ATHERTON TO ADDRESS SAE INTERNATIONAL'S GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY MEETINGS IN D.C.

Braselton, GA. January 30, 2009: Scott Atherton will be the featured speaker and give the Opening Address at the SAE International's Government Industry Meeting breakfast on Wednesday

Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series, will be the featured speaker and give the Opening Address in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, February 4 at the SAE International's Government Industry Meeting breakfast. Atherton's address will focus on the cooperative efforts of the American Le Mans Series with government agencies, SAE International and the automobile industry to develop alternative fuel solutions and new automotive technologies to create more fuel-efficient vehicles and reduce harmful emissions.

The American Le Mans Series, in which all race cars compete with various types of alternative fuels or energy sources - clean sulfur-free diesel, E10, cellulosic E85 ethanol or gas-electric hybrid - has become recognized as the global leader of green racing. The Series has been praised by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy for its commitment to innovation and cooperation with automobile manufactures to utilize auto racing to accelerate solutions for some of the world's most pressing energy and environmental challenges. The American Le Mans Series encourages auto manufacturers to develop race technologies that ultimately transfer to the production cars of tomorrow.

"Motorsports is an excellent avenue to educate the public about alternative fuels and the newest technologies available," said David L. Schutt, PhD, executive vice president and chief operating officer for SAE International. "It truly is a global sport, and that global aspect makes it a key component as the automotive industry seeks to balance transportation needs with energy concerns. We at SAE International consider our partnership with the American Le Mans Series to be an important part of that process, and we are pleased to help move this initiative forward."

Last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy in concert with SAE International created the Green Challenge Award which was given to two race teams - a prototype and GT class competitor - that demonstrated the best overall on-track performance along with superior fuel efficiency while creating the least environmental impact. The worldwide debut of the Green Challenge occurred in October 2008 at Road Atlanta's Petit Le Mans, the Series' 1,000 mile signature race. Corvette Racing, using cellulosic E85 ethanol, won the Green Challenge award among GT class entries while Penske Racing's Porsche RS Porsche Spyder captured honors among the prototypes using E10 with an innovative and very fuel efficient direct fuel injection system.

The breakfast, slated for 8:15 a.m. at the Washington Convention Center, will also see the presentation of the InterRegs Award and Barry D. McNutt Award. The InterRegs Award annually recognizes a practicing engineer under the age of 40 who is involved in standards, regulations or conformity assessment systems which improved safety or reduced emissions in a ground vehicle mobility product. The Barry D. McNutt award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of improved federal automotive policy.