Kv Racing Technology Trio Ready For Strong Showings Again

[Mark H]

It has been over two months since the IZOD IndyCar Series has raced at an oval track, but the three KV Racing Technology drivers — Mario Moraes, E.J. Viso and Takuma Sato — believe they can race with the leaders at the drop of the green flag in Saturday night’s Chicagoland Speedway 300-mile event.

The Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil 300 is annually a spectacular wheel-to-wheel battle that is determined by inches at the checkered flag.

Last year, Moraes, the 21-year-old Brazilian, scored his first podium finish with a sensational third place finish and the young star returns with an opportunity to improve on is 2009 run. Driving the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, Moraes is expected to be right in the thick of things this weekend. Mario lost to Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon by half a car length in last year’s classic finish.

Viso, the driver of the No. 8 PDVSA—KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry, returns to oval competition following his career-best third place in the series’ last oval action at Iowa Speedway in June. The 25-year-old Venezuelan driver drove from his 19th starting position to challenge for the lead late in the race and trailed only Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves at the finish. Now, Viso comes back to the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet and the personable driver could be a factor in Saturday’s action. He has charged into the top-five at other 1.5-mile ovals at Kansas and Texas earlier this year.

Sato, the Formula One veteran, has made the biggest impression as a rookie on the ovals in 2010. In races at Kansas, Indianapolis and Iowa, the Japanese star has developed his oval skill quickly and has run in the top-five in each of those events. In fact, Sato, at the controls of the beautiful No. 5 Lotus—KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car, drove into the third position in the first two-thirds of the race and battled for the lead.

Sato now looks to regain that oval speed at one of the fastest tracks in the IZOD IndyCar Series when practice begins Friday morning. Working with past open-wheel champion and team co-owner Jimmy Vasser, Sato is in an excellent learning curve for his debut at Chicagoland Speedway. Veteran racer Roger Yasukawa also serves as Sato’s spotter.

DRIVER QUOTES:

MARIO MORAES, #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE:

"It is great to be back on the ovals and of course at Chicago. Last year we had a great race there. I got my first IndyCar podium, third, having qualified eighth. So I am definitely excited to be coming back. I also enjoy the night races, as it is something different and it is great for the fans. KV Racing Technology has given me a fast car on ovals so I am hoping for another good result this year at Chicagoland."

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “Time has passed so quickly and it is hard to believe that we now are going to the final four oval rounds for 2010 season. Racing on ovals was something totally new for me in this my first year in the IndyCar Series, but I enjoyed them and, after experiencing a variety of four ovals in the first half of the season, I now have a much better understanding. I am really looking forward to being back on an oval this weekend and my first visit to Chicagoland Speedway.”

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA - KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "I am pleased to be going back to oval racing. Our last oval race (Iowa) we had a podium finish so this is a good position to be going into for the next race. Overall, the team has performed well on ovals and I have no doubt that we will have a fast car at Chicago. It’s a night race, so it's more colorful and you are able to see a lot of sparks which is a great spectacle for the fans and also the drivers. I am excited to get back on track on Friday and hopefully have a good weekend."

 

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