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Christina Orr Drives Putnam Park Test

New Zealand Racer Will Join Growing Kiwi Racing Force in Firestone Indy Lights Series

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

New Zealander Christina Orr tests to join Indy Lights.

Another New Zealand racer is preparing to join the Firestone Indy Lights series.

Twenty-one year old Christina Orr tested at rural Putnam Park east of Indianapolis last week, earning kudos from one of the Indy Racing League's most-respected authorities on Kiwi racing prodigy: Mr. Ron Dixon.

"Christina Orr’s test went very, very well," said Dixon in his weekly blog entry for NZRacer.com. "Christina was testing an Indy Lights single seater at Putnam Park road (circuit) course just outside of Indianapolis earlier in the week."

"She went out there and started doing 1:11 second laps (the track record is just under a minute). Each time she went out she reduced it more and more, ending up at the end of the day in the 1:03's."

"If we took her back a day later I believe that she would have been in the 1:01's."

According to Dixon the Kiwi hopeful will earn her oval racing license in July. It's unclear if she'll see competition in the waning rounds of 2008, or use the summer prep to advance onto the Indy Lights grid in 2009.

"It (the Indy Lights Dallara six-speed V-8) is not an easy car to drive and there is a lot more horse power than she is used to," continued Dixon, "but at the end of the day you couldn’t get the smile off her face."

Orr Ready to Challenge International Field of Indy Lights

Orr proved a quick learner by taking the wheel of a Formula First machine at the wee age of twelve years and winning the winter round of racing, then finishing second in the year's overall championship. Her move into Formual First was preceded by six years of racing karts.

She turned heads with her skills in Toyota Racing during only her second full season behind the wheel, earning a fifth-place standing in the championship.

Christina will join the Cunningham brothers (Mitchell and Wade) at Brian Stewart Racing, recently signed Jonny Reid at Integra Motorsports, and second-year man Marc Williams of Alliance Motorsports in a five-way Kiwi force that is finding American shores quite favorable to their racing careers.

Ron Dixon is father of New Zealand IndyCar Series star and 2008 Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon, and an Indy Lights Racing series spotter on race weekends.

Prendeville, Hildebrand Fast; Hall Stalled at Upstate New York Trials

Brit Scuttled for Watkins Glen Debut

by Linda K Mansfield
lindakmansfield@cs.com

Andrew Prendeville and J.R. Hildebrand had a successful test day with their Firestone Indy Lights cars yesterday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y. as the RLR/Andersen Racing team prepared for a doubleheader to be held there July 5th.

Unfortunately another one of the Palmetto, Fla.-based team's drivers, Charles Hall, only got a handful of laps of testing in on Wednesday due to mechanical problems with a car the team leased from another team. Without that valuable seat time, Hall and the teams jointly decided to postpone his Firestone Indy Lights debut for now.

Hall, of Sheffield, England, is the current point leader in the Star Madza Championship presented by Goodyear.

"We struggled all day with Charles's car, so we've withdrawn his entry in the Watkins Glen doubleheader," said team co-owner John Andersen. "Other competitors in the paddock did everything they could to try to help us in a variety of ways, and the people from Speedway Engines went above and beyond in their efforts. We had fuel pressure and electrical problems, and we just couldn't get it sorted out in time to give Charles enough laps. His Firestone Indy Lights debut is postponed for now, but we all expect that it'll happen sometime before the end of the year. In the meantime, his focus remains the Star Mazda Championship."

Andersen said he was very happy with the progress made during the test with the team's other two cars. Prendeville drives the Best Friends Animal Society No. 5, while Hildebrand is at the controls of the Allied Interior Products No. 25.

The July 5 Firestone Indy Lights doubleheader at Watkins Glen will mark the first time in that series' history when two races are held on the same day.

Indy Lights Racer Mark Olson's Blog

Good News, Bad News Story

The good news was that the website www.IndyProRacer.com sponsored us for the Iowa event. You can check out my pre-race report (and anniversary wishes to Lori!) at the following link: http://www.indyproracer.com/2008/06/indy-lights-r-3.html.

As mentioned previously, the site is a great source of IndyCar and Indy Lights racing info, and they plan to carry my blogs for the remainder of the season. Also consider www.tracksideonline.com as a source of information, as they have generously broadcast my race reports as well.

