Takuma, the rookie driver of the #5 Lotus-KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, drove from 31st starting position to as high as sixth in his first appearance on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval.

The air temperature was as high as 97 degrees Sunday with the track surface over 130.

Takuma had placed third in the US Grand Prix F1 event on the 2.6-mile Indy road circuit in 2004 but this was his initial showing on the legendary Indy oval.

Takmua was in his second oval race Sunday as he passed some 20 cars by the halfway point.

On lap 107, he was scored in 11th spot when he suffered a pit problem. Due to the difficulty, Takuma was issued a penalty that cost him a lap on the track.

He fought back from 28th to 20th at the finish. The Lotus-sponsored driver was the third highest finishing rookie in the 200-lap event.

"This was definitely some experience for me today," Takuma reflected. "We moved up close to the top-ten in the middle of the race. Then we had a problem on a pit stop and we received a penalty. Due to that penalty, we got behind a lap and we could not make it up.

"The race was very long and there were a lot of difficult situations. I do feel good about finishing the entire race and I learned a lot. The Indy 500 is just a spectacular event. The Lotus – KV Racing Technology team worked very hard all month and we had a great experience racing here."

KV Racing Technology will now perform a quick turnaround of its three cars this week before heading to the Texas Motor Speedway for Saturday night's Firestone 550 on the fast 1.5-mile tri-oval.

Sato, the rookie driver of the No. 5 Lotus — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, drove from 31st starting position to as high as sixth in his first appearance on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval. The air temperature was as high as 97 degrees Sunday with the track surface over 130.

The Japanese driving star had placed third in the US Grand Prix Formula One event on the 2.6-mile Indy road circuit in 2004 but this was his initial showing on the legendary Indy oval. Sato was in his second oval race Sunday as he passed some 20 cars by the halfway point.

On lap 107, Sato was scored in 11th spot when he suffered a pit problem. Due to the difficulty, Sato was issued a penalty that cost him a lap on the track.

He fought back from 28th to 20th at the finish. The Lotus-sponsored driver was the third highest finishing rookie in the 200-lap event.

E.J. Viso, driving the No. 8 PDVSA—KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry, experienced a tough day after high optimism on Carb Day. Viso, the popular Venezuela driver, was sixth fastest on Friday's final practice but his mount didn't handle the same on Sunday. He started 19th and scored as high as 16th before suspension problems on lap 139 forced him to retire his machine.

Mario Moraes, who started 13th in the No. 32 GEICO — Curb Records — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, was expected to be a contender Sunday after a strong week of practice and qualifying. But an early brush of the wall took his machine to the garage for repairs. He finished 31st after 17 laps.

KV Racing Technology will perform a quick turnaround of the three cars this week at its Indianapolis headquarters before heading to the Texas Motor Speedway for Saturday night's Firestone 550 on the fast 1.5-mile tri-oval north of Ft. Worth.

DRIVER QUOTES:

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "This was definitely some experience for me today. We moved up close to the top-ten in the middle of the race. Then we had a problem on a pit stop and we received a penalty. Due to that penalty, we got behind a lap and we could not make it up. The race was very long and there were a lot of difficult situations. I do feel good about finishing the entire race and I learned a lot. The Indy 500 is just a spectacular event. The Lotus – KV Racing Technology team worked very hard all month and we had a great experience racing here."

E.J. VISO, #5 PDVSA - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "The conditions were very hard today. We tried a lot of things to get the car right, but the car was just too loose most of the time. Early in the race, John Andretti forced me down into the grass. I had no place to go. That was wild. The heat had a lot to do with the track conditions today. I thought we had a good car going into the race after Carb Day. It felt very good then. But today the car just wasn't handling like on Friday. I clipped the wall on my last lap (139), so I came in. I didn't want to crash. It wasn't the way I want to finish today."

MARIO MORAES, #32 GEICO – CURB RECORDS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Unfortunately, we had the same problem in the race that we had on Carb Day. It is a shame for me and our KV Racing Technology team. We worked so hard this month. We had a great car up until Carb Day and then something happened with the car. Our team tried to fix it in the garage but it was best to park the car than have the problem continue. We will plan to run better at Texas."

Race rookie Sato will start 31st on the 33-car grid in the #5 Lotus-KV Racing Technology Dallara-Honda, having survived a typically frenetic 'Bump Day' qualifying session, and used the final opportunity to gain track time to further his Indianapolis experience. The Japanese driver made F1 appearances at Indianapolis, but will be entering only his second oval race in the IndyCar Series, and his first on a superspeedway.

"The conditions today were the most difficult I have experienced here at Indy," Taku admitted, "We tried various set-ups in a limited time frame as, having concentrated on our qualifying set-up until today, this was my first opportunity to work on our race sim. I feel we need to improve the car some more, but we have a strong engineering staff and I am very optimistic that we will have a good car for the race. It will be exciting to race in my first Indianapolis 500."

With preparation opportunities and track time now done until the cars take to the famous Brickyard circuit for the race on Sunday, Sato and his fellow drivers will spend Saturday at an autograph session for the fans, before heading to the public drivers' meeting and the annual 500 Festival Parade through downtown Indianapolis.

After qualifying in 31st place on Bump Day, Lotus are pulling out all the stops to make sure Taku has everything he needs to get him through the 500-mile marathon, and keeping his head firmly screwed on during the race will be a unique helmet livery featuring images of Lotus cars past and present.

Encapsulating the evolutionary vibe at Lotus, the helmet features Jim Clark's Indy 500 winning Lotus 38 on one side and an image of Sato's current IndyCar on the other, with everyone hoping that having a winner on his head will help inspire Taku to emulate his predecessor's hard-won success.

Hats - or helmets - off to Lotus designer Jason Fowler who put in 45 hours of hard graft creating the one-off piece, proving that there's a whole lot more to helmet design that meets the eye.

Viso, whose PDVSA crew built a new car last Wednesday after a Tuesday afternoon turn one incident, recorded the sixth fastest overall speed in the 33-driver lineup Friday at 224.419 miles per hour as the three-car KVRT contingent worked throughout the one-hour practice session.

Viso, who'll start 19th in the No. 8 PDVSA—KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry Sunday, circled the famed 2.5-mile oval 39 times during the "Carb Day" action in front of a big sun-drenched crowd.

KVRT's fastest qualifier, young Brazilian Mario Moraes, clocked the eighth fastest speed in his No. 32 GEICO-Curb Records-KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car at 224.114 m.p.h. Moraes, starting his third Indy 500, will go off the starting line 13th on Sunday.

Rookie Takuma Sato, starting 31st in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, was 15th fastest at 222.975. The Japanese driver, who placed third in the 2004 USGP here at Indy, will make his first Indy 500 start Sunday after five F-1 starts here beginning in 2002.

The drivers will be busy on Saturday with a morning autograph session for the fans, the public drivers' meeting and the annual 500 Festival Parade through downtown Indianapolis.

