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CHAMPCAR/CART: La Gala Seca charity event

LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY - Monterey, CA (August 3, 2000) - The Honda Grand Prix of Monterey featuring the Shell 300 weekend is all about world class entertainment, both on the race track and off. The weekend kicks off with a celebration that has ...

LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY - Monterey, CA (August 3, 2000) - The Honda Grand Prix of Monterey featuring the Shell 300 weekend is all about world class entertainment, both on the race track and off. The weekend kicks off with a celebration that has become an annual tradition at Laguna Seca Raceway, the La Gala Seca charity dinner and auction.

The La Gala Seca honor roll reads like a who's who of racing - Mario Andretti, Danny Sullivan, Rick Mears, Bobby Rahal and Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2000, another illustrious name will join the list as La Gala Seca pays tribute to CART's top engine manufacturer, Honda.

Over the past four seasons, Honda has dominated the FedEx Championship Series - three Manufacturer's Championships (1996, 1998, 1999); four Driver' s titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999); and three Rookie of the Year titles (1996, 1998, 1999). 1999 proved to be Honda's greatest season in Champ Car Racing. During the course of the 20-race season, Honda-powered drivers captured 14 race victories, a new single season record for a manufacturer, and 13 qualifying poles. Honda finished the season ahead of Ford Cosworth, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota with 383 manufacturer points and claimed its third engine title. In addition, the top three finishers in the drivers' points standings - Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy - drove Champ Cars powered by Honda engines.

In 2000, the Honda HRS Turbo V-8 racing engine is adding to its accomplishments. Three teams are campaigning the Honda powerplant this season - Penske Racing with drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves; Team Kool Green with drivers Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy; and Walker Racing with driver Shinji Nakano. 10 races into the season, Honda drivers have taken the checkered flag four times.

This kind of long-term success deserves recognition, so hosts Soroptimist International of Carmel Bay and the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) selected Honda as the first manufacturer to be honored at La Gala Seca.

Along with a salute to the Honda, the event will feature cocktails, hors d' oeuvres and an elegant buffet dinner. There will be live and silent auctions offering an incredible selection of motorsports memorabilia, wines, jewelry, art and much more. As always, proceeds from this event will benefit women's and children's charities throughout the Monterey Peninsula.

The eighth annual La Gala Seca honoring Honda will take place Thursday night, September 7, 2000 at Laguna Seca Raceway. Tickets are $75.00 per person. For tickets and information, please call 831-648-5100 or 1-800-327-SECA.

The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) has operated Laguna Seca Raceway since its opening in 1957. SCRAMP is a nonprofit organization chartered to benefit local charitable and non-profit groups, and to promote economic vitality. Race events at Laguna Seca Raceway have resulted in more than $9 million being distributed to Monterey Peninsula and Central California groups for youth programs and community service projects, and have generated over $1 billion in revenue for area businesses. Today, SCRAMP is the most important economic and charitable organization in Monterey County.

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