CHAMPCAR/CART: Mandatory pit windows reinstated for Milwaukee

Champ Car Reinstates Mandatory Pit Windows For Next Week's Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 at Milwaukee Mile

INDIANAPOLIS (May 28, 2004) -- In a continuing effort to bring the best quality of racing to its millions of fans, the Champ Car World Series will bring back the mandatory pit windows that were used last year in the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.

The pit windows mean that teams must stop to take on fuel and four new Bridgestone Potenza racing tires at specified intervals during the race. The intervals were put in place to force competitors to run without regard to saving fuel, as before the event Champ Car race officials calculate how long the cars can run at full speed on a load of fuel, then set the windows accordingly.

The pit windows, which are currently slated to be in effect for the Milwaukee race only, will be set for 59 laps for Saturday night's 250-lap event at the Milwaukee Mile.

"We have learned through our experience that the use of pit windows works exceedingly well for us on oval tracks," said Champ Car Technical Director Lee Dykstra. "Milwaukee is a very important event for us and we want to ensure that the fans get the most competitive racing that we can provide."

The Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 will take place at the Milwaukee Mile June 5 at 8 p.m. and can be seen live on HDNet. The race will also be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Spike TV, Sunday at 4 p.m.

-ccws-