with the weep out the tv listings don't have time to change to new scheduling.


For Immediate Release

WET TRACK FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF INDY JAPAN 300

MOTEGI Japan, Saturday, April 19, 2008 – Hideki Mutoh addressed the fans at Twin Ring Motegi, thanking them for their patience and inviting them to return the next morning for the Indy Japan 300.

The Andretti Green Racing driver was as disappointed as the crowd that persistent "weepers" in Turn 4 of the 1.5-mile oval forced postponement of the sixth annual race to 11 a.m. (JST) -- 10 p.m. (ET) April 19 with the live broadcast on ESPN Classic. A re-airing of the 200-lap race is scheduled for 11 a.m. (ET) April 20 on ESPN2.

The weepers – water emanating through the asphalt surface from the soaked ground underneath – were created by about 2.3 inches of rain that fell at the track over the previous 30 hours. Rain stopped early in the morning, and track workers with Delphi Safety Team personnel worked for more than seven hours in an attempt to stem the flow from multiple locations.

Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations divisions of the sanctioning Indy Racing League and the race's chief steward, twice consulted drivers regarding the safety of the racing surface before asking Mutoh and Roger Yasukawa to address the crowd.

:dologob: