I give you Tux 500: A Community Powered Linux Marketing Program.

"Our goal is simple: we want to collect community donations to enter a Linux sponsored car in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. We need your help!"

This is the dumbest, and subsequently desperate, idea I've heard. Only a reclusive basement dwelling Linux fanatic could dream up such daft "marketing" ideas.

Where to start?

First, even if this project succeeds in achieving primary sponsorship, the number on this car should be ZERO, because that's the amount of impact this ploy will have on the public. Neither TV viewers nor spectators watching the event will know what the hell Linux is. I mean, seriously... are you guys really this clueless? To think that sponsoring an Indy race car will somehow promote Linux adoption? Reality: The viewers will assume Linux to be some yet unheard of corporate sponsor. "Linux? What's that? Is that the company that make furnaces?"

Don't count on race car fans all over North America rushing to DesktopLinux.org to download a copy of Ubuntu, upon seeing this Penguin adorned car. Not happening.

Second, what I find even more pathetic (and disturbing) is the vast sum of money wasted that could have gone to a worthy endeavor. I'm sure a number of charities could put this money to good use, engaged in something that will impact lives. Like..oh, I don't know.. feeding the impoverished, providing shelter for the homeless, Cancer research, etc.

Nuts to that! Let's waste thousands of dollars sponsoring a fucking race car in a redneck motor sport. If this is the only path to Linux success, both the OS and the car deserve to crash in a fiery wreck.