Saturday, April 25, 2009
Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 – Kansas Speedway
Round 3 in the IndyCar Series

McDONALD’S DRIVER RAHAL EARNED HIS FIRST INDYCAR SERIES POLE ON AN OVAL FOR THE ROAD RUNNER TURBO INDY 300; DOORNBOS BROUGHT THE TEAM ITS FIRST ONE-TWO OVAL START SINCE 2006 IN HIS OVAL DEBUT

1st: Graham Rahal 4-lap avg. speed of 211.311 mph (L1: 211.172, L2: 211.422, L3: 211.255, L4: 211.395)
2nd: Robert Doornbos 4-lap avg. speed of 210.665 mph (L1: 210.360, L2: 210.799, L3: 210.812, L4: 210.692)




Graham Rahal, No. 02  McDonald’s  Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It’s a fantastic start for the McDonald’s team. First of all, for us to get a pole when we go to St. Petersburg, and then to do it again here at Kansas, I think it’s quite a shock. And obviously, in memory of Paul (Newman) it’s great for us to have this success early in the season. Now of course, there’s still a long way to go, but for us to get our first (oval) pole here, I hope it’s a sign of things to come. It shows how hard these guys have worked all winter long.”

FAST FACTS: Was his second Indy car race here and second event since becoming the youngest pole sitter in series history after winning pole in St. Pete on 4-4-09 at 20 years, 90 days old…In his oval racing debut here last year he qualified 20th and finished 12th…Is ranked ninth in series points with 46.




Robert Doornbos, No. 06 Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “This is my first weekend racing on an oval so definitely tomorrow is going to be an exciting day. I think this qualifying format is enjoyable. I had a good run. I just had a little mis-shift on the first flying lap but other than that it was good. (Fellow Dutchman) Arie (Luyendyk) is a legend and he helped me out today and next month in Indy he’s going to help me out even more. Graham has more experience on the ovals (than I do). I’ve been watching some videos and I think last year, the Ganassi boys ran one-two and pulled away helping each other. I don’t think it’s a good thing if we’re not helping each other because then I’ll be sitting in an office in Chicago (team headquarters) probably explaining myself. It’s a team effort that we’re here. They’ve worked very hard in the winter. I went out first, then the engineers saw what they could do and improve and he grabbed the pole and now we’re second. So I think it’s been a great team result and I think we need to thank the boys in the race tomorrow."

FAST FACTS: This race will mark his oval racing debut…Has competed against fellow ICS drivers Marco Andretti (A1GP), Danica Patrick (Formula Ford), Ryan Briscoe (F3) and E.J. Viso (F3000)…Is ranked 11th in series points with 41 and leads the Rookie of the Year standings.




SECOND RACE HERE FOR NHLR / FIRST 1-2 SINCE 1993: This is NHLR’s second event here. In 2008, Justin Wilson qualified 22nd and finished ninth in his first race here last year. Graham Rahal made his oval racing debut here where he started 20th and finished 12th…The last time the team started one-two was in 2006 when Sebastien Bourdais won pole and Bruno Junqueira started second at the Milwaukee Mile oval. Bourdais went on to lead 117 of 197 laps to bring the team a win from pole. Junqueira was hit by Mario Dominguez on the opening lap and retired from the event. It is the team’s most recent win or pole on an oval and took place 11 oval races ago.