Watkins Glen: Rounds eight, nine doubleheader preview

FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS DRIVERS RACE TWICE IN SAME DAY

FAST FACTS
Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen

CORNING DUELS

Date / Time

Race #1
11:15 a.m. (EDT)
Saturday, July 5

Race #2
3:20 p.m. (EDT)
Saturday, July 5

Track
Watkins Glen International
(11-turns/3.4 miles)

Distance
29 laps/98.6 miles (Each race)

TV
ESPN2 (Taped)
2 p.m. July 10

Radio
IMS Radio Network

2007 Winners
Wade Cunningham (Race #1)
Alex Lloyd (Race #2)

2007 Polesitter
Wade Cunningham (Race #1 only)

Corning Duels Race Notes:

Familiar names race in the Corning Duels

The Corning Duels entry list features several drivers hoping to emulate their family's success in open-wheel racing

* Richard Antinucci, the nephew of 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr., drives the No. 7 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car. He will be making his third start at the Watkins Glen International after recording a pair of top-10 finishes a year ago. Antinucci's uncle has raced Formula 1 cars and IndyCar Series cars at the Glen.

* Sean Guthrie, driver of the No. 4 Carcrafters Guthrie Racing car, is the son of three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Jim Guthrie. Guthrie will make his fourth start at Watkins Glen this weekend in search of his first win.

* Arie Luyendyk Jr., driver of the No. 26 Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing car, also seeks his first win at Watkins Glen. The second-generation driver is the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk.

Empire State ties

Native New Yorker Matt Lee will attempt to make his series debut in the Corning Duels for Guthrie Racing. The Syosset, N.Y. native finished second in Formula BMW USA in 2006 and raced in Champ Car Atlantics in 2007. Lee will drive the No. 54 car this weekend.

Former winners looking for more glory

A pair of former Firestone Indy Lights winners at Watkins Glen return to the track seeking to add to their trophy cases. Jeff Simmons, who won the inaugural Corning 100 in 2005, and 2006 Corning 100 winner Bobby Wilson are entered in the event and hope to become the first multi-time Firestone Indy Lights winner at the Glen

A salute to heroes

For the Watkins Glen race, held on Fourth of July weekend, Panther Racing's Firestone Indy Lights drivers Brent Sherman and Dillon Battistini will don camouflaged firesuits, which were made from nomex fabric supplied by the National Guard -- the same material worn by the soldiers. Battistini will see his No. 15 car get a special paint scheme as he will be showcasing the red, white and blue colors of the National Guard along with Sherman and IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira.

Season To Date:

* Five drivers have won races this year - Dillon Battistini, Raphael Matos, Richard Antinucci, J.R. Hildebrand and Bobby Wilson. Battistini is the only driver to win more than one race (Homestead, Indianapolis and Iowa)

* Four drivers have won the SWE Pole Award this season - Raphael Matos, Dillon Battistini, Pablo Donoso and Arie Luyendyk Jr. Matos is the only driver to win more than one pole (Homestead and St. Pete).

* Dillon Battistini has five top-five finishes in seven starts.

* Richard Antinucci has finished first or second in four of the seven races this season. He won St. Petersburg 2 and finished second at Homestead, St. Petersburg 1 and Indianapolis. J.R. Hildebrand also had four top-five finishes this season.

Milestones:

* Arie Luyendyk Jr. will attempt to make his 54th and 55th Firestone Indy Lights start at Iowa Speedway, which would extend his series record.

* Bobby Wilson will attempt to make his 36th and 37th consecutive start, which is second on the all-time list. Jaime Camara holds the series record with 42 consecutive starts from 2005-2007.

Schedule (local time):

July 4
9 - 10 a.m. - Firestone Indy Lights practice (all cars)
1 - 1:45 p.m. -- Firestone Indy Lights practice (all cars)
5-5:30 p.m. - SWE Pole Qualifying

July 5
10:45 a.m. - Corning Duel #1 pre-race
11:15 a.m. - Corning Duel #1 (29 laps/98.6 miles)
3:20 p.m. - Corning Duel #2 ((29 laps/98.6 miles)

-credit: irl