IRL: Motegi: Round three pre-race notes, schedule

FAST FACTS

WHAT:
Indy Japan 300, third race in 14-race 2006 season; only IndyCar Series event that will take place outside of the United States.

WHERE:
Twin Ring Motegi, 1.5-mile asphalt oval

WHEN:
1 p.m. (Japan Time), Saturday, April 22
Japan Time is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (New York)

DISTANCE:
200 laps/300 miles

POSTED AWARDS:
More than $1 million

CARS:
Dallara and Panoz chassis; Honda Indy V-8; Firestone tires

PAST RACE WINNERS:
Dan Wheldon (2004 and 2005), Scott Sharp (2003)

TV:
Race: ESPN (tape-delayed), Noon (EDT), April 22

RADIO:
Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), 11:30 p.m. (EDT), April 21
Race: IMS Radio Network (live), Midnight (EDT), April 22

SCHEDULE (Japan Time; subject to change):

Thursday, April 20
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)
1:45-3:15 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)

Friday, April 21
9:30-11 a.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)
12:30 p.m. IndyCar Series Marlboro Pole Qualifying
3:45-4:15 p.m. Final IndyCar Series practice
4:45-5:45 p.m. Autograph session

Saturday, April 22
1 p.m. Indy Japan 300 (200 laps/300 miles), ESPN (Noon EDT, April 22)

THE TRACK:
1.5-mile paved oval
Frontstretch: 1,982 feet banked at 1.7 degrees
Backstretch: 1,982 feet banked at 5 degrees
Width: 80 feet
Turns are banked at 10 degrees

Twin Ring Motegi opened in 1997 and has seating capacity of 68,104. In addition to the oval, the facility also has a 2.849-mile road course and a .634-mile short course. Twin Ring Motegi is a ^ÓFusion of Human, Nature and Mobility.^Ô An amusement park surrounded by mountains, Twin Ring Motegi combines motor racing, driving experiences, nature exploration and other activities. In addition to the IRL IndyCar Series, other motorsports events at the facility include MotoGP World Championship Series and the Japanese Formula Nippon Series.

INDY-STYLE RACING IN JAPAN:
The oval at Twin Ring Motegi has hosted open-wheel racing since 1998.

Built by Honda in Tochigi Prefecture, about 60 miles northeast of Tokyo, the Twin Ring Motegi facility contains two major racing facilities, a 1.5-mile egg-shaped oval and a 2.849-mile, 14-turn road course which winds underneath and east of the oval circuit.

Honda first brought CART to Japan in 1998 with Adrian Fernandez winning the first two Indy-style races at Twin Ring Motegi. Michael Andretti won in 2000, and 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack won at Motegi in 2001. Bruno Junqueira won the final CART event in 2002.

In 2003, the IRL IndyCar® Series made its first trip to Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Sharp won the inaugural Indy Japan 300, which was the first IndyCar Series event held overseas. In 2004, Dan Wheldon made history for Honda, giving the engine manufacturer its first victory at its home track.

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES:

* Four Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the Indy Japan 300: Buddy Lazier (1996), Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

* Drivers entered in the Indy Japan 300 have combined for 76 IndyCar Series victories, 61 pole positions and 916 starts.

* The Indy Japan 300 will be the third IndyCar Series event conducted at Twin Ring Motegi. Scott Sharp was the inaugural winner in 2003. Dan Wheldon has won the last two races at Twin Ring Motegi and is the only Honda-powered driver to win at the track.

* Six IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Indy Japan 300: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Buddy Lazier (2000), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

MILESTONES:

* Sam Hornish Jr. needs one win to earn his 15th IndyCar Series victory. It would also extend his streak of consecutive seasons with at least one victory to six.

* Scott Sharp needs one win to earn his 10th IndyCar Series victory and to tie Dan Wheldon for second place on the IndyCar Series all-time wins list.

* Helio Castroneves needs one win to break a tie with Buddy Lazier for fourth on the all-time wins list. Castroneves extended his streak of consecutive seasons with at least one victory to six with his win at St. Petersburg.

* Buddy Lazier needs $294,697 in earnings to surpass $10 million in his IndyCar Series career.

* Sam Hornish Jr. needs $550,100 in earnings to surpass $10 million in his IndyCar Series career.

* Vitor Meira has gone 47 starts without a victory in the IndyCar Series, the longest drought of any active driver. The record is 48 shared by Sarah Fisher (1999-2004) and Davey Hamilton (1996-2001).

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