IndyCar - Kimball Comes Home 11th At Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, August 8, 2011: Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (NNCGR) driver Charlie Kimball finished 11th in the Honda Indy 200.

The Novo Nordisk team used the first 45-minutes of Friday’s practice session to focus on drive style as Kimball turned his first laps in the No. 83 Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen car on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio. The preparation during practice was reflected in qualifying when Kimball posted the 10th-fastest time and scored his best IZOD IndyCar Series career start on a road course and overall best qualifying run of the season.

Kimball took the green flag for the 85-lap race and immediately jumped to two positions, running eighth by the fifth lap. The Novo Nordisk team maintained their spot in the top-10 by running consistent laps, focusing on fuel mileage and completing flawless pit stops. With less than 20 laps to go, Kimball attempted to make a pass for fifth and spun, but saved the No. 83 from stalling and continued to battle for position. The Novo Nordisk team crossed the finish line 11th, making Kimball the highest-finishing rookie for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

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

Up next for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing is the MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, August 14, 2011 (3:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS).

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Charlie Kimball: “It was a great day for the No. 83 Levemir and NovoLog FlexPen car. We were quick all day and running inside of the top-10, where we qualified, all day. It was nice to be up front. I pressured Tony Kanaan into a mistake for fifth. Not many people do that. I just went into the next corner pushing to get a gap but dropped a wheel, spun and ended up 11th . I’m really proud of the whole effort from the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew this weekend.”