HVM Racing Meijer Indy 300 Race Report:
Venue: Kentucky Speedway, 1.5-mile oval, Sparta, Kentucky
Starting Position: 21
Finishing Position: 13
Notes:
HVM Racing was able to use a combination of pit strategy and overtaking by driver E.J. Viso to advance eight positions by the end of the Indy Meijer 300 Saturday night at the Kentucky Speedway and finish in the 13th position.
The No. 33 PDVSA HVM Racing Honda Dallara started 21st on the grid, but by lap 30 had already moved into 12th. The crew called Viso into the pits 20 laps later for their first pit stop for fuel and tires under green flag conditions. The team remained in the top-15, but lost a lap to the leaders before a second caution slowed the field on lap 80. Having enough fuel for another 20 or 30 laps, in an attempt to get back on the lead lap Viso did not come down pit road, but hoped for another quick caution which would have put the team in the leaders group. The team wasn’t so fortunate and they were forced to pit under green on lap 104 running 14th.
A yellow on lap 133 opened the opportunity for PDVSA HVM Racing to use the slow laps to conserve fuel. It also allowed them to pit only one more time. Viso came down pit road on lap 162 for his final stop. Viso picked up three positions in the final 50 laps to finish 13th.
|
“It was possible to have a better finish, but we had to use the best strategy possible. We lost a lap under green and that dictated when the best time to pit the rest of the race. A quick yellow once we got back on the lead lap would have helped, but that didn’t happen.
“After that, we had to pit when it made the most sense. It put us behind the leaders, but we moved up and had the best possible finish under the circumstances.”
“We used a lot of teamwork today to get this finish. Our pace was consistent throughout the race, but the timing of the yellows didn’t help.
“Starting where we did, I know we made a lot of progress. Again, this was another day to learn and it will help when we go to Chicago. I’m really excited about the next race at Infineon and being back on a road course.”
|
|
|
|
Contact:
Jeff Dennison; HVM Racing Press Office 57A, Gasoline Alley, Indianapolis, Indiana
Phone: 317-241-3955 Cell: 704-252-3356 E-mail: press@hvminc.net
For more information on HVM Racing visit www.hvm-racing.com
HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its 7 years of competition in the Champ Car World Series, the team has earned 6 wins, 2 pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums since 2001 when Keith Wiggins took over Bettenhausen Motorsports. They finished 4th and 3rd, respectively, in Championship standings in 2006 and 2007 and drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos were named Rookie of the Year in 2002 and 2007, respectively.
|
