Jupiter, Fla. - - Ron Dixon, appointed to Board of Directors of Palm Beach International Raceway and assuming Managing Director for Dixon/PBIR racing, one of racing’s most respected professionals and his extensive history of building race teams and drivers has shifted gears for the upcoming Indy Light season. Palm Beach International is continuing in the Indy Lights Rookie Challenge and will have Dixon heading up their program. The New Zealand native, Ron Dixon and father of two-time Indy Racing League (IRL) Champion and Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon has knowledge and experience in building

winning teams and drivers this is the best move for the track owned race program. Dixon has built race programs in New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.

Dixon also announces the rookie challenge to be based at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR). The launch of a new series titled the Indy Lights Rookie Challenge. This is a concept inspired and perpetuated by Dixon to attract approximately thirty young, ambitious up and coming race car drivers to compete for a fully sponsored ride in the 2010 IRL Indy Lights series.

“There are a lot of young racers who simply cannot afford today’s Indy Lights annual budgets, which have escalated to between $750,000 and $1,000,000,” said Dixon.  “My aim is to help young drivers who cannot raise these kinds of racing budgets.  Our plan involves two days testing the applicants on our road course here at Palm Beach International Raceway and another two days on the oval at Homestead.”

The rookie drivers will be judged by a professional independent panel.  The panel will judge the contestants not only on their driving abilities but also on their appearance, their level of fitness, how they handle the media, and so on.  The Rookie Challenge begins mid-February and ends first week of March. The winner will take all.

Dixon says, “I am pleased to continue my affiliation with Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) as a member of the Board of Directors and have the time to focus on my real love – racing teams and driver development. We are excited to continue our Indy Lights program.

Joe Lubeck, Managing partner of PBIR commented, “We are pleased to have Ron Dixon join the board of Directors of PBIR and continue his affiliation of the track. Ron’s skill in developing racers and race teams is evident and has always been his true passion. We are pleased to be involved in that endeavor and are excited that he has chosen PBIR to be his home base for these exciting programs, including INDY Lights, Formula BMW driving school and the new Rookie Challenge program.