2009 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing // Press Release

Saturday, June 6, 2009
Bombardier Learjet 550k–
Texas Motor Speedway
Round 6 of 17 in the IndyCar Series

DOORNBOS FINISHED 11TH IN THE BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550k AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY; McDONALD’S DRIVER RAHAL MADE CONTACT ON LAP TWO

McDonald’s driver Graham Rahal was looking to build momentum after earning his highest oval finish to date of fourth place in Milwaukee the previous weekend but he struggled to control his race car in the opening laps of the Bombardier Learjet 550k at the high-banked Texas Motor Speedway and crashed on Lap 2 of 228 Saturday night. In the opening lap he dropped from his 12th place qualifying position to 18 and continue to lose positions while he struggled to control his race car before he spun on the backstretch and was hit from behind by EJ Viso, who had no where to go. The two cars collected Milka Duno as well. Rahal was checked out at the infield medical center and cleared after it was determined he sustained no injuries. He retired in 22nd place and collected 12 points to drop from eight in the point standings to ninth with a total of 126. Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe dominated the race but dropped to second behind teammate Helio Castroneves on the final stop and won the event. Following are Rahal’s post race comments:

“It’s frustrating,” said Rahal. “We struggled a little bit all weekend but the McDonald’s car felt very comfortable and very good. It was unfortunate because right away something did not feel right as I went into Turn 1 and I lost a couple of spots in the initial start. I was hanging on going into Turns 3 and 4 the car was so loose and I lost tons of spots maybe six or seven spots. Something did not feel right going back into Turn 1 and I let up for the second lap and I was trying to be careful but as I went into Turn 1 something snapped. I couldn’t hang on. I feel bad for the others involved. It was horrible.”

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver Robert Doornbos drove to an 11th place finish in the 228-lap Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway after starting ninth. It was his first night race as well as his first on a high-banked oval and he continued to gain valuable experience from running in traffic. He maintained his ninth place start through the first caution for contact by his teammate Graham Rahal that also collected the cars of EJ Viso and Milka Duno. Once the race resumed he was passed by Tony Kanaan and maintained 10th place for the majority of the stint before Raphael Matos passed him on Lap 49. He climbed to seventh as the first round of stops took place and returned to the track in 11th place. On Lap 73 he was passed by Hideki Mutoh and ran in 12th place for the following 19 laps before race leader Ryan Briscoe put him a lap down on Lead Lap 92. The next round of stops began on LL 104 and he climbed all the way to fifth place before he made his second stop on Lap 108 and regained 12th place one all cars had cycled through their stops. For the next 28 laps he held 12th place while the top seven cars were on the Lead Lap. On Lap 142, Ed Carpenter passed him and he ran in 13th place. The second of only three caution periods came out from Laps 150-158 for debris. During this time most cars elected to pit once the pits were opened and Doornbos stopped on LL 151. Before the restart Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan were waived around and put on the Lead Lap while Mario Moraes and Doornbos was the top two drivers not on the Lead Lap. Matos pitted again near the end of the caution to top off his fuel and Doornbos moved into 11th place although once the race resumed the Brazilian regained his spot. He ran in 12th place for 13 laps before the third and final caution came out to remove the crashed car of AJ Foyt IV for nine laps. Doornbos pitted and regained 12th place and prior to the restart, IndyCar Series officials waived Matos around to the lead lap so the top-10 were on the Lead Lap. Doornbos held 12th place and moved into 11th when Matos, who had short-filled earlier, had to pit for a splash of fuel on Lead Lap 215 of 228. Doornbos took the checkered flag in 11th place and collected 19 points for a total of 104 and maintained 15th place in the point standings and is only two behind Matos in the Rookie of the Year battle. Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe dominated the race but dropped to second behind teammate Helio Castroneves on the final stop and won the event. Following are Doornbos’ post race comments.

“It’s great to get a Texas race under my belt,” said Doornbos. “It’s hard for me because we’re going to get a good season going here. It’s a while different discipline. I’m learning as much as I can. I’m not used to finishing 11th, 10th or ninth but that’s the way it is at the moment. We just have to work hard and close the gap to the strong guys. I’m very happy I finished the race for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing and the 06 guys because they know as well as I know that I need the experience as fast as I can. I enjoyed myself in the night race in Texas. Seeing the crowds is very exciting. It’s unfortunate that the last sting destroyed my race a bit with back markers not going me any room. Other than that, I am happy I can focus on Iowa.”

After five weeks of racing activity in the past six, three in Indianapolis followed by events in Milwaukee and Texas, the series will take a much needed weekend off before reconvening at Iowa Speedway on June 20-21 for Round 7 of 17. Rahal finished 10th there last year while Justin Wilson finished 12th for the team.