IRL DRIVERS WELCOME RETURN TO ROAD-COURSE RACING WITH ARGENT MORTGAGE INDY GRAND PRIX

The winner of the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar® Series event at Michigan and third-place finisher at the Indianapolis 500 says, though, that it won’t make much difference at the Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway, Aug. 26-28.

“I raced there years ago in Barber Saab and in 2002 in the American Le Mans Series with Panoz,” Herta, who will pilot an Andretti Green entry, recalled, “but there’s a lot that’s different so it’s a new track.”

Herta said the change from the predominantly oval schedule to the IRL’s first permanent road-course event in history isn’t likely to see a different grid.

“It didn’t change a whole lot at St. Petersburg (a street course),” Herta said. “Some drivers have more experience on road courses than others, but as time goes by, it all levels out. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I enjoy road racing and I was one of the people happiest when the IRL added them to the schedule.

“These cars are a lot of fun to drive on a road course. They’ve got good grip, good power, the brakes work very well. It’s a good combination. Before the first race, we really didn’t know how it was going to go.”

Most of the IRL drivers attended a series-wide two-day test session at Infineon Raceway in April. Alex Barron of Menifee, slated to be in the saddle of a Red Bull Team Cheever entry, did a test in an Atlantic car in Infineon previously, as well as the IRL open test.

“From what we’ve heard and the way the test went there, it’ll be different from so many ovals in the summer,” Barron said. “The last two weeks, so many people have been saying they’re going that I might have my own cheering section. They know us (Herta and himself) out here a lot better than they do in the east.”

Barron, also, doesn’t foresee much change in the grid.

“At the open test, I only drove for the second day,” Barron said. “(Teammate) Patrick (Carpentier) drove the first day but we were able to increase our speed by two seconds. It’s a fun track to drive but it’s quite complex compared to St. Petersburg. I think it (the grid) will be (changed) a little bit, but at the same time, a lot of guys running in the top 7-10 come from road racing, so you’ll see the top five guys or so up front.”

Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, who has three other 2005 victories and leads the championship point standings, said the race will be physical.

“I’m excited to go to Infineon,” Wheldon said. “I think it will be the most physical track on the calendar. It will be interesting because St. Petersburg was a street course and this is a permanent road course. I’m excited but I know there are going to be a lot of people who are very, very strong there, so not only is it going to be physical, but it will be competitive, too.”

Reigning IndyCar® Series champion Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing), who won at Kansas earlier this season, is also ready to go.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Kanaan said. “It will be the first time we’ve raced on a permanent road circuit in the IndyCar® Series cars. It brings back a lot of memories and if it goes as well as St. Petersburg did for the Andretti Green team, then I can’t wait to go there.”

Dario Franchitti, who teams with Herta, Kanaan and Wheldon in a four-car Andretti Green effort and has a victory at Nashville this year, was also enthusiastic about a return to road racing.

“I’m very excited,” Franchitti said, “and I think most of the drivers are, to be returning to a permanent road course. I grew up driving on these types of tracks and I’ve won a few races on them. I’m just really exciting to be going back to such a track and the challenge that it brings.”

The Argent Mortgage Grand Prix comes after two consecutive weekends of oval racing at Kentucky and Pikes Peak on the IndyCar® Series schedule.

Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix

WHEN: August 26-28

CIRCUIT: 12-turn, 2.26-mile road course

IN ADDITION: The weekend will also feature the Menards Infiniti Pro Series™, as well as the Moly Shield Oil Historic Grand Prix

NOTABLE: This will be the first-ever permanent road-course race in the 10-year history of the IRL

TICKETS: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com, www.ticketmaster.com

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