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Pablo Donoso Wins Pole for Sunday Milwaukee 100

Chilean Driver Earns Top Spot at Historic One-Mile Oval Track

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Team Moore’s Pablo Donoso. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Team Moore’s Pablo Donoso wrote his name in the voluminous record books of the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday (May 31st) by earning pole for tomorrow’s Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 race.

The Chilean driver’s two-lap average speed of 145.699 mph (50.1582 sec. total) over the historic one-mile oval, the oldest operating racing facility in the United States, put him almost half a mile an hour better than Wisconsin’s home-standing speedster Bobby Wilson (who will begin the race on the outside of row one next to Donoso).

“It was hard to wait,” Pablo said of his seventeenth (of nineteen cars) qualifying order position. “I told my team I could take the pole position if the car was good, and it was good.” He spoke to the conditions (sunny and windy) that frustrated drivers throughout the day and into the afternoon hours: “In Turn 4 you could feel the wind going against you, and then the car move on the straight.”

He also gave a hint why he and Team Moore successfully managed the elements when others here did not. “We came and tested here earlier,” he said. “In the beginning of the day the car wasn’t right,” Donoso continued. “It improved with new tires and by qualifying we had the car perfect.”

And,finally, a clue to what his race strategy might be: “It will be important to conserve the tires and be smart, try to go past the finish line first.” (See audio MP3 interview below)

Wilson Stands On It, Comes Up One Spot Shy of Tops

Bobby Wilson looked a great candidate for his first pole since winning the premier spot at Watkins Glen in 2006. His speed of 145.263 mph stood the test of all but late-running Donoso’s challenge.

"The wind's playing havoc with everyone," says Team E's Bobby Wilson

“The car was really good,” Wilson said afterwards. “The wind is playing havoc with everyone out there today.”

Bobby offered some daunting news to the rest of the field by adding, “We might have left a little on the table as far as balance in the car, it could be a little better; but, you can’t predict what happens in qualifying.”

If he can win here, Wilson will have a mighty homecoming to celebrate with his Oconomowoc, Wisconsin neighbors on Sunday evening.

“I would be ecstatic to win here,” Bobby said of his prospects for tomorrow. “I have a lot of friends and family here. I want to put on a good showing and bring home some good results to keep the momentum going.”

“We can put together a good race and hopefully a victory.”

Challenging Conditions Keep Speeds in Check at The Mile

Jeff Simmons (also of Team Moore) was third-quick over two laps on 145.117 mph, with Sam Schmidt Motorsports James Davison fourth-best (144.862 mph). AFS Andretti Green’s Arie Luyendyk Jr took the last spot in the top-five qualifiers on 144.000 mph for two laps.

Windy Day at The Mile. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Qualifications were as tricky for the drivers as practice earlier today, with SSM’s Brazilian contender Ana ‘Bia’ Beatriz smacking the wall in Turn 2 while warming the tires prior to beginning her two-lap timed run.

“The rear of the car came out from under me as I was getting up to speed,” Bia said. “I couldn’t catch it in time.”

Beatriz will start at the rear of the field alongside championship hopeful Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing who failed to qualify when the electrical system of his Dallara malfunctioned and left him unable to mount a challenge toward the pole position.

Richard Antinucci’s engine woes continued to plague him, allowing him only a 141.035 mph best, good enough for inside row six alongside Guthrie Racing’s Sean Guthrie (140.824 mph).

J R Hildebrand’s RLR Andersen crew put him back on track after his earlier mishap that badly damaged the left rear and wing of his car. J R recovered from the incident nicely, and earned fourteenth spot on the grid.

Cyndie Allemann of American Spirit Motorsports posted the eighteenth-quickest speed after her crew, too, repaired damage from a late-morning practice incident.

Jon Brownson will start from the rear of the field, he too a victim of the tricky conditions that prevailed today at The Mile.

The Milwaukee 100 commences at 11:30 AM CDT on Sunday (June 1st), 12:30 PM EDT. The race will be webcast live on www.indycar.com and tape-delayed for television broadcast over ESPN2 on June 5th at 1:00 PM EDT.

