INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – Aug. 19, 2013

Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1.      If you missed it: INDYCAR Conference Call with Will Power

2.      Briscoe returns to Panther Racing

3.      Kellett, Pabst to move up for Baltimore

1. If you missed it: INDYCAR Conference Call with Will Power: Earlier today, IZOD IndyCar Series driver Will Power participated in an INDYCAR Conference Call to discuss the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Selected quotes from the call are below:

Q: Will, with your past record at Sonoma, you have to be looking forward to getting back in your car for this weekend’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.

WILL POWER: Definitely. Especially the year we’ve had, I can’t wait to get back there. It’s a track I’ve had a lot of success on. Although the competition has definitely heated up this year, we still expect to be running right at the front.

Q: There have been nine different winners in the 14 races so far. Would you say that the races at Sonoma or Baltimore, where you’ve won as well, are your best opportunities to at least challenge for wins?

WILL POWER: I think the next two, for sure, are good tracks for me. Always quick there. Then you’ve got Houston, as well, and even Fontana, obviously I haven’t won on an oval for a long time. Sonoma is definitely a good chance for us. But you know, as you said, there have been nine different winners this year, so it’s really hard to predict how fast you’re going to be, and you know, who is going to be in the front and who you’re going to be challenging.

Q: You look at Ganassi, they seem to have sort of found something in the second half, especially Scott (Dixon), who is a little more aggressive than Dario (Franchitti).  When you look at Penske, you’re more aggressive than Helio (Castroneves).  Is there something you think that you can find that will allow you to be more aggressive, and that your driving style will kind of come to the car, or get to the car to come to your driving style?

WILL POWER: Well, actually, we did, we found something for sure at the last test at Sebring, which very much suited me. So we did get to work there, so I just wonder if it’s going to be possible on these lower grip circuits like Sonoma and Baltimore. But, yes, we are always aware.  We saw how dominant Ganassi was at Toronto and they were able to get their car to work very well there. I also think Honda has made a bit of a gain, definitely, but then Chevy has also made a gain recently, too. I think it’s obviously changing, but I’m hoping that at Sonoma we get our pace.

2. Briscoe returns to Panther Racing: Ryan Briscoe will be back in Panther Racing’s car for this weekend’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.

“I’m obviously very happy to be back with the team and in the National Guard car,” said Briscoe, who suffered a fractured wrist in Race 1 of the Honda Indy Toronto on July 13. “My wrist held up pretty good during the (Aug. 13) test, although the (wrist) brace was a bit of a nuisance. But we made good progress during the test and worked through our program really well. I was pleased with our pace and definitely looking forward to coming back to find more speed.”

Briscoe is the defending race winner at Sonoma and has finished in the top five each of the past five visits to the track. He started on the front row last year next to then-teammate Will Power, who has won the past three poles at the track.

“We knew Ryan was a tough guy and would bounce back from his wrist surgery quickly,” Panther Racing owner John Barnes said. “He looked great at the test we had last week and you don’t have to do much research to see how well he’s done historically at Sonoma Raceway. Thankfully, we’ve got even more time to work on the National Guard car in practice and we’re all really excited to have him back in the seat this weekend.”

Briscoe has competed in seven IZOD IndyCar Series races this season, with a best finish of 12th in the Indianapolis 500 with Chip Ganassi Racing. He replaced JR Hildebrand at Panther Racing for the doubleheader race weekend in Detroit the next week.

3. Kellett, Pabst to move up for Baltimore: Pabst Racing will add a Firestone Indy Lights entry and will make its series debut with Dalton Kellett at the Grand Prix of Baltimore, team officials announced Aug. 19.

“As a team, you always dream of moving up the ladder to bigger and better things,” said team owner Augie Pabst, who has been a USF2000 entrant since 1996. “Competing in the Firestone Indy Lights has always been on our radar, and now that it’s finally going to happen, we couldn’t be more excited to get rolling.”

With its focus on the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, Pabst Racing and Kellett opted to enter their first Firestone Indy Lights race at Baltimore, the only non-conflicting road course event left in 2013. Team owner Pabst said that the team’s goal is to lay a strong foundation and focus on experience for Kellett as they prepare to field a two-car team in 2014.

“Our goal is to provide Dalton with a solid and consistent race car that will allow him to progress in his pace and get as much experience as possible,” he said.

Kellett, a 19 year-old Canadian  who has already competed in both USF2000 and Pro Mazda in 2013, is currently in his second season of USF2000. He will drive the No. 17 Pabst Racing, K-Line Insulators USA car at Baltimore.

“Being able to compete in a Firestone Indy Lights race will be a great addition to my current season with Pabst Racing Services,” Kellett said. “I cannot thank them enough for their support. The opportunity to become accustomed to the Indy Lights car will be very useful moving forward, as I am looking to the series as a possible move in the future.”

***

The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 25 at Sonoma Raceway. The race will be televised live at 4 p.m. (ET) by NBC Sports Network and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including on Sirius and XM Channels 211, www.indycar.com and the INDYCAR 13 App for most smartphones and tablets. The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Baltimore 100 on Sept. 1 on the streets of Baltimore. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 1 p.m.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

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