Northern Light IRL: Infiniit Grand Prix of Miami Preview

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 4, 2001

INFINITI GRAND PRIX OF MIAMI PRESENTED BY 123.COM AMERICATEL

EVENT HAPPENINGS

MIAMI, Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - Event happenings leading up to and during the Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel on April 6-8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway:

SCHEDULE:

The Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel starts at 2 p.m. (EDT) April 8. MBNA Pole Qualifying starts at noon April 7.

Practice sessions start at 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 6, and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. April 7.

***

ON THE AIR:

The Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel will be televised live on ABC at 2 p.m. (EDT) April 8. "Indy Racing 2Day" will be televised live at 10:30 a.m. April 8 on ESPN2.

ESPN2 will televise MBNA Pole qualifying at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) April 7.

The Indy Racing Radio Network will broadcast a 30-minute pre-race show at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) April 8, followed by the live race broadcast at 2 p.m. A qualifying wrap-up show will be broadcast at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) April 7.

The area IRRN affiliate is WINZ-AM 940, Miami.

The IRRN race broadcast also will be available live on the Internet at www.indyracing.com as part of a partnership between Indy Racing Online and Yahoo!/broadcast.com, the world's leading Web broadcast site.

***

TICKETS:

Tickets for the Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel are available by calling Homestead-Miami Speedway (305)-230-7223, at Ticketmaster Ticket Centers or online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com .

***

NICE DEAL:

Tickets for the Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel begin at $10 for Friday and $20 for Saturday, with reserved Sunday grandstand seats ranging from $25 to $45.

A full weekend pass, which includes paddock access and a Sunday grandstand seat, costs $70. Children 12 and under are free Friday and Saturday, while reserved seats for youth 18 and under are $15 on Sunday. Parking is free all weekend.

***

HONORARY STARTER:

Don Francisco, celebrated host of the popular show "Sabado Gigante" and spokesperson for 123.com, has been named Honorary Starter of the Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel. Francisco will wave the green flag for the 300-mile event.

***

HALL OF FAME GRAND MARSHAL:

Nick Buoniconti, the first Miami Dolphins defensive player to be elected into the NFL Hall of Fame, will be the Grand Marshal for the Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel. Buoniconti will give the command "Drivers, start your engines."

Buoniconti led the "No Name" defense that carried the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowls (1972-74). He had an interception that helped key the Dolphins' 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, capping the only perfect season in NFL history. The Dolphins also won Super Bowl VIII over the Minnesota Vikings.

***

MORE FOOTBALL:

Fans will have the opportunity to meet Buoniconti and fellow Hall of Fame member Dwight Stephenson along with several other former Miami Dolphins' players in an autograph session before the start of the race April 8.

Stephenson and Buoniconti will be joined by Bob Kuechenberg, Mercury Morris, Bob Brudzinski, Eric Laakso, Glenn Blackwood, Joe Rose and Ed Newman in the session, which will be held at Victory Lane, behind the main grandstand, from 11- 11:45 a.m. on Sunday.

***

AL MAKES HIS PITCH:

Indy Racing Northern Light Series standout Al Unser Jr. will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Atlanta Braves-Florida Marlins baseball game April 7 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The game starts at 7:05 p.m.

***

SIGN HERE PLEASE:

An autograph session with Indy Racing drivers will take place Saturday, April 7 in the paddock area from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The session is free of charge.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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