Bombardier Learjet 500

June 11, 2005 
Texas Motor Speedway 
Fort Worth, Texas 
Race 6 of 17 in the IRL season

TV: ESPN, 8:30 pm EDT

Length: 200 laps 
Track length: 1 1/2 miles 
Race length: 300 miles

Qualifying record: Billy Boat, 225.979 mph, 1998 
Race record: Scott Sharp, 169.182 mph, 2000


DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Helio Castroneves - Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion ran ninth
in that event for the second straight time two weeks ago; tied
with Dario Franchitti for seventh in the series standings with
123 points, two behind sixth-place Scott Sharp; best finish
through the season's first five races was a second in Phoenix on
March 19; a 12th here was his only result outside the top 10 
through the first eight events of 2004; won four straight poles 
to finish last season but still is seeking his first of 2005.

Dario Franchitti - Won his first career pole on this track last
year before running second to Tony Kanaan in this race; did not
participate in this event in 2003 as he was recovering from
injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident; ran sixth in the
Indianapolis 500 two weeks ago for his third top-10 in the last
four events; ran a season-high third in St. Petersburg on April
3 and led 67 laps in Japan four weeks later before an accident
led to a 17th; recorded the first two wins of his career last
year.

Bryan Herta - Ran third in the Indianapolis 500 two weeks ago
for his third straight top-five finish; managed just four
top-fives all of last season; is fourth in the standings, just
seven points out of third; seeking second career IRL checkered
flag and first since Kansas in 2003; also had two wins in CART
career that spanned from 1994-2003; mechanical problems led to a
season-worst 19th in this event last year.

Sam Hornish Jr. - Only two-time series champion in IRL history
recorded series-record 13th career checkered flag in Phoenix on
March 19; ran second to Dan Wheldon in season-opening event at
Homestead-Miami Speedway; endured another disappointing result
in the Indianapolis 500 two weeks ago as an accident led to a
23rd; finished 26th in Indianapolis in 2004 thanks to an accident
and never has finished higher than 14th in that event; set an IRL 
record with five wins in 2002; ran fourth in this event among his 
six top-fives in 2004.

Tony Kanaan - Defending series champion won the pole for the
Indianapolis 500 and led 54 laps but finished a season-worst
eighth; was his second straight result of sixth or worse after
setting an IRL record with 18 straight top-fives dating to last
year; is second in the standings, 72 points behind Andretti
Green teammate Dan Wheldon; won this race among his three
checkered flags last year and was second in this event in 2003;
looking forward to more success in the home race of the team's
sponsor: "It's always special to race at Texas Motor Speedway
for several reasons - 7-Eleven is headquartered in Dallas, the
stands are always packed with fans and the track is made for our
kind of racing. ... Hopefully, we'll be able to enjoy a 'Big
Gulp' in victory lane on Saturday night."

Vitor Meira - Was runner-up in the Indianapolis 500 two weeks
ago for his best finish of the season; climbed three spots to
fifth in the standings with 136 points, just 10 behind Hornish
for third; had back-to-back seconds in the two events following
his sixth-place finish in this event last year; making 34th
career start in search of his first checkered flag.

Danica Patrick - The talented rookie driver made history two
weeks ago in the Indianapolis 500, becoming the first female to
lead a lap and recording the highest finish (fourth) by a female
in that event; climbed three spots to ninth in the series 
standings; graced the cover of "Sports Illustrated" last week and 
appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on May 23; 
Letterman is her team co-owner; crashed in her first IRL race at 
Homestead on March 6 but finished fourth at Twin-Ring Motegi in 
Japan on April 30.

Buddy Rice - Was unable to defend his 2004 victory in the
Indianapolis 500 as he suffered a concussion and spinal injuries
following a crash in practice on May 11 and Kenny Brack drove
in his place; has been cleared to race here, however; ran a
season-best third in Japan on April 30 - the last event before
the Indy 500; led the series with earnings of nearly $2.7
million last year; an accident led to a 15th in this event last
year - his only result outside the top 10 in the season's first
11 events; tied for the series lead with three wins last year.

Dan Wheldon - Won the Indianapolis 500 under caution two weeks
ago for his fourth win through the season's first five events;
delivered the first Indy 500 win for team owner Michael Andretti
and became the first Englishman to win the event since Graham
Hill in 1966; owns a commanding standings lead after finishing
second to teammate Kanaan in last year's standings; the 2003
IndyCar Rookie of the Year has run in the top five in 11 of the
last 12 events dating to last year; only finish outside the top
five in that span was a sixth in Phoenix on March 19; gear box
problems led to a 13th in this event last year.


2004 Top 10
-----------
 1. Tony Kanaan (11), D/H/F
 2. Dario Franchitti (27), D/H/F
 3. Alex Barron (51), D/C/F
 4. Sam Hornish Jr. (6), D/T/F
 5. Adrian Fernandez (5), G/H/F
 6. Vitor Meira (17), G/H/F
 7. Greg Ray (13), G/H/F
 8. Darren Manning (10), G/T/F
 9. Felipe Giaffone (24), D/C/F
10. Tora Takagi (12), D/T/F

Past Champions
--------------
2004  Tony Kanaan
2003  Al Unser Jr. 
2002  Jeff Ward 
2001  Scott Sharp 
2000  Scott Sharp 
1999  Scott Goodyear 
1998  Billy Boat 
1997  Arie Luyendyk