IRL: Indy Racing League News and Notes 2005-03-10

INDY RACING LEAGUE NEWS AND NOTES -- March 10, 2005

Today's IRL headlines
1. Indy Racing League, Marathon Coach announce Official Motor Coach Partnership

1. Indy Racing League, Marathon Coach announce Official Motor Coach Partnership: The Indy Racing League and Marathon Coach, the motor coach of choice of many race teams, drivers and corporations, have announced a partnership that makes the Coburg, Ore.,-based converter of motorhomes and corporate coaches the Official Motor Coach of the IRL IndyCar® Series. The partnership includes Official Motor Coach status of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IRL's development series, the Menards Infiniti Pro Series^Ù.

Marathon Coach is the world's largest bus converter and represents the highest quality, most luxurious bus conversions available in the world today. Marathon's custom coaches contain all of the technology and conveniences needed to conduct business or entertain guests at the racetrack.

"We are pleased to welcome Marathon Coach to the IRL family of partners," said Ken Ungar, senior vice president, business affairs for the IRL. "The partnership between our two companies is a natural since we both offer leading-edge and innovative products."

Marathon conversions are primarily built on Prevost 45-foot bus chassis. Prevost "LeMirage" and "H3-45" chassis, powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 515 horsepower engines, provide the highest level of reliability and durability that coach owners desire.

Marathon's coaches present owners with all of the amenities found in a custom designed, luxury home. Marathon coaches feature plasma and LCD televisions with in-motion satellite television, satellite radio and Internet reception. When it's time to entertain, spacious galleys and advanced audio/visual systems make the coach a lavish hospitality suite. Exterior hospitality tents and underbelly audio/visual systems allow for extended entertaining. The retail prices for new coaches range from $1,400,000 to more than $2,000,000. High quality pre-owned coaches are also available starting at $200,000.

In addition to its main headquarters, Marathon also maintains full sales and service facilities in San Antonio, Fla. and Grand Prairie, Texas for customer convenience. For additional information about the company or to view available inventory, please visit www.marathoncoach.com.

The IndyCar Series family of partners includes Bombardier (official business aircraft solutions provider), Firestone (official tire), Chevrolet (official safety car and truck), Delphi (official safety technology supplier), Featherlite (official trailer), Holmatro official supplier of rescue tools), K&N Filters (official air filter), Klein Tools (official airshow), Lincoln Welders (official welder), Marathon (official coach), MBNA (official affinity card), Perkin Elmer (official instrument supplier and fuel certification), TAG Heuer (official timekeeper and watch) and XM Satellite Radio (official satellite radio partner).

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The 10th season of IndyCar Series competition continues with the XM Satellite Radio Indy 200 Presented by Argent Mortgage on Saturday, March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race will be broadcast live by ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network at 3 p.m. The race also will be available on XM Satellite Radio channel "XM Extreme" (Channel 152). ESPN2's coverage of the Menards Infiniti Pro Series Miami 100 will be shown at 3 p.m. (EST) on March 14. The next Menards Infiniti Pro Series race is the Phoenix 100 on March 19 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race will be broadcast March 24 at 3 p.m. (EDT).

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