US GP fact sheet

<pre> What: SAP United States Grand Prix Formula One race 16th of 17 races on 2001 FIA World Championship schedule

When: Sept. 28-30, 2001

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana

Facility was constructed in 1909, with a 2.5-mile oval circuit. The Indianapolis 500 has taken place annually on the oval track since 1911, except during world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45. A multimillion-dollar construction project started in December 1998 and completed in September 2000 included a 2.606-mile road circuit, a new Pagoda control tower, Formula One garages and a four-story Media Center.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world, with more than 250,000 permanent seats. The 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, which is the largest-attended race on the Formula One circuit and set a modern-day attendance record for the series in 2000. Estimated attendance was more than 200,000. Sales so far guarantee that the Indianapolis event will continue to be the largest-attended Formula One race in 2001.

Distance: 73 laps, 190.238 miles (306.158 km) or a maximum of two hours

Circuit: Total track length: 2.606 miles (4.195 kilometers) Main straight length: 3,037 feet (926 meters) Back straight length: 1,755 feet (535 meters) Total turns: 13 (Left turns - 4; Right turns - 9) Average track width: 46 feet (14 meters) Track record: 1 minute, 14.266 seconds, 126.265 mph (203.204 km/h), Michael Schumacher, Sept. 23, 2000

Circuit: The road circuit incorporates portions of the famed 2.5-mile oval. Formula One competitors will drive on the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 of the oval, through Turn 1 of the oval and then down the front straightaway of the oval before entering the infield portion of the circuit just before Turn 4 of the oval. Formula One drivers will drive clockwise on the course.

Last Year: Michael Schumacher drove a Ferrari to victory in the inaugural SAP United States Grand Prix, finishing 12.118 seconds ahead of second-place Rubens Barrichello, his teammate. Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed the podium by finishing third in a Jordan-Mugen-Honda. Schumacher won the pole with a track-lap of 1 minute, 14.266 seconds, 126.265 mph (203.204 km/h).

Speedway Principals: Mari Hulman George, chairman; Anton H. (Tony) George, president & CEO

Support Series: Porsche Pirelli Supercup, Ferrari Challenge

Tickets: Reserved seating for the SAP United States Grand Prix may be purchased by calling (800) 822-4639 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 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.

About Indianapolis: City population: 860,454 (12th largest in the United States) City area: 402.84 square miles (1,043.35 square kilometers) Mayor: Bart Peterson Average September climate: 66.6 degrees Fahrenheit (19.22 Celsius), 66 percent sunshine Airport: Served by 18 airlines, with 189 daily departures including 47 non-stop flights

EVENT SCHEDULE (All times Eastern Standard, -5 hours GMT)

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