Texas Speedzone - Texas Motor Speedway "Speed Reads"

Texas Motor Speedway -- Speed Reads

IndyCar Series Champ Wheldon Says Texas Is Key To Repeating

Family Vehicles On Track To Benefit Speedway Children’s Charities

FORT WORTH, Texas (May 10, 2006) – Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon is trying to become just the second driver in history to repeat as series champion. After a record-setting 2005 season, the native of Emberton, England wasted no time chasing his second title by opening this year with a win at Homestead-Miami. And Wheldon believes the Bombardier Learjet 500k at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10 holds the key to repeating as the series champ.

“I think where the race is in the season this year is very important,” Wheldon said. “It is that kind of second half (of the season) where the contenders really separate themselves from the field. By the time we come to Texas, we have established that and it is about those guys making their mark.”

Wheldon and the rest of the IndyCar Series drivers are in Indianapolis preparing for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. But two weeks after the 500, the series arrives at “The Great American Speedway!” for “America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Series race.”

“It is a very, very critical race,” Wheldon said. “And it is our first super speedway type race we will have toward the second half of the season. That is important to us because there are a lot of races like that. Every race is important, but at this stage where Texas comes in, it is going to be a very pivotal point in the season.”

In addition to his goal of joining Sam Hornish Jr. (2001-02) as the series’ only repeat champions, he also is looking to repeat as the Indy 500 champion. Last season he tasted the milk with Andretti Green Racing, but made the move in the off-season to Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

“I think it makes me more motivated to win,” Wheldon said. “It was such a great honor to win and the realization of a dream. Last year I put a ton of pressure on myself to win this event. You want more of it, you really do.”

Wheldon established a series record with his six wins in 2005 with Andretti Gree, but switched to the No. 10 Target car this year. On the strength of his win at Homestead-Miami and a runner-up showing at Motegi, Japan, Wheldon currently sits second in the series title race, 42 points behind leader Helio Castroneves of Marlboro Team Penske.

While his focus is on Indy during May, he still is looking forward to the ambiance of Texas Motor Speedway, where he has three top-six finishes, including a pair of thirds, in his last four starts there.

“We draw very big crowds at that race. And, not just for the race day – every day at the race track is busy,” said Wheldon, who finished sixth at TMS last season. “I like the competition at Texas. It is very fast and a tight field. You see some very fast racing where we are going in excess of 210 mph and near 220. You can comfortably run three wide and it is basically that for the whole race. It is a race where the adrenaline is constantly pumping. It is great for the fans. The fans at Texas deserve that because they have been very loyal to the IndyCar Series.”

WHAT GOES UP…MUST COME DOWN

Texas Motor Speedway has received approval from the Indy Racing League to display the lap count in the June 10 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 500k in two different methods. Texas Motor Speedway is the first speedway ever to display the laps in the race counting down AND also counting up. Two separate panels in different color lights will indicate how many laps are left in the race and also how many laps have been run in the 200-lap event. Texas Motor Speedway first used the dual lap counting method in earnest during the April 9 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Samsung/RadioShack 500 race weekend.

SATURDAY NIGHT OUT

Looking for a new place to cruise in the family vehicle this Saturday night? How about the 1.5-mile superspeedway at Texas Motor Speedway? Fans can drive their own vehicles behind a speedway pace car on “The Great American Speedway!”, and it benefits Speedway Children’s Charities. Laps For Charity presented by ethanol is this Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The charitable donation is just $25 for three laps. For more information, contact Speedway Children’s Charities at (817) 215-8564.

TOP 10 VOTE MONTHLY WINNERS

Texas Motor Speedway has had a lot of winning moments in the speedway’s 10-year history. “The Top 10 Moments” are being ranked by fans via online voting through the “103.3 ESPN Radio Presents Top 10 Moments at Texas Motor Speedway” promotion. Monthly prizes are given to winners who are selected from the voting. Mike Burns from Richmond, Texas, is the March winner and the recipient of a $100 gift certificate to Speedway World, the Official Store of Texas Motor Speedway. Fans can go to www.texasmotorspeedway.com and www.espn1033.com to vote for their favorite Top 10 Moment in Texas Motor Speedway history. The top moment based on the fan voting results will be announced during the Dickies 500 race weekend in November.

EARLY RETURNS IN ON MAYORS’ RACE

The results have been tabulated from the opening week of the Mayor Challenge Series Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith was declared the winner of the May 6 preliminary round of the series. Smith advances to the championship race on May 27 which will feature the top four mayoral driving candidates to decide who the top city leader driver is in the area. Each week during May, four area mayors climb into Legends cars at Texas Motor Speedway with the winner advancing to the championship race at the end of the month. Residents of the cities being represented receive free admission to the races that night. This Saturday’s schedule features Argyle Mayor Richard Tucker, Rhome Mayor Mark Lorance, River Oaks Mayor Herman Earwood and Keller Mayor Julie Tandy. Schedule is subject to change. Gates open each Saturday at 6 p.m. with racing starting at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the TMS ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

FANS CAN GET A LIFT

Nationwide Insurance is on the side of racing fans for the June 8-10 Bombardier Learjet 500k weekend. The Nationwide Insurance Fan Assistance Patrol will be out in force over the race weekend giving fans rides on golf carts to their destinations around the track. The pick-up locations are easily identified by the Nationwide Insurance Flags that will be flying at each gate entrance. Hours of operation for the Fan Assistance Patrol are: Thursday, June 8 (1–9 p.m.); Friday, June 9 (12 p.m. – 2 hours after the conclusion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race); Saturday, June 10 (2 p.m. – 2 hours after the conclusion of the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 500k).

For additional information, please contact the Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations Department at (817) 215-8520 or pr@texasmotorspeedwa