CHAMPCAR/CART: Teams Test at Road Atlanta

Braselton, Ga., August 18, 1998 -- Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center's revamped 2.5-mile, 12-turn road course has been a flurry of activity in recent weeks. Two leading CART teams -- Target/Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Rahal -- have booked the track for private test sessions. For the first time since 1989, an Indy Lights team -- Sal Incandela's Indy Regency Racing -- tested on the new circuit. And earlier this month, NASCAR pilots Chad Little (John Deere/Roush) and Jeremy Mayfield (Penske/Kranefuss) used the track to hone their road racing skills prior to the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen.

The increased interest in the Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center is in anticipation of an upcoming CART race date and possible future NASCAR Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series events.

Construction is underway on the new Road Atlanta pit complex, which is being built to both CART and NASCAR standards. The renovated pit complex will be operational for the Petit LeMans sports car race weekend October 8-10, 1998. In addition, all of the track's new safety protocols -- barrier systems, improved run-offs, and verge areas -- are now in place, making Road Atlanta an attractive site for CART and NASCAR testing.

"We've had a good deal of interest in our new facility," says Jim Selwa, C.O.O., Panoz Motor Sports. "The Winston Cup cars tested here in June, we held our first Pro Truck race that month, and recently one of the current CART teams expressed interest in relocating to our new motorsport industrial park situated adjacent to the racetrack. We're excited that CART, Indy Lights and NASCAR are taking advantage of all of the features the Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center can offer."

The Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center is part of the Panoz group of companies. These include Panoz Motor Sports, with race teams competing in the FIA GT World Sports Car Championship and the U.S. sports car series; legendary Sebring International Raceway; Mosport Park; Panoz Auto Development, a manufacturer of limited -production, high-performance sports cars; and Chateau Elan, a four-star resort in northeast Georgia.

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