"This is a fresh start for me and for Panther Racing," Meira said. "And now we are going to make it a quick start. Everything comes full circle; the Panther No. 4 is the first Indy-car I ever drove. They gave me my rookie test in Texas in 2001 and now we're going racing together. It's been a long offseason and I'm happy that everything has come together the way it did because I'm excited to be with the team and all the potential that we have."

Panther also announced that Pennzoil Lubricants will continue its nine-year relationship with the team. Additional sponsors for the 2006 IndyCar Series season will be released as soon as details are finalized. Panther has accumulated 15 race victories in its eight seasons in the Indy Racing League, which is second most in league history. The team won back-to-back IndyCar Series Championships in 2001 and 2002 with Sam Hornish Jr., and is the only team to win two league titles with the same driver. Meira is set to become the 12th driver to start in the IndyCar Series for Panther. He will be the fourth driver to pilot the team's No. 4 entry.

An all-star driver lineup includes: Dan Wheldon, defending champion of the Indianapolis 500 and 2005 IRL IndyCar® Series champion; three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford; two-time winner Helio Castroneves; Janet Guthrie, the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500; and the father-and-son racing duo of Michael and Marco Andretti. Michael Andretti is coming out of retirement for the 2006 Indy 500 to drive alongside his 18-year-old son at the 90th edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Fans also will enjoy many historical Indianapolis 500 film highlights, and Wheldon will be presented with his Indianapolis 500 Champion of Champions Ring from IMS President and Chief Operating Officer Joie Chitwood. The Lisner Auditorium is located at the intersection of 21st and H Streets, on the campus of George Washington University. The address is 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052.

General admission tickets for the event are $30 for the general public, $20 for Smithsonian resident members, $18 for Smithsonian senior members and $15 for students with valid college identification. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. To order advance tickets, call (202) 357-3030 or log on to (www.smithsonianassociates.org)

"I'm looking forward to getting further acquainted with the team, but I'm excited to get to continue working with my engineer from Panther Racing (David Cripps)," Scheckter said. "Since we've worked together in the past, we have a good understanding of each other, and we've both been a part of a very successful team. So, hopefully we can bring those experiences to Vision. Tony is serious about winning and that's what we want to do. That's what Ed and I will be shooting for this season."

Vision Racing has also expanded its ownership team with long-time leading man Patrick Dempsey, who's enjoying huge today for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on ABC's Golden Globe Award-winning drama "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey's latest role, however, won't be seen on the silver screen, but rather at the racetrack.

After attending the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as a "celebrity guest" and meeting Tony and Laura George, Dempsey's future racing strategy began to develop. A year later, following another meeting with the couple, Dempsey expressed an interest in Vision Racing and followed it throughout the 2005 season. During the off-season, Dempsey, who was recently named Cosmopolitan's 2006 "Fun Fearless Male of the Year," officially partnered with the George family as a co-owner of Vision Racing. "Laura and I are proud to have Patrick as a partner in Vision and value his contribution and council as we have built this team," Tony George said.

Dempsey is no stranger to racing when he's not on camera. A true racer at heart, Dempsey is currently driving professionally in "Grand American Cup" sports car racing with Hypersport. He also attended the Skip Barber and Panoz Racing Schools and began racing in the Panoz GT Series in 2004. Dempsey finished an impressive third at the Panoz GT race in Road Atlanta in early May 2005. He also competed in the April 2005 Toyota Celebrity Race at Long Beach and the 2005 Baja 1000 with drivers Boris Said and Oriol Servia.

Hoosier Tires will continue its development for a tire durable enough to last 100 miles at the competitive speeds for the new cars. Additionally, the test will give rookies the opportunity to garner experience on the big oval. Two tests of the car have already been conducted at the Homestead-Miami track. Veterans Jason McCord, now retired, and Jay Drake logged more than 170 laps last March in the prototype car, while car owner Kenny Adams shook down his mount for regular driver Gohn, who drives a Devin Racing Chassis.

The only track larger than one mile to have hosted a Silver Crown race was the 1.25-mile Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., from 1997-2001. The test is open to the public. Please check in at the Homestead-Miami Speedway gift shop on the first floor of the Administration Building, and you will be escorted to the viewing area.