SPARTA, Ky. July 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Kentucky Speedway and the AMBER Development Group announced today that GPS Industries, Inc. (OTCBB:GPSN), will be the presenting sponsor of the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series event at the $152-million motorsports facility on August 14, 2005.
The "AMBER Alert Portal Indy 300 Presented by GPS Industries" will feature Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, rookie sensation Danica Patrick, defending series champion Tony Kanaan, Team Penske teammates Helio Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and Ohio native Sam Hornish, Jr., along with the top open-wheel drivers in the world. Buddy Lazier, 1996 winner of the Indy 500 as well as Champion of the Indy Racing League and Kentucky Speedway in 2000, will also be racing at the event.
The event will take place on the same day the AMBER Alert Portal is activated for law enforcement agencies statewide. The Portal will expand the state's current AMBER Alert program -- which broadcasts messages to TV, radio and electronic highway signs -- to include cell phones, email, pagers, Personal Digital Assistants, computer desktops and lottery terminals, among others. Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Washington have implemented the new AMBER Alert Portal, making Kentucky the seventh state to go live. The Portal has already facilitated successful recoveries of kidnapped children nationwide.
"We welcome the generous support and enthusiasm GPS Industries will bring to this cause," said Granger Whitelaw, Chairman of the AMBER Development Group. "Working together to use technology to the benefit of families and sport, we can accomplish our shared goal of ensuring a safer world for our children."
Based in Vancouver, Canada, GPS Industries is a pioneer and market leader in the development of GPS-based golf business solutions. The company has nearly a decade of experience in GPS and has invested heavily in its patented "Inforemer" technology. GPS Industries partners with other leaders in sports and technology, such as Greg Norman's Great White Shark Enterprises and CBS Sportsline, to offer its customers and investors the full potential of wireless and GPS applications.
"This sponsorship with AMBER Alert Portal is a new venture for GPS Industries," GPS Industries Chairman and CEO Bob Silzer said. "We are very excited about being able to showcase our products and technologies during this high profile event and look forward to the opportunity to introduce our new Spectator Sports Inforemer to the motor racing world."
Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed. GPS Industries will receive promotional considerations prior to and during the event under the terms of the agreement.
The fourth of five event weekends at the speedway begins on Saturday, August 13, with "The Louisville Courier-Journal Pole Day." Speedway gates open at 10:00 AM, and the full day of activity includes four IndyCar Series practice sessions, IndyCar Series qualifying and "The Bluegrass 100" Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series race.
The all open-wheel weekend continues on August 14 when gates open at 10:30 AM with the final IndyCar Series practice. Country music trio SHeDAISY will take the WUBE-FM B-105 Country Sound Stage at 1:00 PM, and the "AMBER Alert Portal Indy 300 Presented by GPS Industries" field will take the green flag at 3:45 PM.
Tickets for both race events and the July 30, one-night-only "Jammin' in the Bluegrass" concert featuring international recording star Tim McGraw with Trick Pony and Billy Dean are still available and can be purchased online through http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com , http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/ or http://www.tickets.com (http://www.tickets.com/) , by phone at 888-652-RACE, through Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores and through Kentucky Speedway ticket offices located at 2216 Dixie Hwy., Ste. 200, in Ft. Mitchell or the Fan Center located outside Turn 3 at the speedway.