Microsoft heading to NASCAR
Click the images to view the #49 Microsoft Camry in our gallery
Kickin' racing games like Forza 2 and PGR4 aside, Microsoft is one of the biggest companies not involved in motorsports. But after partnering with McLaren on the development of Formula One's new standardized, traction-control-less engine management unit, the software giant could be changing its mind.
BAM Motorsport has managed to convince Microsoft's small business division to sponsor Ken Schrader's #49 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Microsoft's sponsorship will first be seen this weekend at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia and will continue for the remaining 32 races in the season, and includes a promotional contest with Microsoft-associated small businesses. If the partnership proves successful, we wouldn't be surprised to see the Microsoft logo appearing on Formula One and other racing cars in the near future... just hopefully not on the windows. Check out the gallery to see the #49 car from all the angles.
[Source: GrandPrix.com and Microsoft SMB Community Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ray 6:14PM (3/27/2008)
Considering Microsoft developed Sync for Ford it's kinda like a slap in the face to Ford.
Reply
cowboy bob 6:12PM (3/27/2008)
Ken Schrader is a racer. Old school, hardheaded, and a man who is the posterboy for the kind of racer who has almost disappeared. I love the guy, and think this is the greatest thing going for him. Blow a hole in it, and go baby go.
Reply
HotRodzNKustoms 6:12PM (3/27/2008)
Let the "If Microsoft built a car" jokes begin...
Reply
Avinash machado 5:10AM (3/28/2008)
MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES A MAJOR CORPORATE DIVERSIFICATION
INTO THE CAR-MAKING BUSINESS.
The major design criteria are:
1. Economies in interior design are based upon uniform size. Seats are all the same size and a standard distance from the steering wheel
2. The cars will run only on Microsoft petrol. (Microsoft LP Gas will be announced soon.)
3. The oil, alternator, low-fuel, and engine management system warning lights will be replaced by a single "General Car Protection Fault" warning light.
4. Delivery strategy is such that the consumer is under constant pressure to upgrade (modestly priced "upgrade" kits will be available either dealer-fitted or self-install). Support for self-install is an extra cost option. The cost is based upon the number of calls and the number of callers.
5. You can have only one person in the car at a time, unless you buy CarXP or CarVista, but having bought one of these, you still need to purchase more seats.
6. Occasionally, for no reason at all, the car will die for no apparent reason, and restarting is a simple turn of the key ... strangely, this is accepted as normal.
7. Every time the lines on your normal road are repainted, you must buy a new MS Car.
8. People would get excited about the new features of the Microsoft car, forgetting that the same features have been available from other car makers for years.
And not to forget:
9. Sun MicroSystems will make a car that is solar-powered, twice as reliable, and five times as fast, but will run on only 5 percent of currently constructed roads.
Source GCFL.net
Red Star 6:22PM (3/27/2008)
It sucks that teams that can barely qualify for races (Schrader drove only 2 races this season) have sponsors like Microsoft, but guys like Gilliland and Kvapil who drive every weekend (and each has 1 Top 10 this season) can't find sponsors at all.
Reply
Kyle 11:00PM (3/27/2008)
i do believe that those are the dodge charger's nascar head-decals on the camry.
i guess that badge engineering in the future will be reduced to trading stickers.
Reply
john 6:29PM (3/27/2008)
Why does it have avenger headlights if it is a camry?
Reply
cquartararo 6:41PM (3/27/2008)
Hahah, they used a Dodge Nascar Car and just changed the grill. The tail lights are wrong too.
dskinner 6:39PM (3/27/2008)
And tail lights?
I guess you can mix-and-match the stickers!
Ray 6:44PM (3/27/2008)
He did the car show headlight, tail light conversion thing.
VP 7:16PM (3/27/2008)
As someone already said BAM racing is in the process switching from Dodge to Toyota starting this weekend.
KCurtis 8:56PM (3/27/2008)
It's a 3D game model, the person who made it, just got lazy. lol
DS 6:35PM (3/27/2008)
because its nascar
Reply
uncle bo 6:43PM (3/27/2008)
BAM Racing is in the process of switching from Dodge to Toyota. This weekend's race in Martinsville will be their first with a Toyota. BAM apparently is developing a partnership with Bill Davis Racing.
This is not the first time Microsoft has sponsored a car in Cup. From the 2006 season:
http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2006/cup/66mircosoft-side.jpg
Reply
94 taurus owner 7:05PM (3/27/2008)
That camry looks like an avenger.
Reply
Xr 7:18PM (3/27/2008)
I agree Red Star. I'm struggling to understand why Microsoft would sponsor a car out of the top 35 (thus forced to qualify on speed each weekend) with a driver who hasnt had a top 10 in 2 years. Gilliland or Kvapil are way more deserving.
Reply
FordGT 7:18PM (3/27/2008)
NASCAR? How about sending my Live Search Club prizes already? Where's my Zune? And Vista?
Reply
hashiryu 7:51PM (3/27/2008)
Toyota & Microsoft? Call the anti-trust lawyers
lol
Reply
Rob 8:08PM (3/27/2008)
I wonder how many times a day it will crash. Or how many times a month it will have to be updated. Haha.
Reply
Niels 8:13PM (3/27/2008)
Maybe Microsoft's car will crash as often as its products.
Reply