Search results matching tag 'danica patrick'

Total Access Today - September 8

TMS Total Access — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:38:49 GMT

It looks like Danica Patrick will start to make the transition into NASCAR

Total Access Today - September 3

TMS Total Access — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:09:32 GMT

Hear what advice Tony Stewart would give Danica Patrick on her career future

2006 Subaru Impreza VS 2010 Nissan GTR

TMSVideo — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:33:06 GMT

In the final round at Texas Motor Speedway these two cars went head to head in the Tuner Division. Bring your car out to Texas Motor Speedway or to the Show-N-Shine and see how you measure up at Scion Drag-N-Brag on pit lane every Friday night July 3 through August 7! (July 23, 2009)

2010 Chevy Camaro at Scion Drag-N-Brag

TMSVideo — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:29:32 GMT

2010 Chevy Camaro competed at the Scion Drag-N-Brag at Texas Motor Speedway. Bring your car out to Texas Motor Speedway or to the Show-N-Shine and see how you measure up at Scion Drag-N-Brag on pit lane every Friday night July 3 through August 7! (July 24, 2009)

Bombardier Learjet 550k Notebook And Pit Notes

TMS Media Relations — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:34:00 GMT

Patrick finishes 6th
Danica Patrick almost added another top-five finish to her great start to the 2009 season. But her teammate Marco Andretti bumped Patrick to 6th with five laps to go and that's where she finished. She was eyeing her fifth top-five finish in six races this season.

Patrick hovered around the top five for most of the race in 6th or 7th, but Andretti was too fast late and climbed all the way to a fourth-place finish.

“Marco passed me fair and square. He passed me around the outside. He was just faster,” Patrick said. “We went from a car in the first day of practice that was really fast and I was doing 212 [mph] by myself with a gear that wasn’t ideal. So then we come out here for the race and for some reason the steering was really heavy and it just wasn’t the car we had.

“It was slow. I mean, it was just not fast. I couldn’t even keep up with that lead pack at the end.”

Three-car wreck early
After only one lap, three drivers had their night ended with a wreck triggered by Graham Rahal.

Rahal's car wiggled and he lost control in Turn 2 and led to Milka Duno and E.J. Viso also getting knocked out. All three drivers were treated and released from the infield car center without injuries.

"Right away something felt broken," said Rahal, who finished 22nd. "I have never had a car that bad."

Rahal's loose car showed trouble signs just before the wreck when he avoided a wreck in Turn 4.

Briscoe helps out food bank
Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe helped out the local Meals on Wheels in conjunction with the Indy Racing League Ministry's Food Bank program. Briscoe helped the organization collect food and beverages that helped feed the elderly and less fortunate in the area.

The Indy Racing League Ministry program started in 2003 and has donated more than 470,00 pounds of food to local organizations. The program is looking to surpass the $1 million mark in donations this year.

"We have great food here at the circuit but obviously there is leftover food as well and it's great that's not going to waste and it's going to people in need," Briscoe said. "There are a lot of people reaping the benefits."

Briefly
- Team Penske has won five of the last eight races at TMS.
- A.J. Foyt IV, driving for his grandfather A.J. Foyt, wrecked after his suspension broke on the backstretch on Lap 172 and finished 20th.
- Sarah Fisher finished 17th.

- Rick Herrin

Offical IndyCar Series Race Day Pit Notes:

DAY 3 - SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009

Welcome to the Bombardier Learjet 500k, the sixth race of the 2009 IndyCar^® Series season. John Griffin, vice president of public relations for the Indy Racing League, and Mike Zizzo, vice president of media relations for the Texas Motor Speedway, and their staffs are here to assist you. Please direct your questions and requests to anyone in the Media Center.

***

TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times local):

7:10 p.m.

TMS Pre-Race Show begins

8 p.m.

8:40 p.m.

Grid IndyCar Series cars

Bombardier Learjet 550K (228 laps/342 miles), VERSUS (Live)

***

Michelle Colvard thought she was coming to the Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway to watch the IndyCar Series race, get a pit tour and maybe meet a few drivers.

