Friday Notebook from Trans-Am in T.O.

CONTACT: Justin Anderson,
Ph: 704-348-9400, Cell: 704-589-2100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK FROM TRANS-AM IN T.O. AT MOLSON INDY TORONTO

TORONTO, Ontario (July 9, 2004) ‹ The Trans-Am Series used a new qualifying
format today for tomorrow¹s Trans-Am in T.O. The 45-minute session was
divided into three segments. The first 15-minute segment was an open
practice, followed by a 10-minute rest period. The final 20-minute segment
set the grid for the race. Teams were allowed to make technical adjustments
during each of the first two segments. No adjustments were allowed during
the qualifying segment.

TOUGH TOWŠGarrett Kletjian (No. 20 www.upscalelingerie.com Qvale Mangusta)
returned to Trans-Am competition here after missing the first four races of
the season; though he didn¹t miss those events by choice. Kletjian¹s
transporter, containing a race car, as well as all of his pit equipment, was
stolen from a hotel parking lot while he was attending a press conference in
Trois-Rivières several months ago. Kletjian plans to compete in several
Trans-Am races this season.

CANADIAN CUPŠ The top finishing Canadian in tomorrow¹s race will receive a
special trophy, called the Canadian Cup, and will be honored in victory
circle. He will also be given the opportunity to participate in the
post-race press conference in the media center. The Canadian Cup is a new
award, announced today by Series Executive Director John Clagett. The cup
will also be awarded at the next race in Trois-Rivières Aug. 1.

NEW CARŠRon Fellows took his first turn behind the wheel of his No. 40
Molson Indy Chevrolet Corvette in today¹s practice session. In fact, aside
from a seat fitting, Fellows hadn¹t even sat in the car prior to the start
of the 45-minute session. Interestingly, his Derhaag Motorsports team has a
car built specifically for Fellows at its Shakopee, Minn. shop. However,
they didn¹t bring that car to Toronto as Fellows¹ deal didn¹t come together
until Thursday. Fellows therefore is driving Derhaag¹s backup car this
weekend.

STILL IN THE SHOWŠPaul Gentilozzi is driving the same ³show car² he used to
win last week¹s race in Cleveland here at Toronto. Gentilozzi crashed his
primary car in qualifying at Cleveland, forcing his crew to transport a show
car from his Lansing, Mich. shop. The crew spent all night in Cleveland
rebuilding the show car, which is usually used at tradeshows and media
events. Gentilozzi started last and drove through the field for the victory.
There wasn¹t adequate time between races for the team to fix the primary car
for the Toronto event.

EXPERIENCEDŠOnly Gentilozzi, Randy Ruhlman, Tommy Kendall and Ron Fellows
have competed at Toronto in the past. Of the quartet, only Gentilozzi and
Fellows competed in both previous Toronto Trans-Am events in 1993 and 1994.

###