Star Mazda - Andretti Autosports Team Preview Comments

SAGE KARAM, #88 TEAM MAZDASPEED/COMFORT REVOLUTION CAR

"As a MAZDASPEED Scholarship driver, doing well at Mazda Raceway would be special for both me and the program. With five top-five finishes in seven of the ten races this year, I have an excellent chance to secure the Rookie of the Year honor and even finish as high as second in the Star Mazda Championship standings. Coming into the season, we were looking at a top-five finish as the goal, but now a third or fourth could be realistic." "I trained hard for this weekend at Laguna and I believe there isn't anything left to do but perform. The team put 100 percent into me and the series. Last year J-F [Thormann] and Comfort Revolution sent me out to Mazda Raceway for an exhibition race. I didn't quite understand the importance of it all then, but now I totally see the value in that experience. I feel a lot more confident having been to Mazda Raceway already, with the continuity of being on the same team, working with same crew and with a solid program." "It's hard to believe that we are at the end of the season already. Not too many people remember how we started the season at St. Pete, but hopefully they will remember us with a win at Mazda Raceway this weekend!"

ZACH VEACH, #77 TEAM ZAKOSI DATA BACKUP CAR

"With the 2011 USF2000 season being finished, I have 100 percent of my focus now on Star Mazda and the last race of the year at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. My No. 77 Zakosi Data Backup team and I finished our first Star Mazda race in seventh place at Infineon Raceway. I'm really going to be fighting to finish better than that this coming race weekend; I'm setting my sights on a top-five finish! I would really like to thank Andretti Autosport again for this opportunity."