CHAMPCAR/CART: Driven premiere report

April 17th, 2001, Hollywood: The roar of racing engines echoed down Hollywood Boulevard at the world premiere of "Driven" last night, as CART drivers Paul Tracy, Kenny Brack, Cristiano da Matta, Mauricio Gugelmin, and Michel Jourdain Jr arrived at Mann's Chinese Theater in open-wheel race cars. The famous Hollywood Blvd. was closed to traffic, bleachers were set up across the street from the theater, and the public was treated to a double-dose of celebrity, with actors Sylvester Stallone, Estella Warren, Kip Pardue, and Cristian de la Fuente arriving in stretch limos, and the CART drivers blasting down the street in their race cars.

Tracy provided the large crowd with a variety of thrills in his actual Champ

Paul Tracy peels out during demonstration pit stop in front of Mann's Chinese Theater. Photo: Greg Spotts

Car, including demonstration pitstops a wild series of donuts, creating a huge cloud of tire smoke. As the smoke cleared, the other four drivers pulled up in the race cars used at the CART 101 driving school.

After the premiere, the actors and drivers headed to the exclusive Sunset Room for an invitation-only party honoring the cast and crew of "Driven," which will be released by Franchise/Warners on April 27th, 2001.

"Driven" stars Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger,

	CART drivers Michel Jourdain Jr, Kenny Brack and Cristiano da Matta work the 'press line' on the red-carpeted entrance to Mann's Chinese Theate. Photo: Greg Spotts

Gina Gershon, Estella Warren and Cristian de la Fuente. The film was directed by Renny Harlin, reuinting him with Sylvester Stallone following their highly successful collaboration on "Cliffhanger." Story by Sylvester Stallone and Neal Tabachnick & Jan Skrentny. Screenplay by Sylvester Stallone. "Driven" is produced by Franchise Pictures' Elie Samaha, Stallone and Harlin. Andrew Stevens, Don Carmody and Kevin King are the executive producers. It will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.

CART driver Cristiano da Matta roars down Hollywood Blvd in his CART 101 car on way to 'Driven' premiere. Photo: Greg Spotts

-GSE