Grand Prix ticket holders can start filing claims

Aug. 8, 2005

Individual ticket holders to the United States Grand Prix (USGP) may begin filing claims for their Michelin ticket refund today, according to Michelin North America Inc.

Stubbed Ticket Claim Forms and detailed instructions are available now at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Ticket Office or on request by phone at 1-877-950-USGP (1 317 492 6700 outside the United States and Canada). Details of the program are also posted on Michelin Web sites.

This is the second step in the Michelin F1 Ticket Refund process, which was announced on July 15 in response to the controversy surrounding the June 19 Formula One race in Indianapolis.

Prior to the start of the race, the seven teams riding on Michelin tires refused to participate, citing safety concerns surrounding their tires. Only six racers, all riding on Bridgestone tires, competed in the race.

Groupe Michelin announced it would not only reimburse spectators at the U.S. Grand Prix race, but also would send 20,000 of them to the race next year.

Michelin says it is committed to reaching as many fans as possible who purchased tickets to the USGP by delivering prompt ticket refunds. The ticket refund is being administered by IMS.

Individual ticket purchases were made by fans who purchased a race day ticket but did not establish a USGP Ticket Account. Original ticket stubs are required for these refund requests, along with a completed Stubbed Ticket Claim Form. Stubbed ticket refund requests must be postmarked by Aug. 29, 2005, to be included in the ticket refund process.

All tickets purchased for race day (June 19, 2005) are eligible for the Michelin ticket refund and, for the vast majority of ticket purchasers, no action is required. IMS has sorted information on its USGP Account Holders automatically so Michelin may provide ticket refunds directly to them.

USGP Account Holders were mailed a letter in July detailing the ticket refund process. Michelin refund checks for USGP Account Holders and for individual ticket claims are expected to be issued and mailed between Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.

Refunds for tickets associated with suites will be sent directly to the suite licensee and not to individual ticket stub holders.