FIGGE BEGINS SEASON WITH SOLID SIXTH PLACE FINISH

MONTERREY, MEXICO (March 23, 2003) –Alex Figge, of Santa Barbara, Calif.,
today finished sixth in Round One of the 2003 CART Toyota Atlantic
Championship at Fundidora Park.

Under hot and sunny conditions, the 16-car CART Toyota Atlantic field took
to the track for the opening round of the 2003 season early Sunday morning.
Following five pace laps, increased from one after a car went off-course,
the green flag waved to start the race. Getting a superb start, Figge moved
up several positions heading into the hairpin turn. With the field bunched
together, Figge got boxed in, losing the majority of the positions he had
gained at the start. At the conclusion of the opening lap, Figge, driving
the No. 69 Pacific Coast Motorsports/Patrick Racing Toyota Swift 0.14a, was
in seventh position. While applying pressure to the car in front, Figge
remained in seventh place for the first seven laps. On lap eight, Figge
inherited sixth place as Joey Hand went wide, losing several positions. As
the race progressed, Figge continuously pressured Aaron Justus in fifth
place, while steadily posting faster laps. On lap 17, Figge encountered
lapped traffic, which allowed Justus to build a sizeable gap. For the
remainder of the race, Figge drove consistent clean laps. At the checkered
flag, Figge finished sixth, setting the fourth fastest lap of the race,
1:25.240 (88.860 mph). The sixth place finish is a career best
season-opening finish and significantly betters the 11th place finish scored
last year in Monterrey. Winning the race was Michael Valiante, who led all
but the opening three laps.

"This is a good way begin the season," said Figge. "I got a great start and
was in position to move up the grid until we got to the hairpin, where I got
boxed in. By the middle of the race I had a really fast car, unfortunately I
lost some time in lapped traffic and never got the yellow I would have
liked. I'm looking forward to building on this solid start at my hometown
race, Long Beach."

Round Two of the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship takes place at Long
Beach, Calif., April 13, 2003.