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CART Posts Q2 1998 Results

3 August 1998

Championship Auto Racing Teams Reports Second Quarter 1998 Results
    DETROIT, Aug. 3 -- Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.
today announced record revenues, net income and earnings per share
for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 1998.

    Actual Results
    Total revenues for the second quarter of 1998 were up 7% to $20.0 million
from $18.7 million in the comparable quarter in 1997.  Net income for the
second quarter of 1998 was up to $5.0 million, compared to a net loss of
$1.2 million in the second quarter of 1997.  On a diluted per common share
basis, earnings were $0.32 in 1998 compared to a loss of $(0.12) in the second
quarter of 1997.
    For the six month period ended June 30, 1998, revenues increased 25% to
$30.1 million from $24.1 million.  Net income rose to $7.8 million or $0.59
per diluted share versus a net loss of $0.3 million, or $(0.03) per diluted
share.

    Pro Forma Results
    Assuming the American Racing Series, BP Automotive and Pro-Motion Agency
acquisitions had been effective January 1, 1997 and January 1, 1998, and after
eliminating certain non-recurring race team expenses in the second quarter and
six months ended June 30, 1997, pro forma results for the periods would have
been as follows:
    Total revenues for the second quarter of 1998 decreased 4% to
 $20.0 million from $20.8 million in the comparable quarter in 1997.  Net
income for the second quarter of 1998 decreased 2% to $5.0 million, compared
to $5.1 million in the second quarter of 1997.  On a diluted per common share
basis, earnings were $0.32 in 1998 compared to $0.48 in the  second quarter of
1997.
    For the six month period ended June 30, 1998, revenues increased 18% to
$31.4 million from $26.6 million.  Net income rose 34% to $8.1 million or
$0.59 per diluted share versus  $6.0 million, or $.57 per diluted share.
    The number of events held in a particular quarter will affect the
comparability of earnings information from quarter to quarter.  In the second
quarter of 1998, CART conducted 7 events, which was one event less than the
comparable quarter in 1997.  The CART event conducted in Australia moved out
of the second quarter and will be run in the fourth quarter on October 18,
1998.
    Andrew Craig, CART Chairman and CEO, stated, "despite running one less
event in the second quarter, revenues and earnings were comparable with the
previous year, primarily due to a 60% increase in sponsorship revenue which is
attributable to the addition in 1998 of FedEx as the title sponsor of the
series.  We continued to control and contain costs which allowed the company
to exceed analyst estimates for the quarter.
    "During the second quarter, the company continued to grow and enhance the
business by adding to its ladder system with the acquisition of Pro-Motion
Agency, which runs the KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship. In addition, we
announced a new venue for 1999 in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Motor
Speedway and completed a marketing representation agreement with ISL
Worldwide, which secures minimum sponsorship revenues of $215-235 million
dollars over the next nine years."
    Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed
company that completed a initial public offering on March 10,
1998, is the leading promoter of open wheel racing in the United States and
owns, operates and markets the FedEx Championship Series, which is comprised
of 19 races in five countries on four continents in 1998.  Drivers such as
Michael Andretti, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser, Jr., and 1997 champion Alex Zanardi
race 800-plus horsepower, open-wheel cars at speeds of more than 230 per hour
on some circuits.  CART also owns and sanctions the PPG Dayton Indy Lights
Championship as well as the KOOL Toyota Atlantic Championship.

                       Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.
                       Consolidated Statement of Operations
            For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (In Thousands, Except Earnings Per Share)

                          QTR ended     QTR ended        YTD            YTD
                           June 30,      June 30,     June 30,       June 30,
                              1998         1997         1998           1997

    Revenues:

     Sanction Fees         $10,251       $12,546      $15,243       $13,953
     Sponsorship Revenue     4,603         2,342        7,763         4,319
     TV Revenue              1,911         2,276        2,458         2,627
     Engine Leases, Rebuilds
      and Wheel Sales          755            --          954            --
     Other                   2,514         1,540        3,647         3,168

    Total Revenues          20,034        18,704       30,065        24,067

    Expenses

     Race and franchise fund
      distributions          5,486        13,919        6,874        15,560
     Race Expenses           1,304         2,321        2,135         3,440
    Cost of Engine Rebuilds
     and Wheel Sales           241            --          304            --
     Administrative and
      indirect expenses      5,966         3,972        9,411         5,650
     Depreciation and
      amortization             188           117          329           220

