IRL: Kentucky: Kelley Racing preview

Media notes

Anton Julian, left-rear tire changer for Al Unser Jr., was released from St. Louis University Hospital on Monday evening. Julian suffered a concussion and a right-knee injury after a pit road accident in the Emerson Indy 250 on Sunday at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

Kevin Miller from Indianapolis, IN will assume Julian's duties as mechanic and left-rear tire changer for Al Unser Jr. Miller has worked with Kelley Racing in the past as a mechanic and pit crew member on the 2003 Indianapolis 500 entry for driver Tony Renna.

Scott Sharp will participate in the "Festival of Speed" at Newport on the Levee on Thursday, August 14. Sharp will be signing autographs from 5:00 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m. and then he will drive the gas-powered Delphi 2-seater to the Great American Ballpark to throw out the first pitch at the Cincinnati Reds game.

On Friday morning at Kentucky Speedway Al Unser Jr. will be giving IRL IndyCar Series 2-seater rides to Orlando Merced and Jeff Kent of the Houston Astros. As a follow-up, Unser Jr. will attend the Astros vs. Reds game that evening at the Great American Ballpark and throw out the first pitch.

Kelley Racing Fast Facts

This is the sixth season of IRL competition for Kelley Racing.

Kelley Racing drivers have made 143 starts, scored nine victories and eight poles in IRL career competition.

Al Unser Jr., No. 31 Corteco/Dallara/Toyota/Firestone--Fast Facts and Quote

This will be Unser Jr.'s 320th career start and his 47th IRL start.

Unser Jr. is currently sixth in the IndyCar Series points standings with 259 points.

Kentucky Record--

In 2002 Unser Jr. started 14th and finished sixth. In 2001, he started ninth and finished fourth while in 2000 he started 14th and finished 27th after an accident on lap 2.

His victory on June 7 at Texas Motor Speedway was his third IndyCar Series victory and his 34th career victory.

Unser Jr. has won two Indianapolis 500's (1992, 1994) and two open-wheel championships (1990, 1994).

Quote on the Belterra Casino Indy 300

"I'm looking forward to going to Kentucky. It's a big mile and a half track and Kelley Racing as a whole has had good setups on the mile and a half tracks. So we're excited about getting to Kentucky. The Corteco team had a good run there last year and finished sixth. I really feel with our package and the Toyota engine that we're definitely strong enough to put in a challenge for the win this weekend."

Scott Sharp, No. 8 Delphi/Dallara/Toyota/Firestone---

Fast Facts and Quote

This will be Sharp's 78th career start, his 70th consecutive IndyCar start and his sixth season with Kelley Racing.

Kentucky Record--

In 2002, Sharp started 21st and finished fourth. In 2001, he started from the pole and led 105 laps en-route to a second place finish while in 2000, he started 18th and finished 24th due to an engine problem on lap 16.

Sharp is currently in ninth place in the IndyCar Series with 245 points.

Sharp's victory in April at Twin Ring Motegi, Japan was his eighth career victory.

Quote on the Belterra Casino Indy 300

"The whole Kelley Racing team has been running much better on the big tracks rather than the smaller tracks this year. As evidence you can use the races at Texas, Homestead, Kansas and even Michigan that right now we're running better on the big tracks. So I think it's with great pleasure for our team that we get back to Kentucky. I like the Kentucky track a lot and I've had pretty decent runs there including a fourth place year. I think we've done well there in the past without a lot of power so to be able to go back there this year with the Toyota engine is exciting. We're looking forward to a good finish for the Delphi team."

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