*Infiniti makes it official, will leave the Indy Racing League*
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By Bruce Martin
SportsTicker Contributing Editor

FOUNTAIN, Colorado (Ticker) -- 
What was feared last week at Texas among teams in the Indy
Racing League using Infiniti engines became official Friday when
the engine manufacturer announced it would no longer supply
engines to IRL teams, effective at the end of this season.

Fear over rising costs in the series, which could escalate when
Toyota and Honda leave CART at the end of this season and join
the IRL next season, could be a major factor in Infiniti's
departure.

The Infiniti Division of Nissan North America, Inc. announced
Friday that it will concentrate its 2003 Indy Racing League
program in the new Infiniti Pro Series, which begins competition
later this season.

Infiniti, which will discontinue providing engines to the Indy
Racing League at the conclusion of the 2002 season, will support
the IRL program for the balance of this season.

"We appreciate the many significant contributions that Infiniti
has made to the Indy Racing League and appreciate its continued
support of the exciting, new Infiniti Pro Series, which will be
an outstanding showcase for its products and some of the top
young talent in racing," said Tony George, Indy Racing League
president and CEO. "With Chevrolet, Honda and Toyota supplying
engines to the Indy Racing League and Infiniti providing strong
support to the Infiniti Pro Series, the league is set for
continued growth in 2003."

Infiniti began providing engines to the series in 1997.  This
decision was made after a careful review of Nissan's motorsports
program and the corporation's goals under NISSAN 180.

That plan is used to keep the company on a "path to lasting
profitable growth on a global basis."

The Infiniti Pro Series is the IRL's developmental series which
will begin competition in three weeks at Kansas Speedway in
Kansas City, Kansas.  The Pro Series program allows Infiniti to
supply stock Q45 engines to Tom Walkinshaw Racing, who will make
racing modifications and sell the engines to race teams
competing in the series.

"Supplying production Q45 engines for use in this series aligns
well with our marketing goals and supports the broader goals of
the NISSAN 180 plan," the company said in a statement. "Infiniti
has benefited from its IRL experience and is proud to have been
a factor in the growth of the IRL since its inception.  We wish
the best for the series organizers and race teams."

Team owner and driver Eddie Cheever Jr. has been Infiniti's lead
team for the last three years.

"I am truly grateful to Infiniti for the past three years, in
which time we built a mutually beneficial partnership," said
Cheever, who is at Pikes Peak International Raceway for Sunday's
Radisson Indy 250 IRL race. "For Infiniti, we have turned their
Indy Racing program into a winning effort, and along the way we
have successfully enhanced their image as a performance-focused
luxury car maker."

Cheever Indy Racing has won two races, a pole position, and has
become a regular frontrunner with the Infiniti V8 racing engine.

"Our partnership with Infiniti has established Cheever Indy
Racing as one of the top teams in the Indy Racing League,"
Cheever said. "With Infiniti support, we have developed new
relationships with Red Bull and TWR Group which will be vital to
our future success. I am only sorry that we came just shy of
delivering an Indy 500 win to Infiniti, which would have made
them the first Japanese automotive manufacturer to win the race.

"But it's not over yet.  We have the best engine out there on
the track right now, and we have until September to kick
everybody's butt."

According to several engine builders in the IRL garage area,
Infiniti had a tough decision to make after fellow Japanese
engine manufacturers Toyota and Honda have both announced they
will join the IRL beginning next season. Chevrolet is already
involved in the series as an engine manufacturer, taking over
the program that used to be the Oldsmobile Aurora engine.

"I hope that everybody understands that the arrival of Toyota
and Honda has upped the ante dramatically," Cheever said.
"Everybody who is going to stay in this series is going to have
to ante up.  Some might want to do it and some might not."

Eric Bachelart, a co-owner with Michael Lanigan of Mi-Jack
Conquest Racing, has had discussions with Infiniti and was told
that he may want to pursue other options for engines in 2003.
Laurent Redon currently races an Infiniti engine for that team
in the IRL this season.

"We are looking at our options for next year," Bachelart said.
"We are just looking at what the possibilities are.  We don't
know much more than that.

"I think it is a question of who can finance the program --
whether it's Infiniti of Japan or Infiniti of North America.
We've had very little communication with the folks from Infiniti
this year.  We have a contract with TWR (Tom Walkinshaw
Racing)."

Bachelart believes the Infiniti Indy engine has made great
strides in the past two years and in some areas, may be better
than the Chevrolet engine. That is why he thinks it is a shame
that the parent company pulled the plug on the IRL engine
program over the concerns that Toyota and Honda would create an
escalating market environment.

"For sure, it's a shame because we have built an excellent
relationship with the people from Tom Walkinshaw and would like
to continue it," Bachelart said. "We knew when we signed a
contract this year, there was a possibility they would not keep
going next year. It's not really a big surprise."

Bernard Dudot is the Indy Racing program manager for Infiniti
Motorsports.  He was formerly with the Renault Formula One
program and has helped create an extremely competitive engine
for the IRL.

"It's a shame because we have improved the engine from last year
and from the middle of last season, we had a small reliability
problem," Dudot said. "But that problem is solved now.  Our
engine in terms of reliability and performance is very, very
good.  We should have a win now, but if we have to stop this
program, it's a shame."

Dudot said he does not believe that by Honda and Toyota joining
the IRL, that Infiniti waved the white flag and decided to
leave.

"The reason they are coming in is because of the competitive
environment of the IRL," Dudot said. "For the IRL, I think it's
fantastic. The IRL is really growing and we want to be a part of
that growth.

"We have some tracks coming up like Kansas City and some other
long tracks where for us, we have some advantages. I think we
have some speedways coming up on the schedule that are very
interesting for us."

Dennis Reinbold has a vested interest in how Infiniti does, both
on and off the race track.  Reinbold is team owner of Dreyer &
Reinbold Racing, with Robbie Buhl as the driver in the IRL.
Reinbold is also an Infiniti dealer in Indianapolis.

"I know they are committed to the Infiniti Pro Series and they
like that idea," Reinbold said. "I wish they would continue the
motor program in the IRL. They may look at a way to take that to
a different level.  Instead of trying to do it locally through
their budgets, they may try to make it more of a worldwide
program. That's an option I'd like to see them take."

Reinbold said he is sure Infiniti has concerns with the amount
of money Toyota and Honda will spend in the IRL next year, but
he believes that it will be great in the IRL in the competition
level with so many engine manufacturers.

"Right now, we have put a lot of research and development
between our team and Cheever's team over the years and the
people at Tom Walkinshaw have done a great job of developing the
motor to where it is today," Reinbold said. "Right now, it's a
motor that has exceptional reliability and exceptional
performance.

"They have really come a long way since their inception.  Now,
it's a competitive advantage. We like it. As a dealer, there is
a direct tie-in to car sales, especially in the upper end when
we are in the performance line and with the Infiniti and their
new G-35 and the Q-45. They make high performance cars, so there
is a direct correlation.  It has helped our sales, no
question."

IRL officials realize that as the series gets bigger, some
companies may not be able to continue in the series.  But,
Infiniti will supply the engines for the Infiniti Pro Series -
the developmental series that begins competition at Kansas
Speedway on July 6.

"As far as we're concerned, Infiniti will be a key member of the
Indy Racing League, whether it's in the Infiniti Pro Series or
as an engine supplier in the IRL," said Ken Ungar, the IRL's
vice president of business affairs. "So, in that regard, we are
not worried about their future involvement with the IRL."

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