IMS Productions, Shoreline Release Second Indy 500 DVD

'A Decade Of Legends' Looks At Revolutionary 1970s, Makes Ideal Holiday Gift

By Paul Kelly
indy500.com
Thursday, November 20, 2003

Continuing an innovative partnership designed to provide generations of open-wheel and Indy 500® fans with high-quality home entertainment products, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway®, IMS Productions and Shoreline Media Group (SMG) announced Nov. 20 the next addition to the highly popular Indianapolis 500® "Legacy Series" of Collector's Edition VHS and DVD products.

Appropriately entitled "A Decade of Legends," the newest Indianapolis 500-themed production focuses on the turbulent decade of the 1970s. An enthusiastic response by consumers to the program's 1960s documentary - "Indianapolis 500: The 60's A Decade of Change," released in June 2003 - not only validated a continued historical interest in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" but also laid the foundation for creating "Indianapolis 500: The 70's A Decade of Legends."

"From its inception, the objective for this program has been to provide fans with the opportunity to enjoy the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's historical heritage in an entertaining new way", said Fred Nation, IMS executive vice president of communications. "We are very pleased that our relationship with Shoreline Media Group has resulted in race fans now building a library of Indy 500 DVD products that are unique in content and quality."

Representing perhaps the most dynamic era in the Speedway's storied history, the 1970s were defined by a technological revolution powerful enough to reshape the art and science of motorsports forever. The demise of front-engine roadsters during the late 1960s demanded emphasis on aerodynamics and technology throughout the next decade.

Back-to-back victories by Al Unser in the radical, wedge-shaped Johnny Lightning Special set the tone for innovation in 1970 and 1971, while the immaculate preparation and intense professionalism of Roger Penske catapulted Mark Donohue to Penske Racing's first Indy 500 victory in 1972. Increases in power, combined with advancements in ground effects, forced Indy 500 teams to rise to new levels of performance and marked the steady increase in speed throughout the decade.

Featuring video highlights, newly taped interviews and recently restored film reels discovered in the IMS archives, race fans everywhere now can enjoy the evolution and passion that defined the 1970s. Viewers of this collector's edition DVD can experience the Team McLaren wins by Johnny Rutherford in 1974 and 1976, the fourth Indy 500 crown earned by legend A.J. Foyt in 1977 and the first of four race wins by Rick Mears, in 1979. The DVD also includes a special interview with late Speedway President Tony Hulman, who propelled the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to its current prominence.

Other features include bonus items such as trivia, photos, box scores, interactive menus and more.

The success of this innovative entertainment partnership has prompted both groups to announce plans for two final Legacy Series productions, "Indianapolis 500: The 80's" and "Indianapolis 500: The 90's," scheduled for distribution in 2004.

All of these unique products are created by IMS Productions, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's home for broadcast and production programming. Developed exclusively for the home entertainment market, these special shows feature a wide variety of Indianapolis 500-themed content and incorporate the award-winning production, editing and soundtrack values that helped popularize network broadcasts of Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League® events.

"Our relationship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in marketing and distributing home entertainment products has enjoyed a very positive response from the marketplace," said Jennifer Burns, CEO, Shoreline Media Group. "No racing facility in the world resonates with the history or dramatic backdrop found at the Brickyard. We look forward to providing fans new productions from IMS that focus on the world's greatest racetrack well into the future."

SMG provides IMS Productions with marketing and distribution channels for Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway-related DVD products, in addition to sales support and a turn-key fulfillment system.

In keeping with the program's unique, multi-tiered launch strategy, these high-quality IMS products will be available initially only via direct and Internet sales sites and then launch into SMG's specialty retail channels. Extensive national advertising featuring full-page, four-color print ads will accompany the launch of each title.

Consumers can buy the IMS DVD products via www.SportsDVDHeadquarters.com, by calling toll-free at (800) 856-4266 or by visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's official Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

The DVD's also will be advertised and available for purchase through mailings, on-track promotions and eventually at all IRL events.

Orders placed by Dec. 15 will be delivered in time for the holidays.

SMG, based in Santa Monica, Calif., is a home entertainment corporation specializing in the marketing and distribution of a wide variety of sports, entertainment and automotive titles via direct and specialty retail distribution.

IMS Productions is a television production facility in business to communicate the emotion of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League®through TV production, home video, and promotional products and premiums for the sport's sponsors, tracks, teams and fans. IMS Productions is the exclusive rights holder of Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League®event footage.


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