Edmonton: KV Racing Technology Friday report

SATO LEADS STRONG KV RACING TECHNOLOGY 4-CAR EFFORT
FRIDAY IN HONDA INDY EDMONTON PRACTICE RUNS
Rookie Is Impressive in Edmonton Debut with Viso, Tracy and Moraes Also Quick

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (July 23, 2010) -- IZOD IndyCar Series rookie Takuma Sato looked to be at home Friday in his debut on the City Centre Raceway temporary circuit in the first day of action for Sunday's Honda Indy Edmonton

Sato, a seven-year Formula One veteran, is competing in just his 11th race in the 17-event campaign but the driver of the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry posted a top-five practice speed in the 1.96-mile, 14-turn City Centre Airport tarmac surface. Sato recorded a speed of 114.449 miles per hour with the fastest set by defending race winner Will Power at 115.176.

Sato, still getting accustomed to the unique circuit, stayed in the top-ten for most of Friday's one-hour practice before vaulting into the top-five on his final lap of the day.

E.J. Viso, the 25-year-old Venezuela driver, also recorded a top-ten run Friday in the No. 8 PDVSA--KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine with a speed of 113.683 m.p.h. Viso, in his third Edmonton event, said the bumpy track even blurred his vision under braking on several sections of the track. But his car was solid throughout most of the circuit. Viso will be looking to make his first Firestone Fast Six qualifying finale Saturday when time trials begin at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

Canadian star Paul Tracy enjoyed a much better Friday practice session from a week ago at Toronto in the No. 15 Honda Canada--Make A Wish--Motegi Wheels Honda/Dallara/Firestone car. The 31-time race winner posted a top-six speed in the Friday morning action and returned in the afternoon with the ninth best speed at 113.543 m.p.h. despite sitting out 10 minutes for a repair.

Young Mario Moraes, a top-five finisher at Watkins Glen took the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry to 13th fastest Friday at 113.183 m.p.h.

TAKUMA SATO -- #5 LOTUS -- KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "It is indeed a pretty unique track. It's my first time here on the Edmonton City Centre Airport track. It is so wide and extremely bumpy but we expected this. We made steady progress throughout the practice session and as my confidence grew, the car got better over the bumps. The end of the session was quite busy, but we were able to get in a good run which is important before qualifying tomorrow."

PAUL TRACY -- #15 HONDA CANADA -- MAKE A WISH -- MOTEGI WHEELS -- KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We had an overall good day today with the Honda Canada -- Make A Wish -- Motegi Wheels car. Everything kind of went to plan in the morning. We were in the top-six in the morning practice and we had a little issue with the car in the afternoon. We started on old tires and we went through some good changes. Plus they were a lot of yellows (flags) and we couldn't get a good stint of laps together. At the end, I was able to squeak in one good lap in for a top-ten clocking. With a little more time in the afternoon, I believe we would have better and closer to the top-five. This is a tough track on a driver and car. But I'm pleased with the first day of running here at Edmonton."

E.J. VISO -- #8 PDVSA -- KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "We have a pretty complete car after the first day. The grid is so tight and this is one of those places that you have to push so much harder to pick up positions. You have to go over the limit sometimes. Putting all of the sectors of the track together is difficult too. This is a bumpy and unstable track, so it is very hard to run consistent laps here. It is even difficult to find the reference points under braking since you are going up and down in the cockpit. Your vision gets blurry. Overall, I think we have a good car going into qualifying."

MARIO MORAES -- #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "Overall, the day was good. Unfortunately, at the end of the second practice session despite new tires, we weren't really able to get in any runs because of the yellow flags. However I was able to get my fastest time on my last lap even though there was traffic. The car felt good, and I think we are capable of having a top-10 qualifying tomorrow."

-source: kvrt