LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 3 , 2010) — The three-driver KV Racing Technology contingent enters Sunday's Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on a high note.
After scoring all four KVRT drivers in the top-ten at Edmonton two weeks ago, the Indianapolis-based squad with an international flair — drivers from Brazil, Venezuela and Japan — is set to continue its impressive road course runs in the 12th stop on the 17-race IZOD IndyCar Series. Canadian Paul Tracy, who placed sixth at Edmonton as the fourth KVRT driver, will not participate at Mid-Ohio.
Young Brazilian Mario Moraes, the youngest series regular at age 21, has been outstanding on the road circuits this year with three top-ten finishes in his No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car. Moraes' last permanent road course race at Watkins Glen saw the talented youngster take fifth. Moraes missed last year's Mid-Ohio event due to the death of his father, but is expected to be a challenger when practice begins Friday.
E.J. Viso comes off a sensational qualifying effort (sixth) at Edmonton in his No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine. Viso, the 25-year-old Venezuelan, battled the three Penske drivers and the two Ganassi pilots in a "David vs. Goliath" role in the Firestone Fast Six qualifying. Viso, who scored his best road finish of eighth at Edmonton, enjoyed a strong testing run last week on the 2.25-mile Mid-Ohio track.
Rounding out the KV Racing Technology lineup at Mid-Ohio is Formula One veteran Takuma Sato. The driver in the No. 5 Lotus — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car has the tough task of being a rookie with a new engine/chassis/team combination as well as tracks to learn. But, despite the learning curve, the Japanese star has made the Firestone Fast Six qualifying round at each of the first two permanent road circuits, Barber and Watkins Glen.
Recent testing at Mid-Ohio will be a big help for Sato's debut at the track that is called the "physically roughest track to drive" on the series.
DRIVER QUOTES:
MARIO MORAES, #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE:
" I am looking forward to returning to Mid-Ohio. Last year I had to pull out at the last minute, so it was good to be able to test there last week and get to know the track again. KV Racing Technology have given me a fast car the last two races so I am excited for this weekend and hope we can have another top-10 finish."
E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA — KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE:
"It is nice to go back to Mid-Ohio after our test. It was definitely pretty useful for KV Racing Technology. We managed to get through a lot of different testing programs and we believe we are in a better place for the race now. Mid-Ohio is always a good track, there's a nice mix of corners, altitude changes and definitely a pretty fun track to drive. I can feel we are going to have a good weekend."
TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE:
"It was so nice to have some testing last week, something we missed for a long time and it was the first time since Barber test back in February! We had many different things to try and evaluate which are almost impossible to be done over a race weekend due to the limited track time. So it was a useful day for us to complete and was successful. Mid-Ohio is a challenging road course with a few aggressive elevation changes which makes some corners completely un-sighted, narrow and fast but I enjoyed driving there. The field was again very tight but I feel very positive after the test so hopefully we will be competitive this weekend."
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