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Source - Indy Racing League
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 22:47 |
 Arie Luyendyk Jr. has more starts at Nashville Superspeedway than any other Firestone Indy Lights driver that will compete in this weekend's Sunbelt Rentals 100 : -
He hopes that experience can pay off in his first victory.
Luyendyk, the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, will make his sixth start at the 1.33-mile oval. He's turned numerous testing laps during tests at the track as well, including a highly successful test at the track last month.
“I am really looking forward to Nashville this weekend," Luyendyk said. "The Targus/AGR/AFS team had a great test there a couple of weeks ago. We are looking to have a repeat performance from our success at Iowa and get that first win.”
Luyendyk has knocked on the door of success at Nashville before. He finished second to Cory Witherill in just his second start in the series in 2002. He's also started on the front row at the only concrete oval on the circuit.
With confidence from his second place finish three weeks ago at Iowa, he feels like he can come away with the custom hand-painted Gibson guitar that is given to the race winner.
"After Iowa, I really think that performance can be repeated at our next oval event in Nashville, and I’m looking forward to getting some redemption there."
Another driver looking for redemption in Nashville is Panther Racing driver Dillon Battistini.
The Englishman, who has a season-best three wins, failed to finish in either Corning Duel at Watkins Glen, and saw his point lead erased by Richard Antinucci and Raphael Matos.
But Battistini has outscored his rivals on the ovals, an advantage he hopes continues at Nashville.
"We have been really strong on the ovals all year long, so it seems like a perfect opportunity to bounce back from our disappointing weekend at Watkins Glen. Panther has won at Nashville before, and Hideki (Mutoh) ran well there for them last year. We're confident. I’m looking forward to getting some points back and focusing on our goal of winning a championship.”
Defending Sunbelt Rentals 100 winner Robbie Pecorari also returns to series in search of his second guitar.
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