MIS STATEMENT ON OPEN-WHEEL UNIFICATION FOR 2008

With the announcement Friday that Indy Racing League and Champ Car officials have signed an agreement in principle to unify America’s two open-wheel series for 2008, Michigan International Speedway President Roger Curtis issued this statement:

“It’s fitting that during Michigan International Speedway’s 40th anniversary season the country will finally have one open-wheel series to enjoy. I hope that this new era for open-wheel racing will find a suitable fit among the country’s tracks, both historic and new.

“Though we are focused on our NASCAR events for this season, we are always looking for viable business options for the future at Michigan International Speedway and the state of Michigan. We would certainly talk to any race sanctioning body that is interested in us hosting an event at our speedway if the date and racing series are viable business options for us.

“We are excited about 2008 at Michigan International Speedway and are supportive of a unified open-wheel series. We wish them the best of luck for this and future seasons. I commend the hard work and dedication that it must have taken to put together all the moving parts that make up the agreement in principle. As a race fan and a track promoter, I applaud everyone involved.”

Michigan International Speedway has a rich tradition in its 40-year history of hosting some of the most thrilling motorsports events ever attended, many of them open-wheel races. The inaugural event on Oct. 13, 1968, was a 250-mile Indy-car race won by Ronnie Bucknum. It would be his only win.

The speedway hosted open-wheel events, Champ Car events and Indy Racing League-sanctioned events throughout its history through 2007.