By Robert H. Kelly
(Houston, TX-April 12, 2007) Roger Clemens and Paul Newman will lead a group of celebrity drivers in a charity go-kart race at Reliant Center on Saturday April 21, during the Grand Prix of Houston.
Their go-karts aren't carnival-like carts one drives at the amusement park. These carts can reach sixth miles per hour on a straight-a-way.
All money raised will benefit United Cerebral Palsy.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Mueller Replaces Enge At Petersen White Lightening
With Tomas Enge now starting his recovery from injuries sustained at St. Petersburg, Petersen White Lightning has announced that Dirk Muller will replace the Czech driver for the next two round of the American Le Mans Series.
Muller, who won the GT2 class back in 2000, will co-drive the #31 Ferrari F430 GT at the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Grand Prix of Houston alongside Tim Bergmeister with the team working hard during this week to prepare a brand new car for the Long Beach event – with the car only due to have arrived from Italy on Sunday and the team needing to leave for California tomorrow [Wednesday] morning.
Although he admits that the situation that leads to him returning to the ALMS is far from ideal, Muller said he was looking to forward to his two events in the PWL team, with the former WTCC racer hoping to replicate the form enjoyed in the opening round of the FIA GT Championship which he won in the similar Ferrari of the AF Corse team.
“The situation is not the nicest but I'm really looking forward to helping out Petersen/White Lightning for sure,” he said. “It is a strange situation to replace an injured driver. But that is part of our job and I cross my fingers for Tomas to get well very soon and very quick. I just want to make him happy winning with this car. I am really, really happy and looking forward to Long Beach.
“For me, that will be the first time on that street circuit. I do know the Ferrari F430 having set the first pole and having won the first round of FIA GT. I am feeling very well in this car. I like to thank Ferrari and the team giving me the opportunity to do this. I know Petersen/White Lightning from the past so I know that the team is very professional. I am very happy and very proud. The last time I raced in the ALMS was 2001 and I won the 2000 GT championship so I am very excited to be returning with such a good team and good car.”
Team manager Dale White said he was pleased to have Muller onboard for the two races, although he admitted that ‘no-one' would be able to replace his injured driver.
“They say if you are given lemons make lemonade,” he said. “I believe Dirk is just the guy to help us make lemonade. Obviously, having Tomas injured was a serious blow to the program and to morale but to have a driver the calibre of Dirk Müller waiting in the wings is something that we could have never even hoped for. Dirk is as fast today as when we raced against him in the early years of the program. He is also smart, even smarter now; he has Ferrari experience and knows how to win races.
“No one can replace Tomas, not even in the short-term, but we feel confident that we can add a few victories and get back into the championship chase with the combination we will field for the next two events. We are anxious to get Tomas well and back in the #31 and, following Houston, Tomas and the doctors will let us know where he is at and we'll chart our course from there. In the meantime, I couldn't have dreamed of a better driver than Dirk to add to our team.”
Muller, who won the GT2 class back in 2000, will co-drive the #31 Ferrari F430 GT at the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Grand Prix of Houston alongside Tim Bergmeister with the team working hard during this week to prepare a brand new car for the Long Beach event – with the car only due to have arrived from Italy on Sunday and the team needing to leave for California tomorrow [Wednesday] morning.
Although he admits that the situation that leads to him returning to the ALMS is far from ideal, Muller said he was looking to forward to his two events in the PWL team, with the former WTCC racer hoping to replicate the form enjoyed in the opening round of the FIA GT Championship which he won in the similar Ferrari of the AF Corse team.
“The situation is not the nicest but I'm really looking forward to helping out Petersen/White Lightning for sure,” he said. “It is a strange situation to replace an injured driver. But that is part of our job and I cross my fingers for Tomas to get well very soon and very quick. I just want to make him happy winning with this car. I am really, really happy and looking forward to Long Beach.
“For me, that will be the first time on that street circuit. I do know the Ferrari F430 having set the first pole and having won the first round of FIA GT. I am feeling very well in this car. I like to thank Ferrari and the team giving me the opportunity to do this. I know Petersen/White Lightning from the past so I know that the team is very professional. I am very happy and very proud. The last time I raced in the ALMS was 2001 and I won the 2000 GT championship so I am very excited to be returning with such a good team and good car.”
Team manager Dale White said he was pleased to have Muller onboard for the two races, although he admitted that ‘no-one' would be able to replace his injured driver.
“They say if you are given lemons make lemonade,” he said. “I believe Dirk is just the guy to help us make lemonade. Obviously, having Tomas injured was a serious blow to the program and to morale but to have a driver the calibre of Dirk Müller waiting in the wings is something that we could have never even hoped for. Dirk is as fast today as when we raced against him in the early years of the program. He is also smart, even smarter now; he has Ferrari experience and knows how to win races.
