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CGR IndyCar duo to compete in Fontana

CompUSA Adds 3rd Entry for Rolex Series Finale in Fontana Indianapolis, IN October 18th, 2004 ----CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is proud to announce that it will be fielding a third Daytona Prototype Lexus Riley entry for the ...

CompUSA Adds 3rd Entry for Rolex Series Finale in Fontana

Indianapolis, IN October 18th, 2004 ----CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is proud to announce that it will be fielding a third Daytona Prototype Lexus Riley entry for the 2004 Rolex Grand American Sportcar series finale, the Lexus Grand American 400, on the road course circuit at California Speedway in Fontana, CA on Sunday, October 31.

To close out a very successful rookie season, during which the no.01 and no.02 CompUSA Lexus-Riley entries combined to produce 3 wins, 10 pole positions and two double podiums, the CompUSA team has decided to field a third car which will be designated as the no.8 CompUSA Lexus Riley. Indy Racing League drivers Scott Dixon, the 2003 IndyCar Series Champion, and Target teammate Darren Manning have been assigned to share the driving duties.

"In the past few weeks, excitement over the CompUSA Team's successes this year has been shared with our IndyCar team with whom they work along side at the race shop in Indianapolis," said CompUSA team owner Chip Ganassi. "There's also been a lot of talk and excitement over the IRL going road racing next year. That combination led to talks of adding a third CompUSA entry with Scott and Darren that would allow them to get a little taste of the competitive world of Rolex Grand Am racing and also get a little tune up for their return to road racing. It's thanks to our partners at Lexus and CompUSA that it all came together for this Rolex Series finale and we're all looking forward to having a great race weekend."

Dixon had his initiation to the Rolex Grand American Sportscar Series earlier this year when he participated in the season opener at the Rolex 24 hours at Daytona as one of the four no.01 CompUSA drivers.

"The 24 hours at Daytona was a good first time introduction to endurance racing for me," said 2003 IRL champ Scott Dixon. "We had a fair race at Daytona but the CompUSA team, along with Lexus and Riley Technologies has really worked hard and improved from that initial race and that really shows in how very successful their first season has been. It will be really interesting to compare the experience. I've never run on the Fontana road course but I'm really looking forward to it. The team has got a championship on their mind and it'll be great to be part of it. "

Both Manning and Dixon will have the benefit of getting in a full day of additional practice on Thursday for the Hoosier tire test at California Speedway. Dixon will then get in some Rolex Daytona Prototype practice time on Friday morning before heading back east to run in the International Race of Champions in Atlanta, GA on Saturday. His Target teammate and CompUSA co-driver Darren Manning will qualifying the no.8 Lexus Riley and take the start of the race on Sunday.

"I expect it to be great fun but we are certainly taking this very seriously," said Manning who is about to get his first introduction to Rolex Grand American Sportscar racing. "It will be very competitive out there and we'll do our best to run with the leaders. I'm not at all sure what to expect but I plan on getting a lot of practice in. It'll be fun to be paired up with Scott (Dixon) and we both have a lot of road course experience going for us. Of course we have the added benefit of running for a CompUSA team that has had a pretty successful run this season."

The no.01 CompUSA Lexus Riley, driven by Scott Pruett and Max Papis, presently has a three point lead in the Rolex Series Championship standings with just one race left in the season. The no. 02 CompUSA Lexus Riley is piloted by the Mexican driver duo of Jimmy Morales and Luis Diaz who are currently 8th in the team championship standings.

Fans of CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates can catch all three Lexus Rileys going for the win and the Championship at the 2004 Rolex Series Finale at California Speedway in Fontana, LIVE on SPEED Channel, beginning at 4:00 PM (ET) on Sunday, October 31st. Fans are also welcome to follow the team's progress throughout the race weekend by logging on to the GrandAmerican.com website for free Zippo live timing results and are invited to keep up with the team's successes by logging onto their official website at chipganassiracing.com for news, features, photos and much more.

-cgr-

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