Rocketsports Racing San Jose Race Report

PASTORELLI MATCHES BEST CHAMP CAR CAREER FINISH OF TENTH TODAY IN SAN JOSE

SAN JOSE, California (July 30, 2006) – Despite radio issues, losing all electronics on the dash of his steering wheel, and then his ability to obtain water from his internal drink bottle, Rocketsports Racing’s driver Nicky Pastorelli completed all 97 laps in today’s Canary Foundation San Jose Grand Prix Presented by Taylor Woodrow to match his Champ Car career best finish of tenth after starting 17th on the grid. A caution at the start of the race allowed Pastorelli to make an early pit stop on Lap 4 for fuel. He pitted out of the 13th spot and it was a great stop by the #8 Rocketsports crew who got him back into the field without losing any positions. On Lap 26, he was doing a great job of holding the 14th place car off and charging hard to close in on the 12th spot. Pastorelli was called in for fuel and tires making his second stop of the day on Lap 37. During his 40th trip around the 1.443-mile temporary street course in downtown San Jose, he tried very hard to obtain a spot by making a move on the inside of Turn 1, but had to go too wide and was unable to get the job done. A few other close opportunities came about and Pastorelli gave it his all, showing that he has what it takes to be competitive in this series.

His final pit stop of the day came on Lap 54 and he charged hard to the end of the race. At the end of the race, he was pushing fellow Holland-countryman Charles Zwolsman for the ninth spot, and on Lap 96 he posted his fastest lap of not only the race, but the weekend, with a time of 51.261 seconds (101.340 mph). Upon completion of Lap 97, Pastorelli officially finished his first Champ Car race on the lead lap.

“It was a good day for us; this goes to show that the car and myself continue to improve,” said Pastorelli. “I would like to thank my engineer, Brian Ma, for giving me a good race car today. I was able to overtake and really race out there this afternoon; it was very exciting for me and a complete boost to my confidence. I think the Rocketsports team and I are coming along and we have a lot more to offer. I am so happy for the team, we had a very rough weekend in Edmonton and they did a lot of work for me. So I am happy that we were able to have a good result today in San Jose and finish in the top ten because they deserved it.”