Sebring Hall of Fame names 2006 inductees

Sebring,  FL - The Sebring Sports Car Racing  Hall of Fame has announced its
2006 inductees.  Three-time Sebring winner Phil Hill,  two-time winners Brian
Redman and Bob Akin, three-time winning car owner Briggs  Cunningham, American
Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz and veteran race  official Charlie
Earwood will join the prestigious Sebring Hall of  Fame.

The six new members of the Sebring Sports Car Racing Hall of Fame will be inducted at ceremonies on Friday, March 17, the day before the 54th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The Hall of Fame was established on Sebring's 50th Anniversary in 2002 to honor drivers, manufacturers, promoters, officials and others who have contributed to the history of America's oldest and most prestigious sports car race. Hall of Fame inductions are held every other year.

Phil Hill is a road  racing legend, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and
the Formula One World Championship  in addition to numerous sports car racing
victories around the world. His  Sebring record includes three overall wins
(1958, 59, 61) and three class  victories.

Road racing pioneer Briggs  Cunningham competed 14 times at Sebring. As a car
owner, he fielded the  Sebring-winning car three consecutive years 1953-55.
During the early 1950s he led  America's first serious  effort at Le  Mans
with his namesake Cunningham cars. He passed away in  2003.

Brian Redman won  Sebring in 1975 and 1979, and has two other podium finishes
in his stellar  career at America's oldest sports car  race.  Redman is a
three-time  Formula 5000 champion and the winner of the 1981 IMSA Camel GT
Championship. His  illustrious career includes wins at virtually every major road
course in the  world.

The late Bob Akin won Sebring  in 1979 and 1986 and finished second in 1983,
each time in cars entered by his  own team. His 1986 victory in a Porsche 962
still holds the record as the  fastest average winning speed ever at Sebring.
Akin also competed six times at  Le Mans.

Dr. Don Panoz revived international road racing in North America, founding the American Le Mans Series in 1999. As owner of Sebring International Raceway for the past nine years (the second longest tenure as promoter in Sebring history) he initiated a multi-million dollar enhancement program, making Sebring among the finest and most versatile road racing facilities in North America.

Charlie Earwood has served as an official at Sebring for 39 consecutive years, including numerous times as Chief Steward. From 1987-89, Earwood was promoter of Sebring's 12-hour classic. During this period, he supervised major changes to the raceway, including the establishment of Sebring's successful winter testing program.

Previous inductees include Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, Bob and Al Holbert,  Mario
Andretti, Juan Manuel Fangio, Carroll Shelby, John Fitch, Sir Stirling  Moss,
Bobby Rahal, IMSA Founder John Bishop, race official Ford Heacock and  previous
Sebring promoters Alec and Mary Ulmann, Charles Mendez and John  Greenwood.
Legendary manufacturers  Porsche and Ferrari have also been inducted into the
Sebring Hall of  Fame.

The event will be held at the Four Points Sheraton Chateau Elan Hotel and Spa, overlooking Sebring's famous Hairpin turn. Tickets to the induction ceremony are available on a very limited basis. Proceeds go to the Sebring Sports Car Racing Museum Fund.

Gates open for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Wednesday, March  15.
Tickets are now on sale at  advance purchase prices. For more information
visit sebringraceway.com or call  800-626-7223.

-sir-