From: Michael Powell 

INDYCAR SERIES JAPAN DATE SET FOR APRIL 17

Race at Twin Ring Motegi to be broadcast live on ESPN2

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 17, 2003 – The second IndyCarTM Series event at the
1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan will be held Saturday, April 17,
2004, Indy Racing League officials announced Sept. 17.

The Indy Japan 300, the final race before the 88th Indianapolis 500-Mile
Race, will start at 12:30 p.m. (Japan time) April 17 and be broadcast live
in the United States on ESPN2 at 11:30 p.m. (EDT) Friday, April 16.

“We look forward to our return to Twin Ring Motegi, where we were so warmly
received at our inaugural event,” said Ken Ungar, senior vice president of
business affairs for the IRL. “Japan offers the IndyCar Series the
opportunity to showcase our exciting product in front of an enthusiastic
audience, while strengthening our ties with companies who are involved with
the league and its drivers and teams.” 

Scott Sharp won the first IndyCar Series event at Twin Ring Motegi on April
13, 2003. The 2004 schedule of events at Japan will be similar to 2003,
with practice taking place on Thursday, April 15, MBNA Pole Qualifying on
Friday, April 16 and the race on Saturday, April 17. 

In addition to Japan, there are 15 other races during the 2004 season, the
ninth year of competition for the IRL IndyCar Series. The 16-race schedule,
featuring all ovals, equals the 2003 season for the largest number of
events on an IRL IndyCar Series season schedule. 

All 16 events will be broadcast live on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, including six
consecutive ABC telecasts from July 25 to Sept. 12. All races also will be
broadcast by the IMS Radio Network. 

For the third consecutive year, Homestead-Miami Speedway will play host to
the season opener, the Toyota Indy 300, with ESPN televising the event
scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 29. The season will end with an ABC-televised
race, the Chevy 500 on Sunday, Oct. 17 at Texas Motor Speedway. TMS has
played host to the IRL season finale since 1999.

The 88th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 30 and will be
broadcast for the 40th consecutive year by ABC. The relationship is the
second-longest running partnership by a sporting event and a network.

The Milwaukee Mile will play host to its first IndyCar Series race on July 25, 2004. 

Tickets for all IndyCar Series events can be purchased through links at
www.indyracing.com.

2004 INDY RACING LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Date	

Track	

Event	

Television

Feb. 29	

Homestead-Miami Speedway	

Toyota Indy 300	

ESPN

March 21	

Phoenix International Raceway	

TBA	

ABC

April 17	

Twin Ring Motegi	

Indy Japan 300	

ESPN2

May 30	

Indianapolis Motor Speedway	

88th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race	

ABC

June 12*	

Texas Motor Speedway	

Bombardier 500	

ESPN

June 26*	

Richmond International Raceway	

SunTrust Indy Challenge	

ESPN2

July 4	

Kansas Speedway	

TBA	

ABC

July 17*	

Nashville Superspeedway	

Firestone Indy 200	

ESPN

July 25	

The Milwaukee Mile	

TBA	

ABC

Aug. 1	

Michigan International Speedway	

Firestone Indy 400	

ABC

Aug. 15	

Kentucky Speedway	

Belterra Casino Indy 300	

ABC

Aug. 22	

Pikes Peak International Raceway	

Honda Indy 225	

ABC

Aug. 29	

Nazareth Speedway	

Firestone Indy 225	

ABC

Sept. 12	

Chicagoland Speedway	

Delphi Indy 300	

ABC

Oct. 3	

California Speedway	

Toyota Indy 400	

ESPN

Oct. 17	

Texas Motor Speedway	

Chevy 500	

ABC

* -- night race




--- Internet Rex 2.29