Future IZOD IndyCar Series Stars Get Ready For Night Before 500

Indianapolis, May 7, 2010: Young drivers who hope to race in the Indianapolis 500 in the near future got their first taste of driving on an oval track not far from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers from Cooper Tires Presents the US F2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda and the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear tested May 5-6 at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.

Conor Daly, son of six-time Indianapolis 500 starter Derek Daly, led the two days of testing for Star Mazda with a lap at 20.1 seconds, unofficially faster than the existing track record, for NASCAR or USAC events.

Cape Motorsports rookie Patrick McKenna and Andretti Autosport driver Sage Karam led much of the testing sessions for the USF2000 cars.

"It's been a really good two days test session," said Star Mazda president Gary Rodrigues. "We can't wait to come back here at the end of the month and put on a great show for the fans here in Indianapolis."