She ended up with the ride of a lifetime.

Colvard, the reigning Miss Wheelchair America, was invited to the track by Vision Racing as an honorary team member. But before meeting the Vision team, Colvard toured Texas Motor Speedway's 1.5-mile oval with Davey Hamilton in the Indy Experience two-seater.

"It was amazing. I can't even relate the experience," Colvard said. "It left me totally breathless. As we were entering the banking, I could feel the Gs pulling my head down. I can't imagine having to do that for 228 laps.".

Colvard, Ms. Wheelchair Texas 2008, was crowned Miss Wheelchair America 2009 on July 26 -- the 18th anniversary of the signing of the American with Disabilities Act.

Colvard, a Houston native, was born with spina bifida and has used a wheelchair since the sixth grade. She graduated summa *** laude from the University of Houston and earned her master's degree in Health Promotion from the University Of Texas School Of Public Health.

Colvard, executive director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities in Houston, emphasizes the importance for people of all abilities to take responsibility for their health and wellness.

"I had no idea I would be in a race car today," she said. "Everybody kept it a secret from me. I can't imagine a better surprise than that."

***

The Indy Racing League Ministry collects food and beverages from the team and

manufacturer hospitality units after each of its events, which is picked up by a local charity. Metroport Meals on Wheels was the beneficiary for the second year this weekend. It couldn't come at a better time. With the turbulent economy, the non-profit organization has seen a notable rise in deliveries in recent weeks.

"We don't accept government support so it all comes from the local community and partnerships like this wonderful one with the IRL Ministry," King said. "Last year the food gift -- over 500 pounds of it -- went to provide home-delivered and senior center meals for local seniors. It was a wonderful gift.

"I wish our budget would allow our seniors to have steak dinners every week. Last year, more than 100 seniors at the Roanoke Senior Center enjoyed a steak dinner. When I say 500 pounds, it's wonderful but it's the quality of those 500 pounds that compounds the gift exponentially."

The program is nearing $1 million in food value since its inception in 2003. IRL Ministry also collects unused hotel soap and shampoo from Indy Racing League and team personnel to distribute, and began a green movement this year by collecting aluminum cans and baking/serving dishes and plastic bottles to donate to local charities for recycling.

"We're contributing by not putting things in the landfill," Indy Racing League chef Eddie Wilson said. "It's giving these programs a way to get more cash. Every little thing we can do is going to help."

NBA star Shaquille O'Neal is attending his first IndyCar Series race as a guest of Luczo Dragon Racing, with whom he's partnered to raise money and awareness for charity throughout the season. Team co-owners Steve Luczo and Jay Penske have established a unique charity drive that has delivered more than $1 million to charitable organizations worldwide in its two-plus years of IndyCar Series competition.

With the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps as their primary partners of the No. 2 car, much of the team's charitable focus will be on organizations that support servicemen and servicewomen and their families.

"My (step)father had me doing charity work at age 7," said O'Neal, "taking the old army blankets and food and passing them around to people who didn't have food for Christmas. My parents taught me at a young age that my goals are and should be more than just about the things I want to personally accomplish. This is just an outgrowth of something I've been doing for a long time and it's just an honor and privilege to be involved with Luczo Dragon Racing. They do a lot for charity and that's why I'm here - along with having a good time."

O'Neal participated in a simulated pit stop with the Luczo Dragon Racing crew.

"I guess I didn't know what I was in for," said the 15-time NBA All-Star and grand marshal of the Bombardier Learjet 550k - beads of perspiration sliding down his cheeks as he changed the right-front tire of the No. 2 US Air Force entry. "I'm proud to be here with a great team like Luczo Dragon Racing and these great athletes. One thing Rafa said is that you can't listen to music, you have to listen to your guys on the radio. And there's no air conditioning. When it comes to being an athlete, there is the physical part but being an athlete is more mental than anything. It's not easy to drive 228 laps with someone in your ear, trying to be safe at high speeds and trying to win. I consider these men and women phenomenal athletes."

