CART: Fans get change to interact with drivers at Miller Lite 200
28 July 2000
DUBLIN, Ohio (July 28, 2000) - Spectators will have a chance to interact with CART FedEx Championship Series drivers during several unique fan activities at the Miller Lite 200, August 10-13, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The first-ever CART Fan Forum is planned for Friday, August 11, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course's Championship Row. CART fans will have access to some significant personalities in open-wheel racing during a 60-minute question and answer session. Bobby Rahal, owner of Hilliard, Ohio-based Team Rahal and current interim President and CEO of CART, will be on-hand to field questions from the audience. Former CART champion Rick Mears and Team KOOL Green owner Barry Green will also be in attendance. ABC broadcasters Paul Page and Parker Johnstone will lend their thoughts on open-wheel racing, as will CART President of Racing Hal Whiteford. The Fan Forum is the first of its kind at the Miller Lite 200, which is one of Ohio's largest sporting events. All race fans in attendance are welcome to participate. The All-CART Driver Autograph Session is slated for Saturday, August 12, from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the paddock area. The widely popular fan activity started at Mid-Ohio in 1999 and is currently implemented throughout the CART schedule. The first 1,000 people to purchase a Deluxe Ticket will be guaranteed access, along with the first 1,000 Mid-Ohio All Access Season Passholders. Over 20 CART drivers will be available, including the likes of Michael Andretti, Kenny Bräck, Patrick Carpentier, Gil de Ferran, Juan Montoya, Roberto Moreno, Max Papis, Paul Tracy and Jimmy Vasser, among others. The CART Winners Circle Fan Club, an organization for CART fans around the globe, will hold a meeting on Saturday afternoon, from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Mid-Ohio's Championship Row. Helio Castroneves, Cristiano da Matta and Tony Kanaan, Chairman of the Winners Circle Fan Club, are scheduled to attend. Fans may gain access to the member-only meeting by signing up for the Winners Circle Fan Club online at www.cart.com <http://www.cart.com>. There will also be membership brochures available at Mid-Ohio prior to the meeting. New this year for the Miller Lite 200 are expanded times during which fans may enter the pit areas with the purchase of a Pit Access Pass. There will be opportunities to get into the "locker room" of the Miller Lite 200 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fans can view a CART FedEx Championship Series practice, Dayton Indy Lights Championship qualifying, Barber Dodge Pro Series qualifying and CART pace car activities all from the pits. This is a chance for race fans to watch their favorite CART teams prepare for one of the most pivotal races of the season. To help kick-off the Miller Lite 200, fans will have the opportunity to visit the CART FanFest display throughout the week prior to the race. An actual Champ Car, a high performance safety car, a video game wall and real race radio transmissions will be on display in CART's rolling interactive FanFest at various locations throughout Central Ohio. The FanFest is scheduled to be at the 11th Annual Arthritis Foundation Mini Grand Prix on Sunday, August 6, at the Hilliard Municipal Park in Hilliard, Ohio, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fans can also enjoy the CART FanFest at Dave and Buster's in Hilliard, Ohio, on Wednesday, August 9, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Team Rahal drivers Kenny Bräck and Max Papis will be there to sign autographs, and an official Team Rahal show car and transporter will be on display. A Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course booth will also be there with Miller Lite 200 discount coupons and event information. QFM96 (WLVQ-FM, Columbus) will provide a live remote from the festivities. Information on remaining CART FanFest times and locations is available at 1-800-MID-OHIO. The Miller Lite 200 is the 13th Round of the 20-event CART FedEx Championship Series schedule. For tickets to the premier Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course event of 2000, call 1-800-MID-OHIO.