FANS TO GET TASTE OF F1 DURING CAMPING WORLD GRAND PRIX

Event Weekend Will Feature Vintage F1 Cars and Knockout Qualifying Format


Watkins Glen, NY (April 02, 2008) – Fans that attend the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen weekend, July 4-6, will not only see the biggest stars of American open-wheel racing but will also get a taste of the past and present of Formula 1. Earlier this morning, the IndyCar® Series announced that they will use a knockout qualifying format on road and street courses that is similar to the one used by F1. This new feature, combined with the Penn Grade 1 Historic Grand Prix featuring vintage F1 cars, will allow fans to experience a piece of Formula 1; a series that was instrumental in making Watkins Glen International the world-renowned entity it is today.

The IndyCar Series has used single-car qualifying at The Glen since its debut at the legendary road course in 2005. Starting with the race in St. Petersburg, FL, qualifying will feature two groups competing for 20 minutes each. The fastest six cars from each group, for a total of 12, will then square off in a 15-minute group qualifying session with the top six advancing into the Firestone Fast Six shootout. The final six drivers will then race for an exciting 10 minutes to try and claim the pole. Lap times will not carryover from one round to the next. Helio Castroneves claimed his third consecutive pole at The Glen in 2007, setting a qualifying record of 136.021 mph in the process. IndyCar Series qualifying for the 2008 Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen will be held on Saturday, July 5.

The Penn Grade 1 Historic Grand Prix will allow fans to relive the years that F1 visited The Glen each fall for the United States Grand Prix. The biggest names of international open-wheel racing such as Stewart, Hill, Andretti, and Fittipaldi came to the historic road course from 1961 through1980. The cars that made these men famous will hit the track not once but twice during the event weekend. Fans will see a 30-minute race on Saturday, July 5, and then the featured race on Sunday, July 6, leading up to the green flag for the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen.

In addition to seeing the biggest stars in American open-wheel racing, fans that come to The Glen will be treated to exciting racing action that will feature the Corning Duels Firestone Indy Light races, Grand Am KONI Challenge Series, and the Penn Grade 1 Historic Grand Prix.

Fans looking for more to do than just watching racing will not be disappointed with free concerts on the Red Cat Summer Stage, the free Friday Night Block Party, the July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Daytona on the FrontStretch Jumbotron, driver autograph sessions, a wine and cheese party, and two large fireworks shows; including one of the biggest in Western New York on Friday, July 4.

Tickets for the racing action at Watkins Glen International are on-sale now! This year the season kicks-off with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, June 6-7 paired with the NASCAR Camping World Series’ East Division on Sunday, June 8. Kids 12 and under are Free during the June 6-7 and July 4-6 event weekends when accompanied by an adult. Open-wheel racing returns for the 4th of July weekend during the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6, and the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend highlights the summer action, August 7-10. For more tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website www.TheGlen.com .