***

Celebrities Call You, a Louisville, Ky.-based entertainment company owned by CW Multimedia International, Inc., announced June 5 that IndyCar Series driver and team owner Sarah Fisher has joined their lineup of celebrities. Celebritiescallyou.com offers consumers the opportunity to send a friend or family member a personalized greeting from their favorite celebrity.

"I want to have Jennifer Aniston call me," laughed Fisher. "This website is so cool! Celebrities Call You has found that niche market for consumers to get a personal touch of the sports and entertainment world. It will be interesting to see how it takes off."

Celebritiescallyou.com is the environmentally-friendly alternative to sending a greeting card. Now you have the opportunity to have a celebrity call any person of your choice. Consumers can send custom messages for $3.99 from celebrities in the Sports, Music, Film & TV and business industries and wish their friends and family any assortment of personalized greetings from, "Happy Birthday", "Congratulations", "Thinking of You", to "Get Well Soon".

"We are adding celebrities weekly to our site and we are proud to have Sarah Fisher as part of our family," said CEO Chris Webb.

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550 RACE SPECIFICS

(From this afternoon's drivers meeting):

The race is 342 miles, 228 laps on the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
The race becomes official after 115 laps.
The pit-lane speed is 60 mph.
The estimated fuel window is 43-50 laps under green-flag conditions.
The green flag to start the race will be shown on the third time past the flag stand.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the Honda Accord Safety Car.

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550 PRE-RACE:

At 8:30 p.m., the ambient temperature was 90 degrees with a relative humidity of 45 percent. Winds were from the south-southeast at 10 mph. Skies were clear. Track temperature was 92 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.

8:40 p.m. - NBA star and race grand marshal Shaquille O'Neal gave the command, "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines." All 24 cars have started and rolling on the grid.

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550 RACE RUNNING:

Lap 1: GREEN. #10 Franchitti leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 2: YELLOW. Contact on the backstretch. Cars involved are #02 Rahal #13 Viso and #23 Duno. #02 Rahal got loose at the exit of Turn 2 and collected #13 Viso and #23 Duno before making hard contact with the inside retaining wall. Viso and Rahal climbed from their cars without assistance. #23 Duno continued around to the pit lane.

Lap 7: #24 Conway, #21 Hunter-Reay, #18 Wilson and #98 Lazier to pit lane for four tires and fuel. #98 Lazier also had an adjustment to the throttle cable.

Lap 10: GREEN. #10 Franchitti leads the field into Turn 1.

Lap 11: #6 Briscoe takes lead on the main straightaway on the outside and completes the pass in Turn 1.

Lap 15: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .1424 of a second.

Lap 20: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .2021 of a second.

Lap 25: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .2469 of a second.

***

Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, Indy Racing League director of medical services: Graham Rahal, Milka Duno and E.J. Viso have been checked and released from the infield care center. All three have been cleared to drive.

***

Lap 30: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .2995 of a second.

Lap 37: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .4588 of a second.

Lap 40: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .4504 of a second.

Lap 45: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .5933 of a second.

Lap 50: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by 1.0710 seconds.

Lap 54: #4 Wheldon and #26 on pit lane for four tires and fuel. #4 Wheldon also takes wing adjustments.

Lap 57: Leaders #6 Briscoe, #10 Franchitti and #9 Dixon on pit road for four tires and fuel. #9 Dixon and #10 Franchitti also made front wing adjustment. New leader is #3 Castroneves.

Lap 58: Leader, #3 Castroneves on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #20 Carpenter.

Lap 59: Leader, #20 Carpenter on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #6 Briscoe.

Lap 61: Green flag stops complete, #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .5058 of a second.

Lap 65: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .9348 of a second.

***

Race grand marshal Shaquille O'Neal rode in the Honda Accord pace car with Johnny Rutherford after giving the command to start engines.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: "It was phenomenal. I can see why these men and women have to be such great athletes and it's the No. 1 sport."

