[speed bump]

I have a question that has me stumped...The 1974 Vels Parnelli Champ Car that was driven by Mario Andretti ..Sponsored by Viceroy....Was this one of the very last cars that was allowed to have a cigarette company as a sponsor before the cigarette ban by the government went into effect ??...Just curious...Thanks...Fred

[davidm]

Marlboro and Camel among other had sponsored cars well into the late 90's.

[jjones752]

Penske kept Marlboro on as sponsor overtly until 2006; until 2009 the cars were still painted in the distinctive white with dayglo Marlboro Red "chevron" paint scheme with "Team Penske" on the sidepods.
Interesting that in 2006 when Sam Hornish won the 500 it was still ok for his car to carry "Marlboro Team Penske" and the red & white livery but the diecast of his car had to be stark white because it would have been considered as marketing cigarettes to kids otherwise.

[revjimk]

Ever hear of "Winston Cup"?

[ThePurple73]

Didn't the Penske cars have a bar code looking emblem on the side pod where the "Marlboro" would have been?

[racer-x]

Indy car needs a car sponsored by a cupcake company.It seems like most of modern society has turned into one!!

[Simon_says17]

Nah that was the F1 Ferrari's that had the subliminal Marlboro bar codes.

[Aces&Eights]

Originally Posted by speed bump I have a question that has me stumped...The 1974 Vels Parnelli Champ Car that was driven by Mario Andretti ..Sponsored by Viceroy....Was this one of the very last cars that was allowed to have a cigarette company as a sponsor before the cigarette ban by the government went into effect ??...Just curious...Thanks...Fred

The Tobacco Ban didn't hit until Bill Clinton second term. I don't smoke, never have, but makes no sense to have a product you can sell to adults and not be allowed to advertise for it. Wacky way liberals look at the world I suppose.

[jim goerge]

Originally Posted by davidm Marlboro and Camel among other had sponsored cars well into the late 90's.

Jimmy Spencer drove the Joe Kool Camel car until 1998 I think , It featured a camel head on the side of the car

[Rochesterdj]

Aces&8's w/ all due respect blow the liberal BS out of your tail pipe.

Take a look at this stat: 2013 data - About 570,000 people die annually in the U.S. due to drug use. That breaks down to about 440,000 from disease related to tobacco, 85,000 due to alcohol, 20,000 due to illicit (illegal) drugs, and 20,000 due to prescription drug abuse. If you want more information, check out NIDA's site at cdc.gov.

440,000 deaths a year due to smoking and smoking related illness amounts to about 1200 people a day who die from smoking and smoking related illness - far more than any other 'vice'. 1200 people a day!

You don't smoke but you're directly affected daily by those who do. No, not by second hand smoke but by the fact that you pay for the extra and expensive health care that smokers require just to stay alive by paying a higher premium on your health insurance.

I don't care if people smoke and die a horrible death related to their vice but I do care that I pay for the health care required to keep them alive when they are diagnosed with cancer because they are a smoker. So it's not a liberal vs conservative thing but more of a common sense vs stupidity thing.

Again, with all due respect.....