The live ABC-TV telecast of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 begins at noon Sunday.

DRIVER QUOTES:

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "I want to thank the PDVSA - KV Racing Technology team. The last few weeks have been really tough. Now we have a fast and comfortable race setup. This is basically because of all the hard work of my mechanics and engineers. After having a big crash last week, this is a great way to recover and hopefully we will have a great race on Sunday."

MARIO MORAES, #32 GEICO-Curb Records-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had a few problems with the GEICO - Curb Records - KVRT car today. It's unfortunate because this was our last practice before the race but I know the speed is there. I am looking forward to the race. We are estimating about nine pit stops, and I just need to be there for the last 30 laps to fight for the good finish."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "The conditions today were the most difficult I have experienced here at Indy. We tried various setups in a limited time frame. We concentrated on our qualifying setup until today, so this was my first opportunity to work on our race sim (simulation). I feel we need to improve the car some more, but we have a strong engineering staff and I am very optimistic that we will have a good car for the race. It will be exciting to race in my first Indianapolis 500."

After qualifying in 31st place Lotus are pulling out all the stops to make sure Taku has everything he needs to get him through the 500 mile super race. Keeping Taku's head firmly screwed on during the race will be a unique specially designed helmet featuring images of Lotus cars past and present. Encapsulating the evolutionary vibe at Lotus, the helmet features Jim Clark's Indy 500 winning Lotus 38 on one side and an image of Sato's current IndyCar, the one he'll be piloting in the race on Sunday on the other. Let's hope that having an Indy 500 winner on his head will help inspire Taku to try and emulate his predecessors hard won success.

Hats (or helmets) off to Lotus designer Jason Fowler who put in 45 hours of hard graft creating the one-off piece, there's a whole lot more to helmet design that meets the eye. Can't wait until Sunday to have a look at Taku's new piece of kit? Just take a look at the images below for an exclusive preview of Taku's special head gear.

Photos here:

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index...=sc&cat=198

Despite years of Formula One, and competing at some of the most high profile races like the famed Monaco GP and of course his home race at Suzuka for the Japanese GP, Taku knows that maybe nothing has quite prepared him for the magnitude of the Indy 500.

"This month is going to be MEGA," he said from his temporary home in Indianapolis. "I went to bump day last year just to get a feel of how Indy might look, so I have a small idea, but of course race day is something else!"

"The most emotional and important races for me up till now have been in Suzuka in front of my great fans. It is always something special there, but the numbers of fans is nothing like the Indy 500.I cant really imagine what it will be like stepping out to the grid. It must be like being watched by the whole world!"

However, Taku hopes that he is not fazed by all the attention and that his experience will help him to cope with the pressure.

"You can imagine the pressure of being the only Japanese driver on the grid at the Japanese Grand Prix," he explained. "The massive expectation of a whole country is on you and you just have to get on with the job. So I think I can manage the Indy 500 nerves quite well. Anyway, we will soon see!"

Taku has now completed five races in the 2010 IZOD Indycar series with mixed results. Although always showing good speed, his races have not all gone as he would have liked. "

"It's been quite a tough start to the year with so much to learn and a whole new world to try to understand," he said. "Being a rookie in Indycar is not at all easy. The cars are quite difficult to drive fast, its needs a new driving style from me, and the field is very competitive but I am getting more comfortable every time I jump in the car, so we will see some good results soon I'm sure."

The last race at Kansas Speedway was something of a revelation not only for Taku but also for the watching Indycar experts. With no oval experience before in his career, Taku hit the ground running in the race, overtaking vastly more experienced rivals inside and out to move steadily up through the field. Drawing praise from the entire Indycar paddock, Taku made an immediate impression on oval racing and has now been tipped by many as a future oval star. Had he not been taken out late in the race, he looked on for a top five finish - an outstanding feat for a complete oval rookie! "

"That was fun," he exclaimed afterwards. "I have always loved high speed corners and it seems that oval racing might suit my style quite well!" This small but valuable experience bodes well for the Indy 500."

Since embarking on his rookie year in Indycars, Taku has had plenty of changes to contend with, not least leaving his young family temporarily alone back home in Monaco.

"That's tough," he says, "leaving the family. My kids are very young and of course I miss them so much, but thanks to technology we are able to talk to each other through the webcam, but to not actually see them for weeks and months is very tough.""

While researching where to settle in the US, Taku has been house guest at a friend's place in Indianapolis. "

"I'm very lucky that I have three groups of friends here in Indy," he says. "Two of them I met when we came here for F1 and the third used to run a Champ car team so he knows the game very well. It's great to have a ready-made social network here, it would be terrible if I was stuck in some hotel on my own! I have friends around already so we can relax and eat together and I can talk to people who understand racing and what I am going through as a rookie."

And eating is something that Taku loves to do. In fact his two main hobbies are cited as being cycling and food! "

"Yes I love it!" he says. "Steak houses, pork chops, actually everything will do as long as it's healthy and good quality. There plenty to choose from over here!"

Without any domestic distractions, Taku has been able to focus himself completely on integrating with his KV Racing Technology team and learning the all-important ropes of the Indycar world. "

"My engineer is great and a real thinker," he says. "He is doing a good job of helping me to get the best out of these cars. They need quite a different driving philosophy to F1 but I am learning every time I drive them."

With Taku's first oval race now behind him, how did he feel that his debut went?

"Well very interesting really," he says. "At first the speed needs time to get used to but when I did it was a lot of fun. You need to keep the momentum up otherwise you go backwards very quickly."

As well as respected team boss Jimmy Vasser on the pitwall, Taku had help at Kansas Speedway in the form of experienced Indycar countryman Roger Yasukawa.

"Roger was absolutely perfect as my spotter," Taku enthused. "Having Jimmy and Roger on the team helping me along made a big difference for me and gave a lot of confidence during the race. Roger is also spotting for me at the 500, so we are starting to build up a good level of trust and confidence in each other.

"Of course before I get on the Indy track, I will be trying it out on my iRacing simulator at home. Of course it will be different when I first jump in the car there but the iRacing will give me a good idea of the feel of the track and the momentum I will need in the real thing."

"Many people think that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a simple track, just four 90-degree left-hand turns. But at speeds up to 370 kph (230 mph) each turn is unique, with many subtle differences that make them completely different."

Even a small mistake at those speeds can prove very expensive, and with the iRacing.com Motorsports Simulation service Sato had the chance to become familiar with the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it's four challenging almost flat 90-degree sweeping corners before he ever slid into the cockpit of his real racecar.

"Like many of the other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, I use iRacing.com to get to know these tracks better, before I even get out on the actual track," Sato said. "I am very impressed with the realism of the iRacing.com online racing simulation. Plus it's a lot of fun at the same time!"

