St. Pete: KV Racing Technology preview

KV RACING TECHNOLOGY OPENS 2009 INDYCAR SEASON WITH HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - - MARCH 30, 2009 - - KV Racing Technology will contest its seventh season of open-wheel completion, and second in the IndyCar Series, starting this weekend with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, April 3-5, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

KV Racing Technology (KVRT) is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 Series Champion Jimmy Vasser. Kalkhoven and Vasser, along with General Manager Mark Johnson, who is entering his fourth year with the team, have built KVRT into a contender for podium finishes as well as a resident of the top-10 in the championship standings.

KVRT will open the 2009 season with Mario Moraes behind the wheel of the #5 KV Racing Technology - Votorantim Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine. Moraes, 20, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be contesting his second IndyCar season. Last year he drove for Dale Coyne Racing, and despite competing on all 16 IndyCar tracks for the first time, earned three top-10 finishes with a best showing of seventh at Watkins Glen (10th at Nashville and Infineon Raceway) and a best starting position of 10th at Edmonton. Moraes led his first career IndyCar laps at the Indianapolis 500. In his only previous start in St. Petersburg, Moraes qualified 22nd and finished 16th.

"I am really looking forward to the start of the season and racing with KV Racing Technology," Moraes said. "It is fantastic to work with such an experienced group. We have done a lot of work during the preseason and I am really impressed with the work of the engineering staff and crew. I have already learned a lot and appreciate their support. The entire team has made me feel very welcome and I just want to thank Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for this opportunity."

Johnson has surrounded the youthful Moraes with a wealth of highly experienced racing talent. Team Manager David Brzozowski, who counts over 20 years of experience in open-wheel racing, heads up an outstanding crew of technicians including Chief Mechanic Steve Moore. In addition, the team boasts a veteran group of engineers led by John Dick, Dave Faustino and Garrett Mothersead.

"We made good progress during the preseason, but still have a lot of work to do," Johnson said. "The entire team has worked hard to put us in a position to be successful, but we know it is going to be a long season. I am just looking forward to getting started this weekend in St. Petersburg."

KV Racing Technology Notes:

KV Racing Technology will be making its fourth start in St. Petersburg. In three previous races the team has qualified in the top-10 twice with a best starting position of second by Will Power in 2008 (Oriol Sevia started seventh in 2008). They have finished in the top-10 all three times with a best showing of seventh by Servia last year (Power placed eighth). Patrick Lemarie earned the team's first top-10 finish in their first race placing 10th in St. Petersburg in 2003 (qualified 14th).

KVRT was the most consistent and highest ranked of the teams transitioning from the Champ Car World Series to the IndyCar Series last year. Both KVRT drivers spent much of the season inside the top-10 in the championship standings eventually placing ninth (Servia) and 12th (Power).

KV Racing Technology was established in 2003. The Indianapolis-based team has earned two victories the first by Cristiano da Matta in Portland in 2005 and the second by Will Power in Long Beach in 2008. They have captured two poles, Tristan Gommendy at Mont Tremblant in 2007 and Vasser at Milwaukee in 2005 (Will Power captured the pole at the 2008 Surfers Paradise, Australia exhibition race).

For more information about K V Racing Technology visit: www.kvracingtechnology.com

-credit: kvrt