Yacaman Tops Firestone Indy Lights Open Test At IMS

Indianapolis, May 15, 2010: Gustavo Yacaman established himself as a contender for the Firestone Freedom 100 by leading a one-day Open Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 14.

Yacaman turned a lap of 47.2493 seconds, 190.511 mph, in his No. 10 Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing car around the famed 2.5-mile oval.

"I'm not surprised," Yacaman said. "(Engineers Nicholas and Dominic) Cape had a great car two years ago with J.R. (Hildebrand) and the car was really good. The credit goes to them. All I had to do was sit there with the pedal to the metal. "

While Yacaman gave the credit to pre Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing team, he also had an ace up his sleeve. Yacaman received advice from Juan Pablo Montoya, when he visited the 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner at a NASCAR tire test at the Speedway in April.

"I think spending a few days with Juan really helped me a lot," Yacaman said. "I think he helped me get really comfortable with the car and he gave me some really good tips that showed up today. Hopefully we can keep this up for the race."

Pippa Mann was second fastest with a lap of 47.3125, 190.225 mph followed by Jeff Simmons (190.072), Charlie Kimball (189.864) and defending race winner Wade Cunningham (189.672).

3. Familiar faces return for Firestone Freedom 100: Two drivers who made their name in the Firestone Freedom 100 will return for the race in 2010.

Jeff Simmons, who parlayed success in the Firestone Indy Lights into IZOD IndyCar Series rides with Mo Nunn Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing, signed to drive with Team E for the May 28 race, while 2005 Firestone Indy Lights champion Wade Cunningham returns to defend his 2009 race win with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

"I wanted to build up gradually, and I think it was a testament to everybody at Team E that we were so quick right off the bat," said Simmons. "We had a good starting setup and we kept the car in a good window. I got the chance to slowly work my way into traffic and feeling that out, because I haven't had that for almost two years. The last time I raced was Kentucky of '08, so be able to have a car that I could be confident in was great. We were quick all day - basically in the top three all day - and if we wanted to play the super-drafting game at the end we probably could have gone a little quicker. But when we come back the track is going to be different from having the IndyCars run on it. I'm just excited to be back and have something to do at the racetrack rather than walk around."

Cunningham, the only two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100, said wining again at Indianapolis would be an accomplishment he would consider to be "very cool."

"The car rolled out pretty strong this morning, but we have a fair amount of work to do on the car before race day," Cunninham said. "We're pretty sure come race time we'll be battling the top teams for the pole. It's really close, but it's hard to tell what everyone has with fuel and downforce levels. But this is practice and in two weeks we go racing."