INDIANAPOLIS 500 (INDIANAPOLIS) - TARGET TEAM SETS THE PACE

MAY DAYS AT INDY: Target Team drivers Scott Dixon (No.9 Target Honda-powered Dallara) and Dan Wheldon (No.10 Target Honda-powered Dallara) prepare to take on the world renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway where they will race for 200 laps on the 2.5 mile oval in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 27, 2007.

VENUE: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909 with a 2.5-mile oval circuit and remains the largest spectator sporting facility in the world. The Indianapolis 500 has taken place annually on the oval track since 1911, except during world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45.

CATCH IT LIVE ON THE WEB: Practice for the Indianapolis 500 will stream live on indycar.com free of charge. In addition to the on track action, the video streaming window includes live timing & scoring, audio from the IMS Radio Network, a chat feature and links to other videos. Streaming video also will be available live for qualifying sessions and race day action from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

TV RACE AIR DATE: ABC (live), Noon (EDT), May 27

INDIANAPOLIS REVISITED: In 2006, Target Chip Ganassi Racing ran first and second at the Indianapolis 500, with defending winner Dan Wheldon leading the charge for 148 laps until a tire puncture with 16 laps to go sent Wheldon to the pits. A drive-through penalty for Scott Dixon, for what was deemed a blocking infraction, ultimately cost the Target Team any chance for a win. Despite the set backs, both Target cars remained on the lead lap, and following a caution period with just 5 laps to go, both drivers put in a valiant effort to fight their way to the checkered flag with Wheldon posting a fourth place finish while Dixon had his best result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a sixth place.

A LOOK IN THE TARGET CAR’S REAR VIEW MIRROR:

Number of Indianapolis 500 TCGR wins: 1 (2000-Montoya)

Number of Indianapolis 500 TCGR pole positions: 2 (1993, 2002)

Number of years TCGR has run the Indianapolis 500: 13 races from 1990-1995 & 2000-2006

Most cars run by TCGR in one Indianapolis 500: four (4) cars in 2001

Total number of laps led by TCGR at Indianapolis 500: 492 of a possible 5360 laps

Total number of laps by TCGR completed at the Indianapolis 500: 3860 of a possible 5360

Number of Indianapolis 500 appearances for Chip Ganassi as a driver: Five (5) 1982-1986

Drivers that have run for Chip Ganassi in the Indianapolis 500: 17 drivers (1990-2006)

DID YOU KNOW THAT? Scott Dixon has the most Indianapolis 500 starts of any Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver. This year’s start will be his fifth.

Dixon’s best start at Indy 500-4th (2003, 2006)

Dixon’s best finish at Indy 500-6th (2007)

DID YOU KNOW THAT? Dan Wheldon, who enters the Indianapolis 500 as the points leader for the third time in four years, has finished in the top five in the last three 500s. He recorded a third in 2004 and a win in 2005 when he entered as the race as the series’ point leader.

Wheldon’s best start at Indy 500- 3rd in 2006

Wheldon’s best finish at Indy 500-1st in 2005

THE (Championship) RACE IS ON! After four races, the Target team is 1-2 in the IndyCar Championship race. Dan Wheldon has the lead in the driver’s points standings with 171 points while Scott Dixon is in second spot with 144 points.

SO FAR SO GOOD: Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon have led a total of 515 laps of 700 in 4 races in 2007. Since joining TCGR, Dan has led 1245 laps (of 3210) and posted 4 wins (in 18 races)

LAST RACE: Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Wheldon took the checkered flag for his second victory of the season while Scott Dixon finished fourth.

NEXT RACE: A.J.Foyt ABC Supply Co 225 at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! The media is welcome to approach us for any interview requests or feature story ideas they may have throughout the month of May. Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers and team members will be available for interviews at IMS everyday the team is on track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For specific requests and accommodations, the team will be happy to schedule a time and place to meet your needs as best we can. Other media opportunities include:

The Big Apple-May 21: To celebrate the 91st Running of the Indianapolis 500, the race’s 33 qualified drivers will visit New York City for media interviews and photo opportunities.

IMS on Thursday, May 24: Both Target drivers will be available for a 1 hour interview session at the Pagoda Plaza Pavilion from 2:30-3:30 pm

CALLING ALL TARGET FANS! Target drivers, Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon, will be visiting a local Indianapolis TARGET in Carmel West at 10401 North Michigan Road to sign autographs for guests from 6-7 pm on Thursday, May 24th.

INDY 500 DAY 1 PRACTICE (May 8)– Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon took to the track aboard their Honda Dallaras for the first time this month in preparation for the famed race. Wheldon posted the fastest lap time of the day with a speed of 225.074 mph. Scott Dixon was fifth with a speed of 224.564 mph. The top five drivers were separated by just 0.0908 of a second.

TARGET CHIP GANASSI RACING QUOTEBOARD Day 1 Practice:

Scott Dixon: "I think this morning was quite strong. We didn't do many laps. We only used one set of tires, and then we put on another at the end. We made a lot of big changes just trying to take the day to see what we need to do. I don't know if we gained much out of it, but hopefully when we look at the data we can see what we need."

(About similar weather possible for qualifying) "This should be good. Hopefully we do get a bit more running through the week. The track's obviously going to change a bit with more rubber going down, and maybe it will cool off. I don't know. I haven't seen the forecast, but this week's always showers and thunderstorms now and then, so it's hard to know what to do. But, we, I think, got the big things that we needed to get through today."

Dan Wheldon: “It was a good day to start the opening day of May. Obviously I get a little superstitious, and I've just signed a deal with Ritmo watches, and I was using that today, so I was a little nervous. It's definitely great being back at Indianapolis and to be going around this track. I'm just excited for the rest of the month.”

(About his confidence heading into the month): “Yeah it is (high), but with what we've seen this year, I'm more concerned with the race. I guess I'm getting old because that doesn't seem like the high priority, but my confidence is really high right now. You know working with (engineer) Andy Brown is a pleasure. The rest of the engineering stuff and everybody at the team, we're right at a nice wave right now, but we understand that it could as soon come to a crashing halt. We're going to try everything in our power to stay as good as we are. The car seems to be very quick, even with a somewhat comfortable level of downforce it still turns good lap times and that's what you need for a race around here. The more downforce you can get away with running and the car being comfortable the better.”