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of more than 40 race tracks in the U.S. and around the world that are represented in the iRacing.com internet-based motorsport simulation service. The service is inexpensive and intended to let motorsport fans and racing games enthusiasts from all around the world practice and, if they wish, compete against friends and other fans in organized races. The tracks and cars in the service are modeled so accurately that a professional racing driver can use them to learn a track he or she has never seen before.

iRacing.com uses survey-quality laser-scanning to capture data, so the finished track is accurate to with two millimeters. Every tiny bump or change in road camber is accurately represented in the virtual version of the track.

Other Indy 500 drivers who are iRacing.com members include Justin Wilson, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Vitor Miera, Dan Weldon, Tomas Scheckter, Danica Patrick, Mike Conway, Rafael Matos, A.J. Foyt IV and Sato's fellow IZOD IndyCar Series rookie Simona de Silvestro. Go to www.iracing.com/jp/ for the Japanese version of the site.

Before embarking on his first 500, Taku had to jet to Tokyo for the official Honda launch of the Indy Japan 300 to be held in September at Motegi. How did that event go for him?

"The Motegi race launch gave me a good idea of the level of media interest in Indycar in Japan," he commented. "It will be my first race in Japan since Suzuka 2007, so for everyone back home its a really big deal for me to be there. The level of support and enthusiasm I have from Japan is really great and I'm sure that Honda will make it a great event to be a part of, I can't wait."

"I also did some PR for Lotus cars and visited their main Tokyo showroom and everyone there is also very excited to be a part of this new Indycar project. It seems that Honda and Lotus brands fit very well together with no conflicts since they are in different parts of the car market, so working with them both is a really good situation for me."

Last weekend Taku qualified for the race after a difficult and challenging bump day, but that's another story.

He lines up 31st for the 500 mile race and cant wait to get started.

"So, now I am ready for the Indy 500 to start," he said. "I know it's going to be a really busy race weekend but Its going to be an amazing time and I look forward to seeing some of my fans who are making the trip over from Japan just to be there. I always appreciate my fans and hope I can give them and all my personal sponsors something great to cheer about."

KV Racing Technology driver Takuma Sato will drive the #5 Lotus–liveried Dallara-Honda alongside the Lotus 38 driven to seventh place by Bobby Johns in the 1965 Indianapolis 500, which will have KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser at the wheel for the two-car, two-lap demonstration.

Following the exhibition, the #5 Lotus - which Sato qualified 31st for the blue riband 2010 event - will be wheeled to the Pagoda Pavilion for a special photo with Jim Clark's 1963 Lotus, which the Scottish rookie placed second to Parnelli Jones.

Later still, Sato will unveil a special edition helmet he will wear during this year's Indy 500. The helmet, which will debut during the drivers' media availability time at the Brickyard Pavilion, features the beautiful Lotus logo and photos of the #5 2010 Lotus and the #82 1965 Jim Clark Indy-winning Lotus. The helmet will be auctioned off for charity.

This year's Indy 500 marks the return of Lotus to Indianapolis for the first time since 1969, when Art Pollard qualified twelfth. Ironically, Mario Andretti crashed his Lotus in practice and won the race in a year-old Hawk.

CONTACT:Tom Blattler, 317-525-5692, tblattler@kvracingtechnology.com

With temperatures in the 90s, the track conditions were the worst of the week and the final qualifications proved to be wild and eventful for the Indianapolis-based KVRT organisation.

Sato, however, took the #5 Lotus—KVRT Dallara-Honda to a four-lap average of 224.178mph, bumping his way into the 33-driver field. The personable Japanese racer was subjected to a wild final hour that saw several drivers miss the coveted starting line-up, including KVRT team-mate Paul Tracy.

The former F1 star, who recorded a podium finish in the USGP at Indianapolis, will start his first 500 from 31st position, having clinched his spot with just 17 minutes remaining in time trials.

"It has been amazing, especially after such a difficult day yesterday," Sato recounted, "The Lotus—KV Racing Technology team did an outstanding job, putting everything back into one piece.

"When I got back in the car this morning, everything felt comfortable. At lunch time, it was difficult because of the warmer temperatures, and we really didn't get up to speeds we had earlier. The last half hour was chaos to be honest, but we made it. The team did a great job, and I'm really proud of them."

There were two qualifying sessions, one on Saturday for places 1 to 24 which Taku missed after an accident in the practice session resulted in a short hospital visit and one on Sunday. Luckily Taku was declared fit to race and managed to compete in the second qualifying session for places 25 to 33. For the IndyCar novices out there, 33 cars qualify for the 500 mile event next Sunday (30th May).

The result means IndyCar rookie Taku will still get to hear the famous 'Gentlemen: start your engines' as he flies the flag for Lotus during the 94th running of what is described by many as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. And we're a realistic bunch here at Lotus, we know that starting 31st out of a grid of 33 is by no means the best position but our man is still in the running and if there's one thing Taku likes, it's a challenge so you may yet find him up on that winners podium celebrating with the traditional and slightly bizarre Indy 500 winners drink.

Starting positions 1-24 will be determined during tomorrow's "Pole Day" from 11am until 6pm local time (just one car on track, two warm-up laps, one timed lap, one in-lap – up to three attempts) while the remaining 33-car field will be set on Sunday's "Bump Day." Several teams had requested that the IRL reduce its Indy 500 qualifying schedule from two weekends to one as a cost-cutting measure.

Qualifying for the 2010 Indy 500 will feature a revised format. The first day of qualifying will conclude with the nine fastest drivers competing for the pole in a 90-minute "shootout."

When the second and final day of qualifying has ended, points will be awarded to all 33 drivers who earn a starting position in the Indy 500. The pole winner will collect 15 points, with the other front-row starters receiving 13 and 12 points, respectively. Drivers in the second and third rows will earn, in descending order, between 11 and six points. Positions 10-24 will receive four bonus points each, while 25-33 get three points apiece.

Front Row Bonus Money

* Pole: $175,000 ($100,000 PEAK Performance Pole Award, $75,000 Indianapolis Motor Speedway bonus)

* Second: $75,000

* Third: $50,000

Indy 500 Qualifying Q&A [source: www.indycar.com]

Q: What happens if weather washes out the Fast Nine shootout before every driver gets a chance to make at least one attempt?

A: The position in the top nine starting spots for those nine drivers will be determined by their fastest runs during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. segment.

Q: Can any drivers other than the Fast Nine make qualifying runs from 4:30-6 p.m. on Pole Day?

A: No.

Q: Must a driver in the Fast Nine withdraw their time from the mandatory attempt during the final segment if he or she chooses to make a second qualification attempt during that segment?

A: No.

Q: How will the qualifying draw for the Fast Nine segment be determined?

A: The driver with the fastest run during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. segment will choose their position in the qualifying line at 4:10 p.m., followed by the second-fastest and so on. The ninth-fastest driver will receive the final remaining slot in the line.

Q: Where does one of the Fast Nine drivers start if he or she can't complete a run in the completed shootout due to a crash or a mechanical problem?

