Cooper, Atlantic series raise funds

RACED-ON COOPER ATLANTIC RACING SLICKS RAISE MONEY FOR HOLE IN THE WALL CAMPS

INDIANAPOLIS (August 15, 2007) -- Since the beginning of the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season, Cooper Tire's first season as exclusive tire supplier to Champ Car Atlantic, the Ohio-based tire manufacturer has raised money for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, created by Atlantic and Champ Car World Series team owner Paul Newman, through the sale of raced-on Cooper Atlantic Racing Slicks. Hole In The Wall Camps is the official charity of Champ Car.

At every 2007 Champ Car Atlantic U.S. event, race fans had the opportunity to purchase race-used Cooper Atlantic tires autographed by stars of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship for $10 per tire. Fans could also purchase unsigned tires for $5. All told, the program raised more than $8,000 during the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Hole In The Wall Camps for children with serious illnesses.

"This is an example of how a used tire can bring a lot of comfort for sick children," said Newman, "I take my hat off to Mr. (Chris) Pantani (of Cooper Tire) for that."

Following each race in the U.S., two Champ Car Atlantic Championship drivers spent 30 minutes signing race-used tires at the traveling Cooper Tire display. Among the drivers who participated in the program are 2007 Champ Car Atlantic champion Raphael Matos (#6 ProWorks), three-time 2007 race-winner and Rookie of the Year Franck Perera (#11 CJ Motorsport), and popular Atlantic racers James Hinchcliffe (#9 NOCO/ProWorks) and J.R. Hildebrand (#36 Newman Wachs Racing) among many others.

"Cooper Tire is excited to have established a program that benefits children worldwide," said Pantani, Director of UHP Marketing and Business Development for Cooper Tire. "The Champ Car Atlantic race fans take home a memento of the race weekend, while Hole in The Wall Camps benefits from the proceeds collected."

Race fans will again have the chance to purchase raced-on Cooper Atlantic tires at the not-for-points "Dash In The Desert" bonus event as part of the inaugural Grand Prix Arizona on the first weekend of December.

About Hole In The Wall Camps

The Hole In The Wall Camps are for children ages 6 to 17 who have been cheated out of their childhoods because of illness to regain a sense of self, a joy of life and the feeling that for them, there are no limits. The Hole In The Wall Camps provide activities structured to allow campers to experience success no matter what their disease or disability. All of this occurs under state-of-the-art, but unobtrusive, 24-hour medical supervision. At Hole In The Wall Camps, these same children learn what they can do, not what they can't. They experience a supportive environment with other campers to whom they can relate. They discover a world full of possibilities, not limitations. For more information, visit www.holeinthewallcamps.org.

About Cooper Tire

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car, light truck, medium truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in motorcycle and racing tires, as well as tread rubber and related equipment for the retread industry. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 63 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.

About The Champ Car Atlantic Championship

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship continues to be the premier open-wheel development series in North America. Contesting its 34th season in 2007, the championship is noted for its long history of graduating its stars into Champ Car competition and has helped produce past Champ Car champions Paul Tracy, Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti and Jacques Villeneuve. Current Champ Car competitors Alex Tagliani, Katherine Legge, Simon Pagenaud, Graham Rahal, Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge are established Atlantic graduates. Utilizing Swift 016.a chassis powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda-Cosworth engine while riding on Cooper Tires, 2007 competitors will fight for the 12-race championship and the unique $2 million Champ Car series champion's bonus, which was recently clinched by Brazilian racer Raphael Matos. For more information on the series and its broadcast details, please visit www.champcaratlantic.com.

-credit: ccws/atl