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KV Racing Indy 500 practice day 4 report

KV Racing Technology

Rubens Barrichello, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet

Rubens Barrichello, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet

Eric Gilbert

KV RACING TECHNOLOGY SPENDS DAY FOUR AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY RUNNING IN TRAFFIC

Rubens Barrichello, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
Rubens Barrichello, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

SPEEDWAY, In. – May 15, 2012 – After three days working on their qualifying setups, KV Racing Technology spent day four running in traffic and working on their race setups in preparation for the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.

All three KVRT drivers, Tony Kanaan, in the No. 11 GEICO | MOUSER ELECTRONICS - KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone entry, E. J. Viso, piloting the No. 5 CITGO | PDVSA - KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone machine and Rubens Barrichello, driving the No. 8 BMC | EMBRASE – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone car, spent the day working in tandem with other cars and taking turns leading and following in order to gauge how the cars will react in traffic and simulated race conditions on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

Kanaan, for the fourth consecutive day, led the team posting a fast lap of 219.619 mph placing him 19th on the speed charts. Viso again recorded the team’s second fastest speed with a lap of 218.330 mph putting him 26th, while Barrichello logged the 29th fastest lap at 217.435 mph.

Kanaan, who ran 47 laps, has now turned a total of 117 over the four full days of practice, the fewest of the KVRT trio. The 37-year-old Brazilian has finished second, third, fourth and fifth with one pole in 10 appearances at the Brickyard.

Commenting on today’s session Kanaan said, “Today was a good day. We concentrated more on race setup and got a feel for the car when running in traffic. Hopefully tomorrow will be like today.”

Viso completed 66 laps today giving him a total of 159 since first taking to the track last Saturday. This was the first time the 27-year-old Venezuelan has run extensively in traffic after spending the first three days of practice on a clear track avoiding any tows or drafting. Viso is competing at the Speedway for the fifth time and is looking to improve on his best qualifying position, 18th in 2011, and his best finish, 24th in 2009.

“It was a really tough day today,” Viso said. “Many of the things we tried today didn’t produce the results we wanted. The plan right now is to go back to the setup we had yesterday and start from there. I am confident we will come up with a solution. We just have to keep working hard and good things will happen.”

Barrichello, who was back in his primary car today, also ran extensively in traffic for the first time. He logged 50 laps today and has now completed a total of 256 laps, the most on the team. The 39-year-old Brazilian veteran of 19 Formula One seasons got above 217 mph today for the first time, but more importantly the 640 miles he has run during the last five sessions (including his rookie orientation program last Thursday) provides him with valuable experience as he prepares for his first Indianapolis 500, which will also be his first oval race ever.

“We are still trying different things, but just can't find the speed,” Barrichello said. “However, what was good today was learning to run in traffic which I haven't really been able to do much of and working out my lines. We have another day of practice tomorrow, so we will see what it brings.”

Practice again began at noon, however the KVRT cars did not take to the track until later in the afternoon. A total of 30 cars turned a total of 1602 laps today (4602 over the four days). Marco Andretti posted the fastest speed at 223.676 mph.

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 27. The race will be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 12:00 p.m. (ET) (tape delayed at 7:00 p.m. ET in Indianapolis).

KV Racing Technology was founded in January 2003 and joined the IndyCar Series in 2008. The Indianapolis based team is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 IndyCar Champion Jimmy Vasser. Veteran Motorsports manager, Mark Johnson is the team’s General Manager. Johnson is assisted by Team Manager Tom Wurtz, Technical Director Eric Cowdin and Operations Manager Steve Moore.

For more information about KV Racing Technology visit: www.kvracingtech

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