Wagner Captures His First Career Firestone Indy Lights Pole!

Joliet, August 29, 2009: For nearly 25 minutes, Davey Hamilton / Kingdom Racing driver Brandon Wagner paced the qualifying reception line where his #32 Firestone Indy Lights Honda Dallara sat on P1.

With each successive qualifying run, more cars were bumped outside of the “top four fastest” as they were rolled out of the receiving line while their car dropped down the provisional starting grid. Wagner’s car never moved from the pole, his first career in the series and it comes on the anniversary of his first Firestone Indy Lights appearance one year ago.

“The hardest part of the whole process was waiting as each driver posted their lap times….it was easier to qualify than to watch!” said the Lafayette, Indiana native. “We knew we had a great car in morning warm-up and Darrell (Soppe) and the guys made the right changes for qualifying”.

On a very windy and cool, overcast day, Brandon was fourth to qualify and posted a session fastest lap of 190.241 and his average speed of 189.954 was just a touch faster than fellow front row starter, Sebastian Saavedra at 189.942

Unfortunately, team owner Davey Hamilton was at the airport and missed the rookie’s best run ever. “I’m really proud of what Brandon and these guys did today” he said with his typical smile. “For a part time team do what was accomplished today is incredible!”

The team welcomed a new sponsor for the weekend, the Performance Karting Expo 2010, and the car will appear at the event in Las Vegas next February. “PKE2010” will be a huge debut event to be held in Las Vegas the weekend of the largest football game in the country, February 5th thru the 7th and will become the largest karting industry consumer show

Watch Brandon Wagner and the Davey Hamilton / Kingdom Racing Firestone Indy Lights team race on tonight at 6pm Eastern live on www.IndyCar.com with TV replay on Versus Monday at 4pm Eastern

More information on the IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com