Nascar, Indy, Champ and Formula 1 News
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 26 2006
MBN
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Tony George pursuing unification
Procter & Gamble Co. has become the biggest backer of reality TV in China
Causalities Afghanistan
2006 Kia Sedona
Davis Love first to gone
Weather canceled qualifying Friday for the NASCAR Food City 500
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced a model change for its CBR1000RR
Hispanic smokers
Official FIA Press Release 
RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada
24.03.2006
The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 22 March, 2006. The following decisions were taken:
PFClean V2 Launches At NAB 2006
Toyota Indy 300 Daily Trackside Report
Marines Distribute Food to Nigerien Poor
Revolabs Introduces Unmatched Audio Performance with Soloâ Wireless Microphone Systems
Nielsen Media Research DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERSReflecmedia
China has 17 million middle income households
Hard times create thrifty consumers
Tony George pursuing unification
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Indy Racing League founder Tony George confirmed published reports that he is pursuing unification between the two North American open-wheel racing series.
At a news conference at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the IndyCar Series opens its season March 26 with the Toyota Indy 300, George said he and Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of the Champ Car World Series, have been talking and exchanging e-mails frequently since December because “open-wheel racing needs to be unified.” But he cautioned not to expect another news conference regarding a resolution anytime soon.
“Is there reason to be optimistic?” he said. “I think (an agreement) is certainly possible, but I think we're a long way from there at this point. Everybody would like to see it happen sooner rather than later, but it’s not something you can hurry along. It’s not something we can resolve in a few weeks or a couple of months.
“I don’t think we can solve the big problems in a short period of time.”
Issues include equipment (chassis and engines) and event venues. While the IndyCar Series uses normally aspirated Honda Indy V-8 engines, Champ Car employs turbocharged engines. Chassis – though both series use Panoz (along with Dallara in the IndyCar Series) – are different, and Champ Car has plans for a radically different concept beginning in 2007. While the IndyCar Series has 11 ovals and three road/street courses on the 2006 schedule, Champ Car only competes on one oval (The Milwaukee Mile) and many of its races are outside the United States.
“There are a lot of people who have a lot of ideas about what a schedule should look like, and what chassis we should run and what the engines should do,” George said. “All of that is open, as far as I’m concerned. We just need to be very careful in how we plan a transition.”
North American open-wheel racing has been fractured since 1996, when the Indy Racing League held its first event at Walt Disney World Speedway. George, whose family owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced plans for an alternative, oval-based series almost two years earlier. Today, almost all of the top teams and drivers who competed in the Championship Auto Racing Teams series, which went bankrupt and was resurrected in 2004 as Champ Car, are in the IndyCar Series.
“There's always the temptation to start charging ahead but, so far, I've tried to keep focused on really trying to understand what all we both have to consider in discussions we've had on unification.”
“There's reason to be hopeful, but I would caution everyone from getting their hopes set too high,” George said. “I think if it comes together, great. That would be wonderful. It depends on what the issues are. If we can eliminate the hairy issues, it won't be a problem. If we have a bunch of big, hairy issues, then it will be a problem.”
Procter & Gamble Co. has become the biggest backer of reality TV in China
Procter & Gamble Co. has become the biggest backer of reality TV in China, teaming up with local broadcasters to find innovative ways to embed its brands in programming.
“This is poised to be the year of reality TV in China because of last year’s ‘Super Girl’ success,” said J. Alfonso (Pon) De Dios, P&G’s associate director, media in Greater China, based in Guangzhou, referring to a Hunan Satellite TV talent contest, China’s most successful television show to date. “What P&G is doing in this area in China depends on where you are and which brands we’re marketing.”
The company recently invested nearly $1 million with the same Hunan provincial channel, which has national distribution through cable and satellite media, to make Gillette Vector the title sponsor of a folk art show and a series featuring outdoor singing performances.
P&G has teamed up with News Corp.’s Star network, “which has very good ideas,” said Mr. De Dios, for its Whisper brand to sponsor "Dance Competition." The popular reality show on Star’s Mandarin-language Xing Kong channel hunts for the most entertaining and talented dancer across China. The deal entitles P&G to sponsor billboards after each break and promotional events in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
P&G has a multiyear arrangement with Viacom’s MTV Networks for Head & Shoulders to co-present the "MTV Super Talent Search" show in China. Also with MTV, P&G has created a promotional initiative aimed at university students in Beijing to promote Olay through sponsored campus events.
Elsewhere P&G has signed a deal with Chongqing TV to search for the best smile in that city, including TV coverage and a road show sponsored by Crest.
Although P&G isn’t trimming much off its traditional media budget in China, branded content and co-sponsored events are a cost-effective way to deflect the increasing cost of airtime on TV, said Mr. De Dios, particularly on the country’s national network CCTV (although P&G remains CCTV’s largest advertiser), and to help cut through the clutter of China’s media market.
$400 million media spending
Despite a rocky start, China’s largest advertiser is feeling pretty good these days. Procter & Gamble, in mainland China since 1988, spends about $400 million on media per year, according to Nielsen Media Research. Its distribution arm reaches consumers in 2,000 Chinese cities and more than 11,000 towns and villages.
The investment is paying off with strong growth and brand leadership in nearly every category. Crest’s share of China’s toothpaste market, for instance, increased eight percentage points last year, to over 25%, according to P&G figures.
China is now the company’s second-largest company by volume and its fifth-largest in value, up from 10th place just three years ago, according to Jim Stengel, P&G’s global marketing officer based in Cincinnati. “And that’s pre-Gillette, although Gillette will not provide a huge short-term bump here.” (See related Player Profile on Jim Stengel.)
Too expensive for Asia
P&G was not always such a nimble competitor. A decade ago, the company approached Asian markets by following the same pattern that had made it a giant in the U.S.--develop better products through innovation, then slightly raise the price for an enhanced product. It also charged nearly as much for a box of Tide or bottle of Pantene in Asia as it did in North America.
That approach didn’t work in Asia, where most consumers earn a few dollars a day, limiting P&G’s appeal to a sliver of the population. Unilever, meanwhile, drew on its earlier start in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Instead of selling large bottles of shampoo in stores, for example, it sold small, inexpensive packets to rural consumers through village markets.
As P&G struggled to find its footing in Asia, the company made a strategic decision to focus on China. As a relatively new consumer market, China offered a level playing field; unlike in India, P&G wasn’t fighting for market share against an established rival like Hindustan Lever. And there were few local players with credible brands and national distribution at that time.
“Witnessing the fast-growing affluence of Chinese consumers, P&G was keen to heavily invest in television commercials, supported by its unrivaled financial capabilities to woo Chinese consumers,” said Heng Sheau Jing, a Euromonitor cosmetics and toiletries analyst in Shanghai.
