Trans-Am Series "Thunders" down Pine Avenue

CONTACT: Justin Anderson
(704) 348-9400
Cell: (517) 927-3614
Fax: (704) 348-9444

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2003

TRANS-AM SERIES ³THUNDERS² DOWN PINE AVENUE

LONG BEACH, Calif. ‹ Pine Avenue will hear more than its share of V-8
thunder Thursday, April 11, as the drivers and cars from the Trans-Am Series
for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup will take part in ³Thursday Thunder on Pine.²
The event, which runs from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Pine Ave. between Broadway and
Third Ave. is free and open to the public. It¹s being staged by the Downtown
Long Beach Associates as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
weekend.

Among the cars scheduled to be displayed is the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance
XKR, which Scott Pruett drove to victory in the 2003 Trans-Am Series season
opener at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Also being shown is the No. 3
Jaguar R Performance XKR of three-time Drivers¹ Champion and defending Long
Beach winner Paul Gentilozzi, which is sporting a new bright-red color
scheme. The No. 2 Trenton Forging/GMAC Commercial Finance Chevrolet Corvette
of Stu Hayner and the No. 12 Trans-Am Tools by ProQuest Jaguar XKR of
Michael Lewis round out the cars on display.

Drivers are scheduled to sign autographs between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Drivers expected to attend include Gentilozzi, as well as former Long Beach
winners Pruett and Hollywood resident Tomy Drissi. Other drivers include
Johnny Miller, Lewis, Hayner from nearby Yorba Linda, Calif., and others.

Other attractions during the event include appearances by the stars of
acclaimed reality television show ³American Idol,² a show car from the Champ
Car World Series, and live music.

The Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup features closed-fendered,
production-based, V-8-powered sports cars. The Trans-Am Series is America¹s
oldest continuously running sports car racing series and celebrates its 38th
anniversary in 2003.

The next Trans-Am Series race is scheduled for April 13, during the Toyota
Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. The race will air on a same-day,
tape-delayed basis on SPEED Channel at 9 p.m. ET.

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