Moraes And Sato Prepare For Sunday's Indianapolis 500

SPEEDWAY, May 28, 2010: E.J. Viso, coming back from a practice crash last week, posted the fastest time of the day for KV Racing Technology in “Carb Day” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday in preparations for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Viso, whose PDVSA crew built a new car last Wednesday after a Tuesday afternoon turn one incident, recorded the sixth fastest overall speed in the 33-driver lineup Friday at 224.419 miles per hour as the three-car KVRT contingent worked throughout the one-hour practice session.

Viso, who’ll start 19th in the No. 8 PDVSA—KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry Sunday, circled the famed 2.5-mile oval 39 times during the “Carb Day” action in front of a big sun-drenched crowd.

KVRT’s fastest qualifier, young Brazilian Mario Moraes, clocked the eighth fastest speed in his No. 32 GEICO-Curb Records-KVRT Honda/Dallara/Firestone car at 224.114 m.p.h. Moraes, starting his third Indy 500, will go off the starting line 13th on Sunday.

Rookie Takuma Sato, starting 31st in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, was 15th fastest at 222.975. The Japanese driver, who placed third in the 2004 USGP here at Indy, will make his first Indy 500 start Sunday after five F-1 starts here beginning in 2002.

The drivers will be busy on Saturday with a morning autograph session for the fans, the public drivers’ meeting and the annual 500 Festival Parade through downtown Indianapolis.

The live ABC-TV telecast of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 begins at noon Sunday.

DRIVER QUOTES:

E.J. VISO, #8 PDVSA-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “I want to thank the PDVSA - KV Racing Technology team. The last few weeks have been really tough. Now we have a fast and comfortable race setup. This is basically because of all the hard work of my mechanics and engineers. After having a big crash last week, this is a great way to recover and hopefully we will have a great race on Sunday.”

MARIO MORAES, #32 GEICO-Curb Records-KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “We had a few problems with the GEICO - Curb Records - KVRT car today. It’s unfortunate because this was our last practice before the race but I know the speed is there. I am looking forward to the race. We are estimating about nine pit stops, and I just need to be there for the last 30 laps to fight for the good finish.”

TAKUMA SATO, #5 LOTUS - KVRT HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “The conditions today were the most difficult I have experienced here at Indy. We tried various setups in a limited time frame. We concentrated on our qualifying setup until today, so this was my first opportunity to work on our race sim (simulation). I feel we need to improve the car some more, but we have a strong engineering staff and I am very optimistic that we will have a good car for the race. It will be exciting to race in my first Indianapolis 500.”