Okay … you’re right, I’m stalling. Iowa was a bit of a struggle. For the third event in a row, the Iowa Speedway represented an entirely new set of challenges. It’s a 7/8 mile high banked speedway. With a standard 100 mile race distance, that translates to 115 laps – each one requiring a mere 20 seconds. Put another way, that’s 3 laps a minute. Yes, very busy and very fast!

The car was set up with a lot of downforce … almost a road course configuration. In practice on Friday, I quickly got faster than our times in the Open test the week previous. The times were fairly consistent, as well. The only problem was that the whole field improved as well … leaving us a couple of tenths off of where we wanted to be.

As we lined up for qualifying, the skies opened up on us … postponing qualifying until 6:15 at night. Prior to qualifying, though, the league gave us an extra 15 minutes of practice. Kind of an unusual move, but understandable, I guess. I was happy for the bonus opportunity to try some things. Unfortunately, we were unable to match our previous times, let alone improve on them. After the bonus practice, we discovered a suspension issue which would prevent us from getting where we needed to be in qualifying. The decision was made to forego qualifying and save the tires and the car for the race. This decision moved us to last place on the starting grid.

For the race, our “strategy” was to try to stick with the tail end of the field as long as possible, patiently circulate, and let the race come to us. Similar to Milwaukee, the Iowa Speedway presents no room for error and it can bite you at any time. When the green flag flew, I was able to stay reasonably close to the back of the field. I slightly muffed the restart after the first yellow flag and quickly got lapped by the leaders. Once you start getting lapped, the fun factor goes down considerably. Since the track is only 7/8 mile long, it gets to be like an endless freight train coming by.

Anyhow, I kept my line nice and predictable and tried to keep the pace up the best I could (about 4 MPH off of the leaders). By half race distance, I was 2 laps down to the leaders. Throughout the race, I was struggling to keep the car down on the exit of turn 2. From all appearances, my line was right through the entrance to turn 1 and past the apex in 2, but then the car would move up the track. On lap 62, I brushed the wall and ended my day. I damaged at least one wheel and the front and rear wishbones. Ugh!

Apparently, no one noticed that I contacted the wall. So, when I drove the car into the pits, got out, and stormed off to the garage, the webcast commentators thought that I might’ve voluntarily parked the car … angry at the team or something. Anyhow, to clear the air, I was more than a little upset at myself for struggling the way I did, and I did have a loud and colorful conversation with myself back in the privacy of the team trailer, but I was in no way upset with the team, the league, or the situation. Everyone has been really great and supportive, and I never want anything I do to reflect badly on the team or the league. I just demand a lot of myself, and I think most people were pleased to see a little bit of passion expressed. After all, what’s racing without passion? ‘Nuf said.

Unfortunately, due to budgetary reasons (directly related to the Milwaukee crash damage) I’m going to have to sit out the remaining 3 oval races. For a ton of reasons, it’s really disappointing, but those are the realities of racing. I was especially looking forward to Kentucky and Chicago. We will continue to participate in the Firestone Indy Lights series at the road courses, with Watkins Glen being next on the schedule – over the 4th of July weekend.

I hope to announce our 2009 Firestone Indy Lights plans soon, but the details are still being firmed up. More later.

Mark Olson

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Images from Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 at Iowa Speedway available at IndyProRacer.com Photo Pages

RLR Andersen Racer Charles Hall Signs for Glen Double-Duty

Hildebrand, Prendeville Share Garage Space With Third Team Entry

Linda K Mansfield
lindakmansfield@cs.com

RLR Andersen Racing’s Charles Hall. Photo: Restart Communications

Andersen Racing's Charles Hall, the current Star Mazda point leader, will make his Firestone Indy Lights debut as Andrew Prendeville and J.R. Hildebrand's teammates on the RLR/Andersen Racing team in the doubleheader at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y. on July 5th.

Hall, of Sheffield, England, will drive a white Dallara leased by RLR/Andersen Racing from another team, SWE Racing. The car will bear the No. 77, which is the same number Hall uses in the Star Mazda series.

Its livery will include Andersen Racing's primary sponsor:

• Allied Interior Products

and Hall's sponsors:

• Blimpie
• Pardoes Solicitors
• and AccentBanking.com

Hall will drive the Indy Lights car for the first time at a test on Wednesday (June 25th) at the historic upstate New York road course.

The test, which will see several top Indy Lights competitors on hand, is open to the public.

Formula 1 Prodigy Has Sizzled at Watkins Glen Priors

In the three Star Mazda races held so far this year, Hall has two seconds and one victory. The victory came June 7 in the first Star Mazda race ever held at Watkins Glen, where Hall led every lap.