“No one can replace Tomas, not even in the short-term, but we feel confident that we can add a few victories and get back into the championship chase with the combination we will field for the next two events. We are anxious to get Tomas well and back in the #31 and, following Houston, Tomas and the doctors will let us know where he is at and we'll chart our course from there. In the meantime, I couldn't have dreamed of a better driver than Dirk to add to our team.”
Atlantic Driver Penalized Following Las Vegas Grand Prix
By Robert H. Kelly
(Long Beach, CA-April 12, 2007)Champ Car Atlantic Championship driver Matt Lee of Conquest Racing has been penalized five championship points by Atlantic officials.
The penality is a reults of infractions committed at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which was Round 1 of the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.
The seventeen year old rookie driver from Syosset, New York finished in 10th place in Sunday's race.
He had earned eleven points for the finish, but but as a result of the penalty, will now carry a six-point total into this weekend's Round 2 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Lee is now ranked 15th in the series standings.
(Long Beach, CA-April 12, 2007)Champ Car Atlantic Championship driver Matt Lee of Conquest Racing has been penalized five championship points by Atlantic officials.
The penality is a reults of infractions committed at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which was Round 1 of the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.
The seventeen year old rookie driver from Syosset, New York finished in 10th place in Sunday's race.
He had earned eleven points for the finish, but but as a result of the penalty, will now carry a six-point total into this weekend's Round 2 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Lee is now ranked 15th in the series standings.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Grand Prix of Houston Announces 2007 Sponsors
From Grand Prix of Houston Press Release
(Houston, April 11, 2007)
The Grand Prix of Houston will roar back to JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park on April 20-22, and along with the high-speed cars of Champ Car and American Le Mans the event will bring a strong roster of corporate sponsors. The Grand Prix announced today the complete lineup of official sponsors for the 2007 Grand Prix of Houston: AAA, AutoMart, Aztec Party & Tent Rentals, Budweiser, Bi-Rite Furniture, Choice Homes, Clear Channel, DeMontrond Automotive Group, DXDetroit, Fast Trac Transportation, Fiesta Marts, Gables Corporate Accommodations, Greater Houston Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Houston Chronicle, Hyatt Regency Houston, JAG Flocomponents, Lowe's, Mazda, Sun Coast Resources, Tejas Office Products, and theUniform Connection.
This list of corporate sponsors represents a very strong sales effort by the Grand Prix team and a substantial increase over last year's inaugural race at Reliant Park. Sales for the various corporate hospitality offerings at the Grand Prix - Pit Lane Suites, Executive Chalets, hospitality tents and Stadium Balcony Club - are also up more than 35%. Organizers are very pleased with the strong growth of corporate involvement in the race.
"The support of the local business community is vital to the success of our event, so we are delighted that these great partners have stepped up in support the Grand Prix of Houston," said Chuck Kosich, General Manager of the Grand Prix. "We are committed to building the Grand Prix of Houston into one of the premier motorsports events in North America, and having this strong sponsor backing will enable us to do that."
JAG Flocomponents, a leading manufacturer of valves for the energy and petrochemical industries, was announced last month as the largest sponsor to date for the Grand Prix and the new naming-rights sponsor for the racetrack, which is now called JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park. JAG is joined by Mazda and Budweiser as the three Featured Sponsors for the Grand Prix.
"We are proud of all our corporate partnerships, and in particular we are thrilled to have the three great featured sponsors associated with our event," said Michael Heckman, Director of Corporate Sales for the Grand Prix of Houston. "JAG Flocomponents, Budweiser, and Mazda represent two of the best-known consumer brands in the world as well as a true innovator in the energy and petrochemical industry. We could not be more happy with their support of the Grand Prix."
Fast Trac Transportation, a fast growing Houston-based company, will also make its presence felt at the Grand Prix of Houston as the title sponsor of the event's Atlantic Series race, to be called the Fast Trac 100. Fast Trac, a leading industrial and airfreight transportation company, will proudly display the Fast Trac 100 and Grand Prix of Houston logos on each of the 100+ trucks that make up the company's transportation fleet.
The four pedestrian bridges that will enable the thousands of fans at the Grand Prix of Houston to cross over the track into the infield will bear the corporate trademarks of some of the key Grand Prix sponsors. The Mazda Bridge, Budweiser Bridge, JAGFlo Bridge, and GHCVB Bridge will all greet fans when the gates open on April 20.
Choice Homes is a new sponsor of the Grand Prix of Houston and will be the title sponsor of the Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone at the Grand Prix. The Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone will be an interactive entertainment zone for kids of all ages, and will include activities such as inflatables, Micro Reality racecars, a mechanical bull, and displays from Sony Playstation and NASA.
