IPS: IRL: Indy Racing League Notebook 2004-03-09

Indy Racing League Notebook
Gordon considering turning Indy effort into full-time IndyCar Series team

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, March 9, 2004 -- The team that Robby Gordon is forming for the Indianapolis 500 may continue with the IRL IndyCar® Series after the May event.

"I'm sure if we established a good, strong team, and the guys worked good together, we would entertain the opportunities," said Gordon, who announced he would drive at Indianapolis on March 8. "Right now, we are a well-funded Indy 500 effort where we can go there and be competitive."

Gordon admitted that he was close to buying the assets of Team Menard and would have run the team in 2004 before John Menard merged his team with Panther Racing. But Gordon didn't rule out fielding his Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone entries for another driver after Indianapolis.

"I can honestly say right now we don't have anything," Gordon said. "But if we do a good enough job with our sponsors we have now and the team, go there and be very competitive, you never know what happens."

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Friends of Racing formed at Milwaukee: The Wisconsin State Fair Park has formed The Milwaukee Mile Friends of Racing, an advisory group which will organize events on behalf of the Milwaukee Mile.

The Milwaukee Mile Friends of Racing's goals include the creation of a series of events which will encourage racing fans to visit Milwaukee and The Milwaukee Mile. Its first project is to assist in creating a "Speedfest" prior the inaugural IRL IndyCar Series visit to The Milwaukee Mile in July.

Included in the activities is the "Rhythm and Zoom" gala on July 22 to benefit local charities. IRL President Tony George and his wife Laura will serve as honorary chairpersons of the event.

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Drivers visit Air Force base: Phoenix area residents Buddy Rice and Arie Luyendyk Jr. will visit Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., on March 11. The pair will exchange helmets with members of the military.

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The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season continues with the Copper World Indy 200 at 4 p.m. (EST) on March 21 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race will be broadcast live on ABC and the IMS Radio Network. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series Phoenix 100 will take place at 2:45 p.m. on March 20. The race will be broadcast by ESPN2 on a tape-delayed basis on March 25.

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