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(Click to download MP3 audio)

Pablo Donoso Pole-Winning Interview

Bobby Wilson Front Row Interview

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Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 Qualifying Results

Final Practice at The Mile Finds Bobby Wilson Fastest

Wisconsin's Own 'Owns' The Milwaukee Mile

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Team E’s Bobby Wilson at The Mile. Photo: JimHainesIRL

Wisconsin's Bobby Wilson was fastest in the final practice on Saturday (May 31st) for Sunday's Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100.

The Oconomowoc native turned a quick lap of 143.104 mph (25.5338 sec.), topping AFS Andretti Green Racing's Raphael Matos (143.075 mph) for fastest in the one hour session that began at 11:30 AM CDT (12:30 PM EDT).

"The wind's strong and you have to adapt every lap out here," Wilson said of his 'hometown' track where gusting blasts have been a bug-a-boo to a number of drivers here today. "This is one place where setup is key."

He went on to speak to the several incidents in the first practice session, which collected some of the top contenders for this year's Firestone Firehawk Cup, and Team E's reasoning for truncating its session approximately halfway through the period. "You can get yourself into trouble here, too," Bobby said. "We decided to just park it, because we know we're going to be fast in qualifying."

Team Moore's Pablo Donoso was third-quick on 141.781 mph, with teammate Jeff Simmons fourth (141.652 mph) and Sam Schmidt's James Davison fifth-fastest at 141.647 mph.

RLR Andersen's Andrew Prendeville, Panther's Brent Sherman, Matos' teammate Arie Luyendyk Jr, SSM's Ana Beatriz and Guthrie Racing's Sean Guthrie round out the top ten in the last practice session before qualifying begins this afternoon.

Stunning Turn-Around Puts Hildebrand On-Track in Record Time

Despite their own doubts that it could be done in little more than two hours, the RLR Andersen Racing crew put J R Hildebrand's No. 25 car, one of the Firestone Firehawk's most ardent contenders, back on the track for twenty-two laps. J R brought the car up to a best lap of 136.327 mph before the practice ended.

SSM's Richard Antinucci was hamstrung with a possible engine malfunction and ended his trial early, compiling a best lap of 136.327 mph before being pulled into the garage area for further assessment.

Temperatures have moderated somewhat here in Wisconsin as clouds have moved into the area, but there is currently no imminent threat of rainfall.

SWE Pole Qualifying is on deck for the historic one-mile oval, set to commence at 3:30 PM EDT (2:30 PM CDT).

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Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 Practice Session Two Results

Bobby Wilson Fastest in Early AM Practice at Milwaukee Mile

Points Contender J R Hildebrand Walks Away from Hard Crash

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Damage to the No. 25 Hildebrand car. Photo: TonyDiZinno

Local hero Bobby Wilson of Team E Racing was fastest in early morning practice for the Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 on Saturday (May 31st).

Wilson‘s lap of 141.233 mph (25.8722 sec.) bested that of Milwaukee Mile veteran Jeff Simmons in the Team Moore machine, who put in a quickest lap of 140.373 mph; and RLR Andersen's Andrew Prendeville on third-best (140.251 mph).

Bobby Wilson is looking for his first win of the 2008 season here at his hometown track in the royal blue No. 17 car. The Oconomowoc, Wisconsin native is coming off a fifth-place result over this racecourse in 2007, and a fourth in the year immediately prior.

Speeds were generally kept in check by a strong cross- and head-wind, with Wilson the only driver to top 141 miles per hour. For comparison's sake, Alex Lloyd put a 146.077 mph (25.0142 sec.) lap into the record books on The Mile in 2007 to take pole.

Spins and Damage Cloud Outlook for Several Top Prospects

Sam Schmidt Motorsports' Jon Brownson spun twice in Turn 2, the first time approximately ten minutes into the session and the second twenty minutes before its close, but did not sustain damage to car or self. Teammate Richard Antinucci also turned his car around, a few moments later; followed by J R Hildebrand knocking the rear wing and left rear suspension askew on his RLR Anderesen Racing No. 25 car at the half-way mark of the one-hour period.

Neither Antinucci or Hildebrand were seriously injured, with both drivers climbing from their race cars and walking to the safety vehicle for the mandatory visit to the infield medical center. Antinucci was soon declared fit to continue. Hildebrand was cleared to drive several minutes later, but damage to the car put it likely he'll start the race on Sunday from the rear of the field without qualifying.

