US GP fast facts

UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX FAST FACTS, SCHEDULE

What:
United States Grand Prix Formula One race
Ninth of 18 races on 2004 FIA World Championship schedule

When:
June 18-20, 2004

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 America's involvement in world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45. A multimillion-dollar construction project started in December 1998 and completed in September 2000 included a 2.605-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. The Speedway plays host to three of the largest-attended sporting events in the world: The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix, which set a modern-day attendance record for the Formula One series in 2000.

Distance:
73 laps, 190.1504 miles (306.016 km) or a maximum of two hours

Circuit:
Total track length: 2.605 miles (4.192 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, 10.790 seconds, 132.465 mph (213.182 km/h),
Michael Schumacher, Sept. 28, 2002, qualifying

The road circuit incorporates portions of the famed 2.5-mile oval. Formula One competitors 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 drive clockwise on the course.

Last Year:
Michael Schumacher won the United States Grand Prix by 18.258 seconds over Kimi Raikkonen to become the first two-time winner of this event since it came to Indianapolis in 2000. Heinz-Harald Frentzen rounded out the podium by finishing third in a Sauber-Petronas, 37.964 seconds behind Schumacher. Raikkonen won the pole with a lap of 1 minute, 11.670 seconds.

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

Support Series:
Porsche Michelin Supercup, Formula BMW USA

Tickets:
Tickets for the United States Grand Prix can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, or by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.

About Indianapolis:
City population (Marion County): 860,454 (12th largest in the United States)
City area (Marion County): 396 square miles
Indianapolis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population: 1,525,104
Indianapolis MSA: 3,532 square miles
Mayor: Bart Peterson
Average June high temperature: 82.1 degrees Fahrenheit (27.8 Celsius)
Average June low temperature: 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit (16.3 Celsius)
Average June precipitation: 4.13 inches (10.49 centimeters)
Airport: Served by 18 airlines, with 172 daily departures, including 39 non-stop flights

2004 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern Standard, -5 hours GMT)
(Subject to change)

THURSDAY, June 17
8 a.m.-noon: Public pit walkabout

FRIDAY, June 18
9-10 a.m.: Formula BMW USA practice
11 a.m.-noon: Formula One practice
2-3 p.m.: Formula One practice
3:30-4 p.m.: Porsche Michelin Supercup practice
4:30-4:55 p.m.: Formula BMW USA practice

SATURDAY, June 19
8-8:45 a.m.: Formula One practice
9:15-10 a.m.: Formula One practice
10:25-11:10 a.m.: Porsche Michelin Supercup qualifying
Noon-12:50 p.m.: Formula One pre-qualifying
1-2 p.m.: Formula One qualifying
2:30-3 p.m.: Formula BMW USA race #1
3:30-4:10 p.m.: Porsche Michelin Supercup race #1 (16 laps)

SUNDAY, June 20
9:40-10:20 a.m.: Porsche Michelin Supercup race #2 (16 laps)
10:45-11:15 a.m.: Formula One grid presentation
11:46 a.m.: National anthem
Noon: United States Grand Prix (73 laps)
2:15-2:45 p.m.: Formula BMW USA race #2

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