[media-credit name=”texasmotorspeedway.com” align=”alignright” width=”400″]
[/media-credit]Andretti Autosport, IZOD IndyCar Series
Race Preview: Firestone 550
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus SodaChevrolet, No. 28
Following a seventh-place finish at the Detroit ChevroletGrand Prix at Belle Isle, Hunter-Reay is seventh in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings – only eight points behind third place after six races. In the season’s previous oval race, Hunter-Reay qualified third and started on the outside of the front row for the Indianapolis 500.
“We plan to carry over our speed from Indy to the high banks of Texas. We chose not to test at TMS because we were focusing on Indianapolis so we have a bit of an unknown, but I’m really confident we can roll off the truck with a good race car that can win this weekend.”
Did You Know: Hunter-Reay resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., but was born in Dallas in 1980. His ninth-place finish in the second Texas race last year started a hot streak for Hunter-Reay that has propelled him to 13 top-10 finishes in the last 17 races.
Marco Andretti, Team RC Cola Chevrolet, No. 26
Marco has been consistently strong at Texas, finishing third there in 2010 and fourth in 2009.
“We’re always strong there, so that gives the whole team confidence going into the race. We didn’t test there (earlier in the season), but we’re really well prepared, so it’s not a drawback. I love night races – that’s something I’ve always liked about racing at Texas. The fans love it as well. I realize it’s dangerous to run three-wide there in packs, but I enjoy the tight racing, and most of all, it’s fun for the fans.”
Did You Know: Last year at Texas, in the twin-race format with the random draw for the starting lineup in the second race, Marco drew the 27th starting position but gained 21 positions to finish sixth.
James Hinchcliffe, Team GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, No. 27
Hinchcliffe heads to Texas Motor Speedway ranked fourth in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship points standings. This will be his thirdIndyCar start (last year race format featured twin races) at the 1.5-mile oval.
“I think Texas Motor Speedway is the closest relevant racetrack to Indianapolis and obviously the team had quick cars there and we’re hoping that translates. It’s a bit of a different aero kit and certainly a different style of racing, but we’ve been competitive on every track so far this season and I’m hoping to keep that streak alive for the Go Daddy Chevy.”
Did You Know: Hinchcliffe recently traveled to Texas Motor Speedway where he helped Northwest ISD give away a Chevrolet Camaro to a high school freshman. The give-a-way was part of the district’s academic achievement program.