     Minority Interest          17          (15)         (37)         (217)

    Total Expenses          13,202        20,314       19,016        21,653

    Operating Income         6,832       (1,610)       11,049         (586)
     Interest income/(expense) 968           140        1,234           192

    Income before income taxes7,800      (1,470)       12,283         (394)
     Income Tax Expense      2,847         (240)        4,465          (52)

    Net Income              $4,953      $(1,230)       $7,818        $(342)

    Earnings per share
     Basic                   $0.33       $(0.12)        $0.59       $(0.03)
     Diluted                 $0.32       $(0.12)        $0.59       $(0.03)

    Weighted Average Shares
     Outstanding
     Basic                  15,172        10,200       13,191        10,200
     Diluted                15,336        10,200       13,291        10,200

                     Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.
                Consolidated Statement of Operations-Proforma
          For the Three and Six Months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
                                 (Unaudited)
                  (In Thousands, Except Earnings Per Share)

                          QTR Ended      QTR Ended       YTD            YTD
                           June 30,       June 30,    June 30,       June 30,
                             1998          1997         1998           1997

    Revenues:

    Sanction Fees          $10,251       $12,546      $15,243       $13,963
    Sponsorship Revenue      4,603         2,876        8,189         5,575
    TV Revenue               1,911         2,369        2,458         2,665
    Engine Leases, Rebuilds
     and Wheel Sales           755           978        1,665         1,659
     Other                   2,514         2,073        3,843         2,747

     Total Revenues         20,034        20,842       31,398        26,599

    Expenses

    Race and franchise
     fund distributions      5,486         6,231        6,888         7,246
    Race Expenses            1,304         1,436        2,215         2,222
     Cost of Engine Rebuilds
     and Wheel Sales           241           356          591           556
    Administrative and
     indirect expenses       5,939         4,437        9,868         6,722
    Depreciation and
     amortization              188           214          424           352
    Minority Interest           17            64         (37)         (123)

    Total Expenses          13,175        12,738       19,949        16,975

    Operating Income         6,859         8,104       11,449         9,624
    Interest income/(expense)  968           128        1,235           148

    Income before income taxes7,827        8,232       12,684         9,772
     Income Tax Expense      2,847         3,130        4,600         3,749

    Net Income              $4,980        $5,102       $8,084        $6,023

    Earnings per share
     Basic                   $0.33         $0.48        $0.59         $0.57
     Diluted                 $0.32         $0.48        $0.59         $0.57

    Weighted Average Shares
    Outstanding
     Basic                  15,172        10,638       13,629        10,638
     Diluted                15,336        10,638       13,728        10,638


                       Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                    As of June 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997
                                  (In Thousands)

                                  June 30,               December 31,
                                    1998                     1997

    Assets
    Current Assets
     Cash and Cash Equivalents    $39,931                  $1,164
     Short Term Investments        32,066                      --
     Accounts Receivable           12,367                   3,156
     Current Portion of
     Notes Receivable                 945                      --
     Prepaid Expenses                 667                     751
     Inventory                        110                      --
     Current Deferred Tax Asset       376                   4,683

    Total Current Assets           86,362                   9,754

    Notes Receivable                3,432                      49

    Property and Equipment-Net      5,191                   2,236

    Trademark-Net                      --                      --

    Noncurrent Deferred Tax            --                      --

    Other Assets                    5,598                     309

    Total Assets                 $100,583                 $12,348

    Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity

    Current Liabilities
     Accounts Payable              $1,890                  $1,889
     Accrued Liabilities
      Race Expenses and Point Awards1,653                   9,500
      Taxes                           593                     491
      Other                         1,907                     724
     Unearned Income               16,022                   2,352
     Current Portion of Long Term Debt130                     130

    Total Current Liabilities      22,195                  15,086

    Long Term Debt                    249                     314

    Deferred Federal Taxes-Noncurrent  54                      --

    Minority interest                (44)                     (7)


    Stockholders' Equity/Partners' Capital
     Capital Stock                    151                     102
     Additional Paid In Capital    89,221                  15,975
     Retained Earnings           (11,304)                (19,122)
     Unrealized Gain/(Loss)
      on Investments                   61                      --

    Total Stockholders'
     Equity/Partners' Equity       78,129                 (3,045)

    Total Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity        $100,583                 $12,348