Bingham, France issue apologies

Chris Bingham and JC France Issue Apologies Following Mexico City 250 Altercation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2006) --Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve drivers Chris Bingham and JC France have issued public apologies following their altercation during the Mexico City 250 on Saturday, March 4.

The altercation stemmed from a crash involving Bingham's No. 40 Derhaag Motorsports Pontiac Riley and France's No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche Fabcar in Turn 8 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Both drivers have been suspended from Round 3 of the 2006 Rolex Series schedule, the Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 23-25. The drivers were also placed on open-ended probation, with additional sanctions possible. The drivers' comments follow below:

CHRIS BINGHAM, NO. 40 DERHAAG MOTORSPORTS PONTIAC RILEY

"I want to express my apologies and regrets to the Grand American Road Racing Association, JC, and all the great fans for actions taken after a collision during the recent Mexico City race. It is unfortunate that these actions have deferred any attention away from what was a successful Grand-Am weekend, and a well-rewarded win for the No. 01 TELMEX car.

"My actions were precipitated in the heat of the moment after a significant collision. Regardless of circumstances, there is no scenario in which two drivers should come to an altercation. I fully accept the one-race suspension for the Homestead race as a result of my actions, and believe this to be a fair and just punishment given the severity of the actions that took place. I do not believe either of us was in the right and that we both reacted in an unprofessional manner.

"Having raced professionally for over 10 years, many of those years with this organization, I have been involved in other accidents before. Never once have I reacted in such fashion and my past actions will show this as an isolated incident. I understand the need to place me under an extended probation, but can assure you I will give no cause for concern and no doubt as to my professional integrity and racing spirit.

"I once again do not condone what happened after the incident and apologize again for my actions."

JC FRANCE, NO. 59 BRUMOS RACING PORSCHE FABCAR

"I would like to take the opportunity to formally apologize to Grand-Am, the fans, my sponsors, Chris, and especially the fire safety crew. The little dust up by Chris and I was an unfortunate result of passionate people in exciting circumstances.

"The clips of the incident and crash, like any one-dimensional representation, could be interpreted in many ways. However, I was absolutely in front and on the race line. With that said, racing is racing and sometimes judgment goes right out the window. The desire to move forward in race conditions is powerful and I can understand anyone trying to stick their nose in anywhere there is a slight chance of fitting. Chris is a fine man and I look forward to racing him again at Long Beach. My hope is that we can leave it as a racing incident and go forward."

-garra-