Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco – Pocono Raceway
IZOD IndyCar Series
OPEN TEST NOTES/QUOTES — July 4, 2013
JAKES AND RAHAL COMPLETED THEIR SECOND TEST DAY AT POCONO RACEWAY IN PREPARATION FOR SUNDAY’S POCONO INDYCAR 400 FUELED BY SUNOCO
FASTEST: Marco Andretti 40.7308 / 220.960 mph 122 laps
10th: James Jakes 41.3221 / 217.801 mph 104 laps
22nd: Graham Rahal 41.7654 / 215.489 mph 141 laps
GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Midas / Big O Tires Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I didn’t feel a ton more downforce (in the car) but I know that there is since last week’s test. We struggled with our car a little bit today so to say that I felt it wouldn’t be true. Frankly I felt the other tire was a little bit better for my car but we couldn’t run it with the blistering so we will have to make the most of what we’ve got here. We’ll keep working hard on it.
(On the three-wide restart here:) “This place is plenty wide so there is no reason we couldn’t do it. Frankly it will be pretty cool for the fans. Even on a test day like today it was cool to see people in the stands. We appreciate it.”
JAMES JAKES, No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “The aero configuration is a little bit different from the test and the weather was different too, it was a little warmer and windy today. It’s hard to say how different the car is but I think we had a productive day. We certainly tested a lot which is what we needed to do. Generally on the super speedways we’ve been pretty good so we’ve just got to keep on working hard and make improvements overall. Hopefully we can make some steps and Honda can as well to be in a position to fight right at the top come Sunday.
(On the three-wide start here:) “I think it will be very similar to Indy and its wide enough here to do it that it shouldn’t be a problem. Everyone has enough respect for each other now that it’s not going to get too wild. I think it’s good for the fans and everybody. People are going to see what we did at Indy and we’ll show everyone a good time. Then we’re back to single-file restarts after that which is good.”
RLL RACING AT POCONO RACEWAY: This will be the first event for RLL at Pocono Raceway but team co-owner Bobby Rahal competed at Pocono Raceway eight times between 1982-1989 and earned one win (1988), three podiums (3rd – 1982, 1984) and six top-five’s in addition to leading 131 laps.
NEXT UP: The official start to the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco weekend is Saturday, July 6. Practice will take place from 10-11 a.m. ET Saturday with qualifying from 1:15-2:45. Final practice is 5:30-6:00. ABC will begin their live broadcast of Sunday’s race at noon ET and the 160-lap event will take the Green Flag at 12:15 p.m. ET. It will also be broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on Sirius XM (XM 94 and Sirius 212). Timing and Scoring information is available for all sessions from www.indycar.com.
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