F1's Speed 9th in Australia, Heading to Infineon Raceway This Week

 

SONOMA, Calif. - Manteca native Scott Speed posted
his best effort of the season at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne,
taking ninth place for Toro Rosso Scuderia.

 

Speed originally placed eighth, which would have given the rookie driver
his first Formula One point, but he was penalized 25 seconds for
overtaking David Coulthard (Red Bull) under a yellow flag, according to
race officials, dropping him to ninth place. This was just the third
Formula One race of Speed's career.

 

Prior to the penalty, Speed called his effort, "one of the greatest
moments I've ever had in my life."

 

Speed had qualified 19th for the Australian Grand Prix, and got as high
as seventh place during the race, which saw Fernando Alonzo (Renault)
post his second victory in three races, strengthening his lead in the F1
points standings. Speed began his open-wheel racing career at the Jim
Russell Racing School, which is based at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. 

 

Speed will return to Sonoma on Wednesday for a press conference formally
introducing him to the Northern California media. The press conference
will take place at 11 a.m. at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center. Speed
will also take a few laps around the 16-turn, three-quarter mile kart
track in a kart prepared by the Jim Russell Racing School.

 

Speed returns to action in the fourth round of the Formula One season on
April 23 in Imola (Italy). Race fans will get their first glimpse of
Speed on American soil in F1 competition at the United States Grand Prix
in Indianapolis, July 2. 

 

MEDIA NOTE: If you interested in staffing the Scott Speed press
conference in Sonoma on Wednesday, email John Cardinale
(jcardinale@infineonraceway.com) or Diana Rose
(drose@infineonraceway.com).

 

Scott Speed - 2006 Formula One Season

Race: Qualify, Finish

1. Bahrain (March 12): 16th, 13th

2. Malaysia (March 19): 12th, 16th

3. Melbourne (April 2): 19th, 9th

4. Next race: Imola, Italy (April 23).