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IndyCar - Kimball Finishes 19th After Post-Race Penalty


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EDMONTON, Jul. 23, 2012: Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (NNCGR) driver Charlie Kimball finished 19th in the Edmonton Indy at Edmonton City Centre Airport. The result came in the 28th start of his IZOD IndyCar Series career and 11 rounds of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi team ran yet another aggressive race. Starting from 19th position, the NovoRapid FlexTouch car battled through the middle of the field for the majority of the race due to a caution-free event. Kimball gained positions through a total of two pit stops on the 2.25-mile, 13-turn street course, but the lack of cautions did not allow for a run to the front of the field. Kimball showed strength early-on and exited his first pit stop 19th and gained five positions within 11 laps. The No. 83 car posted its fastest lap with 10 laps remaining. Kimball held 14th position for 17 laps before a battle for 13th with the No.77 car of Simon Pagenaud in Turn 13 on the final lap. Although Kimball would get the position, INDYCAR officials gave him a 30-second penalty for avoidable contact after the race, which dropped him to 19th.

With the result, Kimball drops to 14th from 12th in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with 216 markers, -146 points behind points leader Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Honda remains second in the manufacturer point standings with 75 points, -15 back to Chevrolet with 90. Lotus remains third with 44 points.

Up next, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing will compete in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Sunday, August 5 (1:00pm ET on ABC).

NOTES - The last caution-free Indy car race on a street/road course was Portland in 2007 under Champ Car sanction

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Charlie Kimball: “It was a tough race. We always knew it was going to be here. We felt pretty good about the car. We saved some fuel and I went for the moves while they were there. We were really good on the brakes in the corner and into the straights. We’ll take it and move on to Mid-Ohio. I think we had such a good race there last year we’ll be looking to build on the momentum from this race there.”

 
 
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