Kimball P16 At Sao Paulo

SAO PAULO, May 2, 2011: Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (NNCGR) driver Charlie Kimball finished 16th in the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on Monday, May 2, 2011.

Kimball completed his best qualifying effort in the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Honda and started in 18th position in Sunday’s race. The green flag flew under wet track conditions and the IZOD IndyCar Series rookie jumped to eighth by evading trouble on the slippery streets of Sao Paulo.

On lap 14, persistent rain and standing water on the 2.536-mile, 11-turn street course would force INDYCAR officials to postpone the race until Monday, May 2.

Kimball restarted the rain-delayed race in seventh but would quickly be put in a predicament when all teams came in for rain tires on lap 14 and the Novo Nordisk car was hit coming out of the pit box. The incident would cause the team to make another pit stop for repairs. Kimball returned to the track and focused on gaining as many positions as possible before ending the day one lap down in 16th postion.

With the finish, Kimball remains third in the IZOD IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year point standings and 21st overall.

Up next for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing is the IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29, 2011 (12:00 p.m. ET, ABC).