This Year's Grand Prix of Denver will Rewrite History

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 25, 2003

THIS YEAR¹S GRAND PRIX OF DENVER WILL REWRITE HISTORY

DENVER ‹ This year¹s Grand Prix of Denver, Round 9 of the 2003 Trans-Am
Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup championship, will definitely be one to
remember. The race, part of the Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver
weekend, will feature the return of defending champion Boris Said and could
be the spot Scott Pruett puts the final exclamation point on his
near-perfect season by clinching the championship.

The Trans-Am Series has raced three times on the streets of Denver.
Four-time Trans-Am champion Tommy Kendall won the inaugural event in 1990,
while Irv Hoerr finished first the following year. After a 10-year hiatus,
America¹s oldest continuously running road racing series returned to the
streets for Denver to a brand-new circuit. Said dominated that event,
leading 59 of 61 laps en route to one of his eight 2002 victories, and the
championship, his first in Trans-Am competition.

³Last year, the Trans-Am Series went out there and put on a great show for
the folks in Denver,² said Said, who will drive the No. 33 ACS/GE Access/Sun
Microsystems Ford Mustang. ³Temporary street courses are entirely different
from the road courses we run; they are narrow, without any run-off areas and
generally, there are few overtaking areas.

³With the improvements made to the circuit, it should be even better this
time,² added Said, who has competed in three Trans-Am Series races this
season, finishing second at St. Petersburg, winning at Long Beach, and
earning a runner-up finish at Infineon Raceway. ³I am anxious to get out
there and repeat our performance."
Meanwhile, Scott Pruett could sew up his third Trans-Am Series Drivers¹
Championship this weekend. The driver of the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR,
who won his previous titles in 1987 and 1994, has had a dream season this
year. Pruett has won six of eight races this year, and won six poles.
Leading the standings coming into Denver, Pruett could mathematically clinch
the title.

Yet, the Denver event could prove a daunting task for the veteran racer, as
he¹s never turned a lap of the 1.647-mile, nine-turn street circuit.

 ³I don¹t know anything about it,² said Pruett, who leads teammate Johnny
Miller in the title chase by 44 points. ³I¹ve been there for TV; I was a
commentator during last year¹s Champ Car World Series race here. I hear it¹s
a tight, rough circuit, but other than that, I don¹t know quite what to
expect.

³At Denver, we¹ll be focusing on having a good, consistent car and getting
the most out of it,² added Pruett, who returned to the Trans-Am Series this
year after an eight-year hiatus, during which he competed in the Champ Car
World Series and NASCAR. ³I haven¹t been here in the past, but the team has,
so I¹ll be looking at their knowledge, as well as what we¹ve been doing this
year. We¹ll make our best guess in the first practice, and we¹ll go from
there.²

Pruett, however, said the philosophy he adopted early this season hasn¹t
changed. Pruett decided early on to concentrate on racing, and let the
championship take care of itself.

³We¹re focusing on each race, and not necessarily on the championship,² said
Pruett. ³In my championship runs in the past, when I kept my head down and
kept focused on the job at hand, things always turned out better, instead of
laying back and looking at the points picture. You can¹t do that. It¹s too
easy to get caught up in thinking about the points race, instead of
concentrating on what you¹re doing on the race track. I¹ll just think about
what I need to do on the track, and look at the points after the race.²

However, if Miller has anything to do with it, he¹ll be the one in the hunt
for the title. Miller, who drives the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR,
is seeking his first Series championship this season, one of his best on
record. Miller, who sits second in points, earned his second Series victory
this year at Lime Rock, after winning the pole, and finished second in the
most recent round at Road America. This year, Miller has six podium finishes
in eight starts. However, Miller hopes the bad luck he encountered at
Infineon Raceway and the Cleveland Grand Prix won¹t end his hopes for his
first Drivers¹ Championship.

³We really struggled last year with the pavement changes at Denver,² said
Miller of his sixth-place finish last season. ³It was really a difficult
race. I had a power-steering failure during the race. Last year doesn¹t
bring back fond memories as far as the race goes.

³However, the town and the event are just incredible,² added Miller. ³The
track is right in downtown, making for an air of excitement. It was really a
first-class race and I¹m really looking forward to having another shot to do
well here.

³This, being a big event, will have me pumped up,² concluded Miller. ³That
will definitely be a boost for me.²

Yet, last year¹s results might have been quite different. Stu Hayner, who
finished third last year, timed first in qualifying but started sixth due to
a technical infraction. This year, Hayner, driver of the No. 2 Trenton
Forging/GMAC Commercial Finance Chevrolet Corvette, will definitely be in
contention.

"I'm optimistic we can pick up were we left off in Denver,² said Hayner.
³This track owes me one. Last year, we were so fast here. I liked the
varying surface of the track...it was challenging and we had it figured out.
I'm not sure if there are any changes to the course, but our shock package
for 2002 was spot on. If we can recreate it, we'll be tough.

³It was a fun track,² he added. ³Had it not been for being put back at the
start, the race was ours. We were pleased to get back up to third, and we're
going to be on a mission here this year."

But the veterans will have to keep on eye on this year¹s rookie crop as
Bobby Sak, Joey Scarallo and current rookie points leader Jorge Diaz, Jr.
are all seeking to make their mark in Trans-Am Series history. Sak, whose
best finish this season of second came at Lime Rock Park, is looking to
unseat Diaz at the front of the rookie battle.

