INDYCARNATION

EDMONTON, Alberta – Simona de Silvestro acknowledged the cheers and applause of the pit lane grandstand throng on her way to the Team Stargate Worlds/HVM Racing transporter following the second round of qualifications.

"It wasn't bad," she said. 

Indeed.The IZOD IndyCar Series rookie from Switzerland will start a season-high seventh in the Honda Indy Edmonton, and just missed qualifying for the Firestone Fast Six on the 1.973-mile, 14-turn City Centre Airport circuit. Her previous best qualifying effort was 11th in the season opener in Brazil.

De Silvestro posted a quick lap of 1 minute, 1.5437 seconds in the No. 78 car. E.J. Viso had a lap of 1:01.4393 in the No. 8 PDVSA KV Racing Technology car to advance to his first Firestone Fast Six.

"Starting seventh with some of the big guys in front of us is something pretty special," said de Silvestro, who advanced 12 positions to finish a season-high ninth last week in the Honda Indy Toronto. "We put two sets of reds (Firestone alternate tires) on in the first session. I think if we would have had a fresh set of reds in the second session we would have been a bit quicker.

"But the whole team at HVM can be really happy. They've worked really hard all weekend, and now we just have to try to move forward and I think it could be a good race for us. If we can duplicate what we did in Toronto -- moving forward in the race -- I think with this starting position it's going to be good."

Wearing patch to honor hospitalized pilot

John Cummiskey, team manager of de Ferran Dragon Racing, is wearing the CF-18 Hornet patch presented to him by Capt. Brian Bews during last year’s Edmonton race weekend.

Capt. Bews ejected from his CF-18 Hornet as the plane plunged toward the ground during a practice session July 23 for the Alberta International Air Show in Lethbridge. Capt. Bews remained in a Saskatchewan hospital July 24, listed in stable condition. The Defense Department is investigating the crash.

Capt. Bews was among the guests of de Ferran Dragon Racing at the City Centre Airport in 2009.

FAZZT Race Team supports ONE DROP efforts

FAZZT Race Team and Canadian driver Alex Tagliani are lending their support to Montreal-based non-governmental organization ONE DROP. The ONE DROP logo has been on the No.77 FAZZT Bowers & Wilkins/Hot Wheels car for the Honda Indy Toronto last weekend and this weekend’s Honda Indy Edmonton.

Established in October 2007, ONE DROP—an initiative of Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil—fights poverty through its projects aimed at supporting access to water in developing countries and raising each and every one’s awareness of water-related issues worldwide.

Of note

Firestone Indy Lights driver James Hinchcliffe served as driver analyst for the public address system during IZOD IndyCar Series practice and qualifying. … Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Pippa Mann is scheduled to have surgery on the broken bone in her left hand next week. It was injured during the Toronto race weekend. ... Sean Hanrahan (Team Penske No. 3 car) had hernia surgery earlier in the week. Rick Rinaman, who served as chief mechanic on the car before this season, is filling in. Matt Jonsson (Team Penske No. 6 car) remains out of action with a broken right ankle. John Stanchina is filling in.

 

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