MONTH HEADLINES
Track cornerstone barricades set Thursday, March 1, for Vegas Grand Prix
Mar 02 \\
LAS VEGAS (March 2, 2007) – One of the largest events to ever come to downtown Las Vegas took another big step Thursday, March 1, when cornerstone track barricades were set up at Bonneville Avenue and Grand Central Parkway for the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix.
The work signals another segment in construction of the 2.44-mile, 12-turn temporary street course, which winds in and around Glitter Gulch. Ten members of the Vegas Grand Prix construction crew were on hand to begin the process.
Dale Jensen and Bradley Yonover, owners of the Vegas Grand Prix; Jim Freudenberg, its president and chief executive officer; Champ Car racing star Paul Tracy; and circuit manager Chris Kneifel were all in attendance for the ceremonial event.
More than 2,700 12-foot long, 39-inch cement barriers will line the perimeter inside and outside the course. The barriers weigh about 9,000 pounds apiece and will all be connected.
During the next few weeks leading up to the race, crews will construct a 9-foot debris fence built specifically for motor racing around the course. A 12-foot post will hold two pieces of wall and two pieces of debris fence. All work will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to avoid peak drive times. Only one lane of two-lane streets will be closed at a time to limit traffic impacts.
In all, there will be 3,000 pieces of barricade wall, 3,000 pieces of debris fencing and 800 tire barriers, which consist of 25 bundled, interlocked tires.
“This is another step toward a wonderful event for downtown Las Vegas,” Freudenberg said. “We have a construction crew that is second to none putting the pieces together for the Vegas Grand Prix.”
Kneifel, who also spearheads construction of the Grand Prix Arizona and the San Jose Grand Prix, said the track has a little of everything for both fans and competitors.
“This track by and large is very generous in width, which will allow for some strategic passing,” Kneifel said. “It’ll have two different types of racetracks and will definitely have both high speed and slow speed racing. There’s a little bit of everything. It’ll be an exciting race.”
Other additions to the track will include grandstands, hospitality tents and pedestrian bridges.
Removal of the track components will begin once the event has been completed.
About Vegas Grand Prix
The Vegas Grand Prix is a three-day festival of speed and entertainment being held April 6-8, 2007 that will encircle the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The weekend will feature rock concerts, a celebrity poker tournament, Easter services, an impressive Easter egg hunt and culminate in the internationally televised 2007 series opener for the Champ Car World Series.
The racing portion of the weekend will also present a Historic Grand Prix with legendary open-wheel racers participating as well as the season opener for Champ Car Atlantic – Champ Car’s support series. The temporary street circuit is a 2.44-mile, 12-turn course through the heart of “Glitter Gulch.” Champ Cars generate nearly 750 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 180 miles per hour on the Vegas street course. It is expected to be one of the largest events in the history of downtown Las Vegas.
About DDB Ventures
DDB Ventures, LLC was founded in 2005 and is owned by two Arizona businessmen, Dale Jensen and Bradley Yonover. Yonover, an entertainment entrepreneur and real estate developer, and Jensen, a financial software visionary and largest single owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team and part owner in the Phoenix Suns NBA team, have partnered to create an entertainment, motorsports and real estate development entity. Operating the Vegas Grand Prix for DDB Ventures is Jim Freudenberg and his team of professionals, who have successfully run more than 70 Champ Car street racing festivals and other major motorsports events in the U.S. and throughout the world over the past 25 years.
-- VGP --
Media contact: Mike Henle
702-279-3483 or mhenle@aol.com
The work signals another segment in construction of the 2.44-mile, 12-turn temporary street course, which winds in and around Glitter Gulch. Ten members of the Vegas Grand Prix construction crew were on hand to begin the process.
Dale Jensen and Bradley Yonover, owners of the Vegas Grand Prix; Jim Freudenberg, its president and chief executive officer; Champ Car racing star Paul Tracy; and circuit manager Chris Kneifel were all in attendance for the ceremonial event.
More than 2,700 12-foot long, 39-inch cement barriers will line the perimeter inside and outside the course. The barriers weigh about 9,000 pounds apiece and will all be connected.
During the next few weeks leading up to the race, crews will construct a 9-foot debris fence built specifically for motor racing around the course. A 12-foot post will hold two pieces of wall and two pieces of debris fence. All work will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to avoid peak drive times. Only one lane of two-lane streets will be closed at a time to limit traffic impacts.
In all, there will be 3,000 pieces of barricade wall, 3,000 pieces of debris fencing and 800 tire barriers, which consist of 25 bundled, interlocked tires.
“This is another step toward a wonderful event for downtown Las Vegas,” Freudenberg said. “We have a construction crew that is second to none putting the pieces together for the Vegas Grand Prix.”
Kneifel, who also spearheads construction of the Grand Prix Arizona and the San Jose Grand Prix, said the track has a little of everything for both fans and competitors.
“This track by and large is very generous in width, which will allow for some strategic passing,” Kneifel said. “It’ll have two different types of racetracks and will definitely have both high speed and slow speed racing. There’s a little bit of everything. It’ll be an exciting race.”
Other additions to the track will include grandstands, hospitality tents and pedestrian bridges.
Removal of the track components will begin once the event has been completed.
About Vegas Grand Prix
The Vegas Grand Prix is a three-day festival of speed and entertainment being held April 6-8, 2007 that will encircle the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The weekend will feature rock concerts, a celebrity poker tournament, Easter services, an impressive Easter egg hunt and culminate in the internationally televised 2007 series opener for the Champ Car World Series.
The racing portion of the weekend will also present a Historic Grand Prix with legendary open-wheel racers participating as well as the season opener for Champ Car Atlantic – Champ Car’s support series. The temporary street circuit is a 2.44-mile, 12-turn course through the heart of “Glitter Gulch.” Champ Cars generate nearly 750 horsepower and can reach speeds up to 180 miles per hour on the Vegas street course. It is expected to be one of the largest events in the history of downtown Las Vegas.
About DDB Ventures
DDB Ventures, LLC was founded in 2005 and is owned by two Arizona businessmen, Dale Jensen and Bradley Yonover. Yonover, an entertainment entrepreneur and real estate developer, and Jensen, a financial software visionary and largest single owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team and part owner in the Phoenix Suns NBA team, have partnered to create an entertainment, motorsports and real estate development entity. Operating the Vegas Grand Prix for DDB Ventures is Jim Freudenberg and his team of professionals, who have successfully run more than 70 Champ Car street racing festivals and other major motorsports events in the U.S. and throughout the world over the past 25 years.
-- VGP --
Media contact: Mike Henle
702-279-3483 or mhenle@aol.com
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