From: Michael Powell 

$400,000 FENCE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UNDER WAY AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

FORT WORTH-DALLAS (Dec. 19, 2003) - Work is underway on a $400,000
improvement and upgrade program to the catch fence at Texas Motor Speedway
to better ensure fan safety.

A three-phase project has been undertaken by the speedway after engineers
studied ways to improve the fence surrounding the 1.5-mile track.

"We try to constantly make improvements in the area of safety,"
said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage. "We had a spectacular
crash involving the catch fence during October's Indy car race and were
pleased that the fence performed perfectly and kept all the debris on the
race track and out of the grandstands.

"But we have studied ways to make the fence even more effective for
all different cars that run here, including the much heavier stock
cars," he said. "We also saw the need to install a fence along
the inside wall of the speedway to protect fans in the infield. Overall, we
are significantly improving safety measures here at Texas Motor
Speedway."

The first phase involved repairs and re-design of the back stretch fence
where Indy Car driver Kenny Brack was involved in October's crash. Brack
continues to improve and expects to return to racing in 2004. The cost for
repairs from the October incident and re-design total approximately
$50,000.

The second phase will double the number of steel cables found in the catch
fence on top of the track's concrete outside wall. When phase two is
complete, a total of 12 steel cables located eight inches apart will
fortify the strength of the fence. The cables are designed to keep the car
on the racetrack side of the fence while chain link fence is designed to
catch smaller pieces of debris. The cost for the second phase is estimated
at $71,000.

The third phase calls for a 10-foot high catch fence with steel cables to
be installed on top of the three-foot inner crash wall surrounding the
infield of the speedway. This new fence will protect spectators located in
the speedway's infield and is expected to cost approximately $279,000.




--- Internet Rex 2.29