Fuller to Drive No. 27 Viagra Pontiac

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 17) -- Pfizer Inc today announced its sponsorship of the ViagraŽ (sildenafil citrate) Racing Team to compete in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, which kicks off with the Daytona 500 this February.

The No. 27 Viagra Pontiac, fielded by Eel River Racing, is part of a comprehensive initiative linking Pfizer with NASCAR fans to raise awareness of men's health issues throughout the coming year. Jeff Fuller, former NASCAR modified champion, making his Winston Cup debut, will drive the blue-and-white Grand Prix in the 34-race series. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This is an unbelievable opportunity," Fuller said. "I'll be competing with the best of the best, and that's every driver's dream. The competition for 'Rookie of theYear' will be rough, and I hope to be among the front runners."

In addition, veteran racers Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Bobby Labonte will participate throughout the upcoming racing season as part of a Men's Health Tune-Up for LifeT program that is created to help educate men and their partners about common medical conditions.

As part of the Men's Health Tune-Up for Life program, Pfizer will conduct on location health screenings for men prior to most Winston Cup races. The Men's Health

Tune-Up for Life Trailer, a specially equipped mobile unit, will be at every racing event using questionaire or simple medical tests to screen for common medical conditions such as high cholesterol, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), depression, hypertension and erectile dysfunction. Educational materials on common health conditions will also be available.

The Men's Health Tune-Up for Life Trailer has the capacity to screen more than 35,000 men during the upcoming racing season. "Everyone knows my interest in leading a healthy lifestyle," said Martin, a 31-time Winston Cup winner. "We want our fans to get out there and get screened, and we'll be encouraging them to take advantage of this program. The best part is that Pfizer's involvement will allow for the screenings to be given at no cost to fans."

Interest in NASCAR has increased substantially in recent years. NASCAR currently is the fastest growing spectator sport in the United States. With annual viewership of more than 100 million, NASCAR ranks second to football in terms of its television audience. Attendance at the Winston Cup, the leading motorsports series, has almost doubled in the last 9 years to an audience of over 6.3 million.

"This recent explosion in interest in NASCAR will help target a broad base of men at a time in their lives when they should be paying attention to their health," Wallace said.

The NASCAR audience is roughly 60 percent male, with half of these men between the ages of 35 and 55. "We know that many men neglect their own health and see health care providers less often than women," said Dr. Craig Donatucci, Associate Professor of Surgery at Duke University Medical School in Durham, N.C. "This is a bold step to remind and encourage men to seek medical consult and treatment for common medical conditions."

Pfizer has been a sponsor of NASCAR teams for several years. Through the company's Consumer Health Care Group, Barbasol shaving cream was a primary sponsor of a Busch Series team beginning in 1996. In addition, Pfizer's Visine eye care products will be the primary sponsor of a Busch Series team fielded by Reiser Enterprises through the 2001 season.

NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, which is the sport's governing body. The Winston Cup racing series begins in February and ends in November.

Pfizer Inc is a research-based global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines for humans and animals. The company reported revenues of more than $13.5 billion in 1998 and expects to spend about $2.8 billion on research and development this year. This year, Pfizer celebrates its 150th anniversary.