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PSCR: Michelin Aims to Capture Second American Road Racing Jewel at Sebring

18 March 1998

(GREENVILLE, SC) --- Michelin claimed the GT1 class victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona last month when the Michelin Pilot-equipped Rohr Motorsports Porsche 911 GT1 outran all but one of the lighter, quicker cars in the Can-Am division. Michelin hopes to capture the second jewel of American road racing when the Exxon Superflo 12 Hours of Sebring takes the green flag this Saturday.

Michelin will support two Panoz Motorsports GTR-1s and a Champion STP mid-engined Porsche 911 GT1 in Professional Sports Car's GT1 class. The Panoz team for Sebring will consist of Doc Bundy, Andy Wallace, David Brabham, Eric Bernard and Jamie Davies. Andy Pilgrim, Thierry Boutsen and Bob Wollek will drive for Champion.

"Panoz and Champion are putting some of the finest cars and drivers on the track at Sebring and our Michelin Pilot tires will provide them with superior cornering and stopping capabilities," said Herb Johnson, Director of Motorsports, Michelin North America. "Capturing both Daytona and Sebring in the same year would be a great accomplishment in our first season of Professional Sports Car competition."

Michelin and Panoz will be partnered for the entire 1998 Professional Sports Car season. Last season, the Panoz team won four races, placed second four times and set three records in their race at Sebring.

In addition to its activity in the GT racing scene this year, Michelin North America will supply tires for the Barber Dodge Pro Series which also begins its season this Saturday at Sebring, taking the green flag before the Exxon Superflo 12 Hours.

Barber Dodge is now recognized as the direct path to higher levels of open-wheel competition, in particular the CART Indy Lights championship, itself the Official Development Series of the CART FedEx Champ Car Series.

The Michelin tire program also includes the Skip Barber Racing School, the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School and the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Race Series.

Michelin, which brought the world the radial tire more than 50 years ago, is the world's largest tire company. It has 22 plants in North America and produces tires for every type of vehicle, from bicycles to the space shuttle.

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Michelin North America makes racing photography available through Wieck Photo Database. Media may access the images by visiting www.wieckphoto.com or by calling 972-392-0888.