"We were pretty quick," said J R of the incident, "but the car was really loose coming off of Turn 1 and 2. I probably went out too hard before the setup was exactly right. I haven't been here before, or tested here, but we'll pull it back together."

American Spirit's Cyndie Allemann also went off-track, banging the left front of the Dallara's suspension and its front airfoil on the inside wall of Turn 2; and putting her chances of taking a qualifying run at substantial risk.

Conditions were challenging for the twenty-three competitors of this weekend’s Indy Lights event, the sixth round of racing toward the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup, with the Milwaukee weatherman offering up bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-sixties accompanied by a brisk, shifting wind of 20-25 miles per hour both across and following the racecourse.

Indy Lights practice continues with a split session (odd numbers then even numbers) of one hour coming at 12:30 PM EDT (11:30 AM CDT). SWE Pole Qualifying for the race is scheduled for this afternoon at 3:30 PM EDT (2:30 PM CDT).

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Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 Practice Session One Results

Milwaukee 100 Test Ahead for Firestone Indy Lights Racers

Field of Twenty-Two Tackles Wisconsin Fairgrounds’ Historic Oval

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

The Firestone Indy Lights series takes to the venerable one-mile oval at Wisconsin Fairgrounds this weekend, for round six of the sixteen-race schedule that will determine the winner of the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup. Twenty-three drivers have been appointed to cars for this season’s 100-lap Milwaukee 100, a race that in not-so-distant 2004 fielded the Indy Lights Series’ all-time low for starters with nine and fewest-ever cars finishing (three).

Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Richard Antinucci put on an impressive showing at the last Indy Lights event, the Carb Day-postponed race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, finishing second and reclaiming the lead in the championship points race. Sam Schmidt’s drivers have ‘owned’ the Milwaukee Mile for two consecutive years, with 2007 Indy Lights champ Alex Lloyd driving into Victory Lane one year after Jaime Camara turned the trick for the team in 2006. Both built on that success to take their places in the IndyCar Series, something Antinucci is keen to accomplish as well.

Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing not only has two wins under his belt this year, including the season’s most-coveted trophy from last weekend at Indy, but he also leads the series in earnings with a cool $109,000 of cash banked for his racing efforts. He stands second to Antinucci in the championship and has taken dead aim at adding his name to the side of the recently-unveiled new Firestone Firehawk Cup trophy.

Racers to Watch at Milwaukee

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin’s Bobby Wilson has two top five finishes at Milwaukee in two attempts. He’ll attempt to become a winner in each of the last three Indy Lights’ seasons, tying the series record for consistent perfection held by Wade Cunningham. The Team E driver has posted 33 consecutive starts in the series over the last three years, climbing steadily toward the record of 42 held by Camara.

Wade Cunningham heads the list of drivers with laps-led at the one-mile oval, piling up 152 total despite not finishing one of the three events he’s competed here. Wade’s strong showings at Kansas Speedway and at Indianapolis’ Freedom 100 should boost him back into the cockpit with renewed determination to haul away a trophy in one more try.

Jeff Simmons won the 2005 race in his sole previous attempt at The Mile’s historic circuit in an Indy Lights car. He’s the only former winner of the event to make entry to the Milwaukee 100 in 2008.

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TV/Radio Coverage of the Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100:

• Milwaukee 100 Race: ESPN2 (Tape Delay) at 1 PM EDT, June 5th
• Talent: Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl (announcers); Mike King (pit reporter)
• Live streaming video coverage of the Milwaukee 100 SWE Pole Qualifying (2:15 PM EDT May 31st) and the Milwaukee 100 (11:00 AM EDT June 1st) is available at www.indycar.com

Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 Track Schedule
(all times local; schedule subject to change):

Saturday, May 31st

• 8:15-9:15 AM – Firestone Indy Lights practice


• 11:30 AM-12:30 PM – Firestone Indy Lights practice (two groups)


• 2:30 p.m. – Firestone Indy Lights SWE Pole Qualifying

Sunday, June 1st

• 11 AM – Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 pre-race


• 11:30 AM – Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 (100 laps/100 miles)

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Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 Entry List

Panther’s Dillon Battistini Riding a Wave of Indy Lights Racing Success

Championship Chase Becomes Focus of Rookie English Driver

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini. Photo: Andy Sallee

Hope without strategy is not a plan.