Lap 70: #6 Briscoe leads #10 Franchitti by .9108 of a second.

Lap 75: #9 Dixon passes #10 Franchitti for second place.

Lap 76: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 1.9286 seconds.

Lap 85: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 5.0978 seconds.

Lap 90: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 6.6309 seconds.

***

GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 02 McDonald's Racing Team): "It is frustrating. We struggled a little bit all weekend but the car felt very comfortable and very good. It was unfortunate because right away something did not feel right as I went into Turn 1 and I lost a couple of spots in the initial start. I was hanging on going into Turns 3 and 4 the car was so loose and I lost tons of spots maybe 6 or 7 spots. Something did not feel right going back into Turn 1 and I let up for the second lap and I was trying to be careful but as I went into Turn 1 something snapped. I couldn't hang on. I feel bad for the others involved. It was horrible."

E.J. VISO (No. 13 HVM Racing): "We were no more than an half-lap into the race and I was right behind Rahal in Turns 1 and 2 and he suddenly was sideways and I had nowhere to go."

MILKA DUNO (No. 23 CITGO /Dreyer & Reinbold Racing): "It was Graham who spun and Viso had nowhere to go. I went to the left but at the very last moment my car was caught in the right rear."

***

Lap 95: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 6.5550 seconds.

Lap 100: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 6.6780 seconds.

Lap 104: #2 Matos, #26 Andretti and #4 Wheldon on pit road for four tires and fuel. #4 Wheldon #26 Andretti also made front wing adjustment.

Lap 107: #7 Patrick on pit road for four tires and fuel.

Lap 108: #06 Doornbos on pit lane for four tires and fuel.

Lap 110: #9 Dixon on pit road for four tires and fuel.

Lap 111: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by 9.8335 seconds

Lap 112: Leader, #6 Briscoe, and #10 Franchitti on pit lane for four tires and fuel. #10 Franchitti also makes front wing adjustment. New leader is #3 Castroneves.

Lap 113: Leader, #3 Castroneves, on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #6 Briscoe.

Lap 114: Following green flag stops, #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 8.5221 seconds.

Lap 120: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by 8.5908 seconds.

Lap 125: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by 8.7880 seconds.

Lap 130: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by 8.6586 seconds.

Lap 135: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by 9.2918 seconds.

Lap 140: #6 Briscoe leads #26 Andretti by 9.9934 seconds.

Lap 145: #6 Briscoe leads #26 Andretti by 10.3434 seconds.

Lap 150: YELLOW. Debris in Turn 4. Leaders under caution are #6 Briscoe, #26 Andretti,# 9 Dixon, #3 Castroneves and #10 Franchitti.

Lap 152: Leaders on pit road for four tires and fuel. #7 Patrick also made wing adjustments. #6 Briscoe wins race off of pit road, but #11 Kanaan gets his lap back by beating #11 off of pit road after a short-fill. #27 Mutoh reports gearbox issue on course.

Lap 156: #2 Matos pits for fuel only.

Lap 159: GREEN. #6 Briscoe leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 165: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by .1761 of a second.

Lap 170: #6 Briscoe leads #3 Castroneves by .1753 of a second.

Lap 172: YELLOW. #14 Foyt makes contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2. Car comes to rest against the inside retaining wall on the backstretch. Leader under yellow is #6 Briscoe followed by #3 Castroneves, #9 Dixon, #26 Andretti and #10 Franchitti.

Lap 174: #20 Carpenter pits for fuel only. Car must return to pit lane for a full stop when pits open for entering a full pit.

Lap 175: Leaders to pit lane for four tires and fuel. #3 Castroneves wins race off of pit road followed by #6 Briscoe, #9 Dixon, #10 Franchitti and #26 Andretti.

Lap 182: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 185: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .1560 of a second. Top seven are separated by .7761 of a second.

Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, Indy Racing League director of medical services: A.J. Foyt IV has been checked and released from the infield care center. He is cleared to drive.