A: All nine drivers who qualify for the Fast Nine shootout based on their best runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. are guaranteed a starting spot in the top nine. The shootout from 4:30-6 p.m. determines their position in the top nine. If they don't complete an attempt in the shootout, they will start ninth. If two drivers don't complete an attempt in the shootout due to a crash or mechanical failure, then they will start eighth and ninth, respectively, based on their best run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Q: What happens if a driver crashes in the Fast Nine, and that car is destroyed? If that driver is forced to a backup car for the rest of the event, will he or she start ninth or 33rd?

A: All drivers who qualify for the Fast Nine shootout are guaranteed a starting spot in the top nine on Race Day, even if they must change cars.

Q: What happens if a driver who qualifies in the top 24 on Pole Day is forced to a backup car for the race?

A: That driver maintains the starting spot for which he or she qualified on Pole Day.

Q: What happens if Pole Day is rained out?

A: One day of qualifying would take place from noon-6 p.m. Sunday, May 23, with all 33 positions up for grabs. Each car would get the traditional three attempts that day. The pole shootout for the Fast Nine would not take place.

Q: What happens if Bump Day is rained out?

A: Qualifying would resume on the next available day for positions 25-33. There would be one attempt per car, which has been the procedure for a Bump Day rainout.

Register and watch Takuma Sato qualifying live on www.indycar.com

Saturday 6am – 1pm UK time

Sunday 7am – 1pm UK time

Known within the sports industry as the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing' this weekend sees the 94th running of the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Speedway, better known as the Brickyard and the natural home of IndyCar racing. The event, broadcast into 292 million households, is so huge that it runs over two weekends starting this weekend (22nd -23rd May) with qualifying followed by an entire week of activities in the build up to the main event on Sunday 30th May.

So this weekend please spare a thought for Lotus driver, Takuma Sato, as he steels himself to conquer one of the all time great iconic motorsport events for the very first time. And as if this pressure alone weren't enough, he has legendary Lotus driver Jim Clark's success to live up to – the Scottish driver enjoyed the traditional celebratory bottle of moo-juice when he won the race back in 1965 in the Lotus 38.

Still need some convincing about the awesomeness that is the Indy 500? Well if milk's not your thing then maybe hot dogs or rather Indy Dogs are – if the amount of Indy Dogs consumed at the event last year were laid end to (slightly sticky) end they would lap the 2.5 mile IMS oval track more than two times – now that's a whole lot of hot dog! Let's hope the track is clear by the time Taku gets out there.

Photos can be found here:

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/index...=sc&cat=198

With temperatures in the 90s, the track conditions were the worst of the week and the final qualifications proved to be wild and eventful for the Indy-based racing organization.

Rookie Takuma Sato, in the No. 5 Lotus — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry, returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday morning after a hard practice on Saturday. Sato, a podium finish at Indy in the U.S. Grand Prix, will start his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race after qualifying in the 31st position with just 17 minutes remaining in time trials Sunday.

Sato, who recorded a 225 mile per hour lap in practice, recorded a four-lap average of 224.178 m.p.h. to bump his way into the 33-driver field. The personable Japanese racer was subjected to the wild "final hour" on Bump Day that saw several drivers miss the coveted starting lineup including his KV Racing Technology teammate Paul Tracy.

Tracy, who ran a blistering 226 m.p.h. lap in colder conditions Thursday afternoon, qualified earlier in the day with a 223.892 m.p.h. and looked solidly in the field before the final hour of action. The Canadian star took his final run with six minutes remaining in the day but could only manage two 223 m.p.h. laps before pulling back in the qualifying line. Unfortunately, Tracy didn't get a chance for a final run when the gun went off to end the qualifying session.

An emotional Tracy talked with media following qualifications and thanked his GEICO crew and sponsors for their great effort during the week. The Las Vegas resident stood patiently and answered questions about missing the biggest race in the world.

During the middle of the day, Mario Moraes and E.J. Viso, who both qualified for the field Saturday, worked on race setup with their respectively machines. Moraes turned a 224.304 m.p.h. best lap with 35 laps in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, while Viso, in the No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, drove 43 laps Sunday with a top speed of 221.769 m.p.h.

DRIVER QUOTES:

TAKUMA SATO -- #5 LOTUS — KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It has been amazing, especially after such a difficult day yesterday. The Lotus — KV Racing Technology team did an outstanding job, putting everything back into one piece. When I got back in the car this morning, everything felt comfortable. At lunch time, it was difficult because of the warmer temperatures, and we really didn't get up to speeds we had earlier. The last half hour was chaos to be honest but we made it. The team did a great job, and I'm really proud of them."

PAUL TRACY – #15 GEICO – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "The decision to withdraw our time and re-qualify was a team decision. We win as a team and lose as a team. I just feel bad for the whole team. They worked so hard and I feel bad for my sponsors, GEICO, Monster and everyone. It is heartbreaking. The frustrating part is that was quick in the cold temperatures. I was second fastest on Thursday with a 226 and ran 225 this morning. But when it heated up, we just lost the handling and could never get the speed back. It wasn't for a lack of trying. The team tried everything. We just could not get the balance on my car when we really needed it."

MARIO MORAES -- #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We were able to run some pretty good laps in the heat today. The car felt comfortable in traffic. I worked with my engineer Iain (Watt) and I want to thank the crew again for getting everything together after our crash yesterday (Saturday) in the first qualifying attempt. We were able to get the car ready for a late run and it was good. I look forward to competing in this year's Indianapolis 500."

E.J. VISO -- #8 PDVSA – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It was a hot day today. I feel badly for Paul (Tracy) and the GEICO team. They had the speed all week to qualifying for this race. But it shows how hard things can be when the temperature gets hot. We ran a good number of laps today in race trim and the conditions were pretty tricky. I am glad I was able to qualify on Saturday. It was very difficult out there today. We learned about our race car today and I feel good going into the race next Sunday."

Two KVRT drivers banged the outside wall during practice and qualifying runs for the May 30 Indianapolis 500, and two drivers made the Top 24-driver first day lineup with some late day drama.

Mario Moraes, at the wheel of the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, experienced a roller coaster ride in his two qualifying runs on the legendary 2.5-mile oval. In his first qualifying attempt, Moraes had recorded three solid 224-mile per hour laps but spinning his car into the turn two wall on the final lap o qualifications.

Moraes' KVRT crew, led by Greg Senerius, replaced the broken parts on the rear of the car in under 45 minutes and had the car back in action 20 minutes later. After a three-lap practice run, Moraes' car was pushed back in the qualifying line for one last chance dash. The 21-year-old Brazilian star didn't disappoint with a superb four-lap qualifying run at 224.888 m.p.h. as the final gun went off to end the qualifying session. Moraes will start 13th in the 33-driver field on May 30.

