ROCKETSPORTS RACING EARNS TWO TOP TEN FINISHES IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (September 25, 2005) – Despite a slow start to the weekend for the Rocketsports Racing team, the team and drivers Timo Glock and Ryan Hunter-Reay pulled it off tonight in Las Vegas finishing both cars in the top ten.

In only his second oval race, Glock had not only the challenges of running on a super speedway oval configuration, but also night variables.   The Champ Car Hurricane Relief 400 was run tonight at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under the lights for the first, and only, Champ Car event this season scheduled as a night event.  

Starting in the 15th spot, the German worked the #8 Global Mail Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone through traffic and positioned himself in the tenth spot before making his first pit stop.  By Lap 44, Timo moved into the eighth spot, his highest position of the evening.  He would battle back-and-forth to retain that spot for the remainder of the 166-lap event.

Glock’s eighth place finish marked the second best result for a rookie in Round 11 of the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.  He obtained valuable points in the Rookie-of-the-year battle, continuing to lead the fight with 39 points over Ronnie Bremer, marking the biggest lead this season.  He also earned a championship point for being the “most improved” car in the race.

Hunter-Reay started 16th on the grid tonight, and by Lap 13, he was up in the 11th spot and running competitive times that matched those running by the leaders.  The American moved into the eighth spot, his best position of the evening, before making his first pit stop.  He battled hard on track, dealing with several lapped cars, and brought home the #31 Red Paw Systems, Inc. Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone tenth to round out a Rocketsports top-ten effort this weekend.

Quotes
Timo Glock #8 DHL Global Mail/Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“It was a tough race.  It was long and a lot of side-by-side racing action.  It was a good race overall, though.  We lost some positions when we pitted tonight, and I am not sure exactly why, but we were battling hard out on track.  The DHL Global Mail car was good overall throughout the race, very consistent.  It was fun at the end fighting with cars to earn my eighth place finish.  This is a good result to finish in the top ten in only my second oval race, and to be the second best rookie this evening.”
 
Ryan Hunter-Reay #31 Red Paw Systems, Inc./ Rocketsports Ford-Cosworth/Lola/Bridgestone
“It was a long weekend at the start because we had such a slow pace from the car.  I am pleased to finish in the top ten considering how things started at this event.  The car was loose in traffic, so I had a few close calls.  Overall, I am glad to get thru this race and finish with a top ten.”