Conference oass::racers

    The Portland race is in Oregon and I believe it is a street curcuit.  I
    don't know where tickets would be available however.
    
    Dave

Dave,

	By "street circuit" do you mean a temporary course on city streets?
	I thought Portland was a road course (as in "real race track"), 
	although I could be wrong...

Steve

The race is held at the Portland (Ore.) International Raceway.
It is a permanent road course, not a temporary street circuit.
A "possible" lead on tickets (this info is from last year) is:

  Ticketmaster, Auto Racing Division
  P.O. Box 1498
  Lake Oswego, OR  97034
  
  phone: (503) 236-8006

Michael Andretti won at Portland each of the last 3 years, so
if you go, you'll probably get to see someone different win for
a change.

    Especially for an international traveler it is most comforting to have
    tickets in hand before going... but, I wouldn't let availability of tickets
    keep me from going.  You will surely be able to purchase tickets at the 
    track -- if not from official ticket sales, from 'scalpers'.  You 'may' 
    have to pay a 'bit' extra if you do it this way.  
    
    I have purchased tickets at several different IndyCar races over the
    years (but not Portland).  I always expect to pay face value, sometimes a 
    bit more.  The trick is to make sure the tickets are not counterfeit, and 
    the right date!  Also be sure you know the seating section layout.
    
    I bought grand stand tickets for Michigan from the track ticket office
    the morning of the race last year -- plan to again this year.
    
    Roger

Thanks everyone for the information.

See you in Portland.......(and may the best driver win).

Where in the U.S. will you be? If you are on the east coast, Portland 
is a 3 day drive! It's a full days drive from southern California
(I've driven both).

BTW: Portland is a nice track. I think they finally got the paving 
fixed to where the Indy cars don't tear up the surface anymore. It 
used to be a big problem. Most of the passing is at the end of the 
front straight, so that might be a good place to watch if there are 
stands down there. The layout is a 1/4 mile front straight (used for 
drag racing at other times) with a chicane at the end and then a 180 
degree corner. The back section is fairly tight and winding with not a 
lot of room to pass, unless you are Paul Tracy. At the end of the back 
section is another 180 degree turn heading back onto the front 
straight. Most of the grandstands are on the front straight across 
from the pits. There must be some stands on the back section but I 
can't remember them.

Glenn