Fiesta Marts returns as the Official Grocer of the Grand Prix of Houston, and for 2007 the company will sponsor the Fiesta Grandstand at the Grand Prix. The Fiesta Grandstand will be located at Turn 4 and will give fans a great view of this exciting turn at a low price. Tickets for the Fiesta Grandstand are available at all Houston-area Fiesta stores for just $5.
The Hyatt Regency Houston returns as the Official Hotel of the Grand Prix of Houston and will host many race teams, series officials, and fans throughout race weekend. The Hyatt is also the host hotel for the Miss Grand Prix of Houston contest, and many of the Miss Grand Prix events will take place at the Hyatt, including the interview judging and "meet the media" press conference.
(Houston, April 11, 2007)
The Grand Prix of Houston will roar back to JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park on April 20-22, and along with the high-speed cars of Champ Car and American Le Mans the event will bring a strong roster of corporate sponsors. The Grand Prix announced today the complete lineup of official sponsors for the 2007 Grand Prix of Houston: AAA, AutoMart, Aztec Party & Tent Rentals, Budweiser, Bi-Rite Furniture, Choice Homes, Clear Channel, DeMontrond Automotive Group, DXDetroit, Fast Trac Transportation, Fiesta Marts, Gables Corporate Accommodations, Greater Houston Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Houston Chronicle, Hyatt Regency Houston, JAG Flocomponents, Lowe's, Mazda, Sun Coast Resources, Tejas Office Products, and theUniform Connection.
This list of corporate sponsors represents a very strong sales effort by the Grand Prix team and a substantial increase over last year's inaugural race at Reliant Park. Sales for the various corporate hospitality offerings at the Grand Prix - Pit Lane Suites, Executive Chalets, hospitality tents and Stadium Balcony Club - are also up more than 35%. Organizers are very pleased with the strong growth of corporate involvement in the race.
"The support of the local business community is vital to the success of our event, so we are delighted that these great partners have stepped up in support the Grand Prix of Houston," said Chuck Kosich, General Manager of the Grand Prix. "We are committed to building the Grand Prix of Houston into one of the premier motorsports events in North America, and having this strong sponsor backing will enable us to do that."
JAG Flocomponents, a leading manufacturer of valves for the energy and petrochemical industries, was announced last month as the largest sponsor to date for the Grand Prix and the new naming-rights sponsor for the racetrack, which is now called JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park. JAG is joined by Mazda and Budweiser as the three Featured Sponsors for the Grand Prix.
"We are proud of all our corporate partnerships, and in particular we are thrilled to have the three great featured sponsors associated with our event," said Michael Heckman, Director of Corporate Sales for the Grand Prix of Houston. "JAG Flocomponents, Budweiser, and Mazda represent two of the best-known consumer brands in the world as well as a true innovator in the energy and petrochemical industry. We could not be more happy with their support of the Grand Prix."
Fast Trac Transportation, a fast growing Houston-based company, will also make its presence felt at the Grand Prix of Houston as the title sponsor of the event's Atlantic Series race, to be called the Fast Trac 100. Fast Trac, a leading industrial and airfreight transportation company, will proudly display the Fast Trac 100 and Grand Prix of Houston logos on each of the 100+ trucks that make up the company's transportation fleet.
The four pedestrian bridges that will enable the thousands of fans at the Grand Prix of Houston to cross over the track into the infield will bear the corporate trademarks of some of the key Grand Prix sponsors. The Mazda Bridge, Budweiser Bridge, JAGFlo Bridge, and GHCVB Bridge will all greet fans when the gates open on April 20.
Choice Homes is a new sponsor of the Grand Prix of Houston and will be the title sponsor of the Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone at the Grand Prix. The Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone will be an interactive entertainment zone for kids of all ages, and will include activities such as inflatables, Micro Reality racecars, a mechanical bull, and displays from Sony Playstation and NASA.
Fiesta Marts returns as the Official Grocer of the Grand Prix of Houston, and for 2007 the company will sponsor the Fiesta Grandstand at the Grand Prix. The Fiesta Grandstand will be located at Turn 4 and will give fans a great view of this exciting turn at a low price. Tickets for the Fiesta Grandstand are available at all Houston-area Fiesta stores for just $5.
The Hyatt Regency Houston returns as the Official Hotel of the Grand Prix of Houston and will host many race teams, series officials, and fans throughout race weekend. The Hyatt is also the host hotel for the Miss Grand Prix of Houston contest, and many of the Miss Grand Prix events will take place at the Hyatt, including the interview judging and "meet the media" press conference.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Grand Prix of Houston Kicks Off Construction Efforts
The Grand Prix of Houston is now just 15 days away, and officials kicked off the final phase of the construction effort today with a groundbreaking ceremony at JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park, which will host the Grand Prix on April 20-22. Grand Prix officials were joined by representatives of the American Le Mans Series and the Houston-based Risi Competizione Race Team, including driver Nic Johnssen.
During the ceremony, Johnssen piloted a Ferrari 360GT racecar through a giant ribbon in front of the Budweiser Bridge for a "turbo charged ribbon cutting" to officially open JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park for the upcoming Grand Prix. Over the next two weeks, four of the temporary bridges will be erected, more than 1,600 concrete blocks weighing 9,000 lbs each will be put in place, diamond grinding will be performed on certain areas to smooth the racing surface, and three miles of fencing will be installed to create the temporary street circuit where some of the best drivers in the world will compete during the Grand Prix.
The finished product will be a 1.7 mile temporary street course that is designed to optimize the experience for fans and drivers alike. The circuit will include ten turns, including turn four, a sweeping turn around the historic Reliant Astrodome. That turn will take the drivers into a short straightaway by Reliant Stadium, before several quick turns position the cars towards the finish line in front of Reliant Arena. For 2007, an additional turn has been added, a quick left-hander after the opening straightaway, designed to replace the temporary chicane that was added before last year's race.
The massive construction effort includes much more than just a racetrack. To accommodate the thousands of fans who will attend the three-day event, seven grandstands, multiple corporate hospitality areas, and several general admission viewing areas will be added throughout the 345-acre Reliant Park facility. Several of the grandstands have been moved to better accommodate fans, including grandstands 6 and 7, which have been moved inside the racetrack to move fans closer to the action.
When the gates open on April 20, fans will also find a festival of activities within the infield, including a beach volleyball court, Budweiser concert stage, the Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone, beer gardens, go-kart racing, and much more. The paddock areas will once again be a major attraction, and for 2007 all paddocks will be located outside. The Champ Car paddock, which last year was located inside the Reliant Arena and required a separate ticket, has been moved outside and will be free of charge for all fans.
Grand Prix of Houston officials are now working nearly around the clock to ensure that the racetrack and all facilities are completed on time. As Grand Prix of Houston construction moves into its final phase, officials are very optimistic about the progress.
"We are excited to be underway at JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park, and we are now right on schedule for the Grand Prix of Houston," said Kyle Novak, Director of Operations for the Grand Prix. "Reliant Park is wonderful facility to build a racetrack, and we believe that the drivers, teams, and fans will be delighted with the results when the gates open on April 20."
During the ceremony, Johnssen piloted a Ferrari 360GT racecar through a giant ribbon in front of the Budweiser Bridge for a "turbo charged ribbon cutting" to officially open JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park for the upcoming Grand Prix. Over the next two weeks, four of the temporary bridges will be erected, more than 1,600 concrete blocks weighing 9,000 lbs each will be put in place, diamond grinding will be performed on certain areas to smooth the racing surface, and three miles of fencing will be installed to create the temporary street circuit where some of the best drivers in the world will compete during the Grand Prix.
The finished product will be a 1.7 mile temporary street course that is designed to optimize the experience for fans and drivers alike. The circuit will include ten turns, including turn four, a sweeping turn around the historic Reliant Astrodome. That turn will take the drivers into a short straightaway by Reliant Stadium, before several quick turns position the cars towards the finish line in front of Reliant Arena. For 2007, an additional turn has been added, a quick left-hander after the opening straightaway, designed to replace the temporary chicane that was added before last year's race.
The massive construction effort includes much more than just a racetrack. To accommodate the thousands of fans who will attend the three-day event, seven grandstands, multiple corporate hospitality areas, and several general admission viewing areas will be added throughout the 345-acre Reliant Park facility. Several of the grandstands have been moved to better accommodate fans, including grandstands 6 and 7, which have been moved inside the racetrack to move fans closer to the action.
When the gates open on April 20, fans will also find a festival of activities within the infield, including a beach volleyball court, Budweiser concert stage, the Choice Homes Family Fun & Sports Zone, beer gardens, go-kart racing, and much more. The paddock areas will once again be a major attraction, and for 2007 all paddocks will be located outside. The Champ Car paddock, which last year was located inside the Reliant Arena and required a separate ticket, has been moved outside and will be free of charge for all fans.
Grand Prix of Houston officials are now working nearly around the clock to ensure that the racetrack and all facilities are completed on time. As Grand Prix of Houston construction moves into its final phase, officials are very optimistic about the progress.
"We are excited to be underway at JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park, and we are now right on schedule for the Grand Prix of Houston," said Kyle Novak, Director of Operations for the Grand Prix. "Reliant Park is wonderful facility to build a racetrack, and we believe that the drivers, teams, and fans will be delighted with the results when the gates open on April 20."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