Shift in thinking
P&G resolutely slashed production costs and streamlined distribution, said Jeff Bradley, Leo Burnett's regional brand director, P&G, Asia/Pacific in Hong Kong. "They made a huge commitment to approach their business in a way that would allow them to drive a lot of costs out of their system without stripping their brands of quality. Instead, they said, 'This is what we want to offer our customers, so how can we do it from the ground up?' It was a huge shift in thinking and very liberating."
It also invested heavily in market research to better understand consumers, even sending senior P&G execs on pilgrimages to third and fourth tier cities. They bunked with local consumers, shopped with them and helped clean their homes to better understand how they live and what would appeal to them. The experiences paid off with sometimes simple but important insights.
“If you go to a market like the Philippines,” said Irwin Lee, P&G’s Guangzhou-based VP of fabric and home care in Greater China, “you’ll find they wash lots of clothes together. So our formulation needs to be altered to address the fact that their wash loads are 40 garments at once, whereas in China, on average there are only seven garments per wash load.”
Such cultural differences also mean P&G needs to understand how to speak to consumers about product benefits: “Take a product like Tide, a big brand of the people. We would reach out to consumers in China in a charming way, something like a traditional house courtyard setting." In India, the style would be more Bollywood, he said.
Breakthrough technologies
P&G also established an R&D center in Beijing, now one of the global company’s most important research hubs. One Beijing development--a more affordable, higher quality Crest formulation--is rolling out beyond China.
“Also, we are working closely with India on detergents. We have some breakthrough technologies that are superior to mass-market products yet are very affordable,” Mr. Lee added. “And we have just begun an intensive program on personal cleansing, adding whitening technology and moisturizer into body cleaning products.”
Another significant decision that helped P&G pull ahead of rivals was the introduction of a tiered pricing structure in 2003, when P&G introduced a 320 gram bag of Tide Clean White for 23 cents, compared to 33 cents for 350 grams of Tide Triple Action. While the Clean White version did not offer all the stain removal and fragrance benefits of its pricier cousin, it was more affordable and still outperformed every other brand at that price point.
Tiered pricing
The China experiment grew sales without damaging Tide’s brand equity. P&G expanded the tiered pricing concept to other brands such as Crest, Whisper, Pampers and Olay, and other markets, even the U.S., where Bounty Basic and Charmin Basic launched last year.
P&G has also bought out local partners to cement control over its operations in China’s shady manufacturing and distribution worlds. In 2004, for example, the company purchased the remaining 20% stake of its joint venture with Hutchison Whampoa for $1.85 billion.
But P&G credits its growth and scale in China to its determination to understand consumers. When Mr. Stengel visits China each year, he said he personally visits the homes of middle class and poor consumers “to better understand how Asians live,” and pokes around stores. However, he said, “China is in a state of constant development. It’s never static.”
Causalities Afghanistan
One U.S. servicemember was killed, and one U.S. servicemember and one Afghan National Army soldier were wounded during joint offensive operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, today, military officials reported. Afghan and coalition ground forces engaged an estimated 20 enemy with small-arms fire. In addition, close-air support aircraft delivered 11 Joint Direct Attack Munitions on enemy positions. "I am deeply saddened by the death of our servicemember today, and my deepest sympathies are extended to his family and comrades in arms," said Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commanding general of the coalition's Combined Joint Task Force 76. "There are known Taliban extremists in the Sangin District, and the Afghan National Army and coalition forces will continue to attack these enemies of Afghanistan until the district and province are safe and secure," he said. "We will not be deterred from our mission to provide a safe and secure environment to the Afghan people." The wounded U.S. and Afghan soldiers were evacuated to a coalition medical facility in Kandahar province for treatment.
The deceased servicemember's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Defense Department released the names of two other servicemembers killed recently in Iraq. Army Sgt. 1st Class Randy D. McCaulley, 44, of Indiana, Pa., died in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on March 23, when his dismounted patrol came under enemy small-arms fire. McCaulley was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Indiana, Pa. Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery, 30, of White House, Tenn., died in Habbaniyah on March 23, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle and his unit came under attack by small-arms fire. Beery was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor Regiment, Bowling Green, Ky.
2006 Kia Sedona
- AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award – 2002
- Sport Truck Connection Television’s “Best Van” – 2002, 2003
- Winner, Strategic Vision Total Value Index – 2002, 2004
Davis Love first to gone
Davis Love III was leading after the first round of The Players Championship, and gone after the second.
Love was a record-tying 18 shots worse Friday than the previous day, a shocking turnaround at the TPC at Sawgrass.
He and Jim Furyk started the second round atop the leaderboard after opening with 65s. Furyk stayed out front with a 1-under 71, while Love steadily faded back.
Twenty-five players were within five shots of the leadFuryk started quickly with birdies on the Nos. 11 and 13 to open a two-shot lead, took bogey on the rare occasion he missed the fairway, and was steady down the stretch as Love fell apart.
Love won't soon forget his final 18 holes. He was so far behind by his last one that he needed par on the 581-yard ninth to make the cut.
Love's tee shot landed right behind a tree, forcing him to take a penalty shot, his second shot buried in a bunker and a three-putt sealed his fate.
"It was one of those days," Love told a PGA Tour media official after declining to speak to reporters. "When I hit a bad shot, I never got away with it."
Love dropped 11 shots during the final 14 holes and finished with an 83, becoming the first player in the 33-year history of the PGA Tour's showcase event to go from leading the field to missing the cut.
"It kind of jumped up and got him today," said Furyk, who played the first two days with Love.
Weather canceled qualifying Friday for the NASCAR Food City 500
Awful weather canceled qualifying Friday for the NASCAR Food City 500, putting defending series champion Tony Stewart on the pole.
A mix or rain, sleet and snow with temperatures in the low 40s kept the cars off the .533-mile track at Bristol Motor Speedway. There is more inclement weather forecast through Sunday morning, including snow showers.
The Food City 500 is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. EST. The Busch series Sharpie Mini 300 is scheduled to hold its qualifying and race on Saturday afternoon.
It is the fifth Nextel Cup race of the season, the last in which owner points from the previous season are used to determine starting lineups if qualifying is canceled.
As a result, Stewart - who has yet to win a race this season - gets the pole in his Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He was third in this race last year.
Greg Biffle will start alongside him in a Ford Fusion. He has an average finish of 10.33 in six starts at Bristol, the best of any active driver.
The second row is comprised of the Fords of Carl Edwards and Mark Martin. Behind them in a Chevrolet is Jimmie Johnson, who has been virtually unstoppable early in the season.
