INDYCAR - GANASSI, PDM, PLAYA DEL RACING ENTRIES ARRIVE AS INDY LIST GROWS

GANASSI, PDM, PLAYA DEL RACING ENTRIES ARRIVE AS INDY LIST GROWS

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, April 5, 2007 – Indianapolis 500 entries for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, PDM Racing and Playa Del Racing arrived April 5 at Indy Racing League headquarters, as the entry list continues to grow for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The 91st Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Entries must have been postmarked by midnight Wednesday, April 4, but more entries are expected to arrive via mail at Indy Racing League headquarters in the next week.

Ganassi named 2005 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon as the drivers for its two entries. No drivers were assigned to PDM’s single entry and Playa Del Racing’s two entries.

Wheldon, a native of England, will drive the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with a backup entered. Dave Higuera is the chief mechanic.

2005 IndyCar Series champion Wheldon will attempt to make his fifth Indianapolis 500 start. He has recorded three consecutive top-four finishes at Indy, including his victory in 2005. His best starting spot is second in 2004.

Wheldon is the fourth former winner of the “500” named to a car in this year’s field, joining Helio Castroneves (2001-02), Buddy Rice (2004) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).

Dixon, a native of New Zealand, will drive the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with a backup entered. Ricky Davis is the chief mechanic.

2003 IndyCar Series champion Dixon will attempt to make his fifth Indianapolis 500 start. His best start was fourth in 2003 and 2006, with a best finish of sixth in 2006.

Barry Wanser and Scott Harner are the team managers for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, which won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Pablo Montoya driving.

Veteran Indianapolis 500 team PDM Racing will field the No. 18 Dallara/Honda/Firestone, with a backup Panoz chassis entered. Legendary Indy car builder A.J. Watson is the team’s manager.

Playa Del Racing is the first team to enter a Panoz primary chassis for this year’s race. Both of the team’s entries, the No. 21 Playa Del Racing and the No. 31 Playa Del Racing cars, have a Panoz/Honda/Firestone combination. A Panoz was entered as a backup for the No. 21 entry.

Clark Drake is the chief mechanic of the No. 21 Playa Del Racing entry. David Morgan is the team manager for both entries.

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2007 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 91st Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 27.

Tickets can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Parking and camping permits for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” also can be purchased online, by phone or at the Ticket Office.