PETIT LE MANS (ATLANTA) - Fans Will Be the Winners at 10th Anniversary Petit Le Mans

Fans attending the 10th Anniversary Petit Le Mans Oct. 3-6 will become part of the biggest celebration in Road Atlanta history. From a high energy, dazzling pre-race ceremony to an extensive fireworks show at the checkered flag, the race will surely be memorable.

It already is one for the history books. What began as a vision for the future of sports car racing by entrepreneur Dr. Don Panoz is now one of the world's most significant sports car races - joining the legendary ranks of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"I felt strongly that if you create a good show and provide good entertainment in motorsports and ensure that the fans knew that this was stable, precise racing and the people who really went faster would win, that they would start to come," Dr. Panoz says. "And that's what happened."

The first Petit Le Mans attracted 30,000 fans; the 2006 event drew 90,000. Tickets are selling at a record pace for this year's 1,000-mile / 10-hour American Le Mans Series event, which will get the green flag shortly after 11 am on Saturday Oct. 6.

The entire 2.54-mile road course has been repaved, so the racing action should be incredible as Audi seeks its eighth straight Petit Le Mans victory. Tough competition is expected from a fleet of Porsche RS Spyders, three Acura prototypes and several anticipated entries from Europe.

But while the racing action will be intense, there will plenty to entertain fans when they are not focused on the race:

* Petit Moments in Time: a never before seen collections of cars and memorabilia that have played a significant role in a decade of Petit Le Mans races at Road Atlanta. Cars, trophies, promotional materials, photographs and assorted collectibles from each of the previous nine races will be on display in the Petit Moments in Time display in the main paddock. * Legends of Petit Le Mans: a special autograph session featuring famous drivers who have competed at Petit Le Mans past and present. Note: 380 drivers have competed in Petit Le Mans, but only three have competed in all nine previous events (David Brabham, Ron Fellows and Jon Field). * Pre-race ceremony: featuring a tribute to founder Dr. Don Panoz and including a performance by the high stepping show band Halftime Live. * A newly expanded Vendor Village will feature an array of racing related and lifestyle displays and attractions.

Pfanner Communications was retained to design a commemorative 10th Anniversary Petit Le Mans logo. The special logo has been designed to emphasize the special historic significance of the event and features the original Petit Le Mans logo encased in a traditional victory wreath.

A comprehensive line of Official 10th Anniversary Petit Le Mans merchandise and collectables will be available for purchase at the American Le Mans Series merchandise tent and Road Atlanta Pro Shop, including the Official Souvenir Program and Event Poster, as well as a clothing line featuring the special commemorative 10th Anniversary Petit Le Mans logo.

Dr. Panoz has nurtured Petit Le Mans from its inception. The success of the inaugural event in 1998 led to the birth of the American Le Mans Series the following year. "It's like having a child who is five or six years old," says Dr. Panoz. "He's cute and starting to be a person, but later you find out that he's grown up and matured. That's what has happened with Petit Le Mans and Road Atlanta. We started out with a lot of hope and ambition and it has turned into something that really has a lot of meaning and is creating its own history."