ZETEC CHAMPIONSHIP ALUMNI DUO MAKE DEBUT AT MICHIGAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ZETEC CHAMPIONSHIP ALUMNI DUO MAKE DEBUT AT MICHIGAN

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (July 25, 2002) -Former Formula Ford 2000 Zetec
Championship drivers Ryan Hampton and Buddy Rice recently announced they
will be making their debuts in the Infiniti Pro Series and the Indy Racing
League respectively at Michigan International Speedway this coming weekend.

Rice has signed on with Red Bull Cheever Racing to race on the 2-mile high
banked oval. Rice joins the team, having previously passed his IRL rookie
test and acted as a test driver with the Indianapolis team. Currently, Rice
is scheduled only to race at Michigan, expanding the team from two cars to
three cars for the 400 mile race. Rice becomes the fifth former Zetec
Championship driver entered in the Michigan 400, joining current IRL
Champion Sam Hornish Jr., former IRL Champion Greg Ray and the most recent
IRL race winner, Alex Barron.

"This is an excellent opportunity," said Rice. "Red Bull Cheever Racing is
one of the top teams in the IRL, and they’ve been fast all year. Red Bull
has been very supportive of my career since 1998 when they signed me as one
of their athletes. This is really what we have all been working so hard to
achieve."

With the creation of a new team, Hampton will begin contesting the newly
formed Infini Pro Series full-time in the high-speed oval. The third race in
the Pro Series will mark Hampton's return to the race seat, having
previously capturing the Grand American Road Racing SRPII Championship in
2000 and being named the Road To Indy Oval Crown Championship Rookie of the
Year in the Zetec Championship in 1997. Hampton joins fellow Zetec
Championship alumni Arie Luyendyk Jr., Rolando Quintanilla and Corey
Witherill in the Infiniti Pro Series.

"This is basically a conglomeration of people coming together to make a lot
happen in a very short amount of time," said Hampton. "Since we are getting
a late start, the championship will probably not be in our sight, but we
just want to get as many wins and the best finishes we possibly can."

The Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship season continues with Rounds Nine
and Ten at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 10-11, as part of the CART
Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio weekend.

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Allan Craighead
Director of Public Relations
Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship
3608 Morris St. North
St. Petersburg, Fla. 33713
727-522-7544
303-883-8521 Cell
www.usf2000.com