INDYCARNATION

Welcome to the Honda Indy Edmonton, the 11^th race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Amy Konrath, vice president of communications/public relations for the Indy Racing League, Sid Priddle of the Honda Indy Edmonton, and their staffs are here to assist you. Please direct your questions and requests to anyone in the Media Center.

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TODAY'S SCHEDULE (all times local):

9:15 - 10 a.m.	Firestone Indy Lights practice
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.	IZOD IndyCar Series practice
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.	Firestone Indy Lights Sunoco Pole Qualifying
3:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.	IZOD IndyCar Series PEAK Performance Pole Qualifying (Knockout qualifying and Firestone Fast Six)

 

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FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS PRACTICE #2:

•Quickest lap, Friday: 1:07.1500, 105.774, #27 Martin Plowman

•Track record, Firestone Indy Lights: 1:05.9065, 107.771, J.R. Hildebrand (2009, qualifying)

At 9 a.m., the ambient temperature was 66 degrees Fahrenheit with winds from the south-southwest at 6 mph. Skies were fair. The track temperature was 87 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.

9:15 a.m. - GREEN.

9:24 a.m. - LOCAL YELLOW. #49 Major spins and continues in Turn 7.

9:42 a.m. - #40 Clarke turns lap at 1:06.9564, fastest of the session and weekend, so far.

9:50 a.m. - #2 Hinchcliffe turns fastest lap at 1:06.1037, fastest of the session and weekend, so far.

9:52 a.m. - LOCAL YELLOW. #26 Kimball spins and pulls into the runoff area in Turn 11. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Car is tended to by Holmatro Safety Team and returns to pit lane under its own power.

9:55 a.m. - GREEN.

10 a.m. - CHECKERED.

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 The chief mechanics for Team Penske's No. 3 and No. 6 cars are not in Edmonton this weekend due to injuries sustained away from the track.

Sean Hanrahan, chief mechanic for No. 3 Helio Castroneves is not at Edmonton after surgery for a hernia this week. Rick Rinaman, who served as chief mechanic on the car prior to this season, is filling in as chief mechanic and as outside front tire changer on the car. Hanrahan is expected to return to chief mechanic duties at Mid Ohio.

Matt Jonsson, chief mechanic for No. 6 Ryan Briscoe, remains out of action with a broken right ankle. Jonsson, who served as chief mechanic at Toronto, is not in Edmonton. John Stanchina, who was the outside front tire changer on the car last week in Toronto, will return as chief mechanic and outside front tire changer on the car Jonsson is expected to return to chief mechanic duties at Mid Ohio.

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Firestone Indy Lights driver James Hinchcliffe is doing double duty this weekend. The Canadian is serving as a driver analyst for the Honda Indy Edmonton public address system during IZOD IndyCar Series practice and qualifying.

"I've done some television and radio work in the past and was the color analyst at the Indianapolis 500 this year for the IMS Radio Network," he said. "I'm happy to lend my expertise to the event when I can. Obviously, driving the TMR car takes priority.

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IZOD IndyCar Series entrant 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 display on the No.77 FAZZT Bowers & Wilkins Hot Wheels at the Honda Indy Toronto (July 17-19) and Honda Indy Edmonton (July 23-25)

Established in October of 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.

ANDRÉ AZZI (FAZZT Race Team owner): "As CEO of Fazzt Race Team, I am so proud to be associated with ONE DROP. It's sad to know that in 2010, people around the world still lack access to safe water. Our hope is to help raise awareness and get race fans in both Canada and the United States, as well as our international followers, to support water for all."

ALEX TAGLIANI (driver, FAZZT Race Team): "Our goal is to use our team, the sport we love and our visibility amongst IndyCar fans to help bring attention to this vital issue and make the world just a little bit better for everyone. We're blessed to be able to go racing or enjoy it as a fan, but it's also nice to have the opportunity to do something important for others as well. We hope to an impact even just by educating people and letting them know about what ONE DROP is all about."

LILI-ANNA PEREŠA, executive director, ONE DROP): "We very much appreciate the support of the FAZZT Race Team in spreading our message and supporting safe water for all. Water and poverty are closely linked. When populations have easy access to water, they have more time to devote to activities that enable them to improve their living conditions. Health, equality between men and women, a decent income and food security all depend on having access to water."

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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.

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IZOD INDYCAR SERIES PRACTICE #3:

•Quickest lap, Friday: 1:01.6691, 115.176, #12 Will Power

•Track record, IZOD IndyCar Series: 1:00.7311, 107.771, Ryan Briscoe (2008, qualifying)

At 10 a.m., the ambient temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit with winds from the south-southwest at 6 mph. Skies were fair. The track temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Firestone engineers.

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