TICKETS GO ON SALE TUESDAY FOR THE MARCONI GRAND PRIX OF CLEVELAN D PRESENTED BY FIRSTAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Bidlack, (614) 793-4619, sbidlack@midohio.com TICKETS GO ON SALE TUESDAY FOR THE MARCONI GRAND PRIX OF CLEVELAND PRESENTED BY FIRSTAR CLEVELAND (April 15, 2002) - IMG Motorsports and Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. announced today that tickets to the 2002 Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar will go on sale to the public Tuesday, April 16, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The 21st annual Grand Prix, part of the CART FedEx Championship Series, is scheduled to take place at Burke Lakefront Airport July 12-14. "We are pleased to announce that due to feedback from our dedicated race fans, we have introduced several new and innovative ticket options. These include the adoption of a three-tier pricing structure for grandstand seating and the creation of the Grand Prix Club," said Bud Stanner, President of IMG Motorsports. "Several competition rule changes have also been implemented by CART to enhance the action on the racetrack including a return to Friday qualifying, an emphasis on green flag finishes, and an effort to minimize the role that 'fuel economy runs' will play in the upcoming Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar. These changes will maintain the tradition of the 'roar by the shore' and ensure an even more exciting Grand Prix for spectators." Grandstand tickets are valid for admission all three days of the race weekend and range from $35 to $120. General Admission Standing Room Only tickets are available for individual days and are priced $5 to $20. Pit and Paddock, Paddock Only, and Camper passes are also available. New for 2002, race fans can enhance their race weekend experience by joining the Grand Prix Club, which includes hospitality on Saturday and Sunday, a reserved parking pass, race program, and a commemorative gift. Children 12 and under receive free general admission access when accompanied by an adult holding a General Admission ticket. Groups of 20 or more are eligible for a 10 percent discount on ticket purchases. Special discounts are also being offered to CART Winners Circle Fan Club, Society of Automotive Engineers, and Team Ford Racing members. Race fans have four easy ways to purchase tickets: * Call the Grand Prix ticket office at (800) 498-RACE * Call Ticketmaster at (216) 241-5555 or visit any Ticketmaster outlet * Fax a completed order form to (216) 522-1145 * Mail a completed order form to IMG Motorsports Cleveland Inc. Ticket Office at IMG Center, Suite 100, 1360 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114-1782 This year's Champ Car race will feature two former race winners, Michael Andretti (1991) and Dario Franchitti (2001). Other top drivers scheduled to compete include Kenny Brack, Cristiano da Matta, Jimmy Vasser, Paul Tracy, Adrian Fernandez, Max Papis, Tony Kanaan, Patrick Carpentier and others. The Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar is round nine on the 2002 FedEx Championship Series schedule, and the race will air live July 14 on CBS-TV, 1:30 p.m. EDT. In addition to action from the CART FedEx Championship Series, the weekend schedule features the Trans-Am Series, CART Toyota Atlantic Championship and Barber Dodge Pro Series. Highlighting some of the unique fan activities happening off the racetrack are the CART Fan Forum on Friday and the CART All-Driver Autograph Session on Saturday. On February 28, 2002, officials from CART and IMG Motorsports jointly announced a co-promoter partnership for the Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar. This business relationship is the first of its kind for CART with an existing race. The Grand Prix is the largest annual special event for the City of Cleveland. Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. owns, operates and markets the CART FedEx Championship Series. Former series champions Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser are among the stars who will battle for the 2002 FedEx Championship Series title on ovals, temporary street circuits and permanent road courses. CART Champ Cars are thoroughbred racing machines that travel at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, showcasing the technical expertise of manufacturers such as American Honda, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, Lola Cars, Reynard Motorsport, and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC. The 20-race 2002 CART FedEx Championship Series will be broadcast by new television partners, CBS, FOX, and SPEED Channel. CART also owns and operates its top development series, the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship. Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at www.cart.com. -30- <<Tickets Sale Release.doc>>