Johnson won the season-opening Daytona 500, finished second in the Auto Club 500 and won the UAW Daimler-Chrysler 400 before finishing sixth at last week's Golden Corral 500 outside Atlanta, which was postponed one day by rain. He was sixth in this event last year.
Johnson's quick start has come without crew chief Chad Knaus, who was suspended for a month during preparation for the Daytona 500 for illegal adjustments on Johnson's car. Knaus returned Friday.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced a model change for its CBR1000RR
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced a model change for its CBR1000RR large-displacement super sports model. The new CBR1000RR, which comes equipped with a water-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, in-line 4-cylinder, 1000cc engine featuring advanced technologies developed on the MotoGP circuit—the world pinnacle of motorcycle road racing.
The new model inherits the same basic styling and specifications as its predecessor, carefully refined down to the smallest detail to ensure nimbler handling and greater concentration of mass. Overall weight has been reduced, shaving 4.0kg off the previous model to achieve quicker acceleration and nimbler handling.
The styling employs a smooth, curvaceous design with the surface area of the cowl reduced by 13% compared to the previous model. The lower cowls have been fitted with larger air outlets for improved engine cooling and enhanced riding comfort.
Engine enhancements include a reworking of the cylinder head shape and size, valve shape, and combustion chamber shape, resulting in better combustion and more efficient engine aspiration for improved low-to-midrange torque.
For the chassis, caster angle and the amount of trail have been adjusted to obtain more nimble handling, while the engine mount bolts were also reworked to achieve exquisitely sensitive, responsive handling characteristics.
Improvements to the brakes include thinner, larger diameter front brake discs and lighter, more compact rear brake calipers, to deliver both weight savings and improved braking performance.
The new model offers a selection of four color schemes. Graphite Black and Winning Red impart an intrepid feel that breathes quality. Two more color schemes feature stripe patterns using the Honda wing mark as a motif on a background of either Candy Phoenix Blue or Winning Red.
The CBR1000RR, successor to CBRR900RR series released in North America and Europe in 1992, first made its debut in April 2004. Employing HESD (Honda Electronic Steering Damping), Unit Pro-Link suspension, and other advanced technologies inherited from Honda’s RC211V MotoGP machine, it has earned a reputation as a versatile bike suitable for a wide range of uses from touring to racing.
Key Changes
The latest model has been given a complete makeover from nose to tail, styled on a tight, aggressive, clear-cut design concept. While inheriting the overall design of its predecessor, the bike’s cowl has been given a sharper cut to create a more aggressive forward visage. This results in an approximately 13% reduction in the surface area of the cowl compared to the previous model, while also contributing to weight reduction, easier maintenance, and nimbler handling performance. The lower cowls have also been fitted with larger air outlets that channel engine heat to the rear for enhanced riding comfort.
The CBR1000RR comes fitted with a water-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC in-line 4-cylinder 998cm3 engine that is lightweight and compact yet offers a combination of outstanding power and control characteristics throughout its broad power band.
The new engine inherits the same basic specs as its predecessor, but has been carefully refined down to the smallest detail in pursuit of lower weight and more powerful output.
The cylinder head intake ports have been made straighter and the size of the exhaust ports increased. Modifications to the valve shape and adjustments to valve timing were also implemented, and a finer grain size employed for the materials used to form the inner mold when forging the intake ports. These modifications result in more efficient engine aspiration for higher torque in the frequently used low-to-mid speed ranges.
The volume of the combustion chamber has also been reduced by 2.7% to increase the compression ratio from 11.9:1 to 12.2:1, resulting in greater fuel efficiency.
The engine has been lightened throughout, through the use of lighter camshaft materials, a lighter ECU (Electronic Control Unit), which controls fuel injection and other engine functions, and a lighter shift change drum. The Center-Up exhaust system and radiator have also been lightened, contributing to more nimble handling.
Modifications to the chassis were implemented to achieve greater concentration of mass and take full advantage of the engine’s output, without any major changes to the size of the frame or other components.
The head pipe was repositioned on the frame body, prompting a change in caster angle from the previous model’s 23°45’ to 23°25’ and a reduction in trail amount by 2mm, from 102mm to 100mm. The specs for the engine mount bolts were also reworked to achieve exquisitely sensitive, responsive handling characteristics. The diameter of the front disc brake rotors was increased from 310mm to 320mm and their thickness reduced from 5.0mm to 4.5mm. The rear brake also employs a smaller, lighter caliper that combines improved braking performance with lower weight. Other changes include a modified instrument panel design for better visibility and greater ease of use.
Hispanic smokers
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 41.1 percent (15.1 million) of U.S. adult smokers who smoke everyday reported they had stopped smoking for at least one day during the preceding twelve months because they were trying to quit.
Nationwide, another study reports that 41.7 percent of Hispanic adult smokers tried quitting for at least one day. To help those Hispanic smokers who have decided to quit be more successful, Philip Morris USA is now offering its information resource - QuitAssist – in Spanish online and nationwide. QuitAssist is a free resource designed to connect smokers who have decided to quit to quitting websites, guides, quitting programs, quitlines, information on what has worked for others and more.
"Quitting smoking can be difficult.
Many smokers who try to quit do not succeed," said Rafael Art. Javier, PhD, clinical professor of psychology and an advisor to Philip Morris USA’s QuitAssist Review Board. "Most people try to quit 2 or 3 times before they are successful.”
Included in the information available in the QuitAssist Information Resource is the U.S. Public Health Service’s Five Keys for Quitting that can help smokers prepare for the process of quitting:
Get ready. Think about the ways that quitting smoking will improve your life and your health. Make a list to remind yourself.
Think about the ways that quitting smoking will improve your life and your health. Make a list to remind yourself.Get support and encouragement. Talk to friends and family about why you want to quit, and how important it is to you. Research shows your odds are better if you get support from others for quitting smoking.
. Talk to friends and family about why you want to quit, and how important it is to you. Research shows your odds are better if you get support from others for quitting smoking.Learn new skills and behaviors. Plan ways to distract yourself when the urge to smoke strikes. Take a 2-minute walk or call a friend.
. Plan ways to distract yourself when the urge to smoke strikes. Take a 2-minute walk or call a friend.Get medication and use it correctly. For many people, medication can be the key to getting through those first weeks or months without cigarettes.
. For many people, medication can be the key to getting through those first weeks or months without cigarettes.Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations. Plan ways you can cope when you are around other smokers or in difficult situations where you’re tempted to take a puff.
. Plan ways you can cope when you are around other smokers or in difficult situations where you’re tempted to take a puff.Smokers who have decided to quit can find the free QuitAssist resource guide online at www.philipmorrisusa.com/es or by calling 1-888-784-7848.
