For Immediate Release

100^th ANNIVERSARY INDIANAPOLIS 500 TO START AT NOON

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 - The 33 greatest drivers in the world will cross the famed Yard of Bricks to take the green flag for the 100^th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 at noon (ET) Sunday, May 29, 2011.

The start time has been 1 p.m. since 2006.

"With less than 100 days until the 100^th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, we are excited to finalize our start time so our fans can begin to make plans to celebrate with us at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO. "Starting the race at noon gives us an additional hour of daylight to ensure we can complete all 500 miles of the race in case we were to encounter any kind of inclement weather. Noon also has the green flag waving in a time slot that is better for our West Coast viewers.

"Our fans also have told us they like an earlier starting time, and it's very important for us to stay responsive to their vital feedback."

The inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 started at 10 a.m. after race organizers determined that start time would allow the race to be completed by dinner time. That stood as the official starting time for the event through 1941. After a four-year hiatus due to World War II, the race resumed in 1946 with an 11 a.m. start, a time that remained unchanged for 59 consecutive races through 2004.

The start time moved to noon in 2005 and again to 1 p.m. in 2006, when Indiana began observing Daylight Savings Time.

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2011 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100^th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, "The Most Important Race in History," on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16^th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

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TRG to Launch Full Season Assault on 2011 IMSA Season

Petaluma, CA (February 21, 2011)- Following a successful return to IMSA competition in 2010, TRG will return in 2011 with two full entries in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Yokohama. Fielding drivers Dr. Jim Norman and Randy Oswald who feature both speed and experience, the team looks set to return to the GT3 Cup Challenge ranks for the first time since 2006.

Taking a 25-year “hiatus” from racing to pursue a career in medicine, Dr. Jim Norman joins TRG for his first full season of racing at this level. A graduate of the Skip Barber National ranks, Norman is not only a proven racer, but he’s also an experienced pilot and drummer. Sponsored by parathyroid.com, Norman has high expectations for his first full season of competition.

“I’m really excited to join TRG for the season,” explained Norman. “We had a successful test at Sebring last week and I was very pleased to find the pace that we did. To be part of the ALMS weekend with the GT3 Cup Challenge is a very special opportunity, and I look forward to next month’s first race.”

Randy Oswald will also join the team in his Verax sponsored Porsche GT3 Cup car. Coming from a banking and IT Background, the Toronot native comes with 12 years of experience in different Porsche disciplines, and should be a strong competitor in the TRG ranks.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge,” stated Oswald. “I knew that this was the series I wanted to really make a run at, and I’ve spent the last two years running in a similar car to get ready. Running with TRG is a very welcome opportunity and I’ve been really happy with the level of professionalism and support they’ve given.”

For Team Owner Kevin Buckler, the opportunity to return to the IMSA ranks with such a strong driver lineup is a great sign of the team’s return.

“This promises to be a great year,” stated Buckler. “We have two drivers who are very talented and this really makes it even more exciting for the team. Dr. Jim was extremely impressive in his debut with us at last week’s test, and he’s been absolutely great to work with. He has his goals set, wants to hit his marks and we are going to help. Randy Oswald is another very talented guy and has shown some fabulous pace and racecraft in his club racing efforts with us and is ready to step it up here. Based on last week’s pace I’d say we have a really good team in the IMSA ranks this year—-this is gonna be fun!!”

TRG is a full-service motorsports company offering a total driver ladder approach. This approach starts with track days, goes to club events, up into street stock series and culminates in the ultimate goal of professional motorsports. With sports car focused facilities in Petaluma, California (Infineon Raceway) and Millville, New Jersey (New Jersey Motorsports Park) the team can offer turn-key support as well as arrive-and-drive programs.

The company’s NASCAR operations are headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry and has the capacity to run ARCA, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series.

The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing. The team boasts Rolex Series GT championships in 2005 and 2006 and holds the record for the most wins in Grand-Am with 31. The team’s resume is highlighted by five championships, three Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona victories and a Le Mans 24 Hour win.

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NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines

Today, February 21, 2011, 5 hours ago

Head2Head: Is it a problem non-race winners currently lead?

Today, February 21, 2011, 7 hours ago

The first race weekend is in the books and the current championship leaders are Clay Rogers, Landon Cassill and Carl Edwards. Three drivers that didn't win their race are currently leading the standings.

Gilliland, Labonte find success with the push

Today, February 21, 2011, 11 hours ago

At the end of the 53rd Daytona 500 Sunday, the proof was in the pushing for many, but none so much as David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte whose third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, were breakthroughs.

Strong Earnhardt effort cut short at Daytona

Today, February 21, 2011, 13 hours ago

Few drivers had a more active Speedweeks than Dale Earnhardt Jr. There was a crash in the season-opening Budweiser Shootout last weekend, a crash in practice Wednesday that forced him into a backup car, and a crash in the final laps of Sunday's Daytona 500. Yet what kept NASCAR's most popular driver from winning NASCAR's biggest event was something far more mundane.

Bayne becomes youngest Daytona 500 winner

Yesterday, February 20, 2011, 10:48:33 PM

The planets aligned. Heck, the heavens stood still. And Trevor Bayne recaptured the magic of David Pearson in the Wood Brothers throwback No. 21 Ford, winning Sunday's 53rd running of the Daytona 500.

Ragan's mistake dooms chance at Daytona victory

Yesterday, February 20, 2011, 9:58:21 PM

David Ragan's crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, came out of his Roush Fenway Racing hauler after the Daytona 500 with a sandwich in his hand, so choking on the disappointment of his driver, David Ragan, losing a shot at winning the Great American Race wasn't an option.

Smith pleased, but laments what could have been

Yesterday, February 20, 2011, 9:16:16 PM

One of NASCAR's best-kept secrets may be no longer.

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