Indy Racing League (IRL) Drivers Film Youth Voting PSAs for Declare Yourself Heading Into the Indianapolis 500

Indy Racing League (IRL) Drivers Film Youth Voting PSAs for Declare Yourself Heading Into the Indianapolis 500

Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Ed Carpenter and Ryan Hunter-Reay Star in Spots that will Air throughout Race Weekend

Fans to View Original Copy of Declaration of Independence at Speedway Museum

INDIANAPOLIS, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Stressing the power of exercising the right to vote, five top drivers from the Indy Racing League and its IndyCar Series have partnered with non-partisan, non-profit youth voting campaign Declare Yourself to create public service announcements. Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Ed Carpenter and Ryan Hunter-Reay recorded the spots this week and all have registered to vote at http://www.declareyourself.com/. The PSAs will air on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway jumbotrons for several days leading up to the anticipated May 25 race, as well as on http://www.indycar.com/ and http://www.indy500.com/.

"The Indianapolis 500 is one of the great sports traditions in our country," said Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself. "Millions of young people are fans of the IndyCar Series, and we couldn't have a bigger platform than this exciting race to get our message out. The recent presidential primary in Indiana brought out an unprecedented number of young voters, and we believe our Indy PSAs will keep young fans engaged as we race toward the election."

Shot recently in St. Petersburg, the Declare Yourself PSAs feature some of the top young drivers in the IndyCar Series. They include:

   --  Danica Patrick -- "I'm registering with Declare Yourself because it's       something very important.  Just register and vote -- it's the only way       you can have any part in what you want out of this country.  In the       time it takes me to do one lap around this track, you could have       already voted."   --  Marco Andretti -- "As a race car driver, I think I have less patience       than most people I know.  It doesn't matter who you vote for, just go       to DeclareYourself.com.  It's that easy.  Just do it. If I have the       patience to do it, I think anybody can."   --  Graham Rahal -- "I think it's critical for everybody to register and       vote.  A lot of people sit back and think that it's not going to       matter, but if you don't put your vote in -- yeah, you're right --       it's not going to matter.  So you might as well go out and do your       best.  Get yourself registered at DeclareYourself.com."   --  Ed Carpenter -- "My family has always been passionate at election       time.  I remember being a little kid and staying up late watching the       polls.  It's exciting when you finally get old enough to go have the       chance to vote -- you really feel like your vote means something.  I       always thought voting was a long, drawn-out process but it's really       not.  Just go to DeclareYourself.com."   --  Ryan Hunter-Reay -- "You've been given the opportunity for your voice       to be heard.  If you're not taking advantage of that, you're only       short-changing yourself and your future.  So get out and vote. In the       time it takes me to do two laps, you could have registered to vote at       DeclareYourself.com."    

"Voting is one of the most powerful rights of American citizens, a cornerstone of our democracy," said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief operating officer. "We're proud to support Declare Yourself during the Indianapolis 500 and hope its efforts drive record turnout to the polls this November."

As part of Declare Yourself's Indy activation, an original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on display at Speedway Museum, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view this remarkable document and learn about its historical significance and contemporary relevance. Belonging to Declare Yourself founder, producer Norman Lear, the document is one of the 25 remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence created on the evening of July 4, 1776, a symbol of democracy that is just as powerful more than 200 years after its creation.

Additionally, visitors will be able to interact with an entertaining and educational multimedia exhibit. An informative video hosted by actress Reese Witherspoon, a descendant of one of the original signers of the document, explains the history and contemporary relevance of the Declaration, and a 14-minute film produced by Lear and Rob Reiner features a powerful theatrical reading of the Declaration of Independence by a distinguished group of actors, including Mel Gibson, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Spacey, Michael Douglas, and Renee Zellweger, among others.

About Declare Yourself

Having already registered over 400,000 voters for the 2008 election, Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that energizes and empowers every eligible 18 to 29-year-old in America to register and vote. Partnering with leaders in education, the entertainment industry, popular online destinations and media outlets, the fashion industry and retailers, Declare Yourself registered more than 1.2 million people in the 2004 and 2006 elections at http://www.declareyourself.com/. The nonprofit, founded by Norman Lear, was launched in 2003 as the culmination of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a nationwide multi-media exhibit and tour of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

About the IndyCar Series:

The IndyCar Series is the premier open-wheel series in the United States, competing on a challenging combination of superspeedways, short ovals, scenic road courses and temporary street circuits. In 2008 the IndyCar Series will conduct 15 events in the US and one each in Australia, Canada and Japan, all available worldwide through a comprehensive, long-term agreement with ESPN, including all races broadcast in High-Definition, including a motorsports first 360-degree in-car camera. A leader in motorsports technology, the IndyCar Series is the first racing series to power its Honda engines on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol, a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The IndyCar Series continues to the be the fastest, most competitive and innovative racing series, attracting a diverse lineup of drivers with participants from the United States, Japan, Brazil, England, France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. The stars of the IndyCar Series include 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon, 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves, 2005 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick and 2006 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Marco Andretti. Other standouts include Scott Dixon, Buddy Rice, Graham Rahal, Will Power and Justin Wilson. For more information on the IndyCar Series, please visit http://www.indycar.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Declare Yourself

CONTACT: Doug Piwinski, +1-310-854-4834, or Scott D. Floyd,
+1-310-854-4784, Cell, +1-310-722-6162, both of BNC for Declare Yourself

Web site: http://www.declareyourself.com/
http://www.indycar.com/
http://www.indy500.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment