Champion to appear on special show

CHAMP CAR ATLANTIC CHAMPION TO APPEAR ON SPEED'S 'WIND TUNNEL' SUNDAY EVENING ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (September 23, 2006) -- The name has yet to be engraved on the trophy and the ink isn't dry on the title-winner's $2 million check, but ...

CHAMP CAR ATLANTIC CHAMPION TO APPEAR ON SPEED'S 'WIND TUNNEL' SUNDAY EVENING

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (September 23, 2006) -- The name has yet to be engraved on the trophy and the ink isn't dry on the title-winner's $2 million check, but whoever wins the 2006 Yokohama Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda championship this weekend, the new champ will make his first national television appearance Sunday night on SPEED's Wind Tunnel program with host Dave Despain.

The Atlantic title battle is being played out this weekend at the Gehl Champ Car Atlantic Championship at Road America as series leader Simon Pagenaud (#15 Team Australia/Location U/Cons. Gen. Vienne) of Team Australia and Graham Rahal (#18 Gehl Company) of Mi-Jack Conquest will tangle on the classic 4.048-mile road circuit. Pagenaud enjoys a 13-point lead over Rahal in the title chase entering Saturday's final round of qualifying from Road America.

Whichever driver emerges from Round 12 of the Atlantic Championship on Sunday with the series title, the newly-crowned champ will join Despain on the popular Wind Tunnel airwaves via satellite from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Wind Tunnel will air Sunday night on SPEED from 9-10 p.m. ET. Longtime motorsports medical consultant Dr. Steve Olvey will also be a featured guest on Sunday night's show.

The series champion, who will also earn $2 million to graduate to the Champ Car World Series in 2007, will appear on Wind Tunnel before arriving as the guest of honor at the Atlantic season-ending awards celebration. All 2006 Atlantic competitors will be honored at the celebration Sunday evening at The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.