For Masters Champion Phil Mickelson and 40 of the PGA's top stars, the longest drive isn't to the nearest green. Instead, its 10 hot laps in a Ford race car around a 1.5-mile oval track competing with NASCAR's best at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
As part of the Ford Championship Racing Adventure, the golfers will participate in three distinct driving events with seven professional race drivers. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series standouts Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Elliott Sadler headline the field. They will be joined by Michel Jourdain Jr., NASCAR Busch Series' first full-time Hispanic driver, NHRA drag racer Ashley Force, and Grand American road-racing expert Scott Maxwell.
The golfers will compete on the track at Homestead for fun and pride. Later in the week, they'll compete on the infamous Blue Monster at Doral for a $900,000 purse and a 2006 Ford GT supercar, the most exclusive prize in professional golf.
"The racing adventure adds to the appeal of the Ford Championship Weekend at Doral and encourages the best PGA tour pros to compete," said Steve Lyons, president of Ford Division. "And make no mistake about it; these golfers are competitive in everything they do. Homestead-Miami Speedway lets them have fun and get away from the greens. It's also a great way to share the excitement about our newest products and the prospect of driving away in a Ford GT."
The NASCAR drivers will provide instruction and drive hot laps with the golfers in specially equipped, two-place race cars. The highlight of the golfer's day is a 10-lap stint at the wheel of a race-ready NASCAR Ford Taurus on the speedway's banked 1.5-mile oval. They'll also get the chance to maneuver the 550-horsepower 2005 Ford GT supercar and the all-new Ford Racing Grand Am Cup Mustang on the speedway's modified road course and drag race a 300-horsepower 2005 Mustang GT on a 1/8th mile straightaway.
A 2006 Ford GT supercar is the centerpiece and the key element of the winner's prize package at the Ford Championship at Doral. The Ford GT is a limited edition car in very high demand. In fact, new Ford GT's have been auctioned for charity for as much as $550,000. With a suggested retail price of more than $140,000, the Ford GT is the most expensive and most exclusive prize in the history of pro golf.
"The entire week of the Ford Championship at Doral is designed to attract the best golfers in the world to compete in what is becoming a premier event on the tour," says Lyons. "By combining Miami weather, a great golf course, this unique opportunity and the grand prize of a Ford GT, we making the most of this event and exposing many more people to the Ford brand."
This year, 10 of the top 110 money winners on the PGA tour, including Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, are expected to play in the Ford Championship at Doral.
