Johnson Controls 100 and Three Support Races Add to Grand Prix Weekend in Detroit
11 June 2000
DETROIT (June 11, 2000) -- In addition to the high speed excitement of the CART FedEx Championship Series, the 19th Annual Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit will feature several other races for the weekend of June 16-18. The racing schedule will be packed with action from the Johnson Controls 100 featuring the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series, the Dayton Indy Lights Championship, the Barber Dodge Pro Series, and the PPG Neon Charity Challenge. "There will be literally non-stop racing action on track throughout the race weekend. With six races in all set to take the green flag, the Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit schedule provides a tremendous racing value for spectators," said Denny Young, Vice President of IMG Motorsports. Brian Simo returns to defend his Detroit Trans-Am victory from last year in the Johnson Controls 100. Meanwhile, two-time defending series champion, Paul Gentilozzi will look to close the gap on Simo in the championship point standings and notch his first BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series win of the 2000 season. The 42-lap Johnson Controls 100 will provide some of the most competitive action on the weekend schedule as these drivers are known to rub fenders and run nose-to-tail in these ground-pounding coupes and sedans. The Dayton Indy Lights Championship and the Barber Dodge Pro Series are two support series which are part of an open-wheel racing "ladder system." Up and coming professional drivers use these series as a place to showcase their racing talent while working towards landing a ride in the CART FedEx Championship Series. Drivers such as Paul Tracy, Adrian Fernandez, Bryan Herta, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, and Christiano da Matta have all gone on to star in the FedEx Championship Series after racing in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship. Former Barber Dodge Pro Series standouts include 1999 CART FedEx Championship Series Champion Juan Montoya and 1999 Indianapolis 500 Champion Kenny Brack. The two PPG Neon Charity Challenge races feature local media, along with civic and community personalities who have secured donations for the opportunity to race. All proceeds will go towards the Police Athletic League (PAL) to support inner city children. In 1999, nearly $260,000 was raised for PAL. The Johnson Controls 100 is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The PPG Neon Charity Challenges races will start at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday and 9:45 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday's race schedule continues with the Dayton Indy Lights Championship at 11:15 a.m. followed by the CART FedEx Championship Series at 1:00 p.m. and the Barber Dodge Pro Series at 3:45 p.m. Practice and qualifying for all race groups begins on Friday at 8:00 a.m. The Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit will be held June 16-18 at The Raceway on Belle Isle. To order tickets, call 1-800-498-RACE or 313-870-7223 or visit any TicketMaster location. Anyone interested in being a part of the race as a volunteer should contact the Detroit Grand Prix Association at 313-872-3472.