United States GP event schedule

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2001 - The event schedule for the second annual SAP United States Grand Prix was unveiled today, with the Formula One race starting at 1 p.m. (EST) Sunday, Sept. 30.

Qualifying will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, and practice will open at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28.

The Porsche Pirelli Supercup and the Ferrari Challenge again will serve as support races for the Grand Prix. Porsche Pirelli Supercup races start at 3 p.m. Sept. 29 and 9:20 a.m. Sept. 30. The Ferrari Challenge race starts at 11 a.m. Sept. 30.

Famous Grand Prix cars from different eras will be part of a Formula One historic car parade at 5 p.m. Sept. 28 and 3:50 p.m. Sept. 29.

Michael Schumacher won the inaugural SAP United States Grand Prix last year, which was the first Formula One race in the United States since 1991. He went on to capture the FIA Formula One World Championship for the Ferrari team.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway won the 2000 Formula One Constructors Association Award, presented to the best promoter and event organizer in Formula One each year at the annual FIA awards ceremony in Monaco. The SAP United States Grand Prix is the largest-attended race on the Formula One circuit and set a modern-day attendance record for the series in 2000. Sales so far guarantee that the Indianapolis event will continue to be the largest-attended Formula One race in 2001.

This year's event on the 2.606-mile road circuit that incorporates the main straightaway and Turn 1 of the historic oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be the next-to-last race on the 2001 Formula One World Championship schedule.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway plays host to the three largest-attended sporting events in the world: The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the Brickyard 400 and the SAP United States Grand Prix.

SAP United States Grand Prix tickets may be purchased by calling (800) 822-4639 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. Ticket order forms are available on the Web at www.usgpindy.com or by writing to USGP Tickets, P.O. Box 24915, Speedway, IN 46224.

<pre> 2001 SAP UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE (All times Eastern Standard, -5 hours GMT) (Subject to change)

FRIDAY, Sept. 28

7 a.m.  Gates open
9-9:45 a.m.     Porsche Pirelli Supercup practice
11 a.m.-noon    Formula One practice
1-2 p.m.        Formula One practice
2:30-3 p.m.     Porsche Pirelli Supercup qualifying session #1
4-4:30 p.m.     Porsche Pirelli Supercup qualifying session #2
5-5:15 p.m.     Historic Formula One parade
5:30-6 p.m.     Ferrari Challenge practice

SATURDAY, Sept. 29

7 a.m.  Gates open
9-9:45 a.m.     Formula One practice
10:15-11 a.m.   Formula One practice
1-2 p.m.        Formula One qualifying
3-3:40 p.m.     Porsche Pirelli Supercup race #1
3:50-4 p.m.     Historic Formula One parade
4:30-5 p.m.     Ferrari Challenge qualifying

SUNDAY, Sept. 30

6 a.m.  Gates open
8:30-9 a.m.     Formula One warm-up session
9:20-10 a.m.    Porsche Pirelli Supercup race #2
10:15-10:35 a.m.        Formula One drivers parade
11-11:30 a.m.   Ferrari Challenge race
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.   Formula One grid presentation
1 p.m.  SAP United States Grand Prix

-IMS-