From: Michael Powell 

INDY RACING LEAGUE NOTEBOOK

Dixon, Giaffone compete in go-karts; CARA Bowl-a-thon set for Nov. 22

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 - Reigning IRL IndyCar Series
champion Scott Dixon and 2001 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Felipe Giaffone
competed in a charity go-kart event Nov. 15 in Cartagena, Colombia.

Formula One standout and 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, a
native of Columbia, promoted the event, called Formula Smiles. The money
raised from the event goes toward ensuring children in Colombia have access
to sports. 

Giaffone finished second in the event, while Dixon finished sixth. The
final results were determined by averaging the results from two races. In
the first race in rainy conditions, Giaffone finished first, Montoya second
and Dixon, 10th. In the second session, Giaffone spun on a wet part of the
circuit and finished fourth, while Dixon came home third. 

F3000 driver Ricardo Sperafico won the event, while Adrian Fernandez,
co-owner of IndyCar Series team Super Aguri Fernandez Racing, finished
fourth, and Montoya finished fifth. Formula One drivers Marc Gene, Pedro de
la Rosa and Antonio Pizzonia also competed. 

"It was great to be in Colombia and to have the opportunity to help
Montoya give a better life to Colombian children," Giaffone said.
"I had a lot of fun racing go-karts with friends in such a beautiful
place as Cartagena, just one week after enjoying another go-kart festival
(the Granja Viana 500-Miles) in Brazil. I could get to know the Colombian
go-kart racers, as Formula Smiles was just part of a bigger event - the
'Grand Finale' for their National Go-Kart Championship.  There were about
6,000 people in the grandstands around the street course, just by the
Caribbean Sea."

Giaffone and his wife, Alice, enjoyed the area so much that they decided to
spend two more days than they originally planned.

***

CARA Bowl-A-Thon: Auto racing fans will have the opportunity to raise money
for needy causes, as well as enjoy an afternoon of bowling with many
open-wheel participants in the CARA Charities' "Bowl-A-Thon" at 2
p.m. Nov. 22 at Raceway Lanes in Speedway, Ind., across from the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The cost for the "Bowl-A-Thon" is $15.00 per person and includes
shoes, bowling ball and two games of bowling. Each team will consist of six
bowlers.

CARA Charities, based in Speedway, has been a primary fund-raising
organization for needy services within the open-wheel racing community for
the past two decades. For further information, contact the CARA Charities
office at (317) 299-2277.

***

Andretti Featured in New Book: Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green
Racing, is featured in a new book titled "America's Athletes"
along with more than 50 other sports stars from the United States. 

Proceeds from the sale of the book will be divided among charities selected
by the feature athletes. Michael Andretti's selected charity is the Michael
Andretti Foundation.

The book includes photographs of the sports stars along with a patriotic
perspective written by each athlete. All photos contain a patriotic theme
and were developed following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. 

"After the events of Sept. 11th, the opportunity to get involved in a
book of this magnitude with so many other high-caliber athletes made it
impossible for me not to participate," Andretti said. "Knowing
that a portion of the proceeds will not only benefit my foundation, but all
of the other athletes' charities, as well, is just an added bonus." 

Along with Andretti, other athletes in the book include: Marion Jones,
Evander Holyfield, Tony Stewart, Tim Duncan, Kurt Warner, Kristi Yamaguchi
and Jeremy Roenick.

"America's Athletes" will be available at select Borders
bookstores and online at www.andretti.com or www.americasathletes.com. 

The Michael Andretti Foundation supports a variety of charitable causes and
initiatives that promote children's charities, educational purposes and
wellness programs. Three national focuses have been identified for 2004:
"Education is Freedom," "Mercy Home for Boys and Girls"
and "Drink Smart." 

America's Athletes is a project of the FairPlay Foundation, a Phoenix-based
non-profit organization created by Sandra Tenuto to assist professional
athletes, celebrities and the affluent who want to become more involved in
enhancing the community in which they live, play and serve. 

 



--- Internet Rex 2.29