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Thursday, 17 April 2008 09:00 |
 KV Racing Technology has experience and history of solid performances on streets of Long Beach : -
KV Racing Technology will bring a load of experience and a history of solid performances to this weekend’s Champ Car World Series finale, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18-20, on the streets of downtown Long Beach, California.
KVRT, which will field a three car effort for the 34th running of the United States most popular street race, has more experience on the challenging 1.968-mile, 11-turn Long Beach temporary street circuit than any team competing at this year’s event. In addition, they have some of the best results.
Team co-owner, Jimmy Vasser, KV Racing Technology #12 Plantronics Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone, who is returning to Long Beach after an almost two year hiatus from open wheel competition, has made 15 starts while teammates Oriol Servia, KV Racing Technology #5 Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone, has eight and Will Power, KV Racing Technology #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone, two. In total, the trio has combined for 25 starts on the streets of Long Beach, earning 14 top-10 finishes, seven top-five showings, five podiums, one win and one pole in the process.
Vasser, the 1996 Series Champion, who last drove a Champ Car on April 9, 2006, coincidentally at Long Beach, will be making his 233rd career Champ Car start, 29th for KVRT, sixth in the IndyCar Series (four times at the Indy 500, once in Fontana and now Long Beach), and 16th in Long Beach In 15 previous races on the streets of Long Beach, the 42-year-old native of California has finished in the top-10 a total of 10 times including five top-five showings with three podiums and a victory in 1996. He has qualified in the top-10 eight times with three starts in the first two rows including a pole in 2002. In his last start at Long Beach he qualified 12th and was running in the top-six when a mechanical problem knocked him out of the race placing him 14th.
“I been out of the car for two years, but it will be a lot of fun and a great honor to drive the KV Racing Technology #12 Plantronics entry and take part in the Champ Car World Series’ final race,” said Vasser. “It will also be great to compete in front of all the southern California fans that have been so supportive of me throughout my career.”
Vasser, who calls his return to open wheel cars the “Straight off the Couch Tour,” has spent the last two weeks getting in shape for this event “I started running two weeks ago and practically needed an ambulance because I felt so bad, but now I feel great. I’ve always had a relaxed driving style and while I won’t be at peak performance, I have done everything so that I won’t embarrass myself.”
Servia, who will be making his 128th career start, 19th with KVRT, third in the IndyCar Series and ninth in Long Beach this weekend, will be looking to improve on a runner-up finish at last year’s Long Beach race. The 33-year-old native of Pals, Catalonia, Spain has qualified in the top-10 twice with a best starting position of eighth in 2003 and 2006 and finished in the top-10 twice, a sixth place showing in 2000 to go with the second last year, in his previous eight Long Beach events. Servia, who was the highest finishing Champ Car driver in his IndyCar Series debut at Homestead, placing 12th, and then followed up with a seventh place showing on the streets of St. Petersburg, is currently ninth in the IndyCar Series championship standings with 44 points.
“This is a great opportunity for KV Racing Technology,” Servia noted. “It is the third race of the IndyCar Series season for us and we will be racing a car and on a track that we are very familiar with. Since many of the cars and drivers competing at Long Beach are not part of the IndyCar Series, I think this race is an opportunity for KV Racing Technology to get good points toward the championship and put on a good show for the fans.”
Servia went on to say, “Long Beach is always a special event. It was particularly special for me last year when I missed the first race of the season, but came here and finished second. This year will be special because it is the last Champ Car race and because my team owner, Jimmy Vasser, will be trying to beat me on track.”
Power, who will be making his 33rd career start, 31st on a road or street circuit, third in the IndyCar Series, third with KV Racing Technology and third in Long Beach this weekend, has had strong showings in both his previous races in Long Beach. In 2006 he qualified and finished ninth then last year he started second and finished on the podium placing third. The 27-year-old Australian finished 25th in his IndyCar Series debut at Homestead, but is coming off a solid performance in St. Petersburg where he qualified second and finished eighth. He currently sits 16th in the standings with 34 points.
“I am looking forward to the Long Beach race,” Power said. “It will be the last time I get to drive a Champ Car, but it will be for IndyCar Series points. This race presents KVRT Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia with a fantastic chance to get points and go for a win.
Commenting on the Long Beach circuit Power said, “I like the circuit. It is very tough to get any advantage over other drivers, which is why qualifying is so important. I think it will be a very competitive race and I would love to improve my performance over last year.”
About the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach:
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18-20, on the temporary street circuit in Long Beach, California, will be the final event of the Champ Car World Series and along with the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan constitute Round #3 of the 2008 IndyCar Series season. The former Champ Car teams will compete in Long Beach while the established IndyCar Series teams will run at Motegi. Both races will award the same number of points towards the IndyCar Series championship race. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be televised tape delayed on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
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