E.J. Viso, who crashed in turn one Tuesday in practice, clocked an impressive 224.380 four-lap average in the backup No. 8T PDVSA — KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine in the hot afternoon weather conditions. Viso, the popular Venezuela driver, qualified 19th Saturday.

Earlier in the day, rookie Takuma Sato, who had recorded a 225 m.p.h. lap during the week, suffered a hard hit against the turn two wall in the Saturday morning's warm-up session in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car. Sato climbed his mount and was transported to Methodist Hospital for precautionary X-Rays. Sato left the hospital in the afternoon and will examined on Sunday's morning by IZOD IndyCar Series officials for clearance to qualify his car. Sato's beautiful green and yellow Lotus car is being rebuilt in the KVRT garage area at the Speedway.

Paul Tracy, the personable Canadian star, didn't enjoy the qualifying rounds of Moraes and Viso on Saturday with the No. 15 GEICO—KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry. Tracy had a problem with his car in the morning qualifying run and had to wait until the afternoon to make his attempt. Tracy recorded a 238.856 four-lap average before being bump out of the 24-driver first day lineup. Tracy will try to make the 33-driver starting field on Sunday.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES -- #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "After the crash on the last lap in the first qualifying attempt, our KV Racing crew did an amazing job to get my car back onto the track in about an hour. My car was sliding around too much in the first attempt. We lost some downforce for that attempt. But the team came back and gave me a good car for the last attempt. The car was outstanding for that run and I feel good about our race setup too. I qualified a little better (7th) last year, but I feel our 13th spot is a good position for a 500-mile race."

E.J. VISO -- #8 PDVSA – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It was a pretty eventful week for me and our PDVSA -- KV Racing Technology team. I had a problem in my first qualifying attempt, so I brought the car back into the pits. The second attempt felt good, especially in turns two, three and four. But turn one gave me a problem. I almost had a big moment on my third lap there. So I decided to take it easier on the final lap and get a solid speed."

PAUL TRACY – #15 GEICO – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "I really don't know what to say. Somehow we lost our way today. We were quick the other day, but, for some reason, the GEICO car doesn't have the speed in qualifying trim. It is frustrating for the whole GEICO – KV Racing team. We will be ready to go on Sunday."

TAKUMA SATO -- #5 LOTUS — KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Such a shame that we had the problem today in practice. We were making good progress and experimenting with some set up changes before qualifying, but unfortunately one of the changes was a bit too extreme. I would like to thank my team for working so hard to repair the car and look forward to being fit enough to drive tomorrow morning."

On one side, the Indy-based squad worked on qualifying setups with time trials set for Saturday, May 22, beginning at 11 a.m. On the other side, the team continued his race trim procedures with just three days left on the track before the world's biggest auto race, the Indianapolis 500, on Sunday, May 30.

The four KV Racing Technology drivers — Mario Moraes, Paul Tracy, Takuma Sato and E.J. Viso — were not as busy as the previous day but the quartet recorded some impressive lap speeds. Moraes, in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, clocked the fifth fastest speed of the day at 225.805 miles per hour in just 13 laps. Helio Castroneves paced the Friday action at 226.558 m.p.h.

Tracy, who was second fastest on Thursday, got his No. 15 GEICO—KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry next to wall and brushed the outside barrier in turn two Friday. The GEICO car had very little damage but the team wanted to check over the suspension. Tracy didn't make a return run on Friday afternoon. The Canadian star's best speed was 224.783 m.p.h.

Rookie Takuma Sato was impressive Friday in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car with a best speed of 224.429 m.p.h. The Japanese driver, who placed third in the 2004 USGP here at Indy, will make his first attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 Saturday, and Sato has a great shot at being the fastest rookie in the 33-driver field.

E.J. Viso, in the backup No. 8T PDVSA — KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, posted the most laps for a KVRT driver Friday with 51 circuits and a best speed of 223.363 m.p.h. Viso, still a little sore from Tuesday's hard turn one crash, boosted his speed throughout the day in the No. 8T as he seeks to make his third Indy 500 start on May 30 at the famed 2.5-mile oval.

Saturday's first round of qualifications will begin at 11 a.m. The Top Nine qualifiers will hold a shootout at 4:30 p.m. EDT for the $175,000 Indy 500 pole position.

Versus will telecast the qualifying runs on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Today was a good day for the KV Racing Technology team. We ran some qualifying setups and the car felt pretty good. We still have some setups to try tomorrow but I think we have a good car for qualifying. I hope we can be in the top-nine tomorrow."

PAUL TRACY, #15 GEICO - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had an okay day. We trimmed out for the first time today and we had the car a little too loose. The car was a little bit of a handful. We didn't get as much running as we would like today. I had a bit of a moment when the car got oversteer and I chased the car up the track. So I ended up brushing the wall. We checked over the car and had to go through the tech line again for Saturday's qualifying runs. We didn't get a chance to go back because the tech line was long. In the morning, we'll go hard at it in qualifying trim."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Today the Lotus – KV Racing Technology team concentrated on the qualifying setup. We didn't do a lot of running but we completed the program we wanted to do. The weather once again was cooler than expected, which is a reason why we finished earlier. But I feel comfortable with the car and am looking forward to my first Indy 500 qualifying tomorrow."

E.J. VISO,#8 PDVSA-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "The PDVSA – KV Racing Technology team were playing catch up today after a couple of days behind from my accident but it's a good feeling to know that things are getting back to normal. Today we started trimming the car. We still need to change a few things to reach the speeds we need, but I think we made some good progress with my 'T' (backup) car. Tomorrow we will be in a much better position to finish our work on our qualifying setup."

The "Team Oh Canada" promotion includes prominent Honda Indy Edmonton logo placement on Alex Tagliani's #77 FAZZT team car, and on Paul Tracy's #15 GEICO KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry at the Indianapolis 500, which takes place on Sunday, May 30th.

In addition to the Indy 500, Alex Tagliani's relationship includes distinct Honda Indy Edmonton logo placement on his team's car for the IZOD IndyCar Series' races in Fort Worth, Texas, Watkins Glen, New York, Toronto and Edmonton.

Along with the logo branding of Paul's and Alex's cars, the Honda Indy Edmonton will carry out promotional opportunities with "Team Oh Canada" in other markets, including event promotions at the Indy 500, all of which will be designed to drive tourism and generate ticket sales.

"Northlands and the Honda Indy Edmonton are absolutely delighted to partner with Canada's two best IndyCar Series' drivers," said Northlands President Ken Knowles. "Our promotional support for Alex and Paul provides us with an incredible opportunity to place our event, and the City of Edmonton, in the international spotlight while reaching a huge international audience.

"And, it provides Canadian race fans from coast to coast with the opportunity to cheer on Team Oh Canada, as both Paul and Alex compete for the checkered flag at upcoming IndyCar Series races," Knowles emphasized.

