Arie Luyendyk Visits Aircraft Carrier

December 11, 2003
For Immediate Release


Arie Luyendyk and Adrian Fernandez 
Pay Goodwill Visit to Aircraft Carrier

Scottsdale, AZ - Two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk is certainly used to 
going fast, as he's held most of the records at the biggest speed plant on the 
planet - the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  

But he experienced an extreme of another kind last weekend after visiting the 
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) aircraft carrier, located 80 miles off the coast 
of Southern California, along with IndyRacing team owner and fellow 
Scottsdale, Ariz. resident Adrian Fernandez.  The San Diego-based aircraft carrier is 
at sea conducting training exercises in the Southern California operating area. 
 

Landing on the compact deck of the naval carrier in a COD C2 Navy cargo 
plane, Luyendyk, Fernandez, and fellow passengers, including former IndyCar driver 
Tom Bagley and others that held positions as CEO's and teachers, got the 
thrill of a lifetime by being treated to the lifestyle of a military crewperson for 
24 hours.  

Greeted by Captain James A. McDonell after landing Saturday morning, Luyendyk 
and Fernandez toured the massive Naval carrier and recieved explanations 
about each function that is performed by the thousands of military personnel on 
board.  They met with the crew, ate and signed autographs for the men and women 
serving the United States on the vessel before a night of sleep in the small 
confines of a crewman's cabin.  

"This was one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life," said 
Luyendyk.  "I thought I was used to extreme g forces because of my racing experience, 
but I've never felt any acceleration like we had taking off from the aircraft 
carrier."  Fernandez was equally impressed with the forces of landing and 
taking off on such a small surface, as both professional drivers exchanged 
expressions of disbelief during the exercise.  

"The thing that impressed me the most after it all was over with was the 
dedication of the troops on board - they have one hundred percent focus on their 
jobs, and they all do their jobs very well," Luyendyk continued.   "They are so 
disciplined - it was a humbling experience.  I definitely came away from that 
trip with a whole new respect for what the military does on a daily basis.  
To think that those crew members are a fully functioning professional group at 
their age…the responsibility that they are learning there will be great 
training and will serve them well through life."  

At capacity, the USS John C. Stennis can hold 6,200 people.  It is literally 
a small city, with chefs that prepare approximately 18,000 meals per day for 
crews that live on the ocean for extended periods of time.  The carrier 
regularly opens itself up to curious visitors who can get on a list to visit, with 
landings being performed five days a week when the carrier is available and not 
preoccupied with formal military operations.