Official FIA Press Release RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada
24.03.2006
Following today’s tragic accident, the FIA extends its sincerest condolences to the family, friends and team-mates of Jörg Bastuck.
As a mark of respect, there will be no celebrations in Salou at the finish of the event on Sunday 26 March.
The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 22 March, 2006. The following decisions were taken:
FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship Sporting Regulations were accepted and will be published in full on 23 March 2006.
The 2008 Sporting Regulations have three objectives:
• to reduce the cost of competing;
• to improve the sporting spectacle; and
• to maintain and, where possible, improve current safety standards.
Entries for the 2008 Championship will open on 24 March 2006 and close on 31 March 2006.
The FIA will then begin a series of meetings with the teams which enter the 2008 Championship in order to finalise the regulations for 2008. The regulations which affect the design of the cars must be finalised before 30 June 2006 to give the competing teams sufficient time to design and develop their 2008 cars. The regulations not affecting the design of the cars can be modified at any point up to the start of the 2008 season.
A regulation can be modified following a majority vote of the Sporting Working Group, consisting of one senior representative from each team, and ratification by the Formula One Commission and the World Motor Sport Council.
WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Shekhar Mehta was appointed acting chairman for the World Rally Championship Commission pending the appointment a new permanent incumbent.
As part of the specific conditions for the participation of a Manufacturer 2, that manufacturer must inform the FIA of the names of the two drivers nominated for the purpose of scoring points no later than five weeks prior to the start of the Rally concerned.
GT
The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium will hold a test day at Spa on Wednesday 5 July 2006 in preparation for the Spa 24 Hours event. The event, which will feature rounds of the 2006 FIA GT Championship and GT3 European Championship, is scheduled for 30 July 2006.
In GT3, for 2006 only, the maximum number of teams per manufacturer is three, with a maximum of nine cars. If a manufacturer is represented with fewer than six cars, none of the cars from that manufacturer can score points in the championship.
CALENDAR
The 2006 FIA European Touring Car Cup event will be held at Estoril on
22 October 2006.
PFClean V2 Launches At NAB 2006
NAB 2006 Stand: SL3764 Windsor, UK. 15 March 2006. The Pixel Farm is using this year’s NAB to launch version 2.0 of its image clean up and preparation application, PFClean. Since its launch at the end of last year, this product has been gaining popularity and PFClean is already becoming the tool of choice for DI and film restoration facilities. PFClean is proving to be a significant time saver when it comes to dust busting and rig / wire removal with its ability to automatically pre process and clean up images of any resolution. And its extensive paint, grain and effects toolset. Added to this, is support for all major platforms, a truly scalable architecture and an economic price point. NAB will also see the first public showing of PFTrack 3.5. Already way ahead of its competition in terms functionality, number of tools and price, PFT3.5 adds even more firsts to its already groundbreaking tracking application.
The brand new solver allows shots to be broken down into different motion types and solved in a single pass. The Pixel Farm will be on stand SL3764 so come along and see all this - as well as the new PFTee - ENDS - About The Pixel Farm The Pixel Farm was formed in 2002 to provide innovative solutions for digital composting. Based in the UK, with a very strong focus on research and development, The Pixel Farm work with customers on key projects to ensure PF products match the needs of the production environment. By utilising its industry experience and working with some of the best researchers and developers in the world, The Pixel Farm ensures it is always one step ahead of the competition. The Pixel Farm looks to integrate best of breed technologies into a focused collaborative environment. www.thepixelfarm.co.uk
Toyota Indy 300 Daily Trackside Report
Welcome to the Toyota Indy 300, the season opener in the 2006 IRL IndyCar® Series season. John Griffin, vice president of public relations for the Indy Racing League, and the Indy Racing League and Homestead-Miami Speedway media relations staffs are here to assist you. This is the sixth IndyCar Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dan Wheldon is the defending race winner. Buddy Rice holds the qualifying record with a lap of 24.5920 seconds, 217.388 mph set in March 2004. This is the fourth Indy Pro Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Travis Gregg is the defending race winner. Paul Dana holds the qualifying record with a lap of 28.1746, 189.745 mph set in March 2004.
Each of the five previous IndyCar Series winners at Homestead-Miami Speedway is entered this weekend: Sam Hornish Jr. (Marlboro Team Penske, 2001, 2002 and 2004 winner) Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing, 2003 winner) and Dan Wheldon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing, 2005 winner). Five Indianapolis 500 winners are entered: Dan Wheldon (2005), Buddy Rice (2004), Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Eddie Cheever (1998) and Buddy Lazier (1996).
Three IndyCar Series rookies are entered this weekend: Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing), P.J. Chesson (Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing) and Paul Dana (Rahal Letterman Racing). All are eligible for the $50,000 Bombardier Rookie of the Year title.
Six Indy Pro Series rookies are entered this weekend: Matthew Hamilton (Dave McMillan Racing), Brett Van Blankers (Brian Stewart Racing), Geoff Dodge (Brian Stewart Racing), Bobby Wilson (Michael Crawford Motorsports), Jay Howard (Sam Schmidt Motorsports), Jonathan Klein (Andretti Green Racing). All are eligible for the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year Award and its $5,000 prize.
Live timing and scoring reports from the Toyota Indy 300 and Miami 100 will be available on the Internet at www.indycar.com. The live timing and scoring module provides statistical information, including track segment speeds, lap information and much more.
INDYCAR SERIES PRACTICE 1
10:30 a.m. – GREEN. #15 Rice is first on track.
10:42 a.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
10:46 a.m. – GREEN.
10:58 a.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
11:13 a.m. – CHECKERED. Group 1.
11:15 a.m. – GREEN. Group 1.
11:28 a.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
11:35 a.m. – GREEN.
11:45 a.m. – CHECKERED.
Danica Patrick will turn 24 on Saturday. She took the opportunity to celebrate her birthday with her friends and family on Wednesday night in Phoenix,
DANICA PATRICK (No. 16 Rahal Letterman Team Argent anoz/Honda/Firestone):
“My birthday is Saturday, but we went out (Wednesday) night. It was chance for me to put on the little black dress and go out and celebrate.”
