| With widespread economic difficulties crippling | | | | only feature that identifies the racecar with a |
| communities all over the planet, it's very hard to find | | | | sponsor tends to be the decals and logos placed on |
| any facet of the entertainment and sporting industry | | | | every square inch of the exterior. Many companies |
| that hasn't been negatively impacted in some way. | | | | are now seeking to share sponsorship deals with |
| The world of auto racing in particular has undoubtedly | | | | other companies in order to reduce costs without |
| felt the crunch caused by global recession. Nearly all | | | | cutting their involvement in racing entirely. In most |
| racing teams and events rely largely upon | | | | cases, sponsors feel that professional racing |
| sponsorships from major corporations and automobile | | | | organizations have placed the emphasis on creating |
| manufacturers. A majority of these companies and | | | | celebrity superstar drivers rather than promoting the |
| sponsors have drastically reduced the amount of | | | | automobiles they race. |
| money they are willing to throw at their racing teams | | | | Major international racing events have also been |
| as they furiously slash spending in order to remain | | | | impacted by the global economic downturn. The |
| competitive and stay in business. | | | | Japanese Grand Prix has alternated hosting duties |
| Declining sales have forced automobile manufactures | | | | between Honda and Toyota. It was slated to be |
| to trim a vast majority of non-crucial spending and | | | | hosted at Toyota's Fuji Speedway in 2010. Due to its |
| investments. A number of professional racing teams, | | | | recent posting of record losses amidst sluggish sales |
| particularly within NASCAR, have some sort of | | | | figures, Toyota recently announced that they had no |
| sponsorship agreement with a major auto | | | | choice but to cancel plans to host the event at Fuji. |
| manufacturer. Most of these companies, particularly in | | | | A spokesman for the Fuji Speedway has said that |
| America, do not feel they are receiving a valuable | | | | they are unsure if another facility will be willing to |
| return on their investments in racing. As standard | | | | host the race. Options to hold the event in another |
| engines types with identical chassis and similar body | | | | country are being explored, but it's starting to seem |
| styles continue to run rampant in professional racing, | | | | that Honda would have step up and take over |
| most of the major automakers fear that the vehicles | | | | hosting duties at its Suzuka Speedway in order to |
| seen on the track do not represent their production | | | | save next year's Japanese Grand Prix. |
| offerings that consumers can find off the track. The | | | | |