Those words accurately sum up the racing career of Panther’s Dillon Battistini, who assessed his formula championship chances in Europe as limited without a king’s ransom in coin and moved thousands of miles to the Pacific rim in order to race his way to America.

The driving force that urged Dillon to the Far East was the kind of common sense that often gets buried in hand-wringing and dread; but for the Ewell, England resident it’s but one example of his thoughtful approach to his goals.

“Earlier in my career, I was focused on trying to get to Formula One,” he said during an Indy Racing League teleconference on Wednesday,” but then I gradually realized that to make any kind of impact in Europe, you just have to bring a ridiculous amount of money.”

“When I won the (Asian F3) championship, it enabled me to raise enough money to come and race over here,” in America, he said, “which I think is a great career path.”

Battistini has successfully cruised into the cat-bird’s seat in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, riding the momentum of his Freedom 100 win and a season-opening victory at Homestead Miami Speedway to second-place in the championship standings.

He’ll take the track early Saturday (May 31st) morning for first Indy Lights practice at Milwaukee only three points to the rear of Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Richard Antinucci (who currently leads).

Compliments Flow with First Freedom 100 Finish

Team owner John Barnes, whose keen eye for young talent brought Hideki Mutoh from Japan to these shores, continues to encourage the driver of the orange and black No. 15 AlexP Dallara in his pursuit.

“He said a lot of nice things, actually,” after the win at Indianapolis on Saturday (May 24th) said Dillon. “I could tell he was very impressed. One of the things he said is that I'm going to be a champion, so I think I can take that as a good sign.”

Battistini has definitely traveled in the right crowd, challenging notables from F1 and IndyCar in karts as a youngster. Jenson Button, Justin Wilson, Dan Wheldon and Darren Manning are just a few of the competitors he’s faced off against in the past.

He was well aware of what he was getting into as an Indy Lights hopeful.

“There were some very good drivers in Asian Formula 3,” Dillon remembered, “but the depth of competition is more here. There are several drivers capable of winning, as you've seen, from four different winners in the first five races.”

“That's a really good thing because it gives the championship more credibility and makes it a bigger achievement if I do win.”

Thriving on Pressure Part of the Design

One of the characteristics of Battistini’s cerebral approach to his time on-track is his ability to remain calm and make the most of the situation at hand—even when the going gets tough.

”I quite like the pressure,” says Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini of Indy Lights

“Yeah, it was a pretty close race,” he said of the successful Indy round, “but I'm used to that kind of thing. I quite like the pressure. I respond well to it.”

His only setback came at St. Petersburg’s street course when a stone punctured the radiator in the Panther car, forcing Battistini to retire. He recovered nicely to take fourth the next day despite starting well back in the pack. The rest of the season’s gone swimmingly, with Dillon collecting two oval-track wins and a fourth-place so far.

“I'm really enjoying this oval racing, I'd have to say,” admitted Dillon, in a nod to the importance of having a good plan.

Firestone Firehawk Cup Introduced Anew

Special Awards Honor Memory of Tony Renna and Greg Moore

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Al Speyer (L) and Roger Bailey unveil new Firestone Firehawk Cup trophy. Photo: ShawnPayneIRL

The Firestone Indy Lights Series introduced a new trophy and the continuation of two distinguished awards last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Headlining the news from the developmental series that leads to IndyCar was a new Firestone Firehawk Cup: one with a striking new vertical design topped by the familiar 'Firestone' winged 'F' symbol on its fine silver top.

The new cup was created by Bruce Fox and towers on its pedestal over man and machine. It will bear the names of all previous winners of the Firestone Indy Lights championship dating back to 1991.

The giant trophy weighs nearly seventy pounds, and is composed of two weights of silver, carbon fiber and special resins.

The previous trophy was a traditional 'cup' design, approximately twenty inches in diameter, sitting upon a wooden base.

The presentation of the grand new design was made by Firestone's Al Speyer, the Executive Director of Firestone Racing, to Roger Bailey, Executive Director of the Indy Lights series.