That triumph was the first of three victories at Watkins Glen by Andersen Racing within eight days, as Anders Krohn and Doug Prendeville won doubleheaders in the F2000 Championship Series there June 14th-15th. The Palmetto, Fla.-based team offers a three-step ladder system for up-and-coming open-wheel stars. It is the development team for IndyCar's Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR).

Hall, 28, was on the short list for a Formula 1 test seat in 2005 when he was seriously injured in a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. Despite several operations and a great deal of physical therapy, Hall never gave up on his dream to return to the sport he loves. He competed in a handful of Toyota Atlantic races in 2006 before finding a home with Andersen Racing earlier this year. Prior to that he had a long list of accomplishments in Fran-Am 2000, British Formula 3, British Formula Renault, the Formula Chrysler Euro Series, British Formula Vauxhall and karting in his native England.

"Charles's goal has always been to move into the Firestone Indy Lights series," said Andersen Racing co-owner Dan Andersen. "We discussed him doing either the Glen or Infineon as a 'one-off' trial. After his win at the Star Mazda event he was able to gather some support for that effort, and we agreed to assist some too to make it happen."

"Charles has demonstrated to us that he is extremely talented and experienced, and clearly ready right now for Indy Lights," Andersen continued. "We looked at various opportunities, and with our team's test this week and Charles' recent win at the Glen, the stars seemed to align to make Watkins Glen the perfect place for his Indy Lights debut this season. We expect him to be competitive immediately."

"The Firestone Indy Lights series is very competitive," noted Hall. "I'm hoping that if I can have a good showing at Watkins Glen in front of all the IndyCar teams, it could further my career and help get me through a door."

Familiar Faces Will Greet Indy Lights Newcomer to New York Debut

Although the car and the Indy Lights series will be new to Hall, he'll have many familiar faces assisting him. Pete Mercier, Hall's Star Mazda engineer, will be his engineer for his Indy Lights debut. RLR's Greg Cates will be Hall's lead mechanic. Corey Center, who was Andrew Prendeville's second mechanic last year in Indy Lights and is currently Scott Willard's lead mechanic on Andersen Racing's F2000 team, will be Hall's second mechanic at the Glen.

Hall has worked with RLR/Andersen Racing's Indy Lights engineers, Dominic and Nicholas Cape, in the past too. The Cape brothers, who are also from England, were Hall's engineers at the Star Mazda season opener in March at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla.

Hall will meet Hildebrand for the first time at the test on Wednesday. Andrew Prendeville was Hall's spotter for his Watkins Glen Star Mazda victory. "I look forward to meeting J.R., and working with Andrew again," Hall said.

"I'll take my time and learn how to race the others first," says Hall of Glen debut

When asked what his biggest challenge will be at the Glen next month, Hall said he wasn't worried about the car, the crew or the track. "I'll take my time to see how you can race with the other drivers," he said. "But in my mind, the only thing that's changed is it's a new car for me.

"I'm just happy to be in the car," he added. "I'm really pleased with the opportunity that's been put forward, and I have to thank Andersen Racing and our sponsors for that."

Hall will certainly get a concentrated indoctrination to the Firestone Indy Lights series. The Watkins Glen doubleheader marks the first time in its history when more than one race will be held on the same day.

For more information see andersenracingteam.com, andersenracepark.com, charleshallusa.com and indycar.com/lights.

Panther's Dillon Battistini Claims Late-Race Win at Iowa Speedway

Arie Luyendyk Jr Leads 101 of 115 Laps to Finish Runner-Up

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Arie Luyendyk Jr (L), Dillon Battistini and Ana Beatriz at Iowa. Photo: AndySallee

Panther Racing's Dillon Battistini took advantage of a last lap restart and a late-race pass at speed of AFS Andretti Green Racing's Arie Luyendyk to win the second Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 at Iowa Speedway on Saturday (June 21st).

Battistini trailed Luyendyk from the start to over a hundred laps later. The Brit took advantage of traffic that blocked the leading No. 26 car's path to move around and away from the hard-luck Luyendyk.

"I'm just amazed," said Dillon. "It was tough. Our cars were closely matched on pace. Arie didn't make a mistake. We lapped some cars and both got held up. I realized if I dropped back I could get a run and it worked perfectly. I pulled it off with a little luck and opportunity."

The victory is Battistini's third of the 2008 season and lifted him into the lead for the Firestone Firehawk Cup awarded the series champion at season's end.

