MORAES QUALIFIES 10th FOR TOMORROW’S FIRESTONE INDY 300
HOMESTEAD, FL - - OCTOBER 9, 2009 - - Round #17 2009 IndyCar Series season - - KV Racing Technology driver Mario Moraes qualified 10th for tomorrow’s Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Moraes, making his second appearance on the 1.5-mile oval, posted a four-lap average of 210.819 mph. The native of Brazil will grid the #5 Azul – Votorantim - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine on the outside of Row #5.
“KV Racing Technology qualified 10th which is very disappointing for everyone on the team especially after starting on the front row at Motegi and having such a good test here last week,” said Moraes. “But, the important thing is I feel we have a good car for the race, so I am confident we can have a good result tomorrow.”
Moraes was fourth fastest in the morning practice with a speed of 211.100 mph (25.3245 sec.) and sixth, 210.193 mph (25.4338 sec.), on the speed charts in the afternoon practice, which was split into two groups. In qualifying, he was the ninth of the 23 drivers to make an attempt and ran four laps all above 210 mph with a difference of .260 mph between the fastest and slowest lap.
Moraes has qualified in the top-10 on seven of eight ovals (Iowa and Kentucky qualifying cancelled) and nine times in 14 total attempts (missed Mid-Ohio) this year. He has earned three top-five starting spots, including the career high second on the oval in Japan and a road/street course career high fourth at Watkins Glen. Prior to joining KVRT for the 2009 season, Moraes had qualified in the top-10 just once and never higher than 20th on an oval.
Moraes, 20, the second youngest driver in the series, is in his second IndyCar season. He will be making just his 20th career oval start tomorrow. Moraes is working on a streak of three consecutive top-five finishes. He scored the first top-five finish of his IndyCar career at Infineon Raceway placing fourth then followed up with his first career podium, a third, at Chicagoland before earning a hard fought fifth place finish at Japan. He is currently 15th in the points with 278.
KV Racing Technology Notes:
KVRT’s Herre Terpstra is the winner of this year’s “Tire Guy of the Year Award.” The award is sponsored by Firestone Racing and includes a $1,000 check and coveted commemorative blazer. The winner is chosen by a vote of Firestone Racing engineers, technicians and tire service personnel who work closely with each entry's tire specialist throughout the season.
Mario Moraes won the Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race Award for his efforts at Motegi when he recovered from an early setback to record his third straight top-five finish. Moraes will be presented a $10,000 check from Firestone Racing during pre-race ceremonies Saturday.
KVRT will be contesting its second race and making its third start at Homestead tomorrow. Last year, in the team’s IndyCar Series debut, Oriol Servia started 14th and finished 12th while teammate Will Power started 19th and placed 25th.
Tomorrow’s race will be broadcast live on Versus at 5:00 p.m. ET.
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