56,000 fan votes for inaugural SPEED Performance Awards

UPDATE The inaugural SPEED Performance Award show airs tonight at 9:00 PM EST on SPEED TV. Three-time Champ Car Champion and McDonald's driver Sebastien Bourdais is one of six drivers nominated for the inaugural award. The winner will be the recipient of the Mario Andretti Trophy designed by artist Elie Hazak. Scheduled to appear with hosts Tommy Kendall and Patrick Dempsey are: (In order of appearance)
Travis Pastrana
Calvin Fish
Colin Braun
Dan Wheldon
Helio Castroneves
Nicky Hayden
Ricky Carmichael
David Hobbs
Juan Pablo Montoya
Joey Hand
Mario Andretti
David Gilliland
Max Papis
Katherine Legge
Robin Miller
Tony Schumacher
Danica Patrick
Tony Stewart
Sebastien Bourdais
Elliott Sadler
Jimmy Vasser
Jeff Gordon
Brian Vickers
Jeff Hammond
Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani
Mike Simko
Sam Hornish Jr.
Jimmie Johnson

12/26/06 More than 56,000 votes were cast for the inaugural SPEED Performance Awards as fans voiced their opinions on nine fan-vote categories. The results, gathered over four weeks of video voting on SPEEDtv.com, will be unveiled as part of a one-hour television special to debut Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, a panel of 13 broadcasters, journalists, former drivers and motor sports producers will select the inaugural SPEED Performer of the Year, with the winner being presented with the Mario Andretti Trophy, a 100-pound bronze sculpture by artist Elie Hazak.