Brazilian driver Mario Moraes has inked a deal to drive for Kevin
Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser's KV Racing Technology team in 2009. A rookie
in the truest sense, Moraes completed his debut season last year for
Dale Coyne Racing at age 19 and in car No. 19.
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Mario Moraes. Photo by Troy Hart.
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Now 20, the series sophomore looks to improve having learned all the
tracks, gained valuable experience and acclimated himself to both racing
in the U.S. and the Dallara-Honda package.
"We are very excited to have Mario join our team," said Vasser. "Mario
is young and extremely talented. He impressed us with his performances
on both ovals and road/street circuits last year. We look forward to
watching him grow and are confident he will be very competitive during
the 2009 season."
In his first year after racing in Formula 3 in South America and
Europe for three seasons, Moraes scored three top-ten results with a
best finish of 7th at Watkins Glen, and a best start of 10th place in
Edmonton.
He also led his first laps at the Indianapolis 500, though that was
put down to pit strategy and he eventually finished 18th. Paired with
his countryman Bruno Junqueira, Dale Coyne Racing was an all-Brazilian
affair in 2008.
"I want to thank Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for this opportunity,"
Moraes said. "I think KV Racing Technology provides me with the best
opportunity to develop as a driver and advance my racing career. I am
really looking forward to working with the entire KVRT organization in
2009."
As KV Racing plans to run a two-car team in 2009 it is apparent that
either Oriol Servia or Will Power, if not both, will be looking for new
work in the new year. Servia led the so-called "transition drivers" in
the points standings last season in 9th overall, with five top-five
finishes. Power won Champ Car's sendoff at Long Beach and otherwise
scored a best finish of 4th at Mid-Ohio aboard the Dallara.
The move ends a relative dry spell of news trickling out of the IndyCar
Series, with more driver signings expected within the next couple weeks.
The series' first race kicks off on April 5 at St. Petersburg, FL.
