First-Ever Auto Racing Event in High-Definition TV

    INDIANAPOLIS & DALLAS--(BW SportsWire)--July 9, 2002--HDNet and CART announced they are teaming to deliver the first-ever high definition television broadcast of live auto racing action with this weekend's qualifying sessions for the Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank, which is Round Nine of the CART FedEx Championship Series.
    The cutting-edge technology of HDTV meets auto racing in the high-tech world of CART as HDNet, in conjunction with CART broadcast partner SPEED Channel, will broadcast the Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions from Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport course on its all high-definition network, which is available on DIRECTV channel 199. The Friday session will be shown on a tape-delayed basis at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, with Saturday's final qualifying airing live at 1:30 p.m. ET. The HD broadcasts will be produced using HDNet's HD mobile production units, cameras and crew, along with SPEED Channel's graphics and announcers.
    "Fans of CART racing are the perfect audience for high definition TV, so we are pleased to enter into this relationship with CART," said Mark Cuban, co-founder and president of HDNet. "HDNet is proud to bring this high-speed action to HDTV viewers, as we continue to set the standard for quality sports, news and entertainment programming."
    "We are proud that the people at HDNet have chosen the CART FedEx Championship Series as the first racing series to showcase their technology," said CART Vice-President of Marketing Steve Fusek. "It says a lot for our upscale fans and their willingness to embrace new technology, that HDNet decided that we were the perfect fit for them. We are pleased to add the sharp digital picture and widescreen viewing of HDNet's high definition broadcasting to our outstanding SPEED Channel standard definition production."

    About CART

    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.

    About HDNet

    HDNet, (www.hd.net), the leader in high definition broadcasting, produces and televises more hours of HDTV programming each week than any other network. Available on DIRECTV channel 199, HDNet broadcasts a full schedule of sports, entertainment and news programming. Featured programming includes live Major League Baseball and National Hockey League games, NBC's HDTV coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and the Triple Crown, and the first-ever HDTV war-zone reports. Co-founded by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, HDNet is available at no extra charge to all DIRECTV customers with an HDTV set, receiver, and elliptical dish.