KVRacing Technology have signed Mario Moraes for the 2009 IndyCar Series
(1-13-2009). The 20-year-old Brazilian jumped straight from British
Formula 3 to IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing last year and made steady
progress during his rookie season, taking a best result of seventh at
Watkins Glen, although several other promising performances ended in
accidents (pictured here while competing in the Indy 500). /// "We are
very excited to have Mario join our team," said team co-owner Jimmy
Vasser. "Mario is young and extremely talented. He impressed us with
his performances on both ovals and road/street circuits last year.
Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)
First "TTL" (Transition Team Legion) IndyCar Test Of 2009
By
all reports, the test was a success on almost every measure. Twenty-two
cars (21 drivers) -- the most for a spring Open Test since 2002 --
turned 2,610 laps for a two-day total of 4,698 without incident.
Ryan
Briscoe in the No. 6 Team Penske car topped the speed chart at 25.1984
seconds (212.156 mph), with reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott
Dixon second (25.2378; 211.825). Andretti Green Racing's Marco Andretti
with his car sporting the livery of a new sponsor (25.3036; 211.274)
was followed by Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan (25.3582;
210.819).
MarioMaraes getting comfortable in his new ride with KV Racing Technology at
IRL's Homestead open test. Image Credit: Luis Betancourt (2009)
Mario
Moraes, driving the car sporting the livery of the one driven by Oriol
Servia in 2008, making his debut with KV Racing Technology (driving
last year for Dale Coyne Racing/Sonny's BBQ), cracked the top five for
the second consecutive day (25.3842; 210.603). KV Racing Technology was
the highest placing team and driver in this test session from the
merger transition of the CCWS into the IRL last year.
Transition
teams from last year did not really fare that well in this first
session of the first full year of unification. First off, the
Transition Team Legion (TTL) lost one of its drivers to an established
IRL team ? Will Power, formally with KV Racing Technology, has been
tapped by Penske Racing to drive the car normally driven by Helio
Castroneves who has to take a leave of absence to deal with a legal
challenge about the payment of taxes. Will placed 7th overall behind
Moraes.
Pacific Coast Motorsports and their driver from last
year, Mario Dominguez were noticeably absent with rumors involving PCM
about the possible combination of two teams coming together to compete
rumbleing in from Indiana.
Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing solider on without their chief namesake, Paul Newman who passed away at the end of September
of 2008. This will see the first year around the paddocks of top level
Motosports racing the figure of Paul Newman will not be seen. Justin
Wilson (placing 20th) has moved on to race for Dale Coyne while T-Team
Legion standout Graham Rahal (10th), maintains his seat and is joined
on the team by Robert Doornbos (placing 12th), CCWS Rookie of the Year
for 2007. For the test, established IRL driver Mila Duno drove as a
test driver for NHLR (placing 17th) while she sorts out her sponsorship
and team package for 2009.
Other "TTL" drivers from last year include EJ Viso/HVM Racing 14th, and Jamie Camara/Conquest Racing at 21 out of 22 cars.
"TTL" (Transition Team Legion) drivers and/or teams in *BOLD ? A total of eight participants qualify to be listed as "TTL".
The"Bobby D" - Robert Doornbos driving in his first ever Dallara ride
(currently unsponsored) as he assumes his position on the
Newman/Haas/Lanigan team along side Graham Rahal. Image Credit: Luis
Betancourt (2009)
This excerpted from indycar.com -
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway - IndyCar - 1.485
Report: Combined Results of Practice Sessions February 25, 2009
Event: Homestead-Miami Open Test ? Open Test 1 of 2
As Of: End of Open Test
Rank Car Driver Name C/E/T Session Time Speed Total Laps
(C)hassis: D=Dallara | (E)ngine: H=Honda | (T)ire: F=Firestone | (R) Rookie
1 - 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.1984 212.156 214
2 - 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.2378 211.825 282
3 - 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3036 211.274 212
4 - 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3582 210.819 199
5 - 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.3842 210.603 240
*6 - 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3842 210.603 265
*7 - 3 Power, Will D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3914 210.544 248
8 - 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4085 210.402 115
9 - 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4299 210.225 276
*10 - 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4465 210.088 229
11 - 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4578 209.995 224
*12 - 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.5077 209.584 256
13 - 14 Meira, Vitor D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5210 209.475 219
*14 - 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5356 209.355 130
15 - 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5383 209.333 231
16 - 3 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.5479 209.254 14
*17 - 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5809 208.984 222
18 - 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5881 208.925 247
19 - 12 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.6165 208.694 247
*20 - 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.6886 208.108 259 *21 - 34 Camara, Jaime D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.7790 207.378 161
22 - 98 Barrett, Stanton (R) D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.9180 206.266 208
Total Laps for Combined Sessions: 4698
Information provided by Indy Racing Information System - Copyright Indy Racing League, LLC 2009
Reference Here>>
... notes from The EDJE
