Sports cars, open-wheel racers at Road America this weekend

Road America’s legendary four mile road course will showcase four days of spectacular sports cars and open wheel racers Aug. 7–10.

Seven race series will fill the paddock and tackle the track with practice and qualifying sessions, and a total of twelve races. Main race events feature the American Le Mans Series on Saturday and the SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge on Sunday. Support series include Atlantic, Star Mazda, MX-5, Formula BMW Americas and Skip Barber.

The American Le Mans Series will race in the Generac 500 presented by Time Warner Cable. The series features prototype and production-based sports cars from the world’s most elite auto manufacturers. Research and development pushes the success of each car, providing a field that uses amazing engineering innovations, alternative fuels, and the newest tire technology. Aspirational brands such as Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Mazda, Panoz and Porsche are all on track.

Saturday’s four-hour race starts at 4 p.m. following an open-grid line-up where fans can meet the drivers, see the cars and participate in the pre-race ceremony, which includes a double A-10 flyover. The fastest cars will finish the race at sunset against a backdrop of fireworks.

For the fourth year, the Generac 500 is sponsored by Wisconsin-based Generac Power Systems, which designs and manufactures top quality, long-life power generation equipment. New for 2008, Road America welcomes presenting sponsor Time Warner Cable of Wisconsin.

Sunday’s main event offers the SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring and GT races. Touring cars are the compacts and sedans seen parked in driveways throughout suburbia: Acura TSX and RSX, BMW 325i, Mazda6 and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. In Speed GT, it’s the high-horsepower coupes and sedans idolized by car enthusiasts across the globe: the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Viper, Ford Mustang Cobra and Porsche 911 GT3. Add the exotics like a Lamborghini Superleggera, Lexus IS-F and Lotus Exige, and you have a car lover’s paradise.

On Friday at 6:30 p.m. cyclists, racecar drivers, race fans, families, and cancer survivors will tune up their bicycles for the annual Tour de Road America benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The ride is open to cyclists of all abilities and ages, using all kinds of bikes. For auto racing fans, it’s a chance to ride alongside their racing heroes. For avid cyclists, it’s a rare opportunity to challenge the hills and turns of the smooth asphalt circuit. Registration details are available at www.pelotonride.org. Pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt, water bottle and Cytomax Sport Drink. On-site registration is scheduled for Aug. 8 at the Lance Armstrong Foundation booth near the 4-Mile Merchant in the upper paddock.

Cost is $50 per adult or $25 for children age 12 and younger. The fee includes full day Friday race ticket, event goodie bag, reception and automatic tax-deductible donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. For the fifth consecutive year in support of the Salvation Army Food pantry program, the track is offering $10 off one daily admission ticket with a $5 donation or more of non-perishable food items. Food donations will be accepted at all entrance gates.

Daily tickets are $20 Thursday, $25 Friday, $65 Saturday and $50 Sunday. Parking, paddock access, grandstand seating, fan forums and autographs sessions are free. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult. Gates open at 7 a.m. Races run rain or shine.

For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com or call 1-800-365-7223.