INDYCAR - Indy Japan 300 FAST FACTS

WHAT: Indy Japan 300, third race in 17-race 2007 season; only IndyCar Series event that will take place outside of the United States.

WHERE: Twin Ring Motegi, 1.5-mile asphalt oval

WHEN: 1 p.m. (Japan Time), Saturday, April 21; Midnight (ET), April 21

DISTANCE: 200 laps/300 miles

POSTED AWARDS: More than $1 million

CARS: Dallara chassis; Honda Indy V-8; Firestone tires; 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol

PAST RACE WINNERS: Helio Castroneves (2006), Dan Wheldon (2004, 2005), Scott Sharp (2003)

2006 SERIES CHAMPION: Sam Hornish Jr.

TV: Race: ESPN (tape-delayed), Noon (ET), April 21 Talent: Marty Reid and Scott Goodyear (announcers); Jack Arute (pit reporter) Note: Live streaming video coverage of the Indy Japan 300 (11:30 p.m., April 20) is available at www.indycar.com

RADIO: Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), 11:30 p.m. (ET), April 20 Race: IMS Radio Network (live), Midnight (ET), April 21 Talent: Mike King (host); Davey Hamilton (analyst); Dave Wilson (color commentary); Patrick Stephan (pit reporter) Note: Live coverage of IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying (12:30 a.m. ET, April 20) and the Indy Japan 300 are available at www.indycar.com and XM Satellite Radio channel 144 “XM Sports Nation.”

SCHEDULE (Japan Time; subject to change): Thursday, April 19 8 a.m. IndyCar Series garage opens 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups) 1:30-2:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)

Friday, April 20 8 a.m. IndyCar Series garage opens 10:30 a.m. -12:05 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups) 1:30 p.m. IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying 3:30-4:30 p.m. Autograph session

Saturday, April 21 8 a.m. IndyCar Series garage opens 1 p.m. Indy Japan 300 (200 laps/300 miles), ESPN (Noon EDT, April 21)

THE TRACK: 1.5-mile paved oval Frontstretch: 1,982 feet banked at 1.7 degrees Backstretch: 1,982 feet banked at 5 degrees Width: 80 feet Turns are banked at 10 degrees •Twin Ring Motegi opened in 1997 and has a seating capacity of 68,104. In addition to the oval, the facility also has a 2.849-mile road course and a .634-mile short course. Twin Ring Motegi is a “Fusion of Human, Nature and Mobility.” An amusement park surrounded by mountains, Twin Ring Motegi combines motor racing, driving experiences, nature exploration and other activities. In addition to the IndyCar Series, other motorsports events at the facility include MotoGP World Championship Series and the Japanese Formula Nippon Series.

INDY-STYLE RACING IN JAPAN: Built by Honda in Tochigi Prefecture, about 60 miles northeast of Tokyo, the oval at Twin Ring Motegi has hosted open-wheel racing since 1998. Honda first brought CART to Japan in 1998 with Adrian Fernandez winning the first two Indy car races at Twin Ring Motegi. Michael Andretti won in 2000, and 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack won at Motegi in 2001. Bruno Junqueira won the final CART event in 2002. In 2003, the IRL IndyCar® Series made its first trip to Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Sharp won the inaugural Indy Japan 300, which was the first IndyCar Series event held overseas. In 2004, Dan Wheldon made history for Honda, giving the engine manufacturer its first victory at its home track.

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES: •Four Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the Indy Japan 300: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).

•Drivers entered in the Indy Japan 300 have combined for 74 IndyCar Series victories, 69 pole positions and 979 starts.

•The Indy Japan 300 will be the fourth IndyCar Series event conducted at Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Sharp was the inaugural winner in 2003. Dan Wheldon won in 2004 and 2005 and became the first Honda-powered driver to win at the track. Helio Castroneves won in 2006.

•Five IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Indy Japan 300: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002, 2006), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

INDYCAR SERIES STORY IDEAS: • IndyCar Series returns to Japan: For the fourth consecutive season, the IndyCar Series will race outside the United States at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. The 1.5-mile oval presents one of the toughest tests for IndyCar Series drivers and teams both on-track, due to the Twin Ring Motegi’s unique egg-shaped oval, and off the track, due to the logistics.

• Another St. Pete-Motegi sweep?: Since its addition to the schedule in 2005, the winner of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has also won at Twin Ring Motegi. Dan Wheldon pulled off the St. Pete-Motegi sweep en route to the Indianapolis 500 title in 2005. Helio Castroneves, who won at St. Petersburg on April 1, attempts to repeat his dominating double from 2006.

• Matsuura’s home race: Japan’s only IndyCar Series driver, Kosuke Matsuura, returns for his fourth start at his home race. Matsuura, a native of Aichi, Japan is attempting to become the first Japanese winner of an IndyCar Series race and the first Japanese Indy car driver to win on home soil. He returns to Motegi with Super Aguri Panther Racing in 2007.

• 100 Percent Fuel-Grade Ethanol: During the Indy Japan 300, all IndyCar Series competitors will employ the 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The IndyCar Series is the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source. Ethanol is an environmentally-friendly fuel, distilled from high-starch crops (primarily corn) grown in the United States. During his State of the Union address in February, President Bush emphasized the need for a significant increase in ethanol production. Learn about the changes made to prepare cars for the switch to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and how the IndyCar Series is helping promote the message of renewable fuels.

• Marco Andretti’s Sophomore Season: Marco Andretti capped off his IndyCar Series rookie campaign with a win at Infineon Raceway in 2006, making him the youngest driver to win a major Indy car race. This season, Marco returns with team Andretti Green Racing, looking to capitalize on last season’s momentum. During the off-season, Marco spent his time focusing on his physical fitness, preparing for the diverse IndyCar Series schedule. Can Marco pick up where he left off last year and score his first oval visit to Victory Lane at Motegi?

• Top Five Point Finishers Return: Last season produced one the closest driver championship battles in IndyCar Series history, with four competitors eligible for the title going into the final race separated by 21 points. The top five finishers return with the same teams, looking for to repeat their success. Find out how Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Vitor Meira plan to carry the momentum in the 2007 season.

• Faces in New Places: An off-season game of musical chairs has produced an interesting lineup of driver-team pairings for the 2007 IndyCar Series campaign: • After two years of IndyCar Series competition with Rahal Letterman Racing, Danica Patrick moves to Andretti Green Racing looking for her first career win. Patrick joins the team’s returning lineup of Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan. • 1996 IndyCar Series co-champion Scott Sharp joins Rahal Letterman Racing for his 12th season of competition. Sharp, the IndyCar Series’ “Ironman,” has made 131 starts and scored nine victories, including the inaugural Indy Car Series race at Twin Ring Motegi in 2003.

MILESTONES: • Helio Castroneves won his 12th IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg, tying him with Dan Wheldon for second on the series’ all-time victory list. • Castroneves’ win was Team Penske’s 24th in the IndyCar Series – the most of any IndyCar Series team. • Helio Castroneves extended his record for career pole positions (17) and most seasons with at least one pole (6) with his IndyCar Series Pole Award at St. Petersburg. • Sam Hornish Jr. can tie the record that Helio Castroneves and Scott Sharp share for most consecutive seasons with at least one win should he win the Indy Japan 300. Sharp claimed at least one win from 1997-2003 while Castroneves has won in every season since 2001. • Scott Sharp needs one win to earn his 10th IndyCar Series victory and Sharp will attempt to extend his series record for consecutive starts to 124 straight races. • Vitor Meira has gone 60 starts without a victory in the IndyCar Series, the longest drought of any IndyCar Series driver.