Monday
KV Racing Technology to Field Car for Paul Tracy at Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen
Press ReleaseGEICO INSURANCE TO SPONSOR ENTRY
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – - JUNE 15, 2009 – - KV Racing Technology announced today that open-wheel superstar Paul Tracy will compete for the team at the Camping world Grand Prix at the Glen, July 3-5, at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, New York.
Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, is one of the most successful and exciting drivers in the history of open-wheel racing. The native of Canada will be sponsored by GEICO Insurance and pilot the #15 GEICO – KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone entry. Tracy will team with Mario Moraes, #5 Azul – Votorantim – KV Racing Technology, in a two-car effort for KVRT
“I am pleased to announce that Paul Tracy and GEICO Insurance will be joining KV Racing Technology for the race at Watkins Glen,” said KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser. “Running Paul at The Glen with Mario gives us the opportunity to maximize our efforts on a very challenging road course and provides Paul with a tune-up race before he competes in front of his hometown fans in Toronto. I want to thank GEICO for stepping forward and making this possible and I think I can speak for everyone at KVRT when I say that we are all very excited.”
Tracy, who drove for KVRT at this year’s Indianapolis 500 qualifying 13th and finishing ninth, will be contesting his first race on the 3.4-mile Watkins Glen permanent road course and fourth IndyCar event. In addition to the 2009 Indy 500, he ran at Indy in 2002, finishing second and competed in the IndyCar Series event at Edmonton last year qualifying 15th and finishing fourth.
“I want to thank GEICO Insurance, Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser for the opportunity to compete in another race this year,” Tracy said. “I really enjoyed working with Mark Johnson (KVRT General Manager) and the entire team last month at Indy and was looking forward to racing in the two events in Canada. Now I have the opportunity to compete on one of the most famous circuits in the world for the first time. It feels a little strange that at this stage of my career that there are still some exciting challenges left and racing at Watkins Glen, with all its history, is definitely a challenge, but one I am looking forward to meeting.”
During a span of 18 seasons, Tracy has crafted a career that has established him as one of the top drivers ever to step into the cockpit of an open-wheel car. The resident of Las Vegas, Nevada is among the top-10 in almost every Champ Car career statistical category including wins, 31 (tied for seventh all-time), poles, 25 (ninth all-time), and laps led, 4,438 (sixth all-time). He has 75 career podium performances, 102 top-five finishes and 142 top-10 showings in 265 starts (262 in Champ Car, tied for eighth all-time and two in IndyCar). In the 15 seasons in which Tracy has competed in over 80% of the races, he has finished in the top-10 in the championship standings 10 times including eight times in the top-five, four in the top-three and captured the championship in 2003.
About GEICO Insurance:
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 15 million vehicles. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, please visit www.geico.com.
About KV Racing Technology:
KV Racing Technology was established in 2003. The Indianapolis-based team is contesting its seventh open-wheel season and second in the IndyCar Series in 2009. KVRT is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 Series Champion, Jimmy Vasser. Veteran motorsports manager Mark Johnson is the team’s General Manager. KVRT has earned two victories the first by Cristiano da Matta in Portland in 2005 and the second by Will Power in Long Beach this year. They have captured two poles, Tristan Gommendy at Mont Tremblant in 2007 and Vasser at Milwaukee in 2005 (Will Power captured the pole at the 2008 Surfers Paradise, Australia exhibition race).
KV Racing Technology will be making its second appearance at the Watkins Glen International. The team qualified two cars last year in their inaugural visit. Oriol Servia started fifth and finishe 23rd while Will Power started 12th and placed 15th.
- KV Racing Technology, Press Release
Article Tags: Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, IndyCar, IndyCar Series, KV Racing Technology, No. 15 GEICO - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone, Paul Tracy, Watkins Glen International, WGI