Selected quotes from Danica Patrick’s press conference on Thursday:
DANICA PATRICK (No. 16 Rahal Letterman Team Argent anoz/Honda/Firestone):
(About her second season): “I have a lot more familiarity, and I’m more comfortable. I know what to expect, but on the otherhand, I don’t know what to expect from the handling of the car every time out. That changes from event from event. Take Michigan last year. I went in there thinking “If there’s a race I’m going to win, it’s Michigan.” We went there and I couldn’t keep my foot down on the enormous oval for the life of me and we had a horrible weekend. Just because it’s year two doesn’t mean it will go better, for sure.” (About racing on road and street course): “If we’re at at trach where we’re going well, then it’s fun. No one likes to run in the back. Even if it’s your favorite track, if you’re not doing well, it won’t be your favorite track anymore. I’m looking forward to going to St. Pete because it was going well. Right up to the point where I hit the pit speed limiter and couldn’t get about 65 mph and totaled the gearbox. It doesn’t mean it’s going to go badly this year.” (What about running here at Homestead?): “I’m looking forward to not waking up with a bright light in my face and an IV in my arm, like last year. That wasn’t fun, but (the accident) wasn’t my fault. It was an accident. I’m looking forward to this track. I thought I came to grips with it and running on my first oval. Even at the end, I was making passes three-wide. I was getting more brave and looking forward to finishing well. I think we have solid cars and perform well here as a team. I love tracks where you can race and some fun with it.”
***
INDY PRO SERIES PRACTICE 1
11:52 a.m. – GREEN.
12:19 a.m. – CHECKERED.
INDYCAR SERIES PRACTICE 2
2 p.m. – GREEN. Group 1.
2:03 p.m. -- YELLOW. #4 Meira does a half spin in Turn 4 and made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier. There is significant damage to the right side and rear of the car. Meira climbs from the car without assistance from the Delphi IRL Safety Team.
2:25 p.m. – GREEN.
2:41 p.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL senior director of medical services: Vitor Meira has been checked and released from the infield care center. He is cleared to drive.
VITOR MEIRA (No. 4 EcoNova Panther Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): “We’re not really sure what happened. Panther has a couple of the best engineers in the business working on all the data we collected today. I know the EcoNova Honda was great this morning and as hard as the Panther crew works, we’re going to be very strong tomorrow. If there is any team in this paddock that can bounce back from a challenge, it’s Panther Racing. We’re going to be very fast during qualifications tomorrow and even better when the race gets here on Sunday.”
“We’re not really sure what happened. Panther has a couple of the best engineers in the business working on all the data we collected today. I know the EcoNova Honda was great this morning and as hard as the Panther crew works, we’re going to be very strong tomorrow. If there is any team in this paddock that can bounce back from a challenge, it’s Panther Racing. We’re going to be very fast during qualifications tomorrow and even better when the race gets here on Sunday.”
2:47 p.m. – GREEN.
2:54 p.m. – CHECKERED. Group 1.
2:55 p.m. – GREEN. Group 2.
3:03 p.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
3:08 p.m. – GREEN.
3:16 p.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection.
3:22 p.m. – GREEN.
3:37 p.m. – CHECKERED.
INDYCAR SERIES POST-PRACTICE QUOTES:
DAN WHELDON (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, quickest in practice):
“I'm still getting use to working with my engineer (Andy Brown) with the limited testing time that you get. I think it takes a little bit of time to get a car set up for you and exactly what you want and just working through that process. Obviously, the series has mandated we can run a lower rear wing angle and add some more rear wicker, so we're getting use to that, too. I think certainly there are other cars out there that are very quick also. As a team, we just want to keep trying to improve what we've got because of the limited time that we've run here at Homestead.”
SCOTT DIXON (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, second quickest):
“It was pretty good. The first session went smoothly. I think both of us worked most of the day on race setup. The cars were comfortable with no major issues. We basically tried running together. I think in the end, it's like any sort of test. Whoever gets the biggest tow ends up in the front.”
SAM HORNISH JR. (No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, third fastest):
“Our day went pretty much as expected. We spent the two sessions working on the race set-up to make sure the car handles well in traffic. That will be the key on these mile-and-a-half ovals this season. We’re not quite where we need to be yet, but I’m sure the Marlboro Team Penske crew will get it figured out for race day.”
TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone, fourth fastest):
"We are working on making the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car fast and comfortable. We're still a little behind, but we also still have all of Saturday and Sunday morning to get there. I'm not really complaining because being fourth isn't all that bad. But I think we can still improve the car a little bit more."
We are working on making the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car fast and comfortable. We're still a little behind, but we also still have all of Saturday and Sunday morning to get there. I'm not really complaining because being fourth isn't all that bad. But I think we can still improve the car a little bit more."HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, fifth fastest):
“We worked on the race set-up of the Marlboro Team Penske car today. We’ve still got some work to do and hopefully we’ll be able to get a little closer tomorrow. We’ll also spend some time working on our qualifying setup, but obviously getting the best race set-up is our main goal. I’m happy with our performance today – it’s always good to finish in the top-five and I think we’ll be in good shape on Sunday.”
Transcript of this afternoon’s Tony George’s Q & A with the media:
I'm excited to be here this weekend. It's been a long off season, and I for one am ready to get on with the new racing season. In that vain, I would like to keep the focus on this weekend's kickoff to the season, and we're back-to-back with St. Petersburg next weekend.
(About recent conversations with Kevin Kalkhoven) We've had fairly frequent communication since December. I think it's safe to say that they are very early in the get-to-know-one-another stage. We have talked about some issues of substance, no question, but for the most part it's getting to know one another as individuals. They've been fairly frequent. There have been several face-to-face meetings, several telephone conversations, e-mails, that kind of thing. I would characterize those, as I mentioned, very get-to-know-one-another conversations. There's always the temptation to start charging ahead, but so far I've tried to keep focused on really trying to understand what all we both have to consider in discussions we've had on unification.
He's certainly an interesting guy, and I've enjoyed getting to know him. I, for a long time, have been one of those who believed it certainly would be nice if open-wheel racing were unified. I understand that in my position it is incumbent upon me to get to know the people in the industry who influence our lives and influence our sport on many levels. Kevin is rather new to the scene, relatively speaking, and someone I don't have any history with so I've been building that relationship the last couple of months and it's been quite enjoyable and worthwhile.
(About talking solely to Kevin Kalkhoven) He obviously has some partners and people that he is accountable to. But it is refreshing. You know you're talking to the right guy. I got to know Dick Eidswick a little bit over the course of the last 12 to 16 months, and I've known Steve Johnson obviously, but it's nice to talk to Kevin because I think he's the one shapes the thinking over there. The other guys are good guys, and I certainly understand their roles, but Kevin is the one who I think I need to be developing a relationship with.
(About optimism about unifying soon) Optimistic? I think it's certainly possible. I think we're a long way from there at this point. I think everybody would like to see it happen sooner rather than later. Our partners, our sponsors, our teams, fans, and I think likewise on the other side, I'm sure there are those that feel the same way. But, it's not something that you can hurry along. It's not something we can resolve in a few weeks or a couple of months. It's certainly going to take some time. But, you know, I consider every conversation we've had, and every exchange, whether it be e-mail or what not, to be positive and with an eye towards moving things forward. It's just a question of how long it may take to get there.
