WHELDON LINING UP 13th IN KANSAS

        KANSAS CITY, Kan. (July 5, 2003) – Rookie Dan Wheldon posted the fourth
fastest time in the final practice before qualifying today, but fell short of reproducing that
run and will start 13th in the Kansas Indy 300 Sunday at Kansas Speedway.  Wheldon
lapped the 1.5-mile oval at 214.888 miles per hour.
        Wheldon simulated qualifying runs in the 30-minute practice session prior to
qualifying and was pleased with the car.  After recording speeds over 216 miles per hour
in the session, the team made a few minor changes before qualifying, but the
adjustments unfortunately did not improve Wheldon’s chances for a top-five starting
spot.
        Scott Dixon won his second straight MBNA Pole Award and his third this season.
Dixon set the pole speed at 218.085 miles per hour.  His Chip Ganassi Racing
teammate Tomas Scheckter was the quickest second quickest in today’s qualifying,
logging a best lap at 217.892 miles per hour.  Tora Takagi will start third after his lap of
217.538 miles per hour.  Wheldon’s teammate Tony Kanaan will start eighth with speed
of 215.585 miles per hour.  Bryan Herta posted the 11th fastest speed at 215.154 miles
per hour.
        The 200-lap Kansas Indy 300 will air live on ABC Sports at 1 p.m. EDT tomorrow.

Dan Wheldon, #26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone
        "My run was disappointing; I really thought we could get a lot more out of it.
Kansas is one of these tracks where you are flat out so you need to make sure you have
the least amount of drag without the car sliding.  We just struggled this afternoon.  The
Klein Tools/Jim Beam car was really good this morning and we should be quick in the
race."

                                         Qualifying
                       Position                 10th
                       Speed                    216.107 mph
                       Time                     25.3208 seconds
                       Total Laps               81

Tony Cotman, Klein Tools/Jim Beam Team Manager
        “Qualifying was extremely disappointing for us.  I think we are going to have to
mix up our strategy for the race because I don’t see a lot of cars being able to make
passes out there.  We have a really good race car and the goal is to be able to run well
in traffic, but passing is very difficult. These cars are running so close together everyone
is very equal.”