IPS: 2004 schedule announced

Menards Infiniti Pro Series schedule set at 12 races

JOLIET, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003 -- The 2004 Menards Infiniti Pro Series schedule will consist of 12 races at some of the nation's finest oval venues, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League officials announced Sept. 6.

The 100-mile Infiniti Pro Series "sprints" will take place in conjunction with

IRL IndyCarTM Series events, with six of the 12 races scheduled for the same day as the IndyCar Series races.

"As we look toward our second full season, I'm delighted that our drivers will be gaining valuable experience on an a variety of tracks, ranging from 1-mile ovals to the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Roger Bailey, executive director of the Infiniti Pro Series. "As a training series, we are exactly where we need to be.

"The fact that a full 50 percent of Menards Infiniti Pro Series events will be run on the same day as IndyCar Series races is an added bonus for everyone involved."

The Menards Infiniti Pro Series serves as an essential stepping-stone for drivers striving to reach the pinnacle of open-wheel, oval-track racing in America, the IRL IndyCar Series.

Infiniti Q45 engines power Dallara Automobili chassis built for the series, with Firestone Firehawk tires used exclusively on all cars. The V8 engines produce approximately 450 horsepower for the single-seat winged chassis, providing an ideal training ground for the 650-horsepower, single-seat winged cars of the IndyCar Series.

All Menards Infiniti Pro Series events are televised on ESPN2 and distributed worldwide through ESPN International.