(About the most important issue keeping the sides apart) I think that the most important thing is that we have an orderly transition that will allow us to really look toward the future together and shape and build a future together. I think it needs to be something that is achievable, something that we can execute, something that will put our best foot forward. To that extent, it's something that's going to hopefully meet everyone's expectations. There are a lot of people that have a lot of ideas about what a schedule should look like, what chassis we should run, what engines should be. I think all that stuff is open as far as I'm concerned. I just think we need to be very careful in how we plan and transition, as I like to characterize it, as we look to build this long term. I don't think we can solve all of the big issues in a short period of time, certainly not for 2007.
(About being in favor of unification) I'm very, very excited about what the Indy Racing League is today.
Certainly I wish we had more fans in the stands, more sponsors involved with the league and sponsoring the race cars. I wish we had more awareness and more attention. We've got a lot of positive momentum going, but it's safe to say that there's room for improvement. Over the last 10 years, I've been rebuilding some of the relationships that have been strained with people over that period of time. It's been awkward at times, and challenging at times, but it's getting better every day. I've felt this way for a while. It may not be obvious, because I've tried to stay out of media rooms and what not. I thank some of you for not forcing it. Sometimes it's easier to sit back and reflect on what I may have said rather than what I actually said.
(About 2007) I suppose if all the stars, moons and planets aligned, it could be possible, but what are the chances of that? There's reason to be hopeful, but I would caution everyone from getting their hopes set too high. I think if it comes together great. That would be wonderful. It depends on what the issues are. If we can eliminate the hairy issues, it won't be a problem. If we have a bunch of big, hairy issues, then it will be a problem.
(About philosophical differences) There's a lot of things to be philosophical about, I guess. I think Kevin and I agree on many of the big issues. Similarly, our experiences have allowed us to sit and talk about some things, frankly. I think we both appreciate diversity in schedules and circuits and having a combination of road and street and ovals. As I've said many times, although maybe not heard very often, we've always thought that road racing would be part of the Indy Racing League calendar sooner or later. It seemed to take a while, but we're there. Racing in the right markets, wanting to work at recapturing some of the unique qualities that we all believe open-wheel racing represents and get the public to believe that and think about that. I think those are things we share philosophically and we'd like to see happen. Certainly we want to operate profitably.
We want all our constituents to receive good value, and a fair return on their investment.
We would like to make money. It's a delicate balance. This sport is tough, because it really is a delicate balance between sport, business, entertainment, technology. You've got to find the right balance and not let any one drive it.
(About support from the IndyCar Series partners) Partners come in all shapes and sizes. We've certainly been very up front with all of our partners in the league that we've had long-term relationships with. We've entered in to long-term relationships for the future and don't want them to be surprised by all that is going on, so I've been upfront with the teams. I think I've had more conversations with a few. By and large, I haven't had in-depth conversations with any of them. I'm certainly getting some of their input. That's for sure. I think everybody is supportive of unification if it can be done. It's also been made very clear to me that they also support the Indy Racing League. The course that we've chartered for the years to come is important to them as is their relationship with us. We try to keep everybody in the loop as best we can.
(About teams focusing on the season) It's going to be very difficult, I'm sure. To the extent that maybe it becomes an issue every weekend, it will be even more of a challenge. I hope it doesn't become a weekly issue. Clearly, our partners have a tremendous investment in our series, and they have a tremendous investment in theirs. In the interest of what Kevin said of maybe leaving us alone to conduct our business, that probably would be good advice today. I'm very proud of the relationships that we've had with our partners. Some of them have been with us for 10 years.
The most important thing to me is relationships, and I feel that every partner we have should have an opportunity to be a part of unification if it comes about to the exclusion of none. Some of them may decide that it's not something they want to be involved with and that's OK, but I think everybody should be afforded the opportunity, because it could be a really great thing. It's sometimes easier to manage fewer variables, but having them all in there is important too, and I think it just adds to the excitement.
Matt Jonsson, chief mechanic for the No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske IndyCar Series entry driven by Sam Hornish Jr., is the brother of Nic Jonsson, the driver of the No. 75 Krohn Racing Daytona Prototype in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.
INDY PRO SERIES PRACTICE 2
4:15 p.m. – GREEN.
4:58 p.m. – YELLOW and CHECKERED. #3 Van Blankers spins and continues in Turn 4. There is no contact with the SAFER Barrier.
INDY PRO SERIES POST-PRACTICE QUOTES:
WADE CUNNINGHAM (No. 1 Brian Stewart Racing, fastest of the day):
“We were working on the car most of the session by ourselves. Obviously, the fast times were achieved with the towing. I went out there and looked for a tow, and I put a big lap in, because it's nice to see number one, up at the top. It's hard to say how good we'll be for qualifying. The Sam Schmidt/AGR cars will be quick, but I think we'll be close enough to start."
We were working on the car most of the session by ourselves. Obviously, the fast times were achieved with the towing. I went out there and looked for a tow, and I put a big lap in, because it's nice to see number one, up at the top. It's hard to say how good we'll be for qualifying. The Sam Schmidt/AGR cars will be quick, but I think we'll be close enough to start."JONATHAN KLEIN (No. 27 Klein Tools, second fastest):
“Today was good. We were quickest in the first session, but part of that was how well the car worked in traffic. In the second session we picked up a little bit of understeer. We kept chasing it and we were able to improve on it by the end of the session. We didn't get as much of a chance to run in traffic this afternoon as we would have liked, but overall we're happy with the Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging and Design car."
JEFF SIMMONS (No. 24 Kenn Hardey Racing, third fastest):
“We were running pretty good there at the end. (Chris) Festa was right at the top, but he looked fast on his own there at the end. He was down in the 28's, which is pretty tough to get to it seems, so he was looking good to, my car is good. We had a fuel pressure problem there at the end that we're going to have to look at. I don't know what was causing it, but it was making it cut out the last few laps that I ran, so we've got to figure out what the problem is there. I'm fairly happy right now. It seems that it's the best that we've run on the big tracks on our own."
MARTY ROTH (No. 4 Roth Racing, fourth fastest):
"We're frustrated, because we had a really good car here at the Open Test. We've just been struggling to get it back. We still have a few more sessions, and we'll continue to chip away at it. We were third quick in that last session. We were really struggling this morning, so we've narrowed the gap a little bit. We still have some improvements to make."
Marines Distribute Food to Nigerien Poor
Traveling through the crowded, sandy streets here, most people would be reminded of the animated film "Aladdin." Street vendors, blacksmiths and potential customers trying to haggle and barter with merchants down alleyways are found throughout the town. But for the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, it seemed like an opportunity to help the citizens of an African country in need.
