PRESS
RELEASE
AMA: AMA expresses outrage over reinstatement of Janklow's law license
(JAN 5, 2006)
- The American Motorcyclist
Association has expressed its outrage over a decision by the South Dakota
Supreme Court to reinstate the law license of former Congressman Bill
Janklow, who was convicted of felony manslaughter in the traffic death
of a motorcyclist in 2003.
- The state Supreme
Court ordered on January 5 that Janklow get his law license back on
February 15. Janklow, 66, a former four-term South Dakota governor before
he was elected the state's sole congressman, lost his right to practice
law when he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving,
speeding and failure to stop at a stop sign in the death of motorcyclist
Randy Scott, 55. Scott was killed in August 2003 when the car Janklow
was driving ran a stop sign on a rural road in South Dakota at a speed
estimated at about 70 mph, charging into the path of Scott's motorcycle.
- Janklow could have
faced up to 11 years in prison for the multiple charges. But in the
end, a South Dakota judge sentenced him to only 100 days. In addition,
he paid fines and fees of $11,000, lost his law license, resigned from
Congress, was put on probation and lost his driver's license for three
years.
- In 2004, another
court ruled that Janklow could escape financial liability for Scott's
death under a congressional immunity statute. Janklow said that he was
returning home from an event related to his duties as a congressman
at the time of the crash.
- "Motorcyclists
across the country are shocked, outraged and dismayed that a convicted
felon would be allowed to get his law license back and practice law,"
said Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "This
sends the message that there are few consequences for the death of a
motorcyclist.
- "It's a sad
day not only for the Scott family, but for all riders," Moreland
said.
- Because it involved
a federal lawmaker, the Janklow case drew national media attention.
But the AMA has seen dozens of cases in other states in which car drivers
get off with light fines, and often no jail time, even after facing
felony charges for causing the deaths of others on the highway.
- In response to
that dangerous trend, the AMA founded its Justice for All campaign,
designed to increase penalties for those who injure or kill vulnerable
road users. For more information on that program, go to www.AMADirectlink.com/justice.
INDYCAR: Marco Andretti to make his debut with Andretti Green Racing (DEC
21, 2005)
- 18 year old grandson
of Mario Andretti will drive the 4th car in his father's Andretti Green
Racing team in 2006.
MARCO: "I'm excited about having the opportunity to drive the ArcaEx
car for Andretti Green Racing. Over the past couple of years, I've had
the opportunity to spend time in the paddock with the ArcaEx team, as
well as my three teammates, so that is a plus. I know that I have a
lot of work ahead of me and a pretty steep learning curve, but I also
know that I have one of the best teams in motorsports working with me."
INDYCAR: HONDA TO POWER ALL CARS IN 2006 (DEC 16, 2005)
- Toyota has withdrawn
from 2006 Indycar championship, leaving Honda as the sole engine supplier.
TOYOTA (Jim Aust): "We appreciate the time we've spent in the IndyCar
Series ... In winning the 2003 Indianapolis 500, Toyota earned its greatest
motorsports accomplishment and we'll forever cherish that victory. Our
gratitude goes out to Tony George and the Indy Racing League for providing
us the opportunity to compete in, and win, the greatest spectacle in
racing."
INDYCAR (Brian Barnhart.): "We truly appreciate Toyota's participation
and service in the IndyCar Series. They have been great partners to
the series both on and off the race track ... Every participant in the
IndyCar Series beginning next year will be powered by Honda Racing Indy
V8 engines. The biggest benefit to this decision is, first and foremost,
cost savings to the teams. Taking our engine program to a single supplier
format we believe will take the IndyCar Series to an entirely new level
of competition beginning in 2006."
- HONDA: "...
With this single supply situation, Honda is faced with a totally new
set of challenges. Engine and parts supply, frankly, had to be our most
immediate concern and our point of confirmation. Also assuring engine
build quality, equal engine performance and, of course, maintaining
Honda's reputation for outstanding customer support, were all key program
features that we had to confirm, and we have done so"
F1: AMERICAN SCOTT SPEED TO MAKE F1 DEBUT IN 2006 (DEC 7, 2005)
- 22
year old Scott Speed will become the first American to drive in Formula
1 GP since Michael Andretti in 1993. Speed moved to Europe in 2003 and
competed in the British Formula 3. The following year he won the German
and Eurocup Formula Renault Championships. In 2005 he raced in the inaugural
GP2 series and finsihed 3rd behind Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen
(who have also moved up to F1). Speed will make his F1 debut next season
with the renamed "Toro Rosso" F1 team (ex Minardi F1 before
it was bought by Red Bull Racing).
