Grand American Posts Impressive Numbers in 2005
Racing series GRANDAM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, (December 16, 2005) - When the checkered flag fell on the 2005 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series season in its first-ever visit to Mexico City, the curtain came down on the best season yet for the six-year-old Grand American Road Racing Association.

The organization saw increases in every meaningful statistical categoryóoff the track as well as onóincluding race attendance, television performance and entries. Grand American also enjoyed its best season yet in terms of media coverage.

Overall race attendance saw an increase of 20 percent, bolstered by a 44 percent increase in attendance at International Speedway Corporation venues and a record two-day crowd of 111,935 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The season began with a 46 percent jump in attendance for the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona, while Homestead-Miami Speedway, Barber Motorsports Park and Phoenix International Raceway reported attendance increases of 50 percent or more.

With all Rolex Series races and most Grand-Am Cup events broadcast on SPEED Channel, the two Grand American series were the second and third most-watched road racing series, respectively, televised on the network, trailing only worldwide motorsports powerhouse Formula 1. In total, the Rolex Series saw a 14 percent increase in viewership, a six percent gain in households and a four percent hike in ratings. Four Rolex Series events saw ratings increases of more than 70 percent, topped by a 186 percent gain for the Grand Prix of Miami.

Grand Americanís popular, production-based Grand-Am Cup Series was also a strong performer on SPEED Channel, garnering increases in households (34 percent), viewership (20 percent) and ratings (27 percent). Three Grand-Am Cup events experienced ratings gains of more than 70 percent, led by a 160 percent increase for the Phoenix Twin 200s.

The aforementioned increases can be directly attributed to the unparalleled road racing product provided by Grand American. The organizationís top-level Rolex Series averaged a record 45 starters per race in 2005, with a 22-car average field for the Daytona Prototype category and an average of 23 GT race cars.

The Rolex Series season had an average of 9.5 lead changes per race, with a Rolex Series record of 44 lead changes during the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona and a total of five races featuring 10 or more lead changes. A total of 38 different drivers led at least one lap with an average of six different leaders per race.

Exciting finishes were commonplace, with 10 of 14 races decided by 10.5 seconds or less and seven margins of victory inside of 3.9 seconds. The seven different overall winners in 2005 established a new Rolex Series record, topping the previous record of six established last year.

The Grand-Am Cup Series also enjoyed a great season in 2005, with a record average of 59 starters per race. There were an average of six lead changes per race in the Grand-Am Cup Series and an average of five different leaders, and seven of 10 races were decided by a margin of victory inside 8.5 seconds.

The media has taken notice of the close competition and excitement provided by Grand American as evidenced by the fact that major daily newspaper placements saw an increase of 38.6 percent and a 46.4 percent increase in reached circulation.

For more information contact Mike Faulknor mike@ffsons.com (650) 872-3242

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