Mgm Grand Joins Kv Racing Technology – Lotus For Indycar World Champio

Lotus announced today that MGM Grand Hotel & Casino has joined the team as primary partner of Takuma Sato’s No. 5 MGM Grand – KV Racing Technology – Lotus car for the 2011 IndyCar World Championships in Las Vegas, October 13-16 at the Las Vegas Speedway.

“I am very pleased to announce that MGM Grand is joining our team,” said KVRT – Lotus co-owner Jimmy Vasser. “As a resident of Las Vegas I am very excited that our team has partnered with such a local icon for this race. We look forward to having a great on-track result with MGM Grand at the IndyCar World Championships in Las Vegas.”

“Hosting this event in Las Vegas is a sensational opportunity for the entire city and we are thrilled to support Mr. Sato in his quest for a championship,” said Tim Kelly, vice president of hotel operations for MGM Grand. “MGM Grand is recognized worldwide as the center of Las Vegas entertainment so it is fitting for us to become involved with IndyCar weekend through our partnership with KVRT-Lotus.”

Sato, currently 13th in the championship race with 297 points, only 17 out of 10th, is looking for a strong showing at the IndyCar World Championships on the 1.5-mile D-shape Las Vegas Speedway oval that will propel him into the top-10 in the final standings. The 34-year-old from Japan is having a breakout year in his second IndyCar season. He has finished in the top-10 seven times this year including his first three IndyCar top-five finishes (career-high fourth at Mid-Ohio and fifth at St. Petersburg and Texas). Sato has also earned his first two IndyCar poles, (on the oval in Iowa and on the street circuit in Edmonton) becoming the first Japanese driver to do so, and led his first IndyCar race (Brazil) and subsequently three others. On ovals, Sato has earned three top-10 finishes (oval career-high fifth at Texas race No. 1, New Hampshire – seventh and Milwaukee – eighth), his first career IndyCar pole and led his first oval laps, seven, both at Iowa (also led 13 laps at New Hampshire).