"I'm not sure what to expect here,² said Sak, who drives the No. 10
Revolution Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette. ³I like street courses, but they
haven't been really good to me. I'm going to be picking (teammate) Hayner¹s
brain, that's for sure. He ran extremely well at Denver. He had the fastest
car all weekend long. I guess I'll have to buy him dinner to find out his
secret. It's a great town and a great event. I think we'll have something
for the Jags here."

Meanwhile, Diaz has little experience at tracks on this year¹s schedule,
including Denver. In fact, of the 10 scheduled venues this season, Diaz has
only previously competed at one‹Cleveland.

³I don¹t feel different going into all of these are new tracks. I¹ve never
raced on any of them,² said Diaz, who could clinch the Rookie of the Year
Championship here. ³I look at that in a positive way. I¹m always learning
something new. I¹m in my learning curve, and that¹s the best place to be.²

Justin Bell will return to the wheel of the No. 59 Ultama Swimwear Chevrolet
Corvette here, after making his debut in the car at Road America last
weekend. The 2001 Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year is filling in for Simon
Gregg, who is recovering from minor elective surgery. In 19 career Trans-Am
starts, Bell has two victories, seven podiums, nine top-five and 14 top-10
finishes. 

³A street circuit falls into my hands,² said Bell of Denver. ³Street
circuits really suit my driving style, as I¹ve shown. At the same time, it¹s
easier to come in this late in the season, as street circuits are really the
great equalizers.²

In addition, 1978 champion Greg Pickett will take on fellow Series veterans
Mike Davis, Michael Lewis, Tomy Drissi, Randy Ruhlman, John Baucom, Bob
Ruman, Tim Cowen and Max Lagod. Margraf Racing¹s George Nolte, Marvin Jones
and Rick Lee are also returning, as is Glen Andrew. Wayne Hartzler, from
Colorado Springs, will represent the home crowd here.

Although Denver is relatively new to the Trans-Am Series, it is certainly in
position to become part of the Trans-Am Series legend. With returning
champions, a host of seasoned veterans, and a talented rookie crop, all
racing on Denver¹s tight downtown street course, this year¹s race will
definitely be one to watch.

The Grand Prix of Denver, Round 9 of the 2003 Trans-Am Series championship,
is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, immediately following
the Champ Car World Series race. The race will air on tape-delayed basis
Monday, Sept. 1 at 1:30 p.m. on SPEED Channel. The Trans-Am Series,
America¹s oldest continuously running road racing series, is celebrating its
38th anniversary this year.

Fast Facts:
What:    Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver, Round 9 of the Trans-Am
Series for the 2003 BFGoodrich Tires Cup Championship

When:    Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29, 30 and 31, 2003

Race Day:    Sunday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m.

Distance:    61 laps/100.467 miles or 75 minutes, whichever comes first


Where:    The race will be run on the 1.647-mile, nine-turn temporary street
course

Series PR Contact:    Justin Anderson, 517-927-3614, cell at the track,
janderson@trans-amseries.com

Denver Track Records*:
Qualifying Record (showing year, driver, car, time  and speed): 2002, Stu
Hayner, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:13.612, 80.547 mph.

Winning Average Speed Record (showing year, driver, car, time  and speed):
2002, Boris Said, Panoz Esperante, 1:16:51.319, 78.433 mph.

Fastest Race Lap Record (showing year, driver, car, time  and speed): 2002,
Stu Hayner, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:12.261, 82.053 mph.
*Records are on current course, which was first used in 2002

Denver Details:
n Scott Pruett could clinch his third Series championship here. Pruett last
won the Trans-Am Series Drivers¹ Championship in 1987 and 1994.

n 2002 Trans-Am Series champion Boris Said won the 2002 Trans-Am race here,
scoring his fifth win of the 2002 season.

n The Trans-Am Series makes its second appearance on the current Denver
venue in 2003. Among current Trans-Am competitors, Stu Hayner finished third
in 2002, Paul Gentilozzi fourth, Michael Lewis fifth, Johnny Miller sixth,
Randy Ruhlman eighth, and Tomy Drissi ninth were among the 2002 Denver Top
Ten.

n Another Denver circuit served as a Trans-Am venue in 1990 and 1991.
Gentilozzi competed in those events, retiring with mechanical problems in
1990 and placing 26th, but finishing second and setting fast lap in 1991.
Ruhlman finished 16th in 1990 and ninth in 1991. Interestingly, Ruhlman¹s
team owner, Jim Derhaag, also competed on the old course, finishing 18th in
1990 and 10th in 1991.

n Although Pruett did not compete in the 2002 event on the current venue, he
contested the 1991 Champ Car World Series event, finishing fifth.

n Last year, Said started on the pole and led 57 of the 61 laps last year,
leading laps one through 16 and 21-61 in his Panoz Esperante. Said won by
0.967 of a second, ahead of Butch Leitzinger¹s Chevrolet Corvette.
Leitzinger started third, led four laps (17-20) and finished second.

n Hayner started sixth (after qualifying fastest but was assessed a
one-second penalty due to a technical infraction) and finished third,
setting the fastest race lap in his Chevrolet Corvette.

n Jaguar XKR entries finished fourth through sixth (Gentilozzi, Lewis and
Johnny Miller). Tony Ave finished seventh, the final finisher on the lead
lap, in the LAC Panoz Esperante. Nineteen cars started the race, with 13
finishing.

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