US MOTOGP (INDIANAPOLIS, IN.) - MOTORCYCLE LEGEND LAWSON IMPRESSED BY NEW IMS ROAD COURSE

Motorcycle racing legend Eddie Lawson visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Jan. 29, giving the new road course his stamp of approval.

Lawson, a native of Upland, Calif., won the 500cc World Championship in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. The 500cc class preceded the MotoGP World Championship as the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing. Lawson toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and was treated to several passenger-vehicle laps of the famous IMS oval and road course. The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP will take place Sunday, Sept. 14 on the road course.

“It looks they’ve been working really hard, for sure, and I wish I could have raced on something like that when I was racing,” Lawson said. “It looks like they’re going to have a lot of fun out there. I was wish I was back (and) was racing.”

The visit was not Lawson’s first to the Speedway – he previously attended the United States Grand Prix Formula One race. But there’s no doubt he’ll return to the track Sept. 12-14 as bikes return to IMS for the first time since 1909.

“To have the bikes back, and a MotoGP race to boot, I’ll be here, that’s for sure,” he said. “You hear about (the Speedway), but when you’re actually standing here you just go ‘Wow.’ I’ve been all over the world and raced on a lot of racetracks, but you come into this place, and it’s awe-inspiring.”

***

Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.