Chevy IRL Pikes Peak Qualifying

Contact: Rick Voegelin
rickvoegelin@compuserve.com
GM Racing Communications
(831) 761-2201
http://media.gm.com/gmracing


Rain Cancels Pikes Peak IRL Qualifying; Hornish Top Chevy Seed on
Practice Speed

    FOUNTAIN, Colo., June 14, 2003 - A booming thunderstorm that
rolled through the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains forced cancellation
of qualifying for Sunday's Pikes Peak Indy 225 at Pikes Peak
International Raceway. Per IRL rules, the starting grid was determined by
the best times recorded in the two practice sessions completed before the
rain arrived.

    Six of the 22 starters will use Chevrolet engines, led by Sam Hornish
Jr. who will start 14th in Pennzoil Panther Racing's Chevrolet Dallara.
Hornish circled the 1-mile oval at 175.721 mph.

    Buddy Rice will start 16th in Red Bull Cheever Racing's Chevrolet
Dallara after turning a lap at 173.829 mph in practice. Buddy Lazier is
17th (173.435 mph), Robbie Buhl is 18th (173.014 mph), Sarah Fisher is 19th
(173.010 mph) and Vitor Meira will start from the 22nd spot (172.000 mph).

    "We're pretty happy today with our new Chevrolet engine package and
also with our 16th place qualification," said Rice, who is using a Chevy
Indy V8 prepared by Speedway Engine Development and VDS Engines this
weekend. "This one-mile track is similar to Phoenix, so we're hoping for a
solid race and another good run for the Red Bull Cheever Racing Team."

    The Pikes Peak Indy 225 will start at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June
15. The 225-lap, 225-mile race will be televised live on ABC and broadcast
on the IMS Radio Network.

PIKES PEAK INDY 225 QUALIFYING SUMMARY (based on practice speeds):
Pos./Driver/Engine/Speed
1. Tony Kanaan, Honda, 180.232 mph
2. Helio Castroneves, Toyota, 179.800
3. Felipe Giaffone, Toyota, 179.303
4. Gil de Ferran, Toyota, 179.251
5. Tora Takagi, Toyota, 179.084

14. Sam Hornish Jr., Chevrolet, 175.721
16. Buddy Rice, Chevrolet, 173.829
17. Buddy Lazier, Chevrolet, 173.435
18. Robbie Buhl, Chevrolet, 173.014
19. Sarah Fisher, Chevrolet, 173.010
22. Vitor Meira, Chevrolet, 172.000

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  E-mail from: Rick Voegelin, 14-Jun-2003