The Marines are in Niger as part of Shared Accord 06, a U.S. European Command exercise designed to bring humanitarian aid to the country while allowing an opportunity to train with Nigerien forces. "(Shared Accord) is a great opportunity to take a few minutes a day and make a difference, no matter how small," said Marine Sgt. Adam Love, squad leader.
During an escort mission with their chaplain, he said, the Marines stopped to hand out the contents of a packaged military meal. After more townspeople caught wind of the free goodies being passed out by the Marines, a large crowd came to catch a glimpse of the visiting Americans while seeing what they had to offer. "They were starving," said Cpl. Dan McCabe, a rifleman. "Mothers were trying to get food for themselves ahead of their kids; people almost trampled over kids.
It was bad. People were fighting over a half-pack of crackers." Even though the Marines were told Niger was one of the poorest countries in the world, the plight of the Nigerien people didn't strike a chord with the Marines until they were able to see it first-hand, Love said. "I wish we could spend more time and help here," Love said. He and the rest of the Marines are completing their annual training, which usually lasts between 14 and 17 days. "Now that I see how much good could be done here, I'd look forward to doing a year tour here, if it were possible." But even during goodwill missions, the Marines have to remain aware of possible security risks. "We gave food and candy to the Nigeriens, but we always remember that security comes first," Love said. "It's not just for our good, but for (the Nigeriens') good, too.
For example, what kids like to do is climb on the sides of the Humvee for a better chance at getting one of the packets we throw out. Not only does that restrict our vision, to see incoming threats around us, but if we were to pull out of the area, we'd hurt them and maybe even run some of them over." Security is the most important part of a mission, especially humanitarian ones, Love said.
Revolabs Introduces Unmatched Audio Performance with Soloâ Wireless Microphone Systems
Soloâ Executive and Soloâ Desktop to Debut at NSCA Expo,Revolabs, Inc. a wireless product development company, announced today the launch of its Soloâ suite of products, a secure wireless microphone system for professional conferencing and audio solutions. Debuting at the 2006 NSCA Expo taking place March 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Solo Executive and Solo Desktop System combine optimized voice audio quality and an innovative wireless form factor for conferencing, distance learning and other professional collaborative applications.
Unlike traditional tabletop conference microphones, the Solo system moves the microphone off the table and closer to the source to dramatically reduce extraneous ambient noises that can lower productivity in meetings. Solo also incorporates full duplex, wideband audio capability, which enables participants to move freely and naturally while in a meeting, even leaving the room and remaining engaged in the call. By easily connecting to traditional conference equipment (both video and audio), the Solo system seamlessly and securely enhances the audio of any conference call.
“Executives at corporations both large and small have long been concerned about the audio component of high-end conferencing systems,” said Martin Bodley, president and CEO of Revolabs. “Our suite of Solo products provide a breakthrough in conference audio performance and we invite systems integrators, technical consultants and business executives to hear the difference for themselves.”
The Solo Executive System can be configured with up to 24 wireless microphones in a single room, brining tremendous productivity improvements to large meetings. The Solo Desktop system provides the same performance benefits, compact size and security to individual professionals in their own offices for VOIP and IP telephony applications.
Solo wireless microphones have eight hours of continuous talk time and rapid recharge capability. Both the Executive and Desktop systems offer single channel audio for each microphone enabling the ability to control, capture, process and transcribe high-fidelity audio from each meeting participant.
Each Solo microphone, which measure .9” x .8” x 2.6”, is clipped to an executive’s lapel allowing for a more natural posture, as well as increased mobility. Additional features include:
Range of 30 meters
128-bit proprietary encryption
Audio bandwidth of 100-8,000 Hz
1.5 hours charge time for up to 9 hours of talk time
Two hours charge time
About Revolabs
Launched in August 2005, Revolabs is a wireless product development company committed to providing superior audio conference solutions. The privately held company has regional offices in Maynard, Massachusetts and San Diego, California. For more information, visit www.revolabs.com.
Nielsen Media Research DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS
DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS, WHICH HAVE been deploying at rates much slower than had long been forecasted, are suddenly taking off, Nielsen Media Research disclosed during its client meetings in Orlando this week. Nielsen, which had been estimating that DVRs were present in only about 8 percent of U.S. TV households, Wednesday revised that projection upward to 10 percent, and said it now anticipates DVRs will reach 18 percent of U.S. homes by the end of the year. That's a much more rapid uptake of the device, which was supposed to transform the TV landscape, but which had failed to live up to the hype - until now.
During a presentation on Wednesday, Pat McDonough, senior vice president of planning, policy and analysis at Nielsen, said the TV ratings research has suddenly come upon far higher rates of DVR penetration in its sample, causing it to revise its estimates upward.
The disclosure appeared to surprise some of the clients in attendance, said Nielsen spokesman Jack Loftus, who said Nielsen discovered the higher than expected presence of DVRs while it was upgrading its national TV ratings sample.
While still lower than some of the most ambitious estimates of DVR penetration, the Nielsen revision is significant, because it is part of the official universe estimates for the presence of the technology in Nielsen's sample, which is the basis for the TV industry's advertising currency.
The estimates are significantly higher than one Madison Avenue's most respected tracking studies, the periodic "on-demand" study issued by Interpublic's Magna Global unit, which placed DVR penetration at 8.8 percent as of the third quarter of 2005, in its last report issued in December 2005.
"Our long-term forecast for DVR subscribers at the end of 2010 remains at 33 million," Magna Vice President-Director of Industry Analysis Brian Wieser wrote in that report, adding, "We continue to believe that DVR services provided by cable and satellite operators will be offered as premium, incremental-fee services, and that penetration rates will be limited by this strategy."
Reflecmedia
Reflecmedia, will be introducing its brand new product at NAB 2006. Planned for release later in the year, the UK chromakey specialist is developing a new addition to its award winning (NAB Innovations Award 2003) range of Chromatte products.
Intended to be used specifically on the floor, Basematte (working title) will even further expand the companies’ Chromatte capabilities. Visitors to the stand will also see demonstrations of the definitive hardware keying solution for the Digital Video market, Ultimatte DV. Developed in conjunction with Ultimatte and launched at NAB 2005, this much-lauded product has made a significant impact on the Industry and celebrates its 1st birthday at the show this year. These, and all other Reflecmedia products, will be available for demonstration at the show, on stand C5119G Availability And Pricing Now shipping, ‘Ultimatte DV’ is available, with ChromaFlex in a bundle, for £ 2995.00 RRP / $4995.00 MAP / € 4495.00 For all other product information please visit: www.reflecmedia.com
About Reflecmedia Reflecmedia are changing the art of chroma key. The company's Chromatte and ChromaFlex products have received industry acclaim including America's National Association of Broadcasters AIM award in 2003. Reflecmedia's latest product 'mattenee' is a software plug-in for digital compositing and editing applications – this and the entire product range are now sold in 45 countries around the World.