Lap 190: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .1942 of a second. Top eight are separated by 1.1 seconds.

Lap 195: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .1471 of a second.

***

A.J. FOYT IV (No. 14 ABC Supply Co./A.J. Foyt Racing): "Something broke. I felt it in the front during the initial hit. The left front went down and dragged, and then I lost the rear right after that.

Hopefully, we can find out what happened."

***

Lap 200: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .2358 of a second.

Lap 205: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .1420 of a second.

Lap 210: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .2782 of a second.

Lap 215: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .4516 of a second.

Lap 220: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .3464 of a second.

Lap 225: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .4038 of a second.

Lap 226: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .4065 of a second.

Lap 227: WHITE: #3 Castroneves leads #6 Briscoe by .3924 of a second.

Lap 228: CHECKERED: #3 Castroneves wins the Bombardier Learjet 550K by .3904 of a second. Following the race, Castroneves climbed the fence on the front stretch.

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550K POST-RACE NOTES:

This is Helio Castroneves' second win of the season and the 16^th of his IndyCar Series career. His last win came at the Indianapolis 500 in May.
This is Team Penske's third win of the season. It previously won at St. Petersburg (Briscoe) and Indianapolis with Castroneves. This is the team's fifth win at Texas, tying Panther Racing for most wins at Texas. Team Penske previously won at Texas with Castroneves (twice), Sam Hornish Jr and Gil de Ferran.
Ryan Briscoe finished second, his second consecutive runner-up finish. He remains is the only driver to finish every lap this season.
Scott Dixon finished third, his third podium finish in the last four races.
Marco Andretti finished fourth, his first top-five of the season. His last top-five came at Kentucky in August 2008.

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550K POST-RACE QUOTES:

HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Team Penske, winner Bombardier Learjet 550K): "First time when I jumped in a car at Long Beach, I asked if this was a dream and (Tim Cindric) said it was reality. It certainly feels like it's a dream, but I understand that it's not. And that's good news. Team Penske did an incredible job today. It was an incredible day for Team Penske. All the credit also goes to Ryan Briscoe and his team. They push us, and we push them, and together, we're pushing towards the top. Having first and second at Texas is not easy, so that's a compliment for everyone." (About passing for lead in the pits): "In the beginning of the race, we were saving fuel, but you're also trying to figure out what your car is doing and that what I was trying to do. The car was loose, and there were some moments out there. But we figured out what to do and great pit stops the guys put me up front. In the end it was 50 laps and full throttle. It was the toughest 50 laps that I had to go through, but we held it together."

RYAN BRISCOE: (No. 6 Team Penske, finished second): "We did the best we could, I just didn't have enough for Helio in the final stages. The last 20 laps were some of the most frustrating I've ever driven. To lead the whole race and have the quickest car out there, I just couldn't pass Helio. The high line was slower. At least we came in second. We got points for leading the most laps. The important thing is we're racing for the wins. We'll get our wins. It's just frustrating for tonight."

SCOTT DIXON: (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing, finished third): "There was lots of green running, which is different for Texas. The Penske cars are definitely hooked up. The Target cars weren't too bad. We just need to work on it a bit."

MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 26 Team Venom Energy, finished fourth): (About battle with Danica Patrick): "The toughest people out there passing me are my teammates, and I don't get that. I think three out of four of us get what the camaraderie of Andretti Green Racing is."

DARIO FRANCHITTI (No. 10 Energizer, finished fifth): "It was slow. It was just slow all night. The biggest problem I had was the fuel mileage. If they would have told me that from the start, I would have done a lot better and saved fuel. I gave away a place tonight, and I hope it doesn't cost us at the end of the year."

ROBERT DOORNBOS (No. 06 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing): "It's great to get a Texas race under my belt. It's hard for me because we're going to get a good season going here. It's a whole different discipline. I'm learning as much as I can. I'm not used to finishing 11^th, 10^th or ninth but that's the way it is at the moment. We just have to work hard and close the gap to the strong guys. I'm very happy I finished the race for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and the 06 guys because they know as well as I know that I need the experience as fast as I can. I enjoyed myself in the night race in Texas. Seeing the crowds is very exciting. It's unfortunate that the last sting destroyed my race a bit with backmarkers not going me any room. Other than that, I am happy I can focus on Iowa."

