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CART: 'Inside CART' TV show to make its debut on ESPN2

23 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DETROIT - 'Inside CART,' a magazine-style television show offering a behind-the-scenes look at the stories and personalities that make up the CART FedEx Championship Series, makes its season debut tomorrow on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

'Inside CART,' which aired on another network during the 1997 and '98 seasons, was not broadcast in 1999. The 30-minute program begins the new season Tuesday, with 25 shows scheduled on ESPN2 through the end of the 2000 season.

"We're very excited to begin a new affiliation with ESPN2," said CART Vice President of Broadcasting Keith Allo, who serves as executive producer of 'Inside CART.' "It's a natural fit for the show to be aired on ESPN2, because so many fans follow racing on that network. It also provides us with great opportunities for cross-promotion with the rest of CART's network family, ESPN and ABC."

Tomorrow evening's season-debut, shot on location a few weeks ago at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, will feature a review of the 1999 FedEx Championship Series season, an overview of the first four races of the 2000 campaign and a profile of Team KOOL Green driver Paul Tracy, the winner at Long Beach and the current series points leader.

The inaugural 2000 'Inside CART' broadcast also will feature a technical segment examining the four engine manufacturers that compete in the FedEx Championship Series. CART's Dayton Indy Lights and Toyota Atlantic Championships will be profiled on Tuesday's show as well.

'Inside CART' is co-hosted this season by Chris Miles and Michelle Garforth. Miles, who also hosted the show during the 1998 season, owns his own company, Starting Grid, dedicated to the advancement of minorities in auto racing. Garforth, a native of South Africa, has served as both host and producer on several national entertainment and travel programs broadcast in the U.S. and abroad.

Veteran Detroit-area broadcaster Larry Henry, who also works for the CART Radio Network, will do feature reporting for 'Inside CART' along with professional-racecar-driver-turned-racing-broadcaster Bill Adam, from Canada.

'Inside CART' will air in the 6-6:30 p.m. ET time slot for 16 weeks during the 2000 season and will be broadcast for nine weeks in the 5:30-6 p.m. ET slot on ESPN2.

"We believe that 'Inside CART' will be a great compliment to both ESPN's and ABC's coverage of CART racing," said Burke Magnus, Director of Motorsports programming for ESPN. "We're very excited to see CART take this initiative to promote their sport and expand their fan base."

Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (NYSE: MPH) owns, operates and markets the FedEx Championship Series, which, in 1999, was comprised of 20 races in five countries on four continents. Champions Juan Montoya, Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser are among the drivers who battle for the series title on oval circuits as well as temporary and permanent road courses. CART also owns and operates its top two development series -- the Dayton Indy Lights Championship and the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at www.cart.com.

Text provided by Ron Richards

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.