Indy announces provisional 2007 date

2007 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17 AT IMS
Ticket Information Will Be Announced In Coming Weeks

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 - The 2007 United States Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, June 17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the eighth consecutive year that a FIA Formula One World Championship event will take place at the world's most famous racetrack.

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, IMS Chief Executive Officer Tony George and Formula One Management President and Chief Executive Officer Bernie Ecclestone came to an agreement on a one-year contract to bring Formula One racing back to IMS.

The event returns to the third weekend of June, when it was run in 2004 Tand 2005, after taking place on the Fourth of July weekend in 2006. Ticket information for next year's race will be announced soon.

"It was important for us to reach an agreement quickly so we can begin notifying fans that Formula One will again be racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007," said Joie Chitwood, IMS president. "Though this contract is for only one year, it is still our goal to make the Speedway the longtime home of the United States Grand Prix."

"Our immediate focus, however, is making sure IMS sets the stage for creating a world-class sporting event. The first step in doing that is beginning the process to sell tickets. We will announce that process soon, making sure that our ticket account holders get the opportunity to renew their seats first."

The 2007 race date is subject to final approval by the FIA, which is the sanctioning body for Formula One. Formula One was revived in the United States in 2000 by IMS after a nine-year absence. Race Day crowds for the USGP have been among the largest in Formula One since the event came to Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway completed a multimillion-dollar renovation and construction project in 2000, including the building of a 2.605-mile road course for the USGP that includes part of the famed, historic IMS oval. Michael Schumacher won this year's United States Grand Prix on July 2 in his Ferrari, becoming the first five-time winner of a major event in IMS history.

-credit: ims