CHAMPCAR/CART: Road America Champ Car to be broadcast in HDTV

INDIANAPOLIS (July 1, 2003) - Officials from HDNet and CART Champ Car announced today that television coverage of the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton on Sunday, August 3 will be shown exclusively in the United States on HDNet. The broadcast will be the biggest undertaking in the history of auto racing in the high definition format, as 16 high definition cameras and two HD mobile units will be spread throughout the 4.048-mile permanent road course to capture all of the action in crystal clear quality.

"It seems fitting that one of the most challenging and picturesque venues in motor racing will be broadcast in this fascinating new format," said CART Champ Car president and CEO, Christopher R. Pook. "The United States government has mandated that all television networks will be required to broadcast in high definition within the next few years, and I am proud that our series is once again ahead of the curve as it relates to the use of new technologies. I fully expect this to be the best looking broadcast we will have this season."

HDNet will offer more than 12 hours of live and original programming throughout the weekend at Road America, including extensive coverage on both qualifying days on August 1 and 2, in addition to all of the action on race day, August 3. The broadcasts will be available through HDNet's cable & satellite distributors, including DIRECTV, DISH network, Charter Communications and other cable affiliates; and in addition - by special arrangement with CART - on any other high-definition cable and satellite distributors who wish to make it available to their customers. The race will be rebroadcast several times on HDNet throughout the month of August.

"HDNet is thrilled to bring the spectacular experience of high definition to CART auto racing," said Mark Cuban, co-founder and president of HDNet. "Thanks to the incredible picture and sound quality, the television audience will feel the excitement of every turn and every pit stop like they were there. Once again, HDNet is leading the television industry in applying HDTV to yet another sport."

The opportunity to provide television coverage via HDNet was made considerably easier thanks to the fact that Road America officials had a fiber optic "ring" installed around the legendary road course a few years ago. The decision to broadcast the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton on HDNet resulted from the network's flexibility in scheduling in connection with the event's removal from and subsequent reinstatement to the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford schedule.

While HDNet offered Champ Car coverage last season for the Cleveland and Denver events, using a combination of four high definition cameras and conventional cameras to supplement the high definition pictures, the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton will be the first time that an entire race broadcast will be done using high definition cameras. Mario Andretti will serve as a co-host during the broadcast, with play-by-play and commentary being provided by the CART Champ Car International Broadcast team of Jeremy Shaw and Stephen Cox.

About HDNet
HDNet, (www.hd.net), the leader in high definition broadcasting, produces and televises more hours of original HDTV sports, entertainment and news programming each week than any other network. Live sports include National Hockey League games, The HDNet Horse Racing Challenge, U.S. Olympic Committee events, CART Champ Car auto racing, Boxing Explosion, and college football and basketball games. Entertainment programming includes fashion shows, concerts, musicals and television series from Paramount and Sony. HDNet Movies broadcasts 24/7 full-length feature films from Warner Bros and Sony Pictures Television. HDNet also produces original programming, including True Music and the groundbreaking HDNet World Reports. Co-founded by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on DIRECTV, DISH, Charter Communications and several NCTC affiliate member companies.

About CART Champ Car
Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (NYSE: MPH) owns, operates and markets the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford. Veteran teams such as Newman/Haas Racing, Player's/Forsythe Racing, Team Rahal, Fernandez Racing, Patrick Racing, Herdez Competition, Walker Racing are among the teams competing for the Vanderbilt Cup. CART Champ Cars are thoroughbred racing machines that reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour, showcasing the technical expertise of manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company, Lola Cars, Reynard Motorsport and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC. The 19-race 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford will be broadcast by television partners CBS, SPEED Channel, and HDNet. CART also owns and operates its top development series, the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Learn more about CART's open-wheel racing series at www.cart.com.

About Road America
Tickets for the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton, July 31-Aug. 3, are available online, www.roadamerica.com or by calling (800) 365-7223 (RACE). The advance, four-day Super Ticket is $115 for the weekend, available until July 23, when the long weekend ticket becomes $135. The Sunday ticket is $60, and includes paddock access and free parking. Childen 12 and under are free.

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