Oval Education Continues for TrueCar Racing, Katherine Legge

[media-credit name=”iowacorn.org” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]This weekend’s race at the state-of-the-art 7/8-mile tri-oval at Iowa Speedway will be the fourth oval of the season for IZOD IndyCar Series rookie Katherine Legge. While similar in length to Milwaukee, its high banks yield racing similar to Indianapolis and Texas. Though the TrueCar Racing driver has tested at the Newton, Iowa track, there are lessons yet to be learned.

“It will still be an education for me,” said Legge. “Indianapolis and Texas were also very new for me having not done ovals like those before, but my Dragon Racing crew are very good at getting me up to speed quickly. I actually like the Iowa circuit and I’m really happy we got to test there. Every time we get on the racetrack for testing or racing we make significant progress. I am very thankful for the support of TrueCar, Virgin, Chevrolet, and everyone else involved in our program and I hope to make them all proud this weekend.”

Since switching to the Chevy INDYCAR V-6 before Indianapolis, Legge’s team has shown significant improvement with only race weekend data to improve her car and learn the new engine. Having now tested at Iowa Speedway, the team is eager to see the results.

“I cannot tell you how thrilled I am about the change to Chevrolet,” said Legge. “It was the right decision and once we have enough time on track to get the package right we are going to give everyone a run for themoney. We are already closing in.”

The UK native and her No. 6 TrueCar Dragon Racing team hit the track for practice and qualifying on Friday, June 22 for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Legge’s race will be held under the lights on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. Central Time, live on NBC Sports Network.

Weekend Schedule (all times local):

Friday, June 22

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series practice (all cars)
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series practice (all cars)
6:15 – 7:45 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying Heat Races (3 Heats/30 Laps)

Saturday, June 25

8 p.m. – Iowa Corn Indy 250 pre-race
9 p.m. – Iowa Corn Indy 250 (250 laps/218.75 miles), NBC Sports Network (Live)

NOTES

Heat races to set field for Iowa race – The field for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 will be set through three heat races held on June 22 at Iowa Speedway. Qualification groups will be determined by lap times recorded by entries on the .875-mile oval in the second (45-minute) practice session (3:30 p.m. ET). Race 1 will consist of the even-numbered positions, starting with the 10th-quickest practice time, and determine the even-numbered positions in the starting field from 10th down. Race 2 will consist of the odd-numbered positions, starting with the ninth fastest practice time, and determine the odd-numbered positions in the starting field from ninth down. Race 3 will consist of drivers ranked one through eight from the practice. Results of Race 3 will determine the first four rows, with the winner taking the pole position.

Based on input from IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and team engineers, INDYCAR has directed a maximum rear flap angle of 37 degrees with no wicker allowed for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. The rule will reduce downforce available by about 8-9 percent.

The Iowa Corn Indy 225 will be the sixth IZOD IndyCar Series event at Iowa Speedway and the first race for Katherine Legge at the venue.

Katherine and her TrueCar-Dragon Racing team participated in INDYCAR testing at Iowa Speedway on June 12 and 13.

About Katherine Legge:

Birthdate: July 12, 1980
Hometown: Guildford, England
Residence: Indianapolis
Marital Status: Engaged
Website: www.katherinelegge.com
Twitter: @katherinelegge (personal) and @KatOnTrack (for on-track updates)
Facebook: katherineracing

Career Highlights

Named to drive for TrueCar-Dragon Racing in 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season … Competed in European-based DTM touring car series as factory Audi driver from 2008-10, driving for Futurecom TME, Abt Lady Power and Team Rosberg … Drove in Rolex 24 at Daytona for Robinson Racing in 2007 … Competed in Champ Car World Series in 2006-07 for PKV Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, becoming first female to lead Champ Car race … Recorded five top-10 finishes in Champ Car in 2006 … First woman to win major open-wheel race in North America, with three victories in Toyota Atlantic in 2005. Finished third in series … Earned Formula One test with Minardi in 2005 … Drove for A1 Team GB in A1 Grand Prix, tested Champ Car in 2005 … Raced limited schedule in British and North American Formula Renault championships and Can-Am championship in 2004 … Competed in limited British Formula 3 schedule in 2003 … Competed in British Formula Renault in 2001-02, wininng pole in 2002 at Oulton Park with track-record lap … Earned British Racing Drivers’ Club “Rising Stars” honor in 2002 … Became first woman to win pole in British Formula FordZetec championship in 2000 … Competed in karting from 1990-99.

About TrueCar, Inc.

TrueCar, Inc. is an online automotive information and communications platform focused on creating a better car buying experience for dealers and consumers. Consumers want a hassle-free car buying experience and dealers want high-quality sales velocity. TrueCar helps achieve these goals by providing unbiased marketinformation on new car transactions and by supplying an online communications platform through which dealers and consumers can communicate with each other. TrueCar’s market-based information provides bothconsumers and dealers with an accurate and comprehensive understanding of what others actually paid recently for similar vehicles, both locally and nationally. TrueCar’s communications platform then allows informed, ready-to-buy consumers to communicate directly with participating dealers. Some of the nation’s largest and most well respected membership and service organizations rely on websites powered by TrueCar to help educate their members and customers who are in the automotive market. TrueCar is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, and has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Austin, TX. After experiencing dramatic growth since 2006, TrueCar is developing a suite of products and services centered on radical clarity through the comprehensive analysis of market data and information. TrueCar’s participating dealer partners have sold over 500,000 new vehicles to TrueCar users nationwide.

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