SPEED: "It's certainly a feeling of excitement. To bring F1 closer
to the American public is exciting. It's going to be incredible to be
on the grid in America and at Indy with all of the support behind me.
I'm really looking forward to it."
NASCAR: KEN SCHRADER TO DRIVE NO. 21 FORD FOR WOOD BROTHERS/JTG (NOV 18,
2005)
- He will replace
retiring Ricky Rudd.
SCHRADER: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the 21 car and
the Wood Brothers, and felt like I got to know them quite a bit when
I first started back in ’84 and ’85 – I drove a Ford
for the first four years that I raced in the series, with Elmo Langley
and Mr. Donleavy ... obviously, I got to know the Woods then because
we ran all their old parts, is what we ran then. It’s just a great
honor to drive the car. We talked about doing it three years ago, but
I was too old then, so to get the chance now, I’m really thrilled.”
CHAMPCAR:
KOREAN RACE CANCELLED (SEP 29, 2005)
- Champ Car Announces
Postponement of 2005 Event in Ansan, South Korea.
Inaugural race to be part of 2006 schedule
INDIANAPOLIS (September 28, 2005) - The Champ Car
World Series announced today that the inaugural Ansan Champ Car Grand
Prix scheduled for October 14-16 in Ansan, South Korea has been deferred
to 2006.
The event will not take place as scheduled as part
of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered
by Ford calendar, but will remain as part of the previously-released
2006 Champ Car schedule. The Racing Korea (TRK), the local promoter,
caused this decision by a lack of operational preparation and failure
to comply with contract requirements.
Champ Car has a strong relationship with the Mayor
of Ansan and is quite confident in the city's ability to move forward
with the race in 2006.
"We made every effort to avoid this deferment
and have been working very closely with the promoter as well as Mayor
Song Jin Seop and the City of Ansan in finding a solution that would
allow us to run this event as scheduled," said Champ Car Executive
Vice-President of Development, Governmental Affairs and Planning Joe
Chrnelich. "We have a lot of equity in this market and there
are many positive indicators, including interest from major title
sponsors, a supportive Mayor and a great circuit that is near completion.
This demonstrates to us that we can have successful events in Ansan
provided we show patience and continued confidence in the Korean marketplace,
and we will."
"It is regrettable that we have to remove a race
from what has been a very successful season" said Champ Car World
Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "But we believe that this decision
will help build a stronger event in the long-term future. We remain
focused on bringing our series to Asia and the Pacific Rim, and will
continue to build toward our goal of conducting world-class events
in these regions."
MXDN:
AMA CONGRATULATES TEAM USA FOR VICTORY IN MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS (SEP 26,
2005)
- PICKERINGTON, Ohio
-- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) extends its congratulations
to Team USA for winning the 2005 Motocross of Nations, held yesterday
in Ernée, France.
- Team USA, made
up of AMA athletes Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham, and Ivan Tedesco,
and led by team manager Roger DeCoster, defeated a strong international
field to take the winner's trophy for the 16th time, and for the first
time since 2000.
- The French team
of David Vuillemin, Sebastien Tortelli, and Mickael Pichon finished
second overall; Team Belgium's Stefan Everts, Kevin Strijbos, and Steve
Ramón finished third.
- "On behalf
of the AMA and all American motocross and Supercross fans, I congratulate
Team USA for bringing the Motocross of Nations trophy back to the U.S.,"
said Robert Rasor, AMA President. "The riders' performance, supported
by industry partners and countless enthusiasts, is a great source of
pride and continues our winning tradition."
- Often called "The
Olympics of Motorcycling," the Motocross of Nations features three-man
teams from around the world competing in three races, or motos. The
U.S. last sent a team in 2003, finishing second to Belgium. From 1981
to 1993, Team USA was undefeated in the Motocross of Nations, winning
13 straight times.
- Team USA's Carmichael,
who won two motos at the 2005 Motocross of Nations, is a nine-time AMA
Motocross champion, three-time AMA Supercross champion, and three-time
AMA Pro Racing Athlete of the Year. Windham, a five-time AMA Supercross
winner in 2004, finished second to Carmichael in the 2005 AMA Motocross
Championship. Tedesco is the reigning AMA 125cc Motocross Champion,
as well as the two-time and reigning AMA 125cc West Region Supercross
champion. Team USA manager DeCoster is a five-time world motocross champion
and four-time Trans-AMA Motocross champion.
