Pre race notes - Fontana.

In the 2000 CART FedEx Championship Series event in California, the 2.029-mile oval served as the site for a record world closed-course record lap for auto racing when Gil de Ferran turned in a qualifying lap at a blistering 241.428 mph in just 30.255 seconds.

Last year's race in Fontana featured a Champ Car record 73 lead changes among 19 different drivers, crumbling the previous Champ Car record of 62 established at Michigan in 1998. In addition, the 19 different race leaders shattered a Champ Car record of 12 established in Fontana in 1999.

As CART's only "Official Tool and Tool Storage Supplier," Craftsman supports top teams in the CART FedEx Championship Series with mechanic's tools and sponsors the Craftsman Tech Centre - CART's mobile technical inspection facility. In addition, Craftsman continues to sponsor the Craftsman Pit Crew Challenge, which debuted in 1999, to recognize the efforts of motorsports' unsung heroes, the mechanics who build, maintain and service the Champ Cars.

CART teams compete all year to see who has the best crew on pit road. Throughout the season, all pit stops are timed - less time in the pits means more points. The four teams that tallied the most pit crew challenge points, plus a fifth wildcard team, go head-to-head in California this weekend. California Speedway's Pit Lane will serve as the battlegrounds for this weekend's fourth annual Craftsman Pit Crew Challenge in Fontana. The hour-long competition starting at 3:30 p.m.

The five Champ Car teams participating in the Shoot Out, all competing for $50,000 cash, a $15,000 Waterford Crystal Trophy and bragging rights for the winning pit crew.

Shell Team Rahal will be looking to defend the title they won last year with driver Kenny Brack. This year's Rahal squad is represented in the Shoot Out by the #8 machine driven by 1996 CART champion Jimmy Vasser. Newman/Haas Racing comes into the competition with both its CART FedEx Championship Series entries, one with newly-crowned CART FedEx Championship Series champion Cristiano da Matta in the #1 car - the Wildcard Winner from Chicago - along with the #11 entry piloted by Christian Fittipaldi. The remaining two teams in the Shoot Out are Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Bruno Junqueira in the #4 machine and Player's/Forsythe Racing's #33 entry with driver Alex Tagliani.

One of the biggest social and charity events of the year on the CART FedEx Championship Series, "Runway Madness V," takes on a Las Vegas theme in the fifth annual CARA Charities' presentation this Friday, November 1, at the Ontario (Calif.) Convention Centre beginning at 6 p.m. PT.

This year's charity dinner and entertainment show is called "Runway madness Viva Las Vegas." A kick-off event for the November 3 The 500 Presented by Toyota at California Speedway will feature four continuous activities including a Lounge Stage, a full casino, special VIP (high roller) gambling room and a silent auction.

A variety of auction items - from racing-related, one-of-a-kind collectables to retail products - will be an important part of the charitable portion of the event. An online auction also is a major portion of the program with valuable items available at www.auction.caraux.org.

For the first time in "Madness" history, the program will be seen on SPEED Channel as part of "CART Friday Night" at 10:30 p.m. (EST). "Runway madness Viva Las Vegas" is an annual benefit dinner and party held prior to the CART race at California Speedway and is a primary fundraiser for CARA Charities to assist worthwhile causes on a national and international scope.

This year's event charities will include the Ontario Fire and Police "Spark of Life" Fund. Last year's "Runway Madness" party, with driver Dario Franchitti and his wife Ashley Judd served as honorary chairpersons, recognized the needs of the families of the fallen New York policemen and firemen from the September 11 terrorist attacks by making a $50,000 donation from the 1000-person event on November 2, 2001.

It was the single largest donation ever presented by in the 20-year history of CARA Charities. CART driver Kenny Brack, an accomplished blues guitarist, has formed the latest edition of CART's RPM rock band and will make a special appearance at "Runway madness Viva Las Vegas."

Brack, the 1999 Indy 500 winner, brings a stellar cast of rock musicians to the CARA Charities' spectacular with a group he now calls "Super RPM." Joining the Swedish driver in the four-person "Super RPM" will be former Blue Oyster Cult drummer and Players/Forsythe Racing's Rick Downey, Midwest blues guitar star Gene Deer and Mo Nunn Racing's Laz Denes.

CARA Charities, now entering its third decade of service to the auto racing community, also hosts other fundraising activities including the Indy 500 Fashion Show in May, the "Taste of CART" at Mid-Ohio in August, the Indy Shop Tour in September and the Christmas Ornament program. For further information on "Runway madness Viva Las Vegas", contact the CARA Charities office at (317) 299-2277 or e-mail to carachar@aol.com. Tickets will be available at the door at Friday night.

A musical performance by The FIXX and Berlin followed by a fireworks display will take place at California Speedway's infield entertainment centre from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. PT this Saturday evening.