THE "TAJ MAJAL" OF SPEEDWAYS? NEW CA TRACK SET TO OPEN

          The California Speedway officially opens today in
     Fontana, CA, according to Shav Glick of the L.A. TIMES.  The
     $110M track will host an International Race of Champions on
     Saturday and a NASCAR Winston Cup race on Sunday.  Greg
     Penske, of the Penske Automotive Group, is track president. 
     (L.A. TIMES, 6/18).  In Detroit, Steve Crowe calls it "the
     Taj Mahal of racetracks."  It includes 71 luxury boxes, ten
     concession buildings, more than 50 rest-rooms and 32,000
     paved free-parking spots.  Penske's Motorsports Inc. also
     contributed $2M for a MetroLink commuter train station near
     the track.  It's seating will expand from 71,000 to 100,000
     in '99 and "ultimately" to 250,000 (FREE PRESS, 6/20).