CLEVELAND (April 5, 1994) -- IMG's auto racing companies, Motormarketing International of Detroit, Inc. and Motormarketing International of Cleveland, Inc. announced today that they will offer a $1 million bonus in 1994 to any IndyCar driver who records the following results: A victory in the 1994 ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix and a victory in the 1994 Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland presented by Dairy Mart and a pole (starting in the No. 1 position) in either Detroit or Cleveland and a new track record time of race in either race this year.
The driver who meets all four requirements will pick up the "Quick Million" bonus.
"I believe that we have found a unique way to tie our company, these two great races and IndyCar together," stated MMI President Bud Stanner. "Our ultimate goal is to bring more excitement to IndyCar and its fans, and I think this bonus award will succeed in doing that."
Andrew Craig, president and chief executive officer of IndyCar (Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.) commented: "All of us at IndyCar salute IMG's Quick Million bonus. With a million dollars at stake, I think the racing in Detroit and Cleveland will rise to the next level, making the IndyCar fan the biggest winner."
The facts demonstrate that the bonus is attainable. In 1993, PPG Cup champion Nigel Mansell won seven poles and numerous track records enroute to five victories. Reigning Cleveland champion Paul Track also scored five
victories as well as two pole positions and two time-of-race records.
There has only been one year that Detroit and Cleveland have shared the same winner. In 1989, Emerson Fittipaldi won both Grands Prix, however each race had a different person starting from the pole.
"For sure I think this is very exciting for the drivers and should be exciting for all of the fans," commented Marlboro Team Penske's Fittipaldi. "I just wish this had been in effect in '89. I would've only needed a pole. I'm really looking foward now even more than normal to racing in Detroit and Cleveland."
"That's a great incentive," commented Bettenhausen Motorsports/Alumax driver Stefan Johansson. "I'm sure that everybody will be going all out in both races from the start to finish."
The ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix is scheduled for June 10-12 at the Raceway in Belle Isle Park. All focus will be on the winner of that race when the Indy cars come to Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport July 8-10 for the Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland presented by Dairy Mart.
Stanner concluded: "It has become clear that the rainbow starts in Detroit and ends in Cleveland. The pot of gold is there for the taking."
Both races will be televised live throughout the United States on ABC-TV. Each event will be broadcast to more than 100 countries around the world via ESPN International.
IMG, founded by Mark H. McCormack in 1960, is a global sports management and marketing company. The Cleveland-based firm has 62 offices in 21 different countries including Detroit.
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