"I'm pleased to have another win for the Panther Racing team," continued Battistini. "It's fantastic for my championship chances and I'm so happy for John Barnes, (driver coach) Pancho Carter, the investors, and my family who helped me to get here."

"I feel sorry for Arnie. He was so close but I managed to get the jump."

The loss was a blow to Luyendyk, whose performance over the meet was dominant in every respect except the ultimate result. Arie led 101 of 115 laps on his way to his fifty-third attempt to find the top spot on the Firestone Indy Lights podium dating to 2002.

"I can't express the frustration," said the twenty-six year old son of twice-Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. "We had the dominant car. To lose after leading over 100 laps is tough."

"It's just really frustrating when the lapped guys in back can't just move out of the way. AFS AGR did an awesome job and we were fast. There's no way Dillon could have gotten around me otherwise."

Sam Schmidt Motorsports Ana Beatriz brought home a third-place result on the 7/8th mile oval matching her season's best finish at St. Petersburg race one.

"I was confident, but starting from sixth had me a little bit worried because it is so hard to pass here (at Iowa Speedway)," she said.

"I'm happy, I'm really proud, with a third-place result under the circumstances."

Beatriz too was a victim of "traffic", herself penalized in-race for blocking at one point. "I'm not certain where it happened, and will have to go back and look at the tape," she said, "but I'm sure that race control was on top of the situation if they felt it happened."

Cyndie Allemann (No. 18) loses control at Iowa Speedway. Photo: AndySallee

Behind the top three were Battistini teammate Brent Sherman, Pablo Donoso of SWE Racing, Team Moore's Jeff Simmons, Luyendyk teammate Raphael Matos, RLR Andersen's J R Hildebrand, Beatriz teammate Richard Antinucci and Mark Williams of Alliance Motorsports in tenth place.

Race Recap

Luyendyk led from pole with a sweet-handling car that allowed him to ride the white line at the groove's bottom in every corner of the short oval.

The leader and Battistini quickly separated from the field and turned the event into a two-car match race with red and yellow slightly to the better of orange and black.

Cyndie Allemann spun the American Spirit car exiting Turn 4 on Lap 5, then corrected on the infield grass along the front straightaway to continue.

By the Lap 28 quarter-mark of 115 laps Luyendyk and Battistini stretched the margin from second to third to over four seconds as they navigated lapped traffic with ease.

Sam Schmidt's Travis Gregg also spun, on Lap 43 emerging from Turn 4, righted and continued.

Beatriz and Sherman diced for fifth over the race's midportion, in wheel-to-wheel combat inches apart reminiscent of Alex Lloyd's great close-quarters combat with Wade Cunningham in the inaugural Hawkeye State event of 2007.

At Lap 60 the running order was Luyendyk, Battistini, Simmons, Wilson, Ana Beatriz, Sherman, Raphael Matos, J R Hildebrand, Robbie Pecorari and Pablo Donoso.

Gregg white-walled the wall again, this time in Turn 2, on Lap 70; bringing his day to an end with a yellow flag period of two laps.

Lap 98 found Donoso wiggling into the wall in Turn 4 when the car slid into the marbles. Pablo continued with a classic Iowa dirt-track hog-wrestle in a forward direction.

The Lap 100 running order was Luyendyk, Battistini, Beatriz, Simmons, Sherman, Wilson, Matos, Donoso, Hildebrand and Integra Motorsports' Jonny Reed.

Dillon Battistini. Photo: Andy Sallee

Battistini passed Luyendyk when the latter encountered lapped traffic, sliding around the No. 26 car for first.

Reed crashed coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 105, setting up the last lap restart.

Milwaukee 100 winner Bobby Wilson got caught up in a spinning skid that sent him over the finish line backwards as the checkered dropped on the contest.

The winner's average speed was recorded at 130.986 mph, over a duration of 47:05.6124 minutes.

There were 4 caution periods totalling eighteen laps, and one very important lead change on Lap 102.

Championship Points Standings Shuffle with Panther Atop the Field

Battistini's victory boosted him past previous leader Richard Antinucci of Sam Schmidt Motorsports (who finished ninth). Battistini (242 points) emerges from round seven of sixteen with a 27 point cushion over Antinucci.

J R Hildebrand stands on third with 202 points, Raphael Matos fourth with 188 points and Arie Luyendyk retains fifth spot with 186 points.

The Firestone Indy Lights series takes a short two-week break before heading to Watkins Glen for a July 5th single-day double header in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

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Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 Results

Firestone Indy Lights 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup Cumulative Results

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Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 at Iowa Speedway Post-Race Interviews

Click to download and listen to MP3 audio file

Jeld-Wen 100 Race Winner Dillon Battistini Interview

Jeld-Wen 100 Race Runner-Up Arie Luyendyk Jr Interview

Jeld-Wen 100 Race Third-Place Finisher Ana 'Bia' Beatriz Interview

Arie Luyendyk Jr Wins Jeld-Wen 100 Pole at Iowa Speedway

Twenty-Two Car Field Awaits Saturday Afternoon Green Flag

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

AFS Andretti Green’s Arie Luyendyk Jr. earns Iowa pole. Photo: SteveSnoddyIRL

Arie Luyendyk Jr won pole for Saturday's Firestone Indy Lights Jen-Weld 100 by waiting out a rainstorm and setting a torrid pace around the 7/8th mile oval of Iowa Speedway.

Arie's two-lap average speed of 160.397 mph bested a field of twenty-two challengers on Friday (June 20th) afternoon, giving the soft-spoken AFS Andretti Green Racing driver his fourth career pole position.

The chance to start at the front may be just the ticket to Victory Lane for the Indy Lights Series' longest-tenured member. Luyendyk will make his record fifty-third start tomorrow at 4:15 PM CDT (5:15 pm EDT).

"We were the quickest pretty much all day," said the twenty-six year old racer afterwards. "I'm really excited for the race tomorrow."

"I knew who the fast guys were," he continued. "I was looking for (Brent) Sherman and you can never count out those Sam Schmidt guys. I knew they were last (in the qualifying order)."

"I'm just really excited."

Streaking Panther Dillon Battistini Earns Front Row Berth

Luyendyk currently sits fifth in championship points toward the 2008 Firestone Firehawk Cup. Second-place Cup contender Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing cast an eye toward the season's ultimate prize in assessing his performance.

"We ran two good clean laps," he said. "They weren't perfect. I made a small mistake in Turn 1 on the first lap, but it wasn't enough to cost me the pole."

"It is great to be on the front row," he added. "Hopefully we'll stay in that position at the start, and pass Arie during the race."

"The car is really good. It felt good in traffic today. We are in a strong position for the race."

Team Moore's Jeff Simmons continued to impress with a series of strong on-track performances, this weekend claiming the start on the inside of the second row. "I'm happy with what the team gave me," he said.

"I don't think we could have gotten Arie, but we could have gotten Dillon. We made some changes and I was trying to figure out what we had. We may have left a little bit out there."

Team E's Bobby Wilson took the number four spot in the starting lineup, just outside of Simmons, in the royal blue No. 17 car that won at Milwaukee three short weeks ago. Bobby plussed Brent Sherman by a thin one one hundredth of a mile per hour over the little bullring.

"After we tested here last week, I was a little nervous," former stock car driver Sherman said of his qualifying run that left him fifth-quickest for the day. "The car wasn't great, but we started off fast without much drafting."

"I'm a little greedy and thought that I could have done better, but I'll take fifth."

Hildebrand Overcomes Slow Start in Wrong Gear

RLR Andersen's J R Hildebrand overcame a slow start in the morning to advance up the grid on the inside of the fourth row. He'll start next to Luyendyk teammate Raphael Matos.

"This was my first true qualifying session on an oval this year," noted Hildebrand after qualifying. "We changed the gearing from what we had this morning in practice."

"The car was a little looser than I'd like it to be in the race, but we're close. We always have good race cars, and I'm confident Iowa will be no different. It's going to be a long race."

Hildebrand will start just behind Battistini teammate Sherman on the inside of the third row when the green flag waves.

In between the two is SSM's Ana 'Bia' Beatriz who qualified sixth.

"The Healthy Choice car was good," she said, "and I feel confident about the race. Now we will see if we can find the quickest way around the track and try to improve our position as the race goes along."

"I feel good about our chances this weekend."

Guthrie Racing's Franck Perera will start ninth in his first Indy Lights Series event, alongside Pablo Donoso in the Team SWE machine to round out the top ten.

The race will be broadcast live on streaming video at www.indycar.com with tape-delayed broadcast June 26th on EPSN2.

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Firestone Indy Lights Jen-Weld 100 Qualifying Results

Indy Lights Racer Arie Luyendyk Jr Quickest at Friday Iowa Practice

AFS Andretti Green Veteran Puts Early Stranglehold on 22-Car Field

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

AFS Andretti Green’s Arie Luyendyk Jr. Photo: DanaGarrettIRL

The planned two-hour long practice to open the Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 weekend went off without a hitch as twenty-two cars and drivers sped around the tiny oval in Newton, Iowa on Friday (June 20th).