RAPHAEL MATOS (No. 2 US Air Force Luczo Dragon Racing): "It was a really good day for my learning. We would have liked to have finished top 10, but our gamble on pit strategy didn't quite work out. It was one of the best experiences of the year for me. We leave with the car in one piece, I learned a lot and the engineers collected a lot of data. This Air Force Luczo Dragon team is capable of finishing much higher. We have great guys and we'll continue to work hard to make our improvements. For me I want to continue to learn as much as I can as a rookie so that I can use it to my advantage next year. This was a great learning experience.

DANICA PATRICK (No. 7 Boost Mobile/Motorola, finished sixth): "All weekend we had a strong car and then during the race, the steering became really heavy, it just wasn't the car we started with. I wish we could have had a top-five finish, but Marco passed me at the end far and square. Overall, I'm content with the sixth place finish for the Boost Mobile/Motorola car."

DAN WHELDON (No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing, finished seventh): "For whatever reason, we just lacked a little bit of speed compared to what we had in practice and we geared the National Guard Panther Racing car to be quicker. Again, the Panther guys worked really hard and got us to the end, but we seem to make it difficult for ourselves sometimes. As time goes on, we're going to continue to improve."

TONY KANAAN (No 11 Team 7-Eleven, finished eighth): "It has been the most difficult past three weeks for Team 7-Eleven, but we hung in there and kept our heads up. I wish we had a better finish tonight, but we finished the race with no issues, the guys did a great job in the pits, and I did my job on the track. I happy to have an off week and I think we could use the rest, but look forward to getting back in the car in Iowa."

ED CARPENTER (No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing, finished ninth): "A top-10 finish is the only positive we can take out of the Texas race. We did gain some ground in the points moving from 16^th to 14^thbut this is the third time I've finished ninth here. I was hoping for a better result. I'm disappointed for the fans in particular because Texas is supposed to be exciting racing, and unfortunately, the cars are too similar now and it weakened the product. I've never seen this race turn into a one groove track before. We want to put on a good show, and I'm afraid this was not it. You couldn't pass and you couldn't pass guys that were a lap down. It doesn't take much of a block and suddenly you find yourself running behind lapped cars all night long. It turned into a fuel strategy, track position, no passing race and no one wants that. Texas is usually the place you should have to be playing fuel strategy gambles. This is a place you should be able to drive from the back to the front and unfortunately it is just not that way right now."

RYAN HUNTER-REAY (No. 21 Vision Racing): "We had big handling issues all night long. We went from push to loose to push in each single corner and just made for a horrible combination of handling characteristics. It was a really bad combination of things happening and as the race went on, we tried to get the car to do one thing. By the end, we put so much push in the car that I was having trouble completing the corner but at least it wasn't loose and I wasn't going to wreck every lap. After that all we could do is ride around. These are the reasons but I don't want to give excuses. We are trying to get a handle on it but tonight was more difficult that it should have been."

SARAH FISHER (No. 67 Dollar General/Sarah Fisher Racing): "We had a major electrical failure. The car would not get to neutral so our first pit stop was thrown to the wind. The rest of the night was really difficult as we had to leave the car in 2nd gear and rely on the clutch during pit stops. The Dollar General Car is a great car. Had we not had the electrical failure, we could have really done something with it tonight."

MARIO MORAES (No. 5 KV Racing Technology/Votorantim, finished 10^th): "I think we got the most out of the car we could tonight. The car was loose in the middle of the race and I fell back, but during the last stint it was fast. I want to thank the entire KV Racing Technology team. They did a great job tonight. We finished in the top-10 again and earned some valuable points and pick up some spots in the championship standings."

