AGR NEWS

Danica Patrick, #7 Motorola Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I look forward to coming back to Japan each year. My first race here was back in 2005 and I had a great result. What I like about this track is that it is so different from any other circuit that we race on back in the States, but at the same time I am very comfortable racing here. It is a difficult track, but fun. I think that the Motorola car will do well this weekend."

Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I love to go to Japan, especially after last year when I got my win there. It's definitely a place that I'm looking forward to going back to. I've always been treated really, really nice by my Japanese fans so I can't wait to go back to Motegi. The Team 7-Eleven car has been really quick this season so hopefully we'll be able to get a repeat victory in Japan."

Marco Andretti, #26 NYSE Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I'm looking forward to going back to Motegi this year. It's a track that is difficult to master because Turns 1 and 2 are so different from Turns 3 and 4. I had an accident last year after struggling with the setup for most of the race. The extra practice day always helps, so hopefully we'll learn some things and challenge to put the Alpine car in victory lane for our first win of the season."

Hideki Mutoh, #27 Formula Dream Dallara/Honda/Firestone "I've been very busy doing the final promotions for the Indy Japan 300. I've visited so many places for the promotion and all the people have been so kind. It is nice to know that there are so many IndyCar Series fans in Japan. It will be my home race and it is very important for me to do well here. I've raced in Twin Ring Motegi before and it is one of my favorite tracks so I am very excited to be here. Tony won the race here last year and Andretti Green Racing is strong here as well, so I am looking forward to the race."

Bryan Herta, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura "Long Beach is an important event for a lot of reasons. It's very important to Acura because of the market we're in and the proximity to the HPD headquarters. But, it's also a vital weekend for the XM Acura team. We have to get some solid points in the championship and it's a place that I know we can challenge for the win. Christian and I have probably combined for more starts at Long Beach than any other driver combination in the race and hopefully that experience will help us."

Christian Fittipaldi, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura

"The experience that Bryan and I have at Long Beach definitely won't hinder us but I'm not sure it will be a huge help, either. There are a couple of very competitive teams and drivers who know Long Beach. I did not know the St. Pete track but we were competitive as soon as the flag dropped. But, it's better to start with that experience than to have to learn the track. Long Beach is a very straight forward street course, very similar to St. Pete. We have to keep the XM Satellite Radio Acura off the walls and be careful."