Eight Races, TV Package Highlight Inaugural American Le Mans Series Schedule

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Eight races, including three on live network television as part of a seven-race package with the NBC networks, highlight the inaugural American Le Mans Series Schedule for 1999, it was announced today.

Seven of the races will be televised live, with NBC sports airing three events, including the Portland Grand Prix on Aug. 1. The second annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta Oct. 16 will be televised in a two-hour package the following day on CNBC.

The season starts with the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 20 and ends with the inaugural San Diego Grand Prix late in the year. The Sebring race will again be aired on ESPN and ESPN2, with the others to be televised on CNBC.

All will be sanctioned by Professional Sports Car Racing ("SPORTS CAR").

"I am very excited and pleased to be able to release the TV package and proposed schedule so early," said Don Panoz, founder of the American Le Mans Series. "It's encouraging to be able to make this announcement sooner than it has been historically in sports car racing."

"We are happy to be a part of the resurgence of sports car racing in North America by welcoming the American Le Mans Series to the NBC Sports lineup," said Jon Miller, senior vice president of NBC Sports. "Close competition between top factory teams and independents with Le Mans-style racing will provide our viewers with an exciting brand of motorsports programming."

The American Le Mans Series is one of the first sports properties targeted by CNBC that matches the demographic profile of its viewers.

"This aggressive step by the American Le Mans Series to announce a schedule and TV package for 1999 at this early date further confirms Don Panoz' commitment to the sport, the fans, sponsors and competitors," said Michael Gue, president of SPORTS CAR.

After Sebring, the series moves to Road Atlanta on April 18 and Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada June 27.

Two races are listed to be announced with the second annual Petit Le Mans to be run Oct. 16 at Road Atlanta prior to the San Diego season closer.

"The tracks are in strategic markets that are popular with both fans and manufacturers," said Bill Donaldson, executive director of the series. "We're building on the successful model of the Petit Le Mans last month. The television package will be the strongest TV undertaking in the history of sports car racing in North America."

"With the SuperStars of Auto Racing Series also being announced today to join the Women's Global GT Series, we feel the diversification of the show will be an attractive package to the fans," he added.

Minimum purse for each of the eight ALMS races was announced as $200,000, distributed to privateer, non-factory teams.