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INDY LIGHTS: Jason Bright dominates Milwaukee open test session

3 June 2000

        WEST ALLIS, Wis. (June 2, 2000)  - - Australian Jason Bright
dominated a two-session CART-sanctioned open test day at the Milwaukee Mile
on Thursday, June 1, in preparation for Sunday's second round of the
12-race Dayton Indy Lights Championship.

        Bright repeatedly claimed the lowest lap times among the 19-car
field during each 55-minute midday session on the 1.032-mile oval.
Dorricott Racing teammate Casey Mears, of Bakersfield, Calif., also
consistently improved while finishing fifth fastest in each session.
Townsend Bell, of Costa Mesa, Calif., was ninth fastest after experimenting
with a variety of set-ups throughout the sessions.

        "The car was strong from the start but surprisingly became faster
as the day progressed," said Bright. "We've tried a couple of different
set-ups and each has its merits. However, we think we keyed into the best
set-up for balance and stability. It also helps that the track conditions
are getting better with each lap as more rubber is laid down."

        Weather in southern Wisconsin has been wet and windy for days but
the cloud cover dissipated long enough to run full test sessions under
optimum conditions albeit with high humidity. Temperatures leveled into the
mid-70s soon after noon. 

        Bright ran a first-session quick lap of 0:25.078 = 148.146 mph to
best New Zealander Scott Dixon's second fastest time of 0:25.388 = 146.337
mph. Bright appeared nearly unstoppable during the second session when he
became the only driver of the day to eclipse the 25-second mark with a lap
of 0:24.964 = 148.822 mph. Dixon again was second fastest but lagged
further behind Bright by 0.446-seconds with a lap of 0:25.410 = 146.210
mph.

        "I really enjoy racing on ovals," said Bright. "I was introduced to
oval racing in 1996 when I was in the U.S. running in the Formula Ford 2000
championship. I think only poor luck stood in our way from getting a win
then. Perhaps I can break the spell this weekend."

        Mears steadily improved from his first session best of 0:25.671 =
144.724 mph to 0:25.550 = 145.409 mph in session two.

        "It's moving along but I'm really not happy with where the car is
right now," said Mears. "I wasn't happy with the car last year but we had a
very good race nonetheless. We wasted a day in our earlier testing at
Milwaukee. We used a different set-up and struggled too long on it. I feel
we could be running up with Jason if we hadn't fallen behind so we have to
make better adjustments during Friday practices. The weather will play a
role too. Heat, humidity, and the chance of overnight rains all affect the
track and how the car handles."

        Bell recorded his fastest lap in the first session at 0:25.961 =
143.107. The second period was devoted to trying new set-ups where time was
less a factor than providing better balance and stability through the
corners.

        "I'm still learning the best way to run an Indy Lights car on a
short-oval but we're moving ahead with each lap," said Bell. "We were off a
good pace in testing last week so we have a little catching up to do. We
went a little backwards between the first and second sessions, but we also
gained a lot of knowledge so we have a much better idea of what we have to
do to lower my times." 

        The 100 lap/103.2 mile Indy Lights race is scheduled to drop the
green flag at 12:30 p.m. (central time) and is the primary weekend support
race to the Miller Lite 225 CART FedEx Championship Series race later that
day.