- Before achieving
success in AMA Pro Racing competition, all three members of Team USA
raced in AMA Sports amateur motocross events; Carmichael won nine national
titles and Windham won eight. The AMA is the world's largest motorsports-sanctioning
body, with AMA Pro Racing and AMA Sports sanctioning more than 4,000
events annually.
- Team USA's victory
in the 2005 Motocross of Nations received unprecedented support from
the motorcycle industry. In addition to title sponsorship from the AMA/Air
Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's,
major contributors to the team effort include Factory Connection, Pro
Circuit Products, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, and American Honda
Motor Co., Inc.
INDYCAR: BRISCOE CONTINUES ON ROAD TO RECOVERY (SEPT 15, 2005)
- INDIANAPOLIS
(September 15, 2005) - Target Chip Ganassi Racing's 23-year-old Australian
IndyCar rookie driver Ryan Briscoe (no.33 Target Toyota) continues to
progress in his road to recovery after a spectacular incident last Sunday
at Chicagoland Speedway. Since arriving at Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital
Monday afternoon, Briscoe underwent further evaluation and treatment
by Dr. Scott Bjerke, Dr. Terry Trammell and Dr. Kevin Sheid, with the
assistance of Indy Racing League medical personnel.
- Briscoe sustained
a concussion, two broken collarbones, a bruised lung and contusions
to his legs and arms. He also has a tiny fracture to a small bone in
his right foot and several contusions on his back. All injuries are
expected to heal without requiring further treatment or surgery. Briscoe
is expected to be transferred out of the critical care unit this weekend
where he was being treated for breathing difficulties stemming from
the inhalation of heat and vapors during the incident. He is expected
to make a full recovery and should be released from hospital early next
week.
CHAMPCAR: STEVE JOHNSON NAMED CHAMP CAR PRESIDENT (AUG 17, 2005)
- INDIANAPOLIS (August
16, 2005) As part of Champ Car's senior management succession plan,
Steve Johnson will become the new President of Champ Car while Dick
Eidswick will remain with the company as Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman.
- Johnson will take
over as Champ Car President effective September 19, after most recently
serving as President and CEO of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).
Johnson was the first individual to serve as President and CEO of both
the Club and Professional SCCA organizations. He brings more than 15
years of experience in all facets of sales management, marketing and
cross-functional officer's duties with several Fortune 500 companies
and a major professional sports organization. Prior to his SCCA appointment
in June, 2000, Johnson served as National Hot Rod Association Vice President
of Sales.
- "I am extremely
excited to join the Champ Car team as President," said Johnson."I
have been amazed at the progress the series has made over the last twelve
months and look forward to continuing the momentum and successes long
into the future. Champ Car has a great vision as well as committed teams,
owners, sponsors and promoters. Open wheel racing has work to do and
Champ Car is getting it done."
- Current Champ Car
President Dick Eidswick will take on the new role of CEO and Chairman
beginning in September. Eidswick will work together with Johnson during
the transition period and will continue to contribute to the growth
of Champ Car.
- "I have been
involved in the process of selecting Steve and I am excited he is joining
Champ Car," said Eidswick. "Steve will be a strong addition
to the company and we welcome him to the Champ Car family. I am going
to continue to be involved in Champ Car but in a more limited role."
- Eidswick has been
a key to Champ Car's resurgence after Kevin Kalkhoven, Gerry Forsythe
and Paul Gentilozzi acquired the company in bankruptcy court in January
28, 2003. During his tenure as President Champ Car has shown tremendous
growth in event attendance; the Champ Car World Series returned to network
television and the growth of the Atlantic Championship following the
announcement of the series 2006 car and engine specifications.
- "I want to
thank Dick for everything he has done for Champ Car," said Champ
Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "He has been one of the most important
factors in rebuilding Champ Car and I know he will continue to contribute
to our success. A planned succession such as this will enable Champ
Car to continue to build upon the very significant momentum it has developed.
I believe Steve will step right in and continue to grow Champ Car. He
has a proven track record and I'm very excited that he is coming on
board."
- The Bridgestone
Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford is in the middle
of one of its most successful and exciting years as nearly 1.2 million
fans have attended its first nine events in the 2005 season. The series
features some of the greatest race car drivers in the world competing
in the most diverse and exciting series in the world. Champions Sebastien
Bourdais, Jimmy Vasser and Canadian Paul Tracy along with 2004 Roshfrans
Rookie of the Year A. J. Allmendinger and Alex Tagliani are among the
drivers battling for the Vanderbilt Cup, which is awarded to the winner
of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.
The title is contested during three-day festivals of speed on oval circuits,
temporary street circuits and permanent road courses.
MORE
NEWS
TOP
OF PAGE |
|
