"Racing in Indiana: Gathering Before the Green Flag" is Jan. 19 and 20

For the first time, race fans can join drivers, owners, broadcasters and officials from the motorsports industry to drop the green flag on the 2008 racing season at "Racing in Indiana: Gathering Before the Green Flag" Jan. 19 and 20 at the Indiana State Museum and IMAX® Theater.

Hosted by Mike King, chief announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, "Gathering Before the Green Flag" invites fans to sit behind the wheel of a variety of racing vehicles, from IndyCars to go-karts and dragsters, and see other great racing vehicles such as motorcycles, boats and vintage race cars. They'll meet racing insiders Derek Daly, Donald Davidson and some of their favorite drivers, and be able to take part in a rare symposium of experts.

"It's every race fan's dream and an opportunity for newcomers to see what racing is all about," said Mike King of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. "Hoosiers are the greatest racing fans in the world, so holding this event at the Indiana State Museum is very fitting, especially since the IMAX® is here."

The giant IMAX® Theater screen will show two racing movies. "Super Speedway," a documentary that follows the Newman-Haas racing team as it builds, tests and races with Jeff, Mario and Michael Andretti. The 1964 Dean Van Lines Special, driven by Mario Andretti in the movie, will be displayed in the IMAX lobby. "NASCAR 3D" straps you into the driver's seat with Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and other NASCAR greats. (This film is rated PG for some crash scenes.)

Symposium schedule:
Dave Brown - Director, Delphi Safety Team
"Racing and Safety Innovations"
Saturday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 20, noon
 
Paxton Waters, Paxton Waters Racing Architecture
"Designing a Super Speedway"
Saturday, Jan. 19, 3:15 p.m.
"Designing a Road Course," with guest Derek Daly
Sunday, Jan. 20, 1 p.m.
 
Ron McQueeney, Indianapolis Motor Speedway chief photographer
"Motorsports Photography"
Saturday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m.
 
Donald Davidson, racing historian
"Indiana Racing History and Anecdotes"
Saturday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 20, 2 p.m.

Other weekend highlights:
--Representatives of Indiana's newest motorsports facility, Prairie Hills Motorsport Club, on hand with information and the track's designers, Paxton Waters and Derek Daly.
--Artist Ron Burton working on a new piece of racing art while surrounded by many of his works.
--Appearances by Andrew Thomas, 2007 U.S. Nationals drag-racing champion; Brad Miles, Action City Dragway drag bike champion; and Mark Dismore, former IndyCar Series winner and karting champion, now owner of New Castle Motorsports Park.
 
Special features:
--IndyCar Series/Indy Pro Series
--Indy Car Series cutaway car (educational exhibit) Target-sponsored Indy car
--Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network (Indy 500 Broadcast History Exhibit)
--Don Schumacher Racing funny car
--Indiana State University Motorsports Program with dragster
--Comet Kart Manufacturing - Go Kart Racing - New Castle Motorsports Park
--Clabber Girl, NASCAR, Busch Series car
--Fritz/Selvia Brothers "Racing for Riley" mini-sprint car team (former Riley Hospital for Children patients who now race and raise money for Riley)
--Brownsburg Motorsports Park
--Terre Haute Quarter Midget Association
--Fagin Racing U.S. Army stock car
--Leslie Brothers Choppers
--Kyle Camp, junior dragster
--Zach Gosnell, junior dragster
--Formula BMW Car
--Thomas Racing Super Gas Drag Car
--Indy Car Series Transporter
--NHRA Drag Bikes
--NHRA Junior Dragsters
--O'Reilly Raceway Park
--Brad Miles Championship Drag Bike
--Krockenberger Family Racing (Racing family history - four generations)
--IMS Productions (motorsports television production)
--Jeg's NHARA Super Pro Drag Car
--Indy Hi Winders Car Club

Vintage features:
--1912 Haynes, "Race Across America" winner
--Vintage Sprint cars, including "The Black Deuce"
--The 1964 Dean Van Lines Special driven by Mario Andretti and featured in the IMAX film "Super Speedway"
--Custom-designed flat-track racing motorcycles
--Historic Indiana Hill Climb bike
--Historic Indiana antique cars

Additional features:
--The Madison Regatta (boat racing)
--Ron Burton art (special motorsports art exhibit)
--IMAX features: "Super Speedway" and "NASCAR 3D"
--Greenlight Diecast Manufacturing (Collector Car Models)
--Brownsburg Motorsports Park
--I Is For Indy - The World's Greatest Race by Mike King and illustrated by John Rodgers (books given to students in "SPEED" exhibit)
--Indianapolis Soap Box Derby

Indiana race tracks featured:
--Indianapolis Motor Speedway
--Prairie Hills Motorsports Club
--Anderson Speedway
--O'Reilly Raceway Park
--Salem Speedway
--New Castle Motorsports Park
--Indianapolis Speedrome
--Lawrenceburg Speedway
--The Madison Regatta (motorboat racing)

Fans can pose for pictures with these trophies:
--the IndyCar Series Championship Cup
--the 2007 US Nationals Super Gas "Wally"
--the 2007 NHRA Top Fuel Championship trophy won by Tony Schumacher

"Gathering Before the Green Flag" events occur during the final weekend of the popular "SPEED" exhibit, developed by COSI Columbus with support from the National Science Foundation and in cooperation with the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative. The interactive, hands-on exhibit explores the science behind the forces that make things stop and go, and is open now through Jan. 21.

Admission:
Both the "Gathering Before the Green Flag" event and the "SPEED" exhibit are free for members and are included in regular museum admission: $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and $4 for children ages 3 - 12. Prescheduled schools and groups of 20 or more are eligible for discounted rates. Visit www.indianamuseum.org/speed or call 317.232.1637.

Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parking:
Convenient covered parking is in the attached underground White River State Park garage. Enter from Washington Street.