Speed Channel to Produce International Feed for U.S. Grand Prix at Indy; 80-MPH 'Fly Cam' Will Track Cars in and out of Pits at Speed.

Sports Editors/Business Editors

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2004

SPEED Channel will bring Formula One to the world on June 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET with LIVE coverage of the United States Grand Prix from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

With all eyes on the network, the SPEED cameras will be everywhere. Highlighted by a special pit-lane "Fly Cam" designed to travel at speeds of 80 mph, the arsenal of equipment will include 22 fixed cameras, seven robotic cameras, three jibs and three pit area radio frequency cameras.

"This is a very big deal for SPEED Channel on par with an Olympic event in terms of size of audience," said Frank Wilson, SPEED Channel Sr. Coordinating Producer. "We have been working very hard since the end of last year's race to improve upon the groundwork already put down in 2003."

Estimates for the worldwide television audience range from 350-400 million viewers.

SPEED Channel's veteran F1 on-air team is lead by host Bob Varsha. Former Formula One driver David Hobbs and F1 mechanic Steve Matchett will provide analysis from the booth and Peter Windsor and Derek Daly will report from the pits.

The SPEED Channel USGP broadcast schedule (all times ET):

-- June 18 - USGP Practice (Noon to 4 p.m., LIVE)

-- June 18 - F1 Decade: 1994 German Grand Prix (midnight)

-- June 19 - USGP Practice (9 a.m. to 11 a.m., LIVE)

-- June 19 - SPEED Special: On the Limit - Jordan Grand Prix Test

(12:30 p.m.)

-- June 19 - USGP Qualifying (1 p.m. to 3 p.m., LIVE)

-- June 20 - United States Grand Prix (12:30 p.m., LIVE)

-- June 20 - SPEED Special: On the Limit - Jordan Grand Prix Test

(5 p.m., replay)

SPEED CHANNEL F1 SPECIAL: Former Formula One driver and current SPEED Channel analyst Derek Daly reunites with the man who gave him his start in racing, Eddie Jordan, to put together a special SPEED Channel program entitled On the Limit: Jordan Grand Prix Test set to debut June 19 at 12:30 p.m. (Media preview copy available upon request).

Jordan, the Team Principal for the Jordan Grand Prix team, allowed Daly and SPEED Channel's cameras unprecedented access to a Formula One test. Daly spent the day shaking down the Jordan EJ/13 -- the same car that contested the 2003 F1 season. The test was conducted alongside the debut of the Jordan EJ/14, a car driven in F1 in 2004.

Daly will provide a unique perspective on the process, as on-board cameras document his every move on the Silverstone Circuit, while the former racer provides real-time commentary while piloting the Jordan car. Daly not only was allowed to drive the car, but he was given access to the team and their engineers for an entire day.

"This program will take you inside the inner workings of a Formula One team," said Frank Wilson, SPEED Channel Sr. Coordinating Producer. "Derek will introduce SPEED Channel viewers to one of the most sophisticated racing cars on the planet. The audience will be allowed to eavesdrop on meetings with team engineers and will get an up close look at a very complicated piece of machinery."

The special will re-air on June 20 at 5 p.m. ET.

In 2004, SPEED Channel is the exclusive U.S. cable home for many of the top motor sports series in the world. In addition, SPEED's weekly programming schedule brings car enthusiast television to Prime Time Monday through Thursday. Now available in more the 66 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel is among the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country and the home to NASCAR TV.