The partnership is a natural fit for the FAZZT Race Team, which is the only full season entry in the IZOD IndyCar Series with a Canadian driver. Tagliani, a native of Lachenaie, Quebec, recently attended a media day in Edmonton in support of this summer's race and was enthused about Team Oh Canada and the support from Honda Indy Edmonton.

"The Honda Indy Edmonton is a great event and we always have such a huge amount of support from the fans and the city," said Tagliani. "I feel honoured to be carrying the Honda Indy Edmonton decals and to be representing Team Oh Canada, it makes me proud to be a Canadian."

"It's exciting to have the Honda Indy Edmonton logo on my GEICO – KV Racing Technology Honda car for the world's biggest auto race, the Indianapolis 500," said Tracy, the 2003 ChampCar World Series champion. "The Honda Indy Edmonton event is one of the biggest auto races in all of Canada. Being Canadian, I'm proud to have the event as a sponsor for my entry at Indy. I've enjoyed competing at Edmonton over the years. The fans are very enthusiastic and treat me very well. Thank you very much."

The promotional relationship between the Honda Indy Edmonton and the two race teams was made possible with the support of the Government of Canada's Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP). The MTEP program funds programs that will contribute to the long-term growth and viability of Canada's visitor economy by attracting more tourists from within and outside Canada. This funding support from the Government of Canada for the Honda Indy Edmonton will assist in building a world-class event that will continue to profile Edmonton and Canada to the world, while contributing significant economic impact to the city.

About the Honda Indy Edmonton: The Honda Indy Edmonton is the 11th round in the 17 race IZOD IndyCar Series. Auto Racing fans across North America get to see the best in open-wheel racing in Edmonton when the Honda Indy Edmonton takes to the track July 23-25. Ticket packages are on sale now and are available online at HYPERLINK "http://www.edmontonindy.com" www.edmontonindy.com or at HYPERLINK "http://www.ticketmaster.ca" www.ticketmaster.ca

About Northlands: Northlands attracts and produces the biggest and best

live entertainment and events Edmonton has ever seen. In fact, it's what we do best.

Nobody treats Edmonton to bigger sporting events, world-class entertainment and more spectacular celebrations. Our more than 2,500 events attract more than four million visitors to Edmonton every year while generating $1 billion in economic activity in Alberta. We reinvest our earnings back into the community and work hard to deliver the

best in world-class entertainment that our guests have come to expect from us.

We take great pride helping build our city and making Edmonton a great place to

live and play. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.northlands.com" www.northlands.com to find out more.

About FAZZT Race Team: The FAZZT Race Team was formed in July 2009 as a partnership between Andre Azzi of the Azzi Race Division, ATG, and Jim Freudenberg and Jason Priestley of the Rubicon Sports Agency. The team fields a full-time HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IndyCar_Series" \o "IndyCar Series"IndyCar Series team that made its debut at the season opening event in Sao Paulo. The team has four Dallara chassis and has signed Canadian driver HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Tagliani" \o "Alex Tagliani"Alex Tagliani to drive the #77 entry. Andre Azzi, a Montreal based entrepreneur, is the teams' Chief Executive Officer and motorsports veteran Jim Freudenberg is the teams' Chief Operating Officer. The team is housed in a 25,000 ft. race shop on the north side of Indianapolis with a second facility that will house their Research and Design division in Montreal. For more information, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.FAZZTRaceTeam.com" www.FAZZTRaceTeam.com.

About KV Racing Technology: Paul Tracy's Indy entry, #15 GEICO – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, will be the fourth for KV Racing Technology in this year's Indianapolis 500. Tracy will join team rookie Takuma Sato in the #5 Lotus - KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, E.J. Viso in the #8 PSVDA – KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car and Mario Moraes in #32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine. Tracy, a fan favorite for nearly 20 years, has competed in six Indy 500 races including the second place finish to Helio Castroneves in the controversial 2002 event. Last year, Tracy drove the #15 GEICO – KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry to ninth. Tracy has competed in 270 open-wheel events during his career and has established himself as one of the top drivers in open-wheel racing. The resident of Las Vegas, Nevada is among the top 10 in almost every open-wheel career statistical category including wins: 31 (seventh all-time), poles: 25 (ninth all-time), and laps led: 4,231 (seventh all-time).

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: ""I want to thank the PDVSA – KV Racing Technology team for working so hard to get my backup car ready for today. After having such a big shunt a couple of days ago and having a day off to recover, I'm still not a 100% but was able to put a few runs together. Unfortunately it wasn't as many as we would have liked. We decided to have a very conservative downforce level so I could get comfortable again and every time we tried to trim the rain would come! I am looking forward to qualifying, every little detail is worth a lot so hopefully tomorrow we can run more laps and improve the car for Saturday."

Moraes, Sato Post 224 MPH Laps As Team Limits Runs

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 19, 2010) — The KV Racing Technology organization was happy to see E.J. Viso back at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wednesday during practice runs.

The 25-year-old Venezuela driver was cleared by the IMS/IZOD IndyCar Series medical team Wednesday after Viso spun and hit the outside turn one wall Tuesday afternoon . Viso was released from Methodist Hospital late Tuesday evening and greeted the media and fans in the KVRT garage area Wednesday.

Viso is expected to be in his backup No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine on Thursday.

Due to the cooler conditions, KVRT limited its on-track action Wednesday with Mario Moraes leading the team with 44 laps and best speed of 224.740 miles per hour. Moraes, in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, recorded the tenth fastest speed of the day.

IZOD IndyCar Series rookie Takuma Sato, a third place finisher in Formula One race at Indy in 2004, posted his fastest speed of the week in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car at 224.255 m.p.h. Sato, preparing for his second oval race, turned in 25 laps Wednesday.

Veteran Paul Tracy drove only seven laps in the No. 15 GEICO — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry, as his team decided to save its Firestone tires for warmer conditions on Thursday and Friday.

Practice is scheduled Thursday, May 20, from noon to 6 p.m.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We continued the work on our setups. My engineer Iain (Watt) has been very good with me on working through the team's program here at Indy. We have worked on race trim and I ran with Dario (Franchitti) this afternoon to get an idea of the conditions. It's still very cold weather right now. We believe the temperatures are going to get hotter. So we didn't run very much."

PAUL TRACY, #15 GEICO - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had planned to run quite a bit today, but the cool conditions were not what we were expecting. The overcast skies did not heat up the track for race conditions. So we decided to save our tires and get ready for Thursday. Actually, I was able to wax my '64 Lincoln Continental that I brought from Las Vegas. I hope to get in many laps Thursday with the GEICO car."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It was another productive day for the Lotus-KV Racing Technology team. It's a step by step process. The changes we made did make a positive change to the car, so we are moving in the right direction. Unfortunately the weather and temperature didn't improve as much as we had hoped. Tomorrow it is looking much better so I am looking forward to a busy day on track."

