AAA School Safety Patrol(TM) Lifesaving Award Winners to be Recognized at Indianapolis 500

Heroic youths to present green flag to honorary race starter Floyd Mayweather Jr.

ORLANDO, Fla., May 19, 2008; The Indianapolis 500 has many traditions and a new one continues in 2008, as Indianapolis Motor Speedway and AAA recognize two of America's bravest young people.

The AAA School Safety Patrol(TM) Lifesaving Medal is the highest honor given to members of the School Safety Patrol Program. This award is presented annually by AAA to patrol members who, while on duty, save the life of someone in imminent danger.

Just before the start of this year's race on May 25, lifesavers Nicole Epstein, a AAA School Safety Patroller from Chevy Chase, Md., and Clarissa Sourada, of Clifton, Va., will present the official green flag to honorary starter Floyd Mayweather Jr., who will wave it moments later to begin the 92nd Indianapolis 500.

"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500 have been leaders in safety innovation for nearly 100 years, so we consider it a privilege to honor these young heroes on Indianapolis 500 Race Day," said Joie Chitwood, president and COO of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Nicole and Clarissa will get the VIP treatment and the thrill of a lifetime taking part in pre-race ceremonies before the start of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Mayweather, a world champion boxer in five weight classes, will wave the green flag to send the field of 33 drivers in action on the famous 2.5-mile speedway. The race will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. (ET) on ABC, the IMS Radio Network and XM Satellite Radio.

Epstein, a AAA School Safety Patroller from North Chevy Chase Elementary in Maryland, was on patrol in June 2007. While patrolling an intersection with heavy traffic, Epstein acted quickly to pull an 8-year-old boy to safety. The traffic light had turned green and the boy began crossing the road. Epstein, seeing an oncoming car, grabbed the boy's backpack and pulled him to safety just before the vehicle turned where the boy was trying to cross. Without Epstein's intervention, this young man would have been hit by the vehicle.

Sourada is a AAA School Safety Patroller at Union Mill Elementary in Virginia. On a rainy morning last February, Sourada assisted a crossing guard at a crosswalk across from her school. The 11-year-old patroller spotted a vehicle backing out of a driveway and heading straight towards a brother and sister. Sourada yelled for the children to watch out, and the 11-year-old boy moved out of the way. However, his 7-year-old sister was confused by what was going on and remained in the vehicle's path. Sourada quickly grabbed the girl and pulled her to safety as the driver continued to back out into the roadway -- never appearing to see the children he nearly struck.

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The AAA School Safety Patrol Program has helped protect students from traffic when traveling to and from schools since 1920. There have been 382 boys and girls from 31 states and the District of Columbia honored with the AAA Lifesaving Medal. Currently, more than a half million students in schools across the country participate in the program. Former AAA School Safety Patrol members include Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, as well as several Supreme Court Justices, U.S. Senators, governors and U.S. Olympic gold medalists.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com