Pit Notes       
Issue No. 4 // March 5, 2008 
Media Contact:  Tip Nunn  // Tipnunn@comcast.net  // 303.526.0994
  Al Larsen // Alan.Larsen@andrettigreenracing.com // 727.824.7223 x222

Newly Unified Open Wheel Series Puts Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Event in Strong Position

The 2008 running of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will add yet another item to the long and growing lists of “firsts” that have taken pace on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit through the streets of St. Petersburg. The event will become the first temporary street course event run in the newly unified IndyCar Series.  Several of the former Champ Car World Series teams have already committed to running in the St. Petersburg event ad more are excepted as we get closer to race weekend.

"The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is an important part of the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule as it will be the first street event unified open-wheel racing will run under the IndyCar Series banner,” said Terry Angstadt, president of commercial division, Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series. 
“We're looking forward to bringing together names such Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Helio Castroneves, Justin Wilson and Dan Wheldon on the streets of St. Petersburg for an exciting race April 4-6."

Construction Gets Under Way as St. Petersburg Prepares for Annual Grand Prix

The first phase of the construction process for this year's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has begun with the placement of the concrete block barrier system and fencing along Bayshore Drive at Demens Landing.  In the coming days, the project will work its way south past the Progress Energy Center.  Temporary directional signage has been placed at the intersections of Bayshore Drive and 1st Avenue South and at 5th Avenue South and 1st Street.  The grandstands also are starting to take shape, as construction the first set of grandstands has begun at Albert Whitted Airport.  Construction activities will continue through race weekend and the first of the street closure will occur next week along Bayshore Drive.

XM's Exclusive Satellite Radio Broadcasts Include St. Petersburg Race

XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading satellite radio service, will carry the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as part of the network's coverage of the IndyCar Series' 2008 season.  The race will be broadcast live on XM's IndyCar Series Racing channel (XM 145) on Sunday, April 6.   The entire 2008 IndyCar Series racing season will be broadcast live and nationwide on XM. Motorsports fans will be able to hear pre-race programming, including interviews and commentary, as well as live wheel-to-wheel action on the track.

XM and Andretti Green Racing, featuring Indy drivers Danica Patrick and Tony Kanaan as well as team co-owner and open wheel racing legend Michael Andretti, will launch the second season of "The Andretti Green Racing Hour," a one-hour show airing exclusively on XM. The show will begin airing in its weekly time slot March 25 at 7 p.m. ET on XM Sports Nation (XMSN), channel 144, during the IndyCar Series season.