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "I want to thank the Indianapolis Motor Speedway safety team and medical staff for the fantastic job they did getting me out of the car and providing the initial diagnosis and treatment. The safety and medical personnel at IMS and in the IZOD IndyCar Series are the best in the business. I also want to thank the staff and doctors at Methodist Hospital and Dr. Trammell for providing me with such outstanding care. They were extremely thorough and keep me informed of everything that was happening which made the whole process a lot easier. To everyone at KV Racing Technology, thank you for your support and concern, and to the drivers that stopped by, Davey Hamilton, Rafa Matos and Dan Wheldon, I want you to know that I very much appreciated you taking the time to come and see me."

VISO STRIKES THE WALL IN PRACTICE

Tracy Looks Strong in His GEICO Car During Tuesday's Practice

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 18, 2010) — It was an up and down day for KV Racing Technology at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Tuesday practice runs.

Young Brazilian star Mario Moraes continued his blistering pace in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, posting the second fastest speed of the day at 225.913 miles per hour. Only 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon was faster Tuesday at 226.549 m.p.h. Moraes later spun his machine exiting the pits and slid against the inside barrier. The 21-year-old was able to drive his mount back to the pits.

At 5:50 p.m., KVRT driver E.J. Viso lost control of his No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine and hit the wall in turn one. The rear portion of the car struck the safer barrier hard. Viso was awake and alert as he was removed from his car. The Venezuela driver was later transported to Methodist Hospital in downtown Indianapolis for further evaluation. Viso earlier recorded a speed of 222.611 m.p.h.

Paul Tracy was impressive his No. 15 GEICO — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry Tuesday with a best speed of 224.020 m.p.h. Tracy, the 2002 Indy 500 second place finisher, continued to work through the team's race setup program. The Canadian star was happy with the progress made by his GEICO—KVRT team..

Takuma Sato, driving the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, improved his speed to 222.679 m.p.h.

Practice continues on Wednesday, May 19, beginning at noon for a six-hour session.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We worked on our race setup today and it went very well. We didn't get to run the whole program today. I spun in turn one coming out of the pits. And I drove the car back to pit lane. The car wasn't hurt badly. On Wednesday, we are going to begin working on our qualifying settings a little more. I am pleased how today went as the car felt quite good. I think our No. 32 team is doing a great job."

PAUL TRACY, #15 GEICO - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had a pretty good day for the GEICO KVRT car. We stuck to our plan of working on race setup. We were able to evaluate some changes as we steadily get the car working better and better. It was getting a lot cooler in the afternoon, so decided not to go back out and burn up a set of tires. The weather is scheduled to be much warmer on Wednesday. We are going to continue our progress with the race setup on Wednesday. It is difficult to feel the changes in the car when it is cold. We will be able to make more adjustments with the hotter conditions. So we are sticking to our plan of making the best race car we can."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: ""It was good the weather finally improved and the Lotus – KV Racing Technology team were able to get out and go testing. We were able to try a number of different things which was good for me as I got a better understanding of how the car reacts when things change. I was also able to experience driving in traffic which felt like a completely new world to me. Overall I had a good day, we made steady progress which is important and I feel comfortable with the car."

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 17, 2010) — While the constant rain showers put a damper on activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday, the KV Racing Technology drivers — Paul Tracy, E.J. Viso, Mario Moraes and Takuma Sato — were extremely busy.

No cars made it on the track Monday, but the garage remained a beehive of action.

After conferring with their respective engineers regarding car settings for Tuesday's on-track practice, the four KVRT drivers handled a variety of media inquiries including television, radio, newspaper, magazine and internet media outlets.

Tracy, whose serious workout regime has seen the Canadian star lose 35 pounds in the past three months, hit the gym in the morning and answered a barrage of questions from the media about his return to the Indy 500 and his reunion with his former team owner Barry Green. Green will serve as Tracy's race strategist on the No. 15 GEICO — KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car for the May 30 race.

Viso, Moraes and Sato continued to work with their teams in preparation for this week's on-track events including running their machines with qualifying and race trim settings.

Jimmy Vasser, co-owner of KV Racing Technology, participated in several team meetings today as well as taking media questions. Vasser, an eight-time Indy 500 starter, is a veteran of the Indy rain days. Jimmy talked with his drivers throughout the day about preparing for the next day's events.

Practice continues on Tuesday, May 18, with all drivers set to run from noon to 6 p.m.

JIMMY VASSER, CO-OWNER FOR KV RACING TECHONOLOGY: "It's difficult for a team and the drivers particularly to sit around and wait for the rain to stop. Our team was able to catch up on some equipment preparations in the garage area. But the drivers have to keep busy if they can't get on the track. Some of the drivers work with their engineers, others go to the gym and work out or they meet with the media and talk about their plans. Unfortunately, we can't make up the time lost due to the rain. We lost a day of on-track running. But it is the same for everyone. A rain day can actually help you a little by saving your tires and your engine time. We'll go over our plans now and rework some things for the next few days on track. As a driver, I remember being very anxious to get back on the track as you watch it rain. With the shortened schedule, our team will work on getting prepared for both qualifying and race setups. With four cars and drivers, we'll have a good situation. Paul might work on the race trim while Mario and E.J. develop the qualifying trim. For Takuma, we just want him to get comfortable here at Indy in his rookie event."

"My excitement is as high as it's ever been," the former Formula One driver said Saturday morning. "The truth is, I probably won't understand it all until later because I haven't experienced it."From what I've heard, you go through these two weeks, go through qualifying, get to race and then you will get another level of excitement, which I can only imagine."

This is his first Indianapolis 500, his first month of May. Abbreviated as the new schedule is, it's all new for Sato.

Driving for Jimmy Vasser and KV Racing Technology, the Tokyo native finished the rookie orientation program Sunday without incident.

Over the course of the 10-minute conversation, Sato dropped some form of the word "excitement" 17 times.

"He's genuine that way," Vasser said. "A place like this that's world renowned and famous -- I remember my first laps here. It gives you goose bumps."

Sato, 33, became enamored with auto racing at an early age, but nearly a decade passed before he had a chance to try the sport. Once he got the chance, he went from racing bicycles to Formula One in less than seven years.

Family friends took him to an F-1 race in Suzuka, Japan, when he was 10, the first time he saw a live motor sports event.

"It just shocked and really got me immediately, like this," Sato said, snapping his fingers.

He remained car crazy, even though his father, a lawyer, and mother, a stage actress, didn't quite get their son's passion.

"My parents had absolutely no idea about racing," he said, laughing.

For nearly a decade, Sato followed racing, read about racing and watched racing. He did everything but race.

One day he was sitting in a university class and noticed an advertisement in a racing magazine for the Suzuka Racing School. He noticed one of the requirements: Applicants had to be less than 20 years old. He was 19.

"To me, this was my first chance and last chance to do anything, so I decided I wanted to try it," Sato said. "I got into racing school, and I was very happy."

He was good, too.

