MONTEREY, Calif. (May 12, 2006) – How do you take a legend and make it even better? That’s the task facing construction crews at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca who will continue the face lift at one of the premier and most recognizable road racing facilities in the world prior to the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 21-23, 2006. The construction projects include the state-of-the-art Red Bull Energy Center hospitality area overlooking Turn 1. Safety improvements include an increase in the Turn 1 run-off, an increase in run-off on both sides of Turn 6, modifications to the dip in the track just after Turn 7 and a complete repave of the racing surface. “We are so grateful to our sponsors, most specifically Yamaha, Red Bull and Mazda, who have stepped up and allowed us to take on this project during our 50th Season of Racing,” said Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/General Manager Gill Campbell. “We are a not-for-profit organization so we are dependent upon our benefactors to provide the funding for improvement projects to this wonderful, historic crown jewel of American road racing.” The areas of improvement have been selected in conjunction with the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) and the MotoGP Rider’s Commission to increase the safety of what is already recognized as one of the safest permanent road racing facilities in the world. The construction is slated for completion just in time for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, as the fastest two-wheeled racers on the planet return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in July. While the track is shut down, the Skip Barber Racing School, one of the premier racing and driving instruction organizations in the country, will continue its programs in the paddock. “The Skip Barber organization, along with all of our daily track rentals, is a vital part of the continued economic viability of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca,” Campbell said. “Both the Skip Barber organization and a number of loyal track rental participants have had traditional dates displaced to allow us enough time for this monumental construction. We appreciate their cooperation in arranging their schedule of courses to temporarily include only those that can be conducted in the paddock.” More information on the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, including the revised traffic plan for 2006, is available at www.RedBullUSGrandPrix.com or by calling (800) 327-SECA. Tickets are on sale now for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s 50th Season of Racing including the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 21-23, the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races August 18-20 and the Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring the American Le Mans Series October 20-22. Tickets and more information are available by calling (800) 327-SECA or on-line at ~http://www.laguna-seca.com~ About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and SCRAMP: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was built in 1957 and has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP). The world-renowned 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course has seen many of the all-time greats in motorsports grace its technically challenging layout that includes the spectacular signature Corkscrew (Turns 8 and 8A). Among the many who have raced here are the likes of Mario Andretti, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Michael Andretti, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart and on and on through a virtual who’s who of automobile and motorcycle racing. SCRAMP is a not-for-profit corporation that donates net proceeds from each race season to the volunteer organizations that help put on the events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.