"Firestone Indy Lights has been a great proving ground for talented young drivers," said Speyer. "Just look at the names that have honed their skills there before moving onto the IndyCar Series: Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Oriol Servia, Townsend Bell, A.J. Foyt IV, Alex Lloyd. All are past Firestone Indy Lights champions."

"We race on ovals, road and street courses providing the essential preparation for drivers to graduate to the IndyCar Series," added Bailey. "I think we've already contributed to the future of the sport."

Pair of Past Greats Are Feted with NameSake Awards

Two former Indy Lights series drivers are the namesakes of the additional awards Firestone announced. Greg Moore, who lost his life while competing in a racing event in 1999, is remembered with the Greg Moore Legacy Award (continued from its previous CART and Champ Car affiliation). A cash prize of $5000 will be presented in the late driver's name to the Indy Lights driver with outstanding talent combined with strong personality traits.

Moore was Indy Lights champion in 1995.

Tony Renna was a rising star in the IndyCar Series when he lost his life while testing in practice after the conclusion of the 2003 season.

He is remembered by the Tony Renna Rising Star Award, which carries a cash prize of $5000 to the Indy Lights driver whose spirit of teamwork, physical conditioning and adaptability to situation is judged exemplary.

"Greg and Tony were tremendous racers and even better individuals," said Speyer. "Firestone is proud to keep their memories alive in our hearts and to help inspire the next generation of drivers to greater heights."

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Firestone Indy Lights Champions 1991 thru 2007

• 1991-Eric Bachelart


• 1992-Robbie Buhl


• 1993-Bryan Herta


• 1994-Steve Robertson


• 1995-Greg Moore


• 1996-David Empringham


• 1997-Tony Kanaan


• 1998-Cristiano da Matta


• 1999-Oriol Servia


• 2000-Scott Dixon


• 2001-Townsend Bell


• 2002-A.J. Foyt IV


• 2003-Mark Taylor


• 2004-Thiago Medeiros


• 2005-Wade Cunningham


• 2006-Jay Howard


• 2007-Alex Lloyd

Greg Moore Legacy Award Winners 2000 thru 2007

• 2000-Helio Castroneves


• 2001-Dario Franchitti


• 2002-Patrick Carpentier


• 2003-Sebastien Bourdais


• 2004-Ryan Hunter-Reay


• 2005-Oriol Servia


• 2006-Justin Wilson


• 2007-Justin Wilson

Tony Renna Rising Star Award Winners 2004 thru 2006

• 2004-Vitor Meira


• 2005-Patrick Carpentier


• 2006-Marco Andretti

Leilani Munter Plots a Fast Course to Her Goals

Indy Lights Racer Aims for Early Return to Series

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Leilani Munter addresses National Wildlife Federation. Photo: Courtesy Leilani Munter

Leilani Munter finds her passion in two things: racing and caring for the environment. Though she’s out of the cockpit (for now), she’s not out of the public eye, continuing to speak out with a heartfelt message of environmental awareness and activism that is unique in the racing community.

The former photo-double for Catherine Zeta-Jones and stunt woman is seriously pursuing an Indy Lights Series ride while earning praise for her efforts to raise motorsports’ and the general public’s level of knowledge about issues like energy conservation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and embracing new technologies (such as hydrogen-powered vehicles).

“I’ve been busy doing a lot of environmental work,” she said during a recent visit to Indiana and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “In March I went to Capitol Hill to speak to members of Congress on behalf of the Climate Security Act. Last week I gave a speech at the National Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting in Keystone, Colorado.”

“Small personal changes like changing out your lightbulbs and recycling are really important,” she continued, “and when you multiply that by millions of people it can make a big impact. But in order to make a big impact, we need the laws to change. That is why I am being very vocal in my support for the Climate Security Act. On June 2nd I will make another trip to speak with members of Congress before the Senate votes on June 6.”

“It’s going to be a really important piece of legislation.”

Munter Keeps Keen Eye for Eco-Friendly Action

Leilani sees opportunity in every corner for progress in environmental accountability and response. Some of the ideas are so simple and so compelling that one wonders why they haven’t been de riguer in motorsports for ages.

“I’d like to see race teams offsetting their carbon footprint. I would like to see expansion of the use of biofuels (such as ethanol),” she said. “There are already cars running on cellulostic ethanol (a variant production method using wood chips, swtichgrass and other organic materials as source material rather than corn).”

“The effort to recycle could be a lot bigger,” she continued, ”and some tracks have no recycling program at all going on.”

“We also need to reach out to the racing community and to our fans. I want to use my racecar to send messages about little things we can do for the environment, and the great thing about making these positive eco changes to your life is you will often save some money in the pocketbook as well.”

Lasting Laps Commitment Key to Indy Lights Racer's Return

Fans have been eager for the speedy young racer to return to the track. Munter feels the same call, but the financial barriers of putting together a racing program dictate how fast and how far she can go.

“It’s not fun to be here at Indy without a car,” she said. “It’s a bummer.”

"I'm really working hard to make a ride happen," says Leilani Munter

“I hope things come together for a run at Kentucky and Chicagoland, and I’m putting all my effort into securing a full season with a team for 2009.”

“Realistically I’ll probably run at Kentucky and Chicago,” she said, “but ideally I’d like to have a full season with testing in a competitive car. The goal is to have a good fast car and be in the game for the whole season—to do it right.”

“I’m open to various options, though. I’m just working really hard to make it happen.”

Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini Wins 2008 Firestone Freedom 100

British Indy Lights Racer Bests Largest Field for Victory

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini. Photo: AndySallee

Panther Racing’s Dillon Battistini won the 2008 Firestone Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday (May 24th) from pole in a battle royal with Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Richard Antinucci and Brian Stewart Racing’s Wade Cunningham (who finished second and third).

Battistini yielded the lead for only two laps, once to Cunningham and once to James Davison, as he met and bested every challenge the record 27-car field could throw at him over the 100-mile event.

“Winning here at Indianapolis means a lot,” he said afterwards, struggling to remain within the bounds of proper British reserve. “This is the best place to win, and the race that everyone wants to win. It’s massive. It’s very, very exciting.” (Click MP3 audio interview below)

“Panther helped me win with a terrific car,” he continued as his restrained reservoir of emotion finally broke into a Texas-style grin on his face. “I’ve had a good car everywhere I’ve been this year. I have to thank them for working long hours to give me the best car on the track.”

The win was Dillon’s second of the season, following his surprise victory in his first Indy Lights race and maiden oval encounter at Homestead Miami Speedway on March 29th in the Firestone Indy Lights season-opener.

It also boosted him back into the championship points race for the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup, placing him second and three points behind Antinucci after five of sixteen races.

Antinucci and Cunningham Challenge but Can’t Go ‘Round Speedy Brit

Battistini had impressive straight-line speed throughout the event, often pulling other competitors in his draft down the long front and back straightaways at Indy. However, when the competition pulled alongside to pass, the advantage went to Battistini who appeared to have an extra gear available when it came time to race.

Antinucci battles Battistini for Freedom 100 lead. Photo: AndySallee

“Every time I got close, and tried to go around him, my car would meet the wind and just die,” said Cunningham. “We just got beat by a very, very good car.

Antinucci added the same sentiments, saying, “We might have had too much downforce, or different gearing, but the truth is I knew I couldn’t lead or I would lose. I ran in the draft behind Dillon but just could not pass him.”

Team SWE’s Robbie Pecorari was fourth in the race, his second top-five finish in the last two races driving for two different teams. Ana ‘Bia’ Beatriz came home fifth for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

Race Recap

The 40-lap event went off under fair skies with a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit as approximately eighty thousand fans returned for this postponed event from Friday (May 23rd) Carb Day.

Battistini teammate Brent Sherman failed to start initially and required a push to join the field at about the same time as last-place starter Mark Olson of Michael Crawford Motorsports began showing smoke from beneath the engine cover and pitted prior to the green flag.

SSM’s Jon Brownson lost control in Turn 3 on Lap 1, bringing out an immediate yellow that lasted for three laps. On the restart Brownson's SSM teammate James Davison went around Battistini, who then returned the favor on the back straightaway in the first of a series of cat-and-mouse turn-arounds that went on throughout the day.

By Lap 6 Cunningham, who started third, had passed Davison and set sights on Battistini whom he went around with Davison in tow. Lap 7 saw the tables turn as Battistini went past Davison, then Cunningham, in Turn 1.

At Lap 10 the running order stood Battistini, Davison, Cunningham, Team E’s Bobby Wilson and Ana ‘Bia’ Beatriz.

The dogfight up front continued on Lap 15 with Cunningham again overtaking Battistini, again in Turn 1, setting up a backstretch-long series of passes in which Battistini swooped past Davison and Cunningham both to regain the point.

Cunningham and Battistini contest on-track position. Photo: AndySallee

By Lap 16 Antinucci found his line and gained momentum to pass Cunningham for P2 in the second turn.

During the series of mad dashes Wilson set fastest-lap ever at the Speedway for an Indy Lights machine, flying to a 191.412 mark on Lap 17.

At Lap 20 timing and scoring showed the order Battistini, Cunningham, Antinucci, Beatriz and Davison.

A short yellow on Lap 22 brought restart on Lap 27, then disaster for J R Hildebrand on Lap 29 when contact on the back stretch led to left front wing damage and a pit stop for the RLR Andersen driver and pre-race championship points leader.

Restart for the final time on Lap 33 allowed Cunningham to once again pass Battistini in Turn 1; then Battistini go around Cunningham in Turn 2, and Antinucci pass Cunningham in Turn 4.

The last four laps turned into a wheel-to-wheel slugfest between Antinucci, Cunningham and Battistini as the two trailing contenders took turns trying unsuccessfully to move past the orange and black Panther Racing No. 15 car.

The punches continued to fly around the final lap number forty, with Antinucci maneuvering for a pass in Turn 4 and the checkered flag; but Battistini again held steady and crossed the finish line in front by a margin of 0.2458 seconds over Antinucci.

Shuffling of Points Order puts Antinucci Back in Front

Battistini’s 176 points put him second to Richard Antinucci (179 points) and 28 points to the better of J R Hildebrand in third (on 148 points) for the championship Firestone Firehawk Cup. AFS Andretti Green’s Raphael Matos is twenty-one points behind Hildebrand, and Ana Beatriz 121 points put her six to the rear of Matos (127 points).

The Indy Lights series rolls on through the active early summer season with its next race only eight days from today, at the famous Milwaukee Mile for a 100-mile event on Sunday (June 1st).

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2008 Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 Results

2008 Firestone Indy Lights Firehawk Cup Cumulative Results

Firestone Freedom 100 Winner Dillon Battistini Post-Race Interview

IndyProRacer.com Wins AARWBA Awards

American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association Touts Site

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

The only professional auto racing website devoted exclusively to coverage of the Firestone Indy Lights series won 'Honorable Mention' at the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Assocation breakfast on Saturday (May 24th) in Indianapolis.

IndyProRacer.com received recognition for its initial year of web publication in 2007.

Indy Pro Racer.com Publisher Allan Brewer won recognition in the "Best Online News Writing" category with Second-Place for his story "Alex Lloyd Wins 2007 Firehawk Cup and Carneros 100: New Champion Crowned at Sonoma" about record-breaking Alex Lloyd's championship-sealing victory at Infineon Raceway on August 27th,2007.

"It is very gratifying to receive this multiple-award recognition from AARWBA," said Brewer. "The award carries especial significance as it is selected by professional writing and media peers and made possible by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where so many of my own personal memories of racing have their origin."

Brewer also won Second Place for a series of weblog entries at FastMachines.com entitled "So YOU Want to be a Racing Journalist" posted in April of 2007.

Largest Indy Lights Field Ever Must Wait Another Day

Racers Cope with Carb Day Time on Their Hands

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Rain showers brought on-track activity to a halt on Friday (May 23rd), but the Firestone Indy Lights series driving community found little time to rest in idle as it waited for a resumption of racing or announcement to try again another day.

Guthrie Racing’s Sean Guthrie was typical of most of the drivers in the Indy Lights garages, lined up along the south end of the long front straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the space formerly occupied by Formula 1 teams during the United States Grand Prix.

“It’s not as bad as 1997 when my dad raced here,” said Sean as he peered into the curtain of showers outside the garage door entrance to his team’s working spaces. The 500-mile race of that year was famously postponed from its scheduled Sunday start to Monday; then rained out a second time before completion on Tuesday, May 27th.

