IndyCar Series Driver Buddy Rice to Sign Autographs
5/12/2008
IndyCar Series driver Buddy Rice, who recently finished eighth in the Indianaoplis 500, will be in town this Tuesday, June 3 to promote the upcoming SunTrust Indy Challenge IndyCar Sereis race at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, June 28. Rice will sign autographs for fans from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lobby of the downtown SunTrust Building (919 East Main Street), after meeting with members of the local media.
Rice will make his sixth start at Richmond International Raceway in the eighth annual SunTrust Indy Challenge "under the lights."
The unification of the IndyCar Series and Champ Car Series in February joined the best open-wheel driversin North America, allowing them to compete this year wtih the same cars and engines in the same series, on the same tracks, for the first time since 1995. The unification brought additional open-wheel stars like Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson and Will Power to the IndyCar Series, meaning 26 cars are expected to take the green flag "under the lights" in the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway on June 28.
Richmond International Raceway also took its own steps to improve the competition and fan experience at the SunTrust Indy Challenge by lobbying for an additional 50 laps and pushing the start time back to 8:00 p.m. for a prime-time green flag drop. Now, IndyCar Series stars like Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Dan Wheldon will pilot their Honda Dallaras around America's Premier Short Track for 300 laps.
Additionally, the IndyCar Series has implemented a new four-lap average time qualifying format on ovals, which is sure to add excitement and drama to Friday's NBC12 Day, featuring pole qualifying for the SunTrust Indy Challenge. Prior to the 2008 season, the IndyCar Series used a two-lap format on ovals with the top lap time determining the driver's starting position. Now, the series is using a four-lap format with the driver's four-lap average time determining the starting position.
The SunTrust Indy Challenge is the main event of an exciting open-wheel weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The weekend starts Friday
Tickets are general admission for Friday’s NBC12 Day at a cost of $15 and include Pole Qualifying for the SunTrust Indy Challenge and the “Showdown at Sundown” USAC Sprint Car Series race. In addition, Friday’s ticket includes an autograph session with all the IndyCar Series drivers. Reserved tickets for Saturday’s James River Grounds 100 USAC Silver Crown Series race and SunTrust Indy Challenge IndyCar Series race, are $35, and Saturday general admission tickets are $30. On both Friday and Saturday, children 12 and under are admitted free with a general admission ticketed adult. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.rir.com or calling 866-455-RACE.
