(June 30, 2004) – The Burke Lakefront Airport course has been a fixture on the Champ Car circuit since Medina’s Bobby Rahal won the inaugural event in 1982, and today in Cleveland, Champ Car World Series co-owner Paul Gentilozzi, along with Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell,
announced that the series has committed to race on the shores of Lake Erie through the 2007 season.
‘I am thrilled that the Champ Car World Series will continue its successful racing event in the City of Cleveland,’ said Mayor Campbell. ‘Keeping Champ Car in Cleveland not only benefits racing fans, but it also
brings in millions of dollars in economic development revenue for the City and our residents.’
As one of the longest-running temporary road courses on the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford calendar, the U.S. Bank Presents The Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland has provided fans, teams and
drivers of the Champ Car World Series with a number of thrilling events in the last 22 years.
‘Cleveland is a place that really started Champ Car on the path of staging successful events at temporary racing facilities, something that has helped us take racing to the heart of major urban markets,’ Gentilozzi said. ‘As an
owner as well as a competitor, this track and this city are very special to me and I feel that the support we have always gotten from the Cleveland fans made this announcement possible.’
The series has assumed an agreement from former race promoter IMG, which gives Champ Car the rights to conduct a race in Cleveland for at least three more years beyond this weekend. This year’s event is the 23rd race to be run
at Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport and is being promoted by Champ Car, which has put a veteran staff in place to organize the event, led by General Manager Rena Shanaman. The efforts of the staff have led to unprecedented support from local businesses, city and county officials and major corporations, all working together to give the racing fans of Ohio the best
possible show when the Champ Car World Series comes to town July 1-3.
‘This is a tremendous event for the City of Cleveland as well as for Champ Car and we could not be happier with the way the local leaders have contributed to its success,’ Shanaman said. ‘The Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and her staff, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Greater Cleveland, U.S. Bank, Bridgestone and many others have come forward and really supported this event this year and we look forward to giving the fans of Cleveland a great race this weekend and for years to come.’
The festivities begin Wednesday night in Cleveland with the Bridgestone Champ Car Night party in the historic Warehouse District. Many of the drivers competing this weekend will be on hand to meet the fans in a setting
featuring many interactive displays for the entire family. The street party will run from 5:00-10:00 p.m. Wednesday night, while the racing action will begin Thursday morning with four series headlined by the Champ Car World
Series event on Saturday.
Tickets for the U.S. Bank Presents The Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland are available at the Galleria Box Office, by phone at 1-888-817-RACE, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.grandprixofcleveland.com
at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
For more details contact:
Contact Champ Car Communications (317) 715-4100