From: Michael Powell 
 
INDY RACING LEAGUE NEWS AND NOTES # April 9, 2004
 
Today#s IRL headlines
 
1. Hornish, Kanaan nominated for First Quarter Driver of the Year
 
2. Red Bull Cheever Racing Announces Partnership
 
1. Hornish, Kanaan nominated for First Quarter Driver of the Year
 
IRL IndyCar# Series drivers Sam Hornish Jr., and Tony Kanaan are among the
nominees for the Speed Channel Presents the Driver of the Year Award for the
first quarter of 2004.
 
Hornish, a two-time IndyCar Series champion, won the season-opening Toyota
Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 29.  He became the first driver to
win his debut race with Marlboro Team Penske.
 
Kanaan, the current IndyCar Series points leader, dominated the Copper World
Indy 200 on March 20 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kanaan led 191 of the
200 laps to claim his second-consecutive race at Phoenix.
 
Other drivers nominated for the award include: NHRA drag racers Greg Anderson
and Tony Schumacher, NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Matt
Kenseth, and World of Outlaws star Steve Kinser.
 
An 18-member panel will select the winner of the award. Fans can participate
in voting via an online ballot, located at Speed Channel#s web site,
www.speedtv.com. 
 
***
 
2. Red Bull Cheever Racing Announces Partnership
 
Red Bull Cheever Racing announced a partnership with Elrod Corporation for the
remainder of the 2004 IndyCar Series season.
 
Elrod Corporation based in Mooresville, Ind., is a manufacturer of all types
of spectator structures including the design and construction of grandstands,
bleachers, luxury suites with race operations, media centers, and other like
venues for the sporting world. Elrod also offers design consultation,
fabrication, and erection services for all types of complex steel structures.
 
#We#re proud to welcome Elrod Corporation as a new partner in our Indy 
 
Racing League efforts,# said Red Bull Cheever Racing#s managing director Max
Jones. #They have a well-established reputation in the racing industry and in
the Indianapolis community. Working together we will be able to combine and
utilize our resources to develop new business opportunities that will continue
to the expansion of both our organizations.#
 
Elrod has been the seating supplier for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since
the mid 1980#s providing materials and services for grandstands, the new pagoda
style race control tower, luxury suites, concession buildings, pedestrian
bridges, flagman#s tower, and miles of safety fencing.
 
#Race track facilities are an important market opportunity for our company#s
future growth,# said Elrod President Jeff Elrod. #We are very excited to be a
part of the Red Bull Cheever Racing Team and look forward to the opportunity of
working together to further develop this relationship.# 
 
***
 
The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season continues with the Indy Japan 300 at 11:30
p.m. (EDT) on April 16 at Twin Ring Motegi. The race will be broadcast live on
ESPN2 and the IMS Radio Network. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series Futaba Freedom
100 will take place at 2 p.m. (EDT) on May 22 at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. The race will be broadcast live by ESPN2.
 
___ Internet Rex 2.29
 


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