INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, May 16, 2002 -
High-ranking leaders from the sanctioning body, broadcast,
sponsorship and supplier segments of motorsports will meet May
21-22 in Indianapolis for the inaugural Open-Wheel Racing
Summit, presented by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal
magazine.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Westin Indianapolis
will play host to the two-day conference, which takes place in
the week leading up to the 86th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on
Sunday, May 26.
Key leaders from four open-wheel racing sanctioning bodies,
including Indy Racing League President Tony George and
representatives from Formula One, Championship Auto Racing
Teams and the United States Auto Club, will join high-ranking
motorsports marketing, branding, broadcasting, and supplier
executives, along with Wall Street motorsports analysts, to
discuss and plan the future course of open-wheel racing in the
United States.
"This landmark summit among the leaders of open-wheel racing
sanctioning, promotion, sponsorship and marketing will provide
a golden opportunity to present a vision for the future of
open-wheel racing and the challenges and many opportunities
that lie within," George said. "We at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway live by a motto of providing 'International
Leadership in Motorsports Entertainment,' and we are proud to
host this gathering of the sport's visionaries."
Featured broadcasting, sponsorship and supplier presenters
include: Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports; Steve Shannon,
executive director, marketing services, vehicle sales service
and marketing for General Motors; Todd Gatzulis, senior brand
manager, Dial Corporation; Les Ungar, national motorsports
manager, Toyota; Andy Deas, program manager, WorldCom Sports
Marketing; Al Speyer, motorsports director for
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.; Chip Ganassi, owner, Chip Ganassi
Racing; Eddie Cheever Jr., owner/driver, Red Bull Cheever
Racing; and many others representing sponsor, marketing and
financial organizations such as Delphi Automotive Systems,
Philip Morris, Champion Group, CSS-Stellar, CMG Worldwide and
Bear Stearns.
The conference will conclude with a "behind the scenes" tour
of how ABC Sports produces the broadcast for the "Greatest
Spectacle in Racing."
Highlights of the Open-Wheel Summit event schedule are as
follows:
Tuesday, May 21 (at the Westin Indianapolis, all times
local):
8:45 a.m.
Chairperson's welcome and opening remarks
9 a.m.
Keynote presentation: Eddie Cheever Jr., "The driver's
perspective on Formula One and the Indy Racing League"
9:30 a.m.
Indy Racing League presentation and roundtable discussion
IRL Participants: Tony George, Kes Ungar and Bill Long
11:30 a.m.
CART presentation and roundtable discussion
CART Participants: Steve Fusek, Starke Taylor and John Lopes
1 p.m.
Summit participants depart for Indianapolis Motor Speedway
3:30 p.m.
"Showcasing Brand Attributes with Formula One."
Participants: Bill Wohl, SAP America; Andy Deas, WorldCom;
Mike Johnson, Miller Brewing Company
4:30 p.m.
"The Analyst Perspective: Where is Open-Wheel Racing Really
Headed in the U.S.?" Featuring Marc Falcone, motorsports
analyst, Bear Stearns
5 p.m.
"Building and Developing Young Talent and Enhancing the Brand"
Participants: Roger Bailey, Infiniti Pro Series; Rollie
Helmling, USAC; Donn Gurney, Racename.com, Inc., Doug Sellars,
SPEED Channel
6 p.m. Networking Reception
Host: Tony George
Wednesday, May 22
8:45 a.m.
Bus departs the Westin Indianapolis for the Speedway
9:30 a.m.
Keynote Address: Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports,
"Building Upon Tradition in Motorsports Coverage"
10:15 a.m.
"Brand Building: Product Development and Creating Brand
Awareness Through Open-Wheel Racing," with Bill Lafontaine,
Delphi Automotive Systems
11:30 a.m.
"Getting the Most Out of Open-Wheel Racing: Cost Containment,
Rules Stability and Increased Entertainment and Marketing
Value"
Participants: Steve Shannon, General Motors; Les Ungar,
Toyota; Al Speyer, Bridgestone/Firestone
2 p.m.
"Building an Industrious Business Model with Retail Partners,"
with Todd Gatzulis, Dial Corporation
2:30 p.m.
"The Owners' Perspective: Controlling Budgets, Technology and
Talent"
Moderator: Mark Richards, Ice Miller; Participants: Tom
Kelley, Kelley Racing; J. Douglas Boles, Panther Racing; Larry
Blair, Blair Racing
3:15 p.m.
"Assessing the Economics of Mutually Beneficial Team
Sponsorships"
Moderator: Michelle Molin, Ice Miller; Participants: Ina
Broeman, Philip Morris; Brad Stout, Delphi Automotive Systems;
Pat Milan, Fallon Intersect; Derek Daly, Derek Daly
Performance Driving Academy
4:15 p.m.
"Lessons Learned from Stock Car and Other Racing Formats."
Participants: Cary J.C. Agajanian, Motorsports Management
International; Eric DeBord, PROtential; Ardy Arani,
Championship Group; Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing; Jeff
LaClaire, CSS-Stellar Management
5 p.m. "Technology for the Fan's Sake."
Participants: Mark Reilly, ESPN International; Brian Sikorski,
ABC Sports; Bob Goodrich, ABC Sports; Bob Jenkins, ABC Sports;
Sam McCleery, Princeton Video Image; Fred Nation, Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, Buddy McAtee, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Go to our forums to discuss this article
