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Indy Racing League

INAUGURAL OPEN-WHEEL RACING SUMMIT MAY 21-22 AT INDY

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, May 16, 2002 - High-ranking leaders from the sanctioning body, broadcast, sponsorship and supplier segments of motorsports will meet May 21-22 in Indianapolis for the inaugural Open-Wheel Racing Summit, presented by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal magazine.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Westin Indianapolis will play host to the two-day conference, which takes place in the week leading up to the 86th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on Sunday, May 26.

Key leaders from four open-wheel racing sanctioning bodies, including Indy Racing League President Tony George and representatives from Formula One, Championship Auto Racing Teams and the United States Auto Club, will join high-ranking motorsports marketing, branding, broadcasting, and supplier executives, along with Wall Street motorsports analysts, to discuss and plan the future course of open-wheel racing in the United States.

"This landmark summit among the leaders of open-wheel racing sanctioning, promotion, sponsorship and marketing will provide a golden opportunity to present a vision for the future of open-wheel racing and the challenges and many opportunities that lie within," George said. "We at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway live by a motto of providing 'International Leadership in Motorsports Entertainment,' and we are proud to host this gathering of the sport's visionaries."

Featured broadcasting, sponsorship and supplier presenters include: Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports; Steve Shannon, executive director, marketing services, vehicle sales service and marketing for General Motors; Todd Gatzulis, senior brand manager, Dial Corporation; Les Ungar, national motorsports manager, Toyota; Andy Deas, program manager, WorldCom Sports Marketing; Al Speyer, motorsports director for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.; Chip Ganassi, owner, Chip Ganassi Racing; Eddie Cheever Jr., owner/driver, Red Bull Cheever Racing; and many others representing sponsor, marketing and financial organizations such as Delphi Automotive Systems, Philip Morris, Champion Group, CSS-Stellar, CMG Worldwide and Bear Stearns.

The conference will conclude with a "behind the scenes" tour of how ABC Sports produces the broadcast for the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Media are welcome to attend this landmark event at no charge. For information on the Open-Wheel Summit, or to register online, visit http://www.sportsconferences.org.

Highlights of the Open-Wheel Summit event schedule are as follows:

Tuesday, May 21 (at the Westin Indianapolis, all times local):

8:45 a.m.
Chairperson's welcome and opening remarks

9 a.m.
Keynote presentation: Eddie Cheever Jr., "The driver's perspective on Formula One and the Indy Racing League"

9:30 a.m.
Indy Racing League presentation and roundtable discussion
IRL Participants: Tony George, Ken Ungar and Bill Long

11:30 a.m.
CART presentation and roundtable discussion
CART Participants: Steve Fusek, Starke Taylor and John Lopes

1 p.m.
Summit participants depart for Indianapolis Motor Speedway

3:30 p.m.
"Showcasing Brand Attributes with Formula One."
Participants: Bill Wohl, SAP America; Andy Deas, WorldCom; Mike Johnson, Miller Brewing Company

4:30 p.m.
"The Analyst Perspective: Where is Open-Wheel Racing Really Headed in the U.S.?" Featuring Marc Falcone, motorsports analyst, Bear Stearns

5 p.m.
"Building and Developing Young Talent and Enhancing the Brand"
Participants: Roger Bailey, Infiniti Pro Series; Rollie Helmling, USAC; Donn Gurney, Racename.com, Inc., Doug Sellars, SPEED Channel

6 p.m. Networking Reception
Host: Tony George

Wednesday, May 22

8:45 a.m.
Bus departs the Westin Indianapolis for the Speedway

9:30 a.m.
Keynote Address: Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports, "Building Upon Tradition in Motorsports Coverage"

10:15 a.m.
"Brand Building: Product Development and Creating Brand Awareness Through Open-Wheel Racing," with Bill Lafontaine, Delphi Automotive Systems

11:30 a.m.
"Getting the Most Out of Open-Wheel Racing: Cost Containment, Rules Stability and Increased Entertainment and Marketing Value"
Participants: Steve Shannon, General Motors; Les Ungar, Toyota; Al Speyer, Bridgestone/Firestone

2 p.m.
"Building an Industrious Business Model with Retail Partners," with Todd Gatzulis, Dial Corporation

2:30 p.m.
"The Owners' Perspective: Controlling Budgets, Technology and Talent"
Moderator: Mark Richards, Ice Miller; Participants: Tom Kelley, Kelley Racing; J. Douglas Boles, Panther Racing; Larry Blair, Blair Racing

3:15 p.m.
"Assessing the Economics of Mutually Beneficial Team Sponsorships"
Moderator: Michelle Molin, Ice Miller; Participants: Ina Broeman, Philip Morris; Brad Stout, Delphi Automotive Systems; Pat Milan, Fallon Intersect; Derek Daly, Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy

4:15 p.m.
"Lessons Learned from Stock Car and Other Racing Formats."
Participants: Cary J.C. Agajanian, Motorsports Management International; Eric DeBord, PROtential; Ardy Arani, Championship Group; Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing; Jeff LaClaire, CSS-Stellar Management

5 p.m. "Technology for the Fan's Sake."
Participants: Mark Reilly, ESPN International; Brian Sikorski, ABC Sports; Bob Goodrich, ABC Sports; Bob Jenkins, ABC Sports; Sam McCleery, Princeton Video Image; Fred Nation, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Buddy McAtee, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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