KV RACING TECHNOLOGY’S TRACY AND MORAES LOOKING TO BREAK THROUGH AT REXALL INDY EDMONTON

KV Racing Technology Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 21, 2009 -- Round #11, 2009 IndyCar Series season – KV Racing Technology drivers Paul Tracy and Mario Moraes will both be looking for breakout performances this weekend at the Rexall Indy Edmonton, July 24-26, on the Edmonton City Center airport circuit in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Tracy, #15 Edmonton Honda Dealers – Wounded Warriors.ca – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone, will be making his fifth start on the 1.96-mile, 14-turn airport runway temporary street circuit and the third of three consecutive starts for KVRT.  The native of Canada is coming off a spectacular, if disappointing, performance two weeks ago in Toronto.  After starting 15th, Tracy was running in third place with 20 laps remaining.  However, while attempting to pass Helio Castroneves for second place, the two collided sending Tracy into the wall and ending his day in 19th place.

“Obviously I am disappointed at how things ended in Toronto, but I think I have shown I can run with these guys and compete for wins.” Tracy said.  “The KV Racing Technology team has done a great job preparing the car the last two races. Hopefully, with the support of the Edmonton Honda Dealers, I can have another good performance in Edmonton and bring some more awareness to the Wounded Warriors.ca.”

Tracy will again team with Mario Moraes in a two car effort for KVRT this weekend. Moraes, who will be making his second start in Edmonton, was also having a great race in Toronto, running as high as fifth.  Unfortunately, an incident late in the contest damaged the front wing of the #5 KV Racing Technology – Votorantim Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, forcing Moraes to pit for repairs and dropping him to 11th place where he finished.

“The KV Racing Technology team has given me a very fast car the last two races and we have been in contention for top-five finishes both races,” Moraes said.  Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way we wanted.  The team has worked very hard and we know our time will come.  Hopefully, it will be this weekend in Edmonton.”

Tracy, 40, will be making his 269th career start, seventh in the IndyCar Series, fifth of the 2009 season and fourth with KVRT.  In four previous starts in Edmonton he has finished in the top-five all four times with a best showing of third in 2005.  Last year, after a three month layoff, Tracy “came off the couch” to compete in Edmonton.  In a testament to his skill and prowess as a driver, Tracy, who started 15th, finished fourth.   In addition to Toronto, Tracy has also driven for KVRT this year at Watkins Glen, running as high as ninth before spinning and finishing 19th, and the Indy 500 where he finished ninth.  His other IndyCar starts came at this year’s Milwaukee race for A.J. Foyt Racing, placed 17th, at Indy in 2002, finished second and at Edmonton.

Moraes, a 20-year-old native of Brazil, and the second youngest driver in the series, is in his second IndyCar season and first with KVRT.  He will be making his 27th career IndyCar start and 11th on a road/street course this weekend.  Since joining KVRT for the 2009 season, Moraes has qualified in the top-seven in five of the nine races (Iowa qualifying cancelled) this year, twice in the top-five, including an IndyCar career high fourth at Watkins Glen and an oval career high fifth at Milwaukee, after earning just one top-10 qualifying spot last year.  He has earned career high finishes on six of the 10 tracks this season, had two top-10 showings (three all last season) and earned his career best oval finish placing ninth at Milwaukee.  His IndyCar career best finish is seventh at Watkins Glen in 2008.  Moraes is 16th in the standings with 157 points.  

The Rexall Indy Edmonton will be broadcast live on Versus at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Wounded Warriors.ca:
Paul Tracy will be sponsored in Edmonton by the Edmonton Honda Dealers in support of Wounded Warriors.ca a charity that benefits wounded Canadian veterans.  In Toronto the car was sponsored by the Ontario Honda Dealers in support of Wounded Warriors.ca.  Race fans in Toronto were given the opportunity to make a donation and sign Tracy’s firesuit.  Over $13,000 (Canadian) was collected.  Edmonton race fans will be given the opportunity to sign the firesuit Paul will use in the Edmonton race.  The total donations received from the signings of both firesuits will be matched by Honda Canada and be donated to Wounded Warriors.ca.  In addition, both firsesuits will be auctioned with the proceeds going to Wounded Warriors.ca.

About the Edmonton-Area Honda Dealers:
The five Honda Dealers in the Edmonton area, including Morinville, Alberta, have a proven track record for providing maximum customer satisfaction.  The five Honda dealerships are active in the community and employ approximately 200 associates.
 
About Paul Tracy:
Paul Tracy is in his 19th season of premier level North American based open-wheel competition.  The resident of Las Vegas, NV, is among the top-10 in almost every career statistical category including wins, 31 (tied for seventh all-time), poles, 25 (ninth all-time), and laps led, 4,238 (sixth all-time). He has 75 career podium performances, 102 top-five finishes and 142 top-10 showings in 268 starts (262 in Champ Car and six in IndyCar).  In the 15 seasons in which Tracy has competed in over 80% of the races, he has finished in the top-10 in the standings 10 times including eight times in the top-five, four in the top-three including the championship in 2003.


KV Racing Technology Notes:

KVRT will be contesting its fifth race in Edmonton.  In four previous races, eight starts, the team has qualified in the top-10 six times with five top-five starting spots and a best starting position of third by Oriol Servia in 2008. They have finished in the top-10 three times with two top-five showings and a best finish of fourth by Servia in 2006.

KV Racing Technology was established in 2003.  The Indianapolis-based team is contesting its seventh open-wheel season and second in the IndyCar Series in 2009.  KVRT is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 Series Champion, Jimmy Vasser.  Veteran motorsports manager Mark Johnson is the team's General Manager. KVRT has earned two victories the first by Cristiano da Matta in Portland in 2005 and the second by Will Power in Long Beach last year.  They have captured two poles, Tristan Gommendy at Mont Tremblant in 2007 and Vasser at Milwaukee in 2005 (Will Power captured the pole at the 2008 Surfers Paradise, Australia exhibition race).

For more information about KV Racing Technology visit: www.kvracingtechnology.com.