Viso Leads KV Racing Technology In Mid-Ohio Practice

LEXINGTON, Aug. 7, 2010: E.J. Viso, coming off a solid testing session last week, gave notice Friday he is ready for another strong qualifying performance with the sixth fastest practice time at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in preparation for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200.

Viso, driving the No. 8 PDVSA—KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, is seeking another Firestone Fast Six qualifying showing after his impressive run two weeks ago at the Honda Indy Edmonton. On Friday, Viso piloted his car around the 2.238-mile, 14-turn permanent road circuit with a speed of 118.453 miles per hour.

Viso jumped to the top of the timing charts early in the one-hour afternoon practice and fought with the slippery track conditions to remain in the top-six at the checkered flag Friday. Local favorite Graham Rahal was the fastest in the practice with a 119.005 m.p.h.

KV Racing Technology enjoyed four top-ten finishes in the Edmonton race, the best performance for the team this year. Viso scored third on the Iowa Speedway oval in June and finished eighth at Edmonton, his best road finish in 2010.

Mario Moraes, a top-five finisher at Watkins Glen in June, drove the No. 32 KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry to eighth fastest Friday at 118.429 m.p.h. despite suffering from an injured right wrist. Moraes, who missed last year’s Mid-Ohio event due to his father’s death, injured his wrist in the Edmonton race. Moraes has three top-ten road racing finishes this year.

Takuma Sato, a seven-year Formula One veteran, is making his Mid-Ohio in the No. 5 Lotus - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone car and posted a best speed of 117.498 m.p.h. Sato, who tookninth at Edmonton, spent the majority of the one-hour practice in the top-ten in the speed charts. The Japanese star is pleased with his Lotus crew’s direction for Saturday qualifying despite the 20th ranking in practice.

Sato, as well as Viso and Moraes, tested at Mid-Ohio last week for the team’s first in-season test laps. KVRT’s previous three testing runs were postponed by weather.

Qualifying for the Honda Indy 200 is set for 12:35 p.m. EDT Saturday, with the 200-mile feature scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday. The race will be televised live on Versus-TV.

DRIVER QUOTES:

E.J. VISO -- #8 PDVSA – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “We only had a one-hour practice, but the No. 8 PDVSA car felt good. It was very well balanced. The track was a little bit slippery from the other tire compounds of the support series. That is affecting our car’s setup a little. But you have to deal with that. I am feeling good about this weekend and Mid-Ohio is always fun to drive. We had some very useful and productive testing last week and I am sure it is going to payoff this weekend. There was a lot of traffic on the track today. So some of our best laps didn’t make it for fast times. We have a large field here, so the track will be crowded in qualifying and the race.”

MARIO MORAES -- #32 KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: "I think it is great to be back at Mid-Ohio. Last year, I didn’t get the chance to race here (due to Moraes’ father death). I’m dealing with my (right) wrist right now. It doesn’t feel real good. I have a cracked bone in my right wrist. I hurt it in Edmonton. But I we have a good car for the race. We’ll improve it for Saturday."

TAKUMA SATO -- #5 LOTUS – KV RACING TECHNOLOGY HONDA/DALLARA/FIRESTONE: “I think we had a good session today despite what the standings say, but we know what we're doing. I was continuing our program from the test here last week and double checking the things we have been working on. I feel positive on how things went today.”