IPS: IRL: 'Indy Racing League Pit Pass' program returns to ESPN2

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003 - The popular "Indy Racing League Pit Pass" television program is returning to ESPN2 for a second season in 2003, giving viewers in-depth, behind-the-scenes access to the drivers, teams and personalities of the IRL IndyCar Series and IRL Infiniti Pro Series.

The first "Indy Racing League Pit Pass" episode of 2003 will be televised from 2:30-3 p.m. (EST) Thursday, Jan. 16, focusing on the final-race showdown for the IRL IndyCar Series title between Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves last September at the Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Produced by IMS Productions and filmed primarily during the 2002 IndyCar Series and Infiniti Pro Series seasons, each episode follows drivers or officials through the highs and lows of an entire weekend of competition, providing fans total access to the inner workings of a team.

Narrated by nationally syndicated voice talent Laura Steele, each 30-minute show will be broadcast on ESPN2 and distributed worldwide by ESPN International. <pre> The 2003 "Indy Racing League Pit Pass" schedule (all times Eastern, New York):

Date            Time            Subject
Jan. 16         2:30-3 p.m.     2002 IndyCar Series championship showdown
Feb. 20         2:30-3 p.m.     Birth of the IRL Infiniti Pro Series
March 20        12:30-1 p.m.    George Mack
May 1           3-3:30 p.m.     Tomas Scheckter
May 15          3-3:30 p.m.     Helio Castroneves
June 19         2:30-3 p.m.     Robbie Buhl
July 16         3-3:30 p.m.     Gil de Ferran
Aug. 22         3:30-4 p.m.     Sarah Fisher
Sept. 18        2:30-3 p.m.     Pennzoil Panther Racing pit crew
Oct. 22         3-3:30 p.m.     Jeff Ward
Nov. 19         1:30-2 p.m.     Alex Barron
Dec. 18         3-3:30 p.m.     Firestone

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