HIDEKI MUTOH (No. 27 Formula Dream): "A frustrating day for the #27 car; we really focused this weekend on the race setup, but unfortunately, we had electrical issues and had to cut our night short. I think we had a strong car and would have been competitive if we were able to finish the race. Glad to have an off weekend, but look forward to Iowa in a couple of weeks."

***

The next IndyCar Series event is the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 21 at Iowa Speedway. The race will be telecast by ABC at 1p.m. ET. The next Firestone Indy Lights event is the Iowa 100 on June 20 at Iowa Speedway. The race will be telecast by VERSUS at 4 p.m. (ET) on June 22.

Danica's Drive For A Championship

TMS Media Relations — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:23:00 GMT

By Rick Herrin

This IndyCar Series season has been one of racing validation for megastar Danica Patrick.

She has the commercials, advertisements and rocketing popularity. Now, she's adding championship contender to her celebrity status.

"She has been really consistent this year," IndyCar Series driver Dario Franchitti said. "I think through the past couple of years you could see the flashes it could happen and she won her first race last year. Definitely if she can keep up that level of consistency she will be in the hunt. I think she has made tremendous progress."

Patrick has been a consistent front-runner this season with four top-five finishes in five races. That step forward in her progression comes a year after she won her first race at Motegi, Japan. The search now is for her first race victory in the United States and that accomplishment appears very close.

Patrick will start on the third row in 5th place for tonight's Bombardier Learjet 550k race under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway. To earn a spot in TMS' Victory Lane she will have to battle Franchitti, the 2007 series champ, and current series points leader Scott Dixon. Franchitti is tied for second in the points while Patrick is fourth.

In her last four races, Patrick has finishes in third, fourth and two in fifth. Her only disappointment came in the season opener at St. Petersburg where she ended 19th after being knocked out from contact with Raphael Matos.

Adding more credibility to her resume this season, Patrick's best finish came in the most prestigious race. She drove to third place in the Indianapolis 500, which marked the best finish ever by a female driver in the race.

"We've been having a lot of fun," Patrick said. "I enjoy the group that I'm with. The pit crew has been fantastic from the get-go and it's the same group from last year which is critical."

As far as her history at TMS, Patrick's results have been mixed. In 2007, she earned her only top-five finish in four races with third place. She started fifth last year but ended 10th in a race that has consistently produced exciting side-by-side racing at TMS.

The evolution from ever-popular star to title contender expects to further boost her marketability. With her long list of endorsements and budding consistency, Patrick could make the racing jump to NASCAR. Speculation has run deep surrounding Patrick about the possibility of moving to NASCAR or Formula One.

Patrick, who is in her third year driving for Andretti Green Racing, could become of the many open-wheel drivers who have made the move to NASCAR. However, several have had a bumpy transition including Franchitti in 2008.

"There's no way of knowing you're ready until you try it," Patrick said. "I will be exploring all kinds of options for next year and beyond. It's a contract year for me, so I don't know. We'll have to evaluate which teams are interested and go backward from there."

Despite all the talk that surrounds her, Patrick has shrugged off all questions about her future and it obviously hasn't bothered her performance on the track. She knew the rumors would swirl about where she would be headed after this season.

"It's not as though I didn't know it was coming this year, and it's been a pretty good year so far," Patrick said. "I have created a good group around me, so it's not distracting. I'm not the one making, receiving calls. I'm going to hear about it, but it's not my concern."

Her main concern has been vying for a championship and she's taking that step.

Bombardier Learjet 550k - Practice

TMS Media Relations — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:43:06 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 04: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Dallara Honda, speaks during a press conference during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 4, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)

Bombardier Learjet 550k - Practice

TMS Media Relations — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:41:56 GMT

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 04: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k on June 4, 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images

Bombardier Learjet 550k - Practice

TMS Media Relations — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:40:29 GMT

Danica Patrick Press Conference at TMS

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:57:58 GMT

Danica Patrick talked to the media at Texas Motor Speedway about her season to date, why TMS is one of her favorite tracks, and a possible move to NASCAR.