PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY TEAMS UP WITH RON DIXON

MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION:
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SCOTT HOFFMAN OR EMILY BROWN

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

MEDIA@RACEPBIR.COM

(561) 622.1400

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY TEAMS UP WITH RON DIXON

Jupiter, Fla. (October 31, 2009) - - Ron Dixon, appointed to Board of
Directors of Palm Beach International Raceway and assuming Managing Director
for Dixon/PBIR racing, one of racing's most respected professionals and his
extensive history of building race teams and drivers has shifted gears for
the upcoming Indy Light season.  Palm Beach International is continuing in
the Indy Lights Rookie Challenge and will have Dixon heading up their
program. The New Zealand native, Ron Dixon and father of two-time Indy
Racing League (IRL) Champion and Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon has knowledge
and experience in building winning teams and drivers this is the best move
for the track owned race program. Dixon has built race programs in New
Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.

Dixon also announces the rookie challenge to be based at Palm Beach
International Raceway (PBIR). The launch of a new series titled the Indy
Lights Rookie Challenge. This is a concept inspired and perpetuated by Dixon
to attract approximately thirty young, ambitious up and coming race car
drivers to compete for a fully sponsored ride in the 2010 IRL Indy Lights
series.

"There are a lot of young racers who simply cannot afford today's Indy
Lights annual budgets, which have escalated to between $750,000 and
$1,000,000," said Dixon.  "My aim is to help young drivers who cannot raise
these kinds of racing budgets.  Our plan involves two days testing the
applicants on our road course here at Palm Beach International Raceway and
another two days on the oval at Homestead." 

The rookie drivers will be judged by a professional independent panel.  The
panel will judge the contestants not only on their driving abilities but
also on their appearance, their level of fitness, how they handle the media,
and so on.  The Rookie Challenge begins mid-February and ends first week of
March. The winner will take all. 

Dixon says, "I am pleased to continue my affiliation with Palm Beach
International Raceway (PBIR) as a member of the Board of Directors and have
the time to focus on my real love - racing teams and driver development. We
are excited to continue our Indy Lights program. 

Joe Lubeck, Managing partner of PBIR commented, "We are pleased to have Ron
Dixon join the board of Directors of PBIR and continue his affiliation of
the track. Ron's skill in developing racers and race teams is evident and
has always been his true passion. We are pleased to be involved in that
endeavor and are excited that he has chosen PBIR to be his home base for
these exciting programs, including INDY Lights, Formula BMW driving school
and the new Rookie Challenge program.