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Indy 500 race countdown begins with Public Drivers' Meeting

Saturday May 24, 2008

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Saturday, May 24, 2008 – Drivers participating in the 92nd Indianapolis 500 received final instructions and awards May 24 in the Public Drivers’ Meeting.

The 92nd “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 25. The race will be broadcast live on ABC and the IMS Radio Network beginning at noon. ESPN2 will air an additional hour of pre-race coverage beginning at 11 a.m.

2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Andretti Green Racing co-owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree accepted a “Baby Borg” trophy from Alfred Webber, president and general manager of Borg Warner Morse Tec and Borg Warner Thermal Systems.

Franchitti accepted his Baby Borg along with a $130,000 check via video as he was unable to attend Saturday’s ceremonies. The Baby Borg is a miniature replica of the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, which bears the bas-relief likeness, name and average speed of every Indianapolis 500 winner.

In addition, Andretti, Green and Savoree were presented their Firestone winning car owner’s ring, crafted by Herff Jones. Mark Emkes, chief executive office of Firestone Racing, was on hand to make the presentation.

Franchitti received his Herff Jones winning driver ring earlier in the month, along with a plaque from the American Dairy Association. Deb Osza, general manager of Milk Promotion Services of Indiana, introduced the video segment where Liz Woodruff presented the “Winners Drink Milk” award to Franchitti.

Roger Bailey, the executive director of the Firestone Indy Lights Series, then presented Alex Lloyd his Herff Jones championship ring for winning the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights title.

Continuing its longstanding tradition with the Indianapolis 500, Ken Keltner of Herff Jones presented each of the 33 qualifiers of this year’s race with their starter rings.

Making his 63rd Indianapolis 500 appearance, Andy Granatelli, the two-time winning car owner known for the famous turbine-powered “whoosh mobile” cars that raced in 1967 and 1968, presented Kim Smith with the Unsung Hero Award.

Smith, the owner of the National Car Sales affiliate in Indianapolis, has served as the coordinator of Chevrolet’s fleet of Indianapolis Motor Speedway vehicles, including Pace Cars and safety trucks, since 1975.

Also honored at the annual drivers’ meeting was Penske Racing owner Roger Penske, who has won 14 Indianapolis 500 titles as an owner. He was named the Roger McCluskey Award of Excellence winner, an honor given annually by the United States Auto Club. The sanctioning body’s top honor is named in memory of the former USAC executive vice president and champion driver. USAC president Kevin Miller presented Penske with the award.

Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations for the Indy Racing League, concluded the drivers’ meeting by discussing race rules and guidelines with the drivers.

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Indy 500 tickets on sale: Tickets are on sale for the 2008 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, the 92nd running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.

Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET) Monday-Sunday during May, with special hours of 6 a.m.-1 p.m. on Race Day, Sunday, May 25. Online orders can be made at any time. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.

Indy 500 TV, radio: ABC and ESPN2 will provide live Race Day television coverage of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25. Pre-race coverage starts at 11 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2, continuing at noon on ABC. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. on ABC.

IMS Radio Network Race Day coverage starts with a pre-race show at noon, followed by the race at 1 p.m. The radio network’s coverage also will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio Channel 145, “IndyCar Series Racing,” and XM Channel 144.

Do you want the chance to win a free Frontstretch T-Shirt, and are you really good at talking about NASCAR? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you. Our staff will be giving away a free T-Shirt to the reader who makes the best post in our Frontstretch Forum between now and the end of the season. So, what makes a good post? It’s pretty hard to impress us, but here are some things we are looking for:

Does your post spark passionate reactions from other readers? Are you commenting on meaningful NASCAR-related events? Do your posts have substance? In other words, “Dale Jr. is the best driver ever” or “Danica Patrick is hot” will not cut it.

So go to the Frontstretch Forums, post early, post often, and post well! We’ll announce the winner following the final race of the season at Homestead.

This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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