Thread: Penske loses Marlboro livery

Team Penske will not run in its familiar Marlboro livery in the IndyCar championship this season.

The multiple title-winning squad unveiled its new black and white colour scheme today. Tobacco giant Marlboro/Philip Morris will no longer be sponsoring the #3 and #6 cars of Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, as it has done for the past two seasons.

It will be the first time since 1990 that a Penske car will not compete in the red and white design. All three 2010 cars, including Will Power's Verizon Wireless-backed machine, will run in the new livery.

Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said: "This represents a change for us, but we are excited about competing with three cars this season and looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for Team Penske."

Wow that is big news. Penske / Marlboro spent a lot of $$ on race branding. More so than any other team. Big changes happening at Indy, not all for the better.

Marlboro was sort of kicked out of F1 when it was teamed with Ferrari after the tobacco ban. Do you think it getting out of Indy is a sign of this "economy" & its restructuring as a company or would it be because of the tobacco issue again?

Originally Posted by moosh311

Marlboro was sort of kicked out of F1 when it was teamed with Ferrari after the tobacco ban. Do you think it getting out of Indy is a sign of this "economy" & its restructuring as a company or would it be because of the tobacco issue again?

I believe it has to be with the tobacco issue and the economy as well.
It doesnt make sense to pay for sponsorship if you cannot place your name on the car.
It's not going to be the same not having the Marlboro livery on the grid though.

Marlboro still sponser Ferrari ( well their parent company does ). They are just just forced to use a more subliminal version of their red chevron now with the "barcode"

I've been following Penske Motorsports my entire life (forced to) and something tells me that Mr. P is still taking the cash and saving on the red and white paint... you didn't hear it here.

Originally Posted by PMAZ7

I've been following Penske Motorsports my entire life (forced to) and something tells me that Mr. P is still taking the cash and saving on the red and white paint... you didn't hear it here.

Being that he is on the board of directors for philip morris and many other companies, i do not doubt it for one second.