perfect!

)

camcartfan · 10 Aug 2004, 05:26 (Ref:1061731)

grammar check please....

Amar7605 · 10 Aug 2004, 05:28 (Ref:1061733)

We're all missing something here; how do we know that PG can't find a new sponsor? He seems like a competent businessman, I am sure that he will do whatever he can to pull something off.

Kicking-back · 10 Aug 2004, 10:46 (Ref:1061969)

It's a strange world that rates Nelson Philippe better than Guy Smith, indeed.

N I Tram · 10 Aug 2004, 13:41 (Ref:1062153)

Guy Smith has at least partially proven himself in one race - Nelson Philippe has proven himself to be too slow and too much of a brat. If Johnson Controls are angry at this change (and I don't believe this is the issue), they need their heads testing.

dubby99 · 10 Aug 2004, 13:48 (Ref:1062159)

I can't see how this is bad news, lets just say sponsors come and go.
Im sure a great amigo like PG could find a sponsor for rocketsports.

Kicking-back · 10 Aug 2004, 14:05 (Ref:1062185)

Quote:

Originally posted by N I Tram
Guy Smith has at least partially proven himself in one race - Nelson Philippe has proven himself to be too slow and too much of a brat. If Johnson Controls are angry at this change (and I don't believe this is the issue), they need their heads testing.

JC only sponsors Tagliani's car not the whole team.

The Philippe situation is an irrelevance.

N I Tram · 10 Aug 2004, 14:23 (Ref:1062210)

I knew that - what I meant was that they might've seen it as poor team management. Going from a useless pay-driver to a driver whose talent never got a chance to shine in the past is quite a climbdown, especially given Paul's wealth.

All the same I suspect JC aren't happy with the championship's lack of exposure.

macdaddy · 10 Aug 2004, 19:12 (Ref:1062469)

I've cleaned this thread up, for everybody's enjoyment.

BootsOntheSide · 10 Aug 2004, 19:17 (Ref:1062476)

Quote:

Originally posted by WALLED
I can't see how this is bad news, lets just say sponsors come and go.
Im sure a great amigo like PG could find a sponsor for rocketsports.

Finding sponsors isn't easy these days. American Spirit couldn't do it depsite winning a race and having a very marketable lineup. Sigma and PacWest folded despite impressive achievements. Teams have had to take Honda/Toyota money and switch from CART, simply to survive. What with NASCAR's dominance, the split and the post-9/11 effect, it's harder than ever to get sponsorship.

Tim Northcutt · 10 Aug 2004, 21:27 (Ref:1062567)

Even NASCAR has canibalized itself in the sponsor area with Busch cars and the Trucks...

Jeff Burton is an accomplished driver with a strong team in Nextel Cup, and I don't think he has secured a solid or consistent sponsor all season long....

It is becoming harder and harder to secure this kind of support...

for everyone....

Jordi · 10 Aug 2004, 22:25 (Ref:1062610)

I know how hard it is for Jeff.. 17 wins and no sponsor.

Snrub · 11 Aug 2004, 04:56 (Ref:1062750)

I think a lot of it is who you know in order to get sponsors. Measuring the business benifit of being a sponsor to a race team is pretty intangible.

As for Nelson getting canned, there's no way one can claim he was ready for CART. Jourdain wasn't ready when he started either and it took a lot of years. Was Nelson treater poorly, perhaps, but no one can make a legit arguement that he deserved his seat.

Mags · 11 Aug 2004, 05:20 (Ref:1062757)

NP was FINE. He didn't hurt anyone.. he didn't PUNT anyone off of the track... STOP picking on him!!!

macdaddy · 11 Aug 2004, 05:36 (Ref:1062764)

Hiro didn't hurt anyone, either.
Put me in a car and even I can drive "my own race" without punting anybody.
Doesn't mean that I'm right for the job.
Besides, NP is hardly the only driver or owner to ever have been picked on!

Mags · 11 Aug 2004, 05:46 (Ref:1062766)

put ME in a car and I'd probably KILL someone!! NP did just FINE. IMO.

drivergrOupie · 11 Aug 2004, 06:30 (Ref:1062769)

Mags speeks the truth. nelson was and is always better than memo or that guy smith.

macdaddy · 11 Aug 2004, 06:36 (Ref:1062773)

Mags didn't go quite so far as to suggest that!

jjspierx · 11 Aug 2004, 07:41 (Ref:1062810)

NP did exactly what I expected him to do as a 17 year old driver who came from Barber Dodge as an average driver. That's all I will say about it.

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