Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
IZOD IndyCar Series
PRACTICE NOTES / QUOTES — Monday, May 14, 2012
SATO AND JOURDAIN JR. ENDED DAY 3 OF PRACTICE FOR THE
1) Josef Newgarden 222.486 mph / 40.4519 47 laps
9) Takuma Sato 220.090 mph / 40.8924 34 laps
28) Michel Jourdain 215.970 mph / 41.6725 35 laps
TAKUMA SATO, No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “It was another productive day. The conditions were very stable so we were able to try quite a few aero configurations to scan the data and complete an aero map. We are happy with the result today. I haven’t been using the tow in the last two and a half days so at the end of our test program we got a little tow to see how the gearing was and how the car felt in that situation. The speed on the timesheet was obviously a little artificial but I was happy with how the car felt. Tomorrow we will start working on the race setup.”
FAST FACTS: Will be his third Indy 500 and EIGHTH race at IMS after competing in F1 races here in 2002, 2004-07.. In the Indy 500, he narrowly missed making it into the Fast Nine in qualifying with his 10th fastest qualifying average for the 2011 race and retired in 33rd place due to contact after 20 laps. In 2010 he qualified 31st and finished 20th after completing 198/200 laps – both for KV Racing Technology… IMS is the site of Sato’s best F1 finish of third in 2004 – the same year RLL won the Indy 500 with Buddy Rice… Is Sato’s first season at RLL and third in IndyCar… Sato led two of the first three races but failed to finish due to mechanical failure (St. Pete & Barber) and “avoidable contact” by Hunter-Reay (
MICHEL JOURDAIN JR, No. 30 Office Depot / RLL Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “We didn’t run too much today. We had a little problem with a fuel pump but we are still going according to schedule; building up speed little by little and working on getting my confidence back. Today was my first day to work with my engineer Bruno. He was in Laguna Seca for the team’s ALMS race so we are going through data and we made some little changes today. We have more changes planned for tomorrow but for now I am quite happy with the way things are going.
(On favorite Indy 500 memories:) “I wasn’t here in 1989 when my uncle Bernard won Rookie of the Year but I came in 1991 and that was my present for my 15th birthday. I enjoyed it so, so much. For me the tradition of this race is fantastic. Every time I go through Gasoline Alley people say hello, that they are happy to see me return and everything. I didn’t expect so many people to remember me and be so nice.”
FAST FACTS: Jourdain is competing in his second
TOM ANDERSON, Managing Director of Motorsport Operations: “We started the day with Michel on track and unfortunately we had a little bit of a fuel pressure issue with the Honda system this morning which negated running from 12-3 which was our initial plan. Fortunately we were able to repair the problem and get back out to where Michel had a good run during perfect conditions in ‘Happy Hour’ as we say here in Indy from 5-6 p.m. in the final hour and were able to run in traffic. Michel is running at the full potential of the car in its current aero settings. We are just making sure that we are giving him plenty of track time and making him work with all the adjustments in the car and totally familiarizing himself with all of the adjustments before we start to trim the car as we have with Takuma. Takuma is right at the top of the charts so we are very pleased with the engineering staff at the moment. They are doing a good job and Takuma is doing a good job on his feedback. It’s a leading platform which Michel, in another two days of good track time, I believe that by Friday and Saturday Michel will be close to his full potential. We are very happy with our program; we are still exactly to the plan. The weather is cooperating and all is well.”
RAHAL LETTERMAN LANIGAN RACING AT INDY … The team’s highest start and finish in the event came in 2004 when Buddy Rice won from pole. In addition, the team has earned a total of four podiums (2nd – Meira 2005; 3rd – Rahal 1994, 1995). The team was in contention to win the race as recent as 2011 when Bertrand Baguette led laps 139-140 and laps 189-197 of the 200 lap race. Had a caution come our before Baguette was forced to pit for a splash of fuel, he might have been the victor. The race ultimately ended under caution when JR Hildebrand crashed on the front straight while in the lead on the final lap… The 2012 race will mark the 15th year for the team in the event. Prior to 2012, the team prepared a total of 26 entries for drivers such as
NEXT UP: Practice will take place from May 12-18 for the 96th
PHOTO AND VIDEO AVAILABLE: Media members who register on the IndyCar Series media site have access to photography as well as video. Video will be available specifically of Office Depot/RLL Racing driver Michel Jourdain in Spanish the evening of each practice day (and English most days) via a link that will be sent by the team per request. Register for access to photos at: http://www.indycarmedia.com/pages/ApplyforAccess