Motegi IRL Results - Sharp Takes Flag

Contact: Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
GM Racing Communications
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Sam Brings Chevy Home in Sixth at Twin Ring Motegi

    MOTEGI, Japan, April 13, 2003 - The Indy Racing League's first
overseas race saw Sam Hornish Jr. finish sixth in the inaugural Japan Indy
300 with Panther Racing's Chevrolet Dallara. Robbie Buhl was tenth across
the stripe in Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Chevrolet Dallara to give the 2003
Chevy Indy V8 two top-10 finishes in the accident-filled event. Scott Sharp
won under caution in Kelley Racing's Toyota Dallara.

    "I don't think we had a strong enough car to win, but we had a good
enough car to be in the top three," said Hornish, who started 13th in the
24-car field after qualifying was rained out. "The day was pretty good and
it was fun to pass people.

    "I wish there had been less yellows and more green-flag runs,"
Hornish continued. "We worked our way up through the field and the longer
the runs were, the better off we were. The unfortunate break was that every
time we pitted under green, the yellow flag would come out two laps later
and we'd go a lap down. Then we'd have to work hard to get it back. With
the way guys were crashing, in another 50 laps we might have won the whole
thing."

    The race was slowed nine times by caution periods that involved 13
cars and totaled 64 laps under yellow-flag conditions.

    "Naturally we are concerned about all of the drivers who were involved
in accidents today, and we hope there were no serious injuries," said GM
Racing Group Manager Joe Negri. "Sam's sixth-place finish does not
accurately reflect the outstanding performance of the Pennzoil Panther team
today because the timing of the caution periods worked against them. Our
focus is now on the Indianapolis 500, and we will continue to work hard and
make improvements in the Chevy Indy V8's performance."

    Robbie Buhl overcame an early electrical problem and handling
difficulties to score a top-10 finish in his Purex/Aventis/Dreyer &
Reinbold Chevrolet Dallara.

    "I was happy with the car early on, and then it went to being
pointy, which is the sense we've had from the car a lot," said Buhl. "I'm
frustrated with the balance of my race car, and we just have to keep
working."

    Buddy Rice encountered transmission problems and finished 13th after
the Red Bull Cheever Racing crew replaced the gearset in his Chevrolet
Dallara. Chevy drivers Sarah Fisher and Jaques Lazier were sidelined in
accidents; Fisher was unhurt, and Lazier was examined and released.

    "We're putting the car back on the trailer with four wheels again,
but it's been a struggle today," said Rice. "We don't understand the
gearbox problem; it's got a gremlin in it. It helps that we got some points
on guys who fell out, and that's going to help in the long run.

    "We have to keep working and make something happen by the end of
the year," Rice added. "We're not even 25 percent of the way through the
season, and we have a lot of work to do."

    Sarah Fisher was credited with a 23rd place finish in Dreyer &
Reinbold Racing's Chevrolet Dallara after contact with Shigeaki Hattori on
the 35th lap.

    "It's a shame our day had to end so early," said Sarah. "I had a good
race car and we were just getting into our race pace. We were starting to
pick off the cars in front when I came to Shiggy and was right alongside of
him to pass. He came down on me. I'm just really disappointed to be on the
sidelines watching when I could be out here racing."

    Practice for the Indy 500 will begin on May 4, with Pole Day on May 10
and the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on May 25.

RACE SUMMARY
Track: Twin Ring Motegi, 1.5-mile oval
Winner: Scott Sharp, Kelley Racing Toyota Dallara
Margin of Victory: Under caution
Average Speed: 129.090 mph
Pole: Scott Dixon/Toyota, 206.996 mph (qualifying cancelled due to
rain, starting grid set by practice speeds)
Fastest Lap: Tomas Scheckter/Toyota, 201.936 mph

RESULTS
Pos./Driver/Engine/Laps
1. Scott Sharp/Toyota, 200
2. Kenny Brack/Honda, 200
3. Felipe Giaffone/Toyota, 200
4. Michael Andretti/Honda, 200
5. Al Unser Jr./Toyota, 200
6. Sam Hornish Jr./Chevrolet, 199
7. Dan Wheldon/Honda, 198
8. Tora Takagi/Toyota, 198
9. Greg Ray/Honda, 197
10. Robbie Buhl/Chevrolet, 192

12. Jaques Lazier/Chevrolet, 190
13. Buddy Rice/Chevrolet, 181
19. Buddy Lazier/Chevrolet, 63
23. Sarah Fisher/Chevrolet, 35
24. Scott Mayer/Chevrolet, 8

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after 3 of 16 events)
Driver/Engine/Points (victories in parentheses)
1. Scott Sharp/Toyota, 106 (1)
2. Tony Kanaan/Honda, 102 (1)
3. Felipe Giaffone/Toyota, 92
4. Kenny Brack/Honda, 89
5. Helio Castroneves/Toyota, 83

Manufacturer/Points (victories in parentheses)
1. Toyota, 27 (2)
   Honda, 24 (1)
3. Chevrolet, 15

NEXT EVENT
May 25, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
TV: ABC, 11 a.m. Eastern

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 13-Apr-2003