'Greatest Spectacle in College Racing' on track for April 22
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This year's grand marshal for what has been called the "Greatest Spectacle in College Racing" is Thomas B. Robinson, Purdue's vice president for student services. Robinson serves as an advocate for students and is responsible for enrollment management, student support services, campus life initiatives, leadership programs, programs supporting the performing arts and ROTC.
"It's a real honor to have a grand marshal who is so committed to serving students and clearly sees the benefit of activities such as Grand Prix that bring the much of the campus community together," said Grand Prix Foundation President Tim Birky. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Robinson as part of our team this year."
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Qualifications will be at 11 a.m. Saturday (April 15) and at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 17, and Tuesday, April 18. The fastest driver on the first day of qualifications will earn the pole position, and qualifications will determine 27 of the 33 starting positions. The final six spots on the starting grid will go to the top two finishers in each of three sprint races on race day.
The main race event starts at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, with driver introductions and the national anthem. Preliminary racing starts at 11 a.m. Pits are open to the public from 9-10 a.m., and the track is open to the public at 10 a.m. Practice is from 10-11 a.m., and sprint races start at 11:20 a.m.
The Grand Prix Student Ambassadors will preside over the events. They are Joseph Camp, a junior from Grand Rapids, Mich., studying social studies education; and Brad McKinney, a senior from Indianapolis studying agricultural sales and marketing and English. Ambassadors serve as spokespeople for the Grand Prix Foundation, encouraging race support and business sponsorship and also perform various other duties alongside the Senior Board. The ambassadors each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation. Nineteen other students received scholarships ranging from $250 to $750.
Grand Prix Day on the Purdue Memorial Mall will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 21. Vehicles from the Purdue Automotive Performance Association and the Army NASCAR car will be on display. Information booths from various groups and organizations will also be featured.
Advance tickets will be on sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17-21 in the lobby of Stewart Center or on the Purdue Memorial Mall, weather permitting. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the gate. Programs are $3, and the official Grand Prix T-shirt is $10.
New this year is the Grand Prix Bundle, which includes a ticket, a program and the official T-shirt, all for $15. This package is available by prepaid order in the Grand Prix office, Stewart Center, Room G-2. To ensure availability of a T-shirt, prepaid orders must be received by Monday, April 17 at 5 p.m. Bundles will be available for pickup on April 21 at Grand Prix Day.
The Purdue Grand Prix Foundation is a student-run, nonprofit organization that conducts the kart race and related events to raise money for student scholarships. The foundation also receives support from Toyota Motor Corp., Coca-Cola, Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics, WAZY 96.5, WLFF 95.3 and WSHP 95.7.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Tim Birky, (765) 494-7771, tbirky@purdue.edu
Andrew Fordice, productions director, ajfordic@purdue.edu
Jason Keese, special events director, jkeese@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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