AFS Andretti Green's Arie Luyendyk Jr was the fastest at 160.299 mph (20.0775 sec.) and the only driver to break into the 20.0 range during the split session. Panther's Dillon Battistini was second-quick at 160.068 mph (20.1064 sec.) with Sam Schmidt Motorsports' Ana Beatriz third-fastest (150.592 mph, 20.1664 sec.).

"I'm confident," said Bia of her bright green and white Healthy Choice car. "We'll look at the data now and see what we can do to be even faster."

Fourth was Team E's Bobby Wilson, followed by Guthrie Racing teammates Sean Guthrie and Franck Perrera.

Perrera is driving for the first time the Indy Lights Dallara on a race bill. "We did two sessions this morning," he said of the voyage. "The car is okay but we need to set it up and prepare now for qualifying. The situation is always different when you run against the clock."

Robbie Pecorari, Pablo Donoso, Brent Sherman, Bobby Wilson and Raphael Matos rounded out the top eleven.

Qualifying commences at 3:20 PM CDT today for Saturday's Jeld-Wen 100 race.

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Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 Practice Results

Indy Lights Racer Mark Olson's Blog

On Anniversary Wishes and Iowa Dreaming

I woke up this morning and told my wife, “Honey, the last nine years have been like nine minutes … under water. Happy 9th anniversary”.

This is a long running joke between us – one which I still think is hilarious and one which she barely tolerates. I think she might have laughed at it the first couple of times. Macho B.S. aside, my wife is a great woman, wife, and mother (of 2+!), and I’ve immensely enjoyed the last nine minutes … er, years.

Seems like we’ve been really busy since Milwaukee. The guys pulled several all-nighters to repair a totally destroyed car after hitting the wall at The Mile. They got the car back together (road course configuration) in time to participate in a test at Mid-Ohio on the Thursday following Milwaukee. It was a heroic, all-hands-on-deck effort. However, it did make me a little nervous when I saw Michael working on the car.

Aside from testing, I’ve continued working hard on my fitness and diet. It really makes a difference.

Testing at Mid-Ohio made for a nice change of pace … a road course. I logged a couple hundred miles and learned a lot. While I think the team was satisfied with what we learned there, I left feeling like I needed one more session to really break through into the range where we needed to be. I definitely learned the track and learned what I needed to do … I just didn’t quite get a chance to bring it all together. Nonetheless, we’ve got a good starting point for when we return in mid-July.

The following week, we participated in the open test at Iowa. The weather was great on Tuesday for the 6-1/2 hour drive from Indy to Newton, IA. Naturally, the forecast for the day of the test was for 70% chance of severe thunderstorms. While the weather never was as bad as the satellite made it look like it could be, it did rain steadily from 9:45 AM until 2PM. The officials did their best to start the test as quickly as possible, and I think we actually got out a little before the scheduled 9AM start time. Based on the satellite, there appeared to be a strong possibility that once the rain started, the test would be over. Someone contacted the wall, bringing out a yellow flag around 9:45 AM, and the rain drops began falling almost immediately thereafter. The rain stopped around 2PM and the track dried very quickly. We got to go back out on the track shortly after 3PM for another hour plus.

In the morning session, I was a long ways off of the pace – approximately 1.5 seconds off of the pace, which is an eternity on a 7/8 mile oval. This was mostly due to my relative lack of experience, and we were steadily chipping away at it. While the times were unacceptable, I definitely learned what it was that needed to be done. During the long break, we spent the time talking everything through, going over the data, and making a couple of small changes to the car. The break was good for me in that it allowed the morning session to really soak in.

In the afternoon session, the times came down pretty quickly 0.1 to 0.2 seconds each lap. One of only 3 cars (out of 19 attending the test) to improve their time in the afternoon session, I ended up improving my time by 1.1 seconds. This moved me firmly into the pack. The team really put out a great effort, as we methodically worked through everything we wanted to try. As has been the case the last 3 outings, C. R. Crews did a great job from the spotter’s stand helping me make the on-track adjustments needed to get onto the pace. Unfortunately, I ended the day with a spin that was eerily similar to Milwaukee.

The progress we made at Iowa was tremendous, but the spin was a little frustrating. You’re gonna make mistakes, but you’ve got to learn from them, and I hate making the same mistake twice. Since then we’ve spent a lot of time going over data, reviewing the Milwaukee video, and discussing the spotter’s observations, etc. to try to troubleshoot things. We think we’ve got a decent handle on what’s going on and how to prevent the situation in the future.

Iowa should be interesting this weekend. Qualifying and the race are scheduled for late afternoon and should present the entire field with challenging track conditions. Our times in the afternoon session of the open test were reasonably competitive, and I’m cautiously optimistic about our chances. The team continues to put a great car on the track, and I’m getting stronger in leaps and bounds, every time we get out.

Mark Olson

Indy Lights Racers Return to Iowa Speedway

Travis Gregg Makes 2008 Debut in Jeld-Wen 100

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Two IndyCar Series veterans and no fewer than nine previous Firestone Indy Lights Series race-winners will vie for a shot at the Jeld-Wen 100 title at Iowa Speedway on Saturday (June 21st).

Among them will be the usual suspects including Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Indy Lights points-leader Richard Antinucci and current runner-up Dillon Battistini of Panther Racing.

Joining for this round (the seventh of sixteen) in the No. 34 car at SSM is top-flight talent Travis Gregg of Camden, Ohio. Gregg won three races with Sam Schmidt in 2005 before a series of sponsorship and injury setbacks sidelined him. He’ll take over for regular driver Jon Brownson for the three-day meet that begins on Thursday (June 19th).

Standout Field Makes Firehawk Cup Chase Challenging

“I think this year is a lot more competitive than it was in the past years," remarked RLR Andersen’s Andrew Prendeville of the hyper-competitive entry list that also boasts Jeff Simmons, Franck Perrera, Robbie Pecorari, Milwaukee 100 winner Bobby Wilson, Raphael Matos, J R Hildebrand, Logan Gomez and former stock-car driver Brent Sherman.

Prendeville will be looking for a win himself on Saturday, hoping to build on his present 10th place in the season-long race for the Firestone Firehawk Cup.

"A lot of drivers have been around for a long time and won lots of races all over the world," he continued, "all over the country, all different kinds of series. At the same time, I think the teams this year have gotten a lot closer in terms of how well the cars are prepped and the setups going on the cars."

"I think we've had four or five different winners already this year, if I'm not mistaken, and it is very tough. You have to be spot on with everything that you do. There have been some mishaps here and there that help you move up in position, but in the main you try and get everything you can because all the drivers are very, very good this year."

Flooding in Iowa Misses Newton Area

Chief among everyone’s concerns heading to tiny Newton, Iowa are the meteorological conditions and on-going rescue and reclamation projects after severe flooding in the region.

Brian Marshall, dispatcher at local Jasper County Police Department, reported the land-locked Newton surrounds relatively unaffected by rain and flooding that has hampered travel around the Iowa City area.

“We’ve had about five days of sunshine now, with temperatures in the seventies,” he said on Wednesday (June 18th) afternoon, “and the roads around Iowa City have now been re-opened. You shouldn’t have any trouble with traveling along I-80 (from the east) to Newton.”

Marshall went on to add that additional gravel placed into the parking area of Iowa Speedway seems to be an effective improvement in case there is more rain this weekend, adding that he expects fewer delays on entering the track on race day in 2008. “I remember last year,” he said. “I’m the one who got all the calls when the parking lots were not available.”

The weatherman predicts showers on Thursday afternoon in the forecast for Newton, Iowa with clearing to partly cloudy skies through the weekend.

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TV/Radio Coverage of the Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 at Iowa Speedway:

• Jeld-Wen 100 Race: ESPN2 (Tape Delay) at 5:30 PM EDT, June 26th
• Talent: Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl (announcers); Mike King (pit reporter)
• Live streaming video coverage of the Jeld-Wen 100 SWE Pole Qualifying (4:20 PM EDT June 20th) and the Jeld-Wen 100 (5:15 PM EDT June 21st) is available at www.indycar.com

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

June 20

• 10:30 AM -12:30 PM – Firestone Indy Lights practice (two groups)


• 3:20 PM – SWE Pole Qualifying

June 21

• 3:45 PM – Jeld-Wen 100 pre-race


• 4:15 PM – Jeld-Wen 100 (115 laps/100 miles)

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Firestone Indy Lights Jeld-Wen 100 Entry List

Guthrie Racing's Franck Perera Ready to Rock Indy Lights Racing Field

Clouds Have Silver Linings for French Racing Prodigy

by Allan Brewer
allan@indyproracer.com

Guthrie Racing’s Franck Pererea. Photo: RonMcQueeneyIRL

It wasn't supposed to go this way, toward the developmental division of the Indy Racing League, for Guthrie Racing's Franck Perera.

The highly-accomplished racer from Montpellier, France never imagined taking an unexpected detour to the Firestone Indy Lights series from his seat at IndyCar's Conquest Racing--until the unexpected became the possible, and then the reality, of sponsor Opes Prime's fiscal unraveling.

"Indy Lights after Champ Car is not where I was thinking to go," said the soft-spoken Perera on Friday (June 13th) of his arrival at Jim Guthrie's Guthrie Racing organization. "I was at the top, then I became an orphan," he said of watching helplessly as his sponsor withdrew from support.

"After three races, Eric (Bachelart, team owner of Conquest Racing and the 1991 Indy Lights champion) had to make a decision to save the team," continued Franck.

That decision necessitated Perera's departure from the seat he occupied in the No. 34 car of the IndyCar Series on the very eve of Rookie Orientation for the Indianapolis 500. Within hours Jaime Camara assumed the place that Franck was sure would see him through "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

"It was really sad not to drive in the '500'," he continued, "and I could only sit and watch the biggest race in the world. It was hard because I showed at Homestead that I was good on the oval. I was the top Champ Car driver (14th) at the finish even though I'd never driven on an oval before."

"Now it's up to me to prove that was not a fluke, that I'm good on the ovals in the Indy Lights Series; that I'm good on something other than road courses," he said.

"There's still time to do something good and get back into IndyCar in 2009."

Prestigious Racing Pedigree Primed Perera for Plum F1 Position

Perera's first-class pedigree put him in line for one of Europe's plum spots in Formula 1, and doors opened for him after winning the Formula Renault championship and competing successfully in GP2 (the last stepping stone to an F1 ride) in 2006.

The opportunity to drive a full-time Champ Car schedule turned his attention to America, a fortunate twist of fortune that Perera welcomed when it came. He backed up his enthusiasm for his new racing environs by running second in the 2007 Toyota Atlantics series to Raphael Matos; then qualifying third at Long Beach for the final Champ Car race of the series in 2008, finishing sixth in the event.

"People want to come to the USA from F1 or GP2," he said in agreement with several other fast Euro's who've thrived in the more laid-back American open-wheel racing element.

Franck cited his ability to change course and career plans quickly as a 'plus' in continuing to race on this side of the Atlantic. He went on to contrast some of the differences in the racing culture and the cars he's driven in the past.

"Indy Lights is the best place to learn ovals, and when we knew it was over at Conquest I was glad even to come here. We don't learn to drive on ovals in Europe, and that's what you must be able to do to race over here."

"We can be America's answer to Formula 1," says Guthrie's Perera

"I don't think the Indy Lights car and the IndyCar Series car are all that different," Franck said of his quick adaptation to the smaller Dallara chassis of the Indy Lights Series.

"The Indy Lights car is obviously built to race on ovals. It was not too different and I was able to get up to speed quickly," at Wednesday's (June 11th) Iowa Speedway open test.

"It doesn't really compare to Europe with the lighter and more developed chassis. F1 spends so much money, and they have many different pieces made by many different manufacturers and the teams," he continued.

"The Indy Lights car is heavier, and it is slower, but it's still very interesting and fun to drive."

"The same is true of the IndyCar Series car. It is fun but needs more development, in particular for road courses, but I think we can be America's answer to F1 and fight them evenly."

Perera's Race Prep for Iowa in Full Swing

Things look to get better for Perera next weekend when he turns twenty-four on the same day he dons his helmet for his first competitive outing in the Indy Lights Series for the Jeld-Wen 100 on Saturday (June 21st).

Franck came away happy with his only practice on the short oval prior to the race weekend even though the local flooding and cold, rainy conditions at the test in Newton, Iowa put a damper on the amount of track-time Perera and his Guthrie Racing teammates spent at speed.

"It was a good test, but terrible weather," Franck said. "We only had one half hour in the morning, but after twenty laps I was running in the top three. I was as fast as Richard Antinucci, and Raphael Matos, and getting better."

"I was fastest in the afternon," he continued of his open test results. "We made improvements and the car got better."

"That was good!"

"My time in the Firestone Indy Lights series is still early," he said, "thanks to the people at Guthrie Racing. It's still early and we're working on our race in Iowa now."

"I will go for the win at Iowa."