He was selected as the best driver from his class at Suzuka, winning a scholarship. He soon went to Europe, winning the British F-3 title in 2001.

He reached F-1 in 2002 and remained there until Super Aguri dissolved because of financial difficulties in 2008. His best F-1 result was a third-place finish in 2004 at Indianapolis.

"He's very fast. He's brave. He's got a good history in Formula One and he was looking to come to IndyCar," Vasser said. "We talked to him when he came to see his first IndyCar race last year, had an open conversation and kept talking.

"He has a great relationship with Honda as well as I did when I won my championship (in 1996 in CART). We have some mutual friends in the company and here we are."

Sato has yet to finish in the top 10 in an IndyCar race, but he was running in the top five on the oval in Kansas before being taken out in a wreck that wasn't his fault.

"Eventually we expect to win and run up front," Vasser said. "He's shown the speed on the road courses, and he was amazing at Kansas. That's more of a speedway than a superspeedway, but we have a full week to get him up to speed, and I suspect he'll be on the pace right away."

Rain limited his first experience on the IMS oval to 15 laps. He was busier Sunday with 62.

"I wasn't really driving that fast, but I got the feeling of it," he said after his first time. Then the big grin returned and he added, "and I kind of like it."

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100517/S...+T+fqKIpwMfU%3D

IN SUNDAY'S INDY 500 PRACTICE RUNS

Takuma Sato Completes His Rookie Test, Prepares for His Indy 500 Debut

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 16, 2010) — The KV Racing Technology engineering staff continued to work through its proposed practice program Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the second day of practice for this year's Indy 500.

Young Mario Moraes, 21, paced the KV Racing Technology drivers with the sixth fastest speed of the day at 225.043 miles per hour in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car. Moraes recorded just 21 laps Sunday due to intermittent rain showers in the afternoon on the legendary 2.5-mile oval.

Takuma Sato, the F-1 veteran attempting to qualify for his first Indy 500, completed his rookie test Sunday in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine with a speed better that 220 m.p.h. Sato returned for the afternoon portion of practice to clock a best of 220.063 m.p.h. in just 14 lap

Personable E.J. Viso continued his work Sunday when he drove the No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car to a best of 222.278 m.p.h. in 24 laps. Viso was ready to improve on his speed Sunday afternoon when a steady rain halted on-track activities with 30 minutes remaining in the Sunday practice session.

Veteran Paul Tracy completed the most laps of any KVRT driver Sunday with 34 circuits in the No. 15 GEICO — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry. Tracy, the Indy 500 runner-up in 2002, worked exclusively on race setups. Tracy, entered in his seventh Indy 500, plans to continue his "race trim" mode for another day before switching to a qualifying setting at mid-week.

Practice continues on Monday, May 17, with all drivers set to run from noon to 6 p.m.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Our day was just fine. We are right where we want to be with our settings. We are just getting up to speed for the second day. Our team is working on a variety of things with each of the drivers. We'll continue to work on our program that was laid out for us before we came to the track this month."

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA – KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had another smooth second day. Of course, the weather played with us a little today. We were able to go through all of the changes we wanted for the day. We are still very conservative on our downforce levels. It's too early to pull all of the downforce off the car. Right now, the puzzle pieces are coming together for us."

PAUL TRACY, #15 GEICO - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We took a methodical approach with our GEICO-KV Racing car. We ran race setup all today. Our KV Racing team wanted me to get close with other cars for a feeling in race trim. This team is really working well together as Mario [Moraes] and E.J. [Viso] were working more on the qualifying setup. We got Takuma (Sato) through his rookie test, so he can get into the race mode now. We have cars spread across the grid for setups."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "For the second day we had difficult weather conditions. We also had a slight technical issue in the morning that caused a delay getting on track. However, I finished rookie orientation, and I got a feel for the track and the level of downforce. That was a very important step and, from that point of view, it was a productive day."

The two-hour veteran practice that preceded the time set aside for newcomers to the famous circuit was shortened by a rain shower, and similar conditions truncated Sato's efforts to work through the four-phase programme. The Japanese ace completed 20 laps with a best speed of 210.997mph as he completed the first two phases before the return of the rain shortened his test and forced him to finish his programme on Sunday.

"It was good to learn the track and get a feel for it and the car, as the track here at Indianapolis has very different characteristics," Taku admitted, "Unfortunately, we had to stop rookie orientation due to the rain. That was a shame, but hopefully we can finish the rest of the rookie orientation on Sunday."

RAIN-SHORTENED INDY 500 PRACTICE SATURDAY

Sato Anxious To Complete Rookie Orientation

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 15, 2010) — Mario Moraes led the KV Racing Technology drivers Saturday in the opening day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, set for Sunday, May 30 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Moraes, the 21-year-old Brazilian, completed just ten laps Saturday in the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine with a best speed of 223.93 miles per hour, while E.J. Viso drove the No. 8 PDVSA — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car to a 222.66 m.p.h clocking with popular Paul Tracy at 219.51 m.p.h. in the No. 15 GEICO — KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry.

Moraes, who qualified seventh in last year's Indy 500, is coming off a seventh place two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway.

The two-hour veteran practice was shortened by a rain shower Saturday with Helio Castroneves the fastest at 226.60 m.p.h.

Viso, who'll attempt to qualify in his third Indy 500 this Saturday, completed just 13 laps in practice before a rain shower shortened his on-track activity. The personable Venezuelan driver was extremely fast at Kansas, running as high as fifth before retiring early on lap 72.

Tracy returned to Indy after last year's ninth place finish in the GEICO machine and ran just seven circuits on Saturday. A small mechanical difficulty kept the Canadian racer off the 2.5-mile for the rest of the day.

Takuma Sato, a Formula One veteran who placed third in the 2004 USGP at Indy, made his debut on the Brickyard oval Saturday in "Rookie Orientation" in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car. Sato completed 20 laps with a best speed of 210.997 as he worked through his rookie program. Rain shortened his rookie test and he'll finish the program on Sunday.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It was an easy day for us. We just ran ten laps for a shakedown on the No. 32 KV Racing Technology car. We didn't want to run much today. We had planned to get ready for Sunday. The car felt good."

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA – KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It felt very natural for me today after being away for a year. I was very comfortable with the car. We didn't run much today, but it is a good way to start the month. Now we can go step-by-step with our setup and improve throughout the week. After the Kansas race, I feel very confident about our car."

PAUL TRACY, #15 GEICO - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We didn't get a lot of laps in the GEICO car today. We just shook the car down and the balance was real good. We a small mechanical problem that we'll fix for Sunday. Nothing to worry for us right now. I feel good about coming back to Indy and put in a strong effort."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It was good to learn the track and get a feel for it and the car. The track here at Indianapolis has very different characteristics. Unfortunately, we had to stop rookie orientation due to the rain. That was a shame. But hopefully we can finish the rest of the rookie orientation on Sunday."