|
E. J. Viso, #8 PDVSA – KV Racing
Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone, who was
making his third appearance on the 1.8-mile,
14-turn St. Petersburg temporary street circuit,
qualified a team-high ninth and drove an
incredibly smart and strong race. He was in-line
for a top-five finish when a fortuitous yellow
flag vaulted him into the lead on lap 72 of the
100 lap contest with enough fuel to go to the
end. However, one lap later the shift mechanism
failed, which all but brought his day to an end.
Viso, who returned to the track, ended up with
the races fastest lap, but finished 17th.
“What a shame for the PDVSA – KV Racing
Technology team because we ran well all
weekend,” Viso said. “We definitely had the
speed, pace and a good strategy in today’s race.
I was leading the race until a shift mechanism
failed. This is the tough part of racing, one
second you have everything and the next it is
taken away from you. We just need to keep our
spirits up and work hard for a better race at
Barber.”
.
Moraes, #32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone,
also competing in his third race in St.
Petersburg, started 20th. Driving a patient, but
determined race, Moraes benefitted from a solid
strategy and was running in seventh place when
he was hit from behind resulting in a flat tire.
After pitting for new tires Moraes was back on
the move fighting to pick up positions when, for
the second time, he was hit from behind when Dan
Wheldon’s suspension collapsed and he was unable
to stop. Moraes finished the race 21st.
“The race was going well until I got hit from
behind by first Dixon and then by Wheldon,”
Moraes said. “It’s a shame for the KV Racing
Technology team because the crew worked really
hard all weekend and the car was handling well.
To end it like this is not a great feeling.”
Sato, #5 Lotus – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone,
contested his second IndyCar race and first in
the green and yellow Lotus livery today.
Starting 11th, Sato used all of his Formula 1
experience to overcome challenging track
conditions and move into eighth place by lap 21.
However, at that point he was fighting to get
into the fuel window when he ran into the tire
wall while defending his position. Sato placed
22nd.
“I was disappointed not to finish today,” Taku
said. “I enjoyed the start of race. The
conditions were very tricky, but I was able to
improve a few positions, which was a great
feeling. During the early part of the race I was
able to battle and make some more positions.
Then, I was struggling with the balance and
wanted to pit, but we were trying to stretch to
the fuel window. Unfortunately, while I was
struggling I was trying to defend my position
when I hit the wall. I have learned a lot about
the car these first two races, but I still have
some things to learn about this series. I am
confident it will come soon.”
Next up for KVRT is the Indy Grand Prix of
Alabama presented by Legacy Credit Union, April
9-11, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham,
Alabama.
|