The company's products are already used by the BBC, AOL Time Warner, Disney, MTV and many others. Reflecmedia is a division of Reflec plc. www.reflecmedia.com About Ultimatte Ultimatte Corporation is the World's recognized leader in blue/green screen compositing technology and has been in business for over twenty-five years, continually refining, enhancing and improving the craft of traveling matte generation. Ultimatte's products have been awarded Oscar® and Emmy®, and are in use by broadcasters and film studios worldwide. www.ultimatte.com Please contact Louise Gray-Murray at Bubble & Squeak PR for further information and images: louise@bubblesqueak.co.uk T: +44 (0)20 7659 2256
China has 17 million middle income households
China has 17 million middle income households, defined as those with monthly salaries worth $622-$1,244 (5,000 to 10,000 RMB), accounting for 50 million people, or 3.8% of the total population. In neighboring Hong Kong, middle class homes account for half of the Chinese territory's population.
Source : China Daily, McCann Worldgroup
Hard times create thrifty consumers
WUHAN--If cities like Guangzhou and Hangzhou have benefitted from China’s economic transformation over the past two decades, it came at the expense of other Chinese cities including Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.
Despite extreme heat in the summer and bitter coldness in winter, the 3,500-year-old city used to be one of the premier manufacturing centers in China, thanks to its geographic location. Wuhan is divided into three towns (Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang) by the Yangtze River and its largest tributary, the Han River, creating the country’s largest inland port. Lying in the center of China, it is also the national hub for the country’s railway, highway, airline, and telecommunication networks.
In 1911, the first shot of the Xinhai revolution was fired in Wuchang, ending China’s 2,000-year-old feudalist regime. Over the course of the 20th century, Wuhan evolved into an industrial powerhouse for manufacturing, science and technology, as well as an important university town for technical and engineering fields.
Starting in 1979, however, when Deng Xiaoping normalized relations with the U.S. and opened China to nationwide economic development, Wuhan’s star began to fall.
Lucy Zhang, MindShare’s director of insights in Shanghai, compares modern-day Wuhan to “a local bus, purely functional, working in a bad environment that is gray and depressing.”
Consumers there “used to be very proud of their important city but over the past two decades, they’ve lost that pride, because they’ve lost out on foreign investment to other cities” like Chongqing, Nanjing and Shanghai, she said.
As a result, the city’s unemployment rate is higher than in other Chinese cities, more than 20% compared to less than 10% in Shanghai. “When you visit Wuhan, you can feel that people there are not optimistic. While China as a whole is growing quickly, people there aren’t feeling the benefit,” said Ms. Zhang.
Consumers, predictably, are less inclined to opt for expensive foreign brands, she added. “In general, they are still very price-sensitive. They don’t know much about foreign brands, what they mean and why they are famous, because they have low purchasing power and therefore don’t have a relationship with them. They don’t think they can afford them, and even if they did, many people in Wuhan don’t believe they are worth the premium prices.”
“A lot of the work McDonald’s has done in Wuhan is built around understanding how they can get to a value equation that makes sense to local consumers. They had to look at different pricing combinations to find something that worked,” agreed Peter Rodenbeck, Hong Kong-based director of operations, Greater China at DDB Worldwide. He visited the city many times in his last position at Leo Burnett, where he ran the fast food company’s advertising business in China.
Convincing consumers to splash out on a Happy Meal for their kids led McDonald’s to turn their restaurants into virtual community centers, handling everything from selling bus tickets to getting film developed.
“The strength of the brand and the food wasn’t enough there, so the company had to play roles that it wasn’t used to,” he said.
But he is optimistic about Wuhan’s potential as a gateway for the growth around it, as foreign investors continue pumping money into central China. As a result, more Taiwanese, Hong Kong and Malaysian Chinese are starting to look at Wuhan as a valuable operational base.
The city also has some scenic spots, including the European-style buildings on Yanjiang Street; the Yellow Crane Tower dating back 1,700 years (the name comes from a legend about a Taoist priest flying to Heaven on the back of a yellow crane); East Lake, whose natural beauty rivals that of the West Lake in Hangzhou; and Guiyuan Temple, a picturesque 400-year-old Buddhist temple filled with hundreds of sitting, sleeping, laughing and angry Buddha statues.
Wuhan cuisine is known for freshwater fish and soup dishes like Steamed Wuchang Fish, Soy Sauce Grass Carp and Wangji Chicken Soup, as well as Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes (steamed fish, pork and meatballs), Huangzhou Dongpo Pork, Wudang Hedgehog Hydnum and Hot Dried Noodles.
Fast Facts: Wuhan
Population: 7.86 million
GDP (2004): $23.57 billion (195.6 billion RMB)
TV households (2005 est.): 1,231,000
Ad spend (2005): $1.21 billion (10.08 billion RMB)*
Ad spend (2004): $0.90 billion (7.5 billion RMB)*
Year-on-year increase: 34.4%*
Adspend as a percentage of GDP (2004): 3.8%
Average minutes viewed per day per viewer of all channels (aged 4+): 158.7
Basic cable subscription cost (per month): $1.20
*based on published rate card
Average cost of 30”spot during prime time on Hubei TV Economic, the city’s most-watched local channel (based on rate card value):
18:55-19:33 - $1,446
19:33-20:30 - $1,550
20:37-21:30 - $1,610
Top 10 brands by ad spend on TV (2005)
1. Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble)
2. Rejoice (Procter & Gamble)
3. Crest (Procter & Gamble)
4. Gai Zhong Gai (Chinese tonic/vitamin)
5. Colgate (Colgate Palmolive)
6. DHT Proportion Growth Hair (hair pharmaceutical)
7. Head & Shoulders (Procter & Gamble)
8. Pantene (Procter & Gamble)
9. Omo (Unilever)
10. Safeguard (Procter & Gamble)
(Local channels only, based on rate card.)
Top 10 advertising categories on TV (2005)
1. Shampoo & Conditioner
2. Tonic & Vitamin
3. Oral Hygiene
4. Professional Services
5. Skin Care
6. Cough & Cold Preparation
7. Chinese OTC pharmaceuticals
8. Soap
9. Communication Equipment & Services
10. Stomach Medicine
(Local channels only, based on rate card.)
Top 5 local channels by ad revenue
1. Hubei Satellite TV
2. Hubei TV - l
3. Hubei TV Economic
4. Wuhan TV 2 - Culture & Art
5. Wuhan TV 4 - Movie
Sources: Nielsen Media Research & AGB Nielsen Media Research