“I took a nap, ate lunch twice,” said Sean. “There’s no way to make the time pass fast enough if you’re supposed to be racing.”

“Any driver hates to wait for a race. When you’re supposed to be out there and you’re not it’s the worst.”

Unlike a fine wine, waiting is not a virtue for motorsports, especially if the plans have been put to a fine point in the days, hours and minutes before a scheduled time of start.

“We spent most of last night and this morning getting ready,” continued Guthrie. “We’ve put everything on hold until we can go out on the track. Trying to over-think the situation is never productive.”

Veterans Play it Cool as the Raindrops Fall

Brian Stewart’s Wade Cunningham. Photo: AndySallee

Wade Cunningham turns to talk to pass the time when the raindrops come. The veteran Indy Lights driver stays composed by chatting away the nervous energy and getting a ‘jump’ on preparations when the time is right.

“I’ve got a skip rope and if it looks good to go I’ll warm up,” skipping rope, he said. “Mostly I talk to fans, sign autographs and hang out in the garage with friends.”

Cunningham has always been fast at Indy, as he was again this year in qualifying on the second row for the Firestone Freedom 100 with an average speed of 188.060 mph.

“We’re trying to adapt the setups from the ’06 season when I drove for Brian Stewart Racing,” he said. “We qualified third after a strong first lap. We have a very good car, but we still take it lap to lap.”

Firestone Indy Lights championship points leader J R Hildebrand stays focused ahead of competition delays, but remains flexible when time comes to get into the car, pointing out that pre-race track changes can force the driver to consider new situations.

“We try to keep tabs on the conditions,” he said. “With the rain the track gets greener. We won’t be slower but our setup needs may change as the track condition changes.”

“It doesn’t change my approach to the race in the grand scheme. I’ll be more reactive to other drivers’ moves, and try to keep in touch with the lead pack without changing my plans too much.”

J R’s RLR Andersen Racing teammate Andrew Prendeville likes to visit with his fans, signing autographs.

“I was walking around earlier,” he said from his garage alongside Hildebrand. “It looks like the fans are still having a good time out there.”

“For me personally, it’s not much different than any other race,” he concluded. “When the time comes I just go drive.”

Plans Made, Drivers Adapt to Rain Delay

Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Jon Brownson looked cool and composed outside the team’s garage opposite the Legends Row Suites at Indy.

“A rainy day here is a great opportunity to relax and prepare. I like to get a massage when we run into a delay,” Jon said.

American Spirit’s Cyndie Allemann. Photo: AndySallee

The veteran racer also turns to his team for advice on how he can ready himself better once he hops in the cockpit. “We’ll try to find a stone unturned that we can benefit from,” he said. “And it’s a great time to get with the fans.”

For Brownson the rain-delay brings some familial complications into play: his daughter graduates from high school on Saturday (May 24th) and the postponed race will prevent him from returning to home-base Colorado in time to attend.

“Every time we think it’s going to dry the skies open up and it’s back to square one,” Alliance Motorsports’ Chris Festa said.

“The team tries to prepare through the delay the best we can,” he said. “We’ve already looked at data and come up with our race plan. We really don’t want to change it as mistakes can happen. We just want to go out and execute it now.”

Signing photographs for fans keeps American Spirit Racing’s Cyndie Allemann busy during the rainfall. Several were waiting patiently outside the team’s bay for a chance to meet and chat with the outgoing and charming Swiss Miss.

"I'm ready today, but 'that's racing'," said American Spirit's Cyndie Allemann

“I’m disappointed,” Cyndie said of the postponed Freedom 100. “I’m ready in my mind to drive today; but ‘That’s racing.’ It’s better to wait than send us out in poor conditions to crash.”

Allemann won’t let the overnight wait for the green flag to hamper her racing or personal plans.

“We always have questions about our plans,” she added, “but we’re ready. Our strategy is ready. If I have questions or want to change we can, but that doesn’t normally happen.”

She offered some savvy advice to fans who might be tempted to head home empty-handed, too. “I’m staying to watch my first Indy 500 on Sunday. I’ll be here anyway.”