Catchfence

HIDEKI IS LOOKING FORWARD TO APPLYING KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM TORONTO THIS WEEKEND

This weekend will mark Mutoh’s third IZOD IndyCar Series event here. He started 12th and finished 14th after going off course in 2009. He started 21st and retired in 27th after contact in 2008 – both with Andretti Green Racing. Hideki is hoping to improve upon his results in Edmonton this weekend. “The first year was very tough but we improved in qualifying the second year. I started 12th but during the race I made a dumb mistake after a pit stop and went on the grass and lost a lot of positions there and we finished 14th.

I’m hoping to have a much better weekend this year. We learned a couple of things in Toronto that will make the car better, especially under braking. We were able to get the car to have less lock-up under braking and I think that will help in Edmonton. We are aiming for a top-10 spot in qualifying and will basically go from there. It’s going to be a very physical, tough race. Survival will also be very important like in Toronto.”

HIDEKI ON THE PHYSICAL “MARATHON” COURSE

“The track is very bumpy and very physical,” said Mutoh. “It’s probably one of the most physical tracks of the season. I’m looking forward to improving on my results from the last two years. It’s a very tough track. It’s challenging to get the car setup right to handle the track, under braking. The bumps upset the car and make it very hard to stop. Cardio training is helpful for preparing for the Honda Indy Edmonton race. You are fighting the car the whole time, even in a straight line, because it’s very bumpy.

If we don’t get a yellow flag during the race, it’s going to be like a marathon. The steering gets very heavy so arm strength is important. It is a high G-force track so you need strong neck muscles as well. It has been very hot there as well so hydration is an issue to. I start hydrating the morning of the race and try to drink as much water as I can every 15 minutes or so. During the race I use a drink mix that E.J. Viso gave me that is very good.”

HIDEKI’S BEST OF THE SEASON SO FAR

Hideki has one top-five (Kansas – 4th) and three top-10 starts (Indy – 9th; Texas 7th) in 2010. His highest finish of the season is 12th place, three times (Texas, Watkins Glen, Toronto). He had been running in the top-four most of the event at Kansas Speedway but contact with Takuma Sato after a late race restart while trying to pass a lapped car ended his race.

NHR ON ROAD/STREET COURSES

Since being formed by Carl Haas and Paul Newman in the fall of 1982, the team has earned a total of 107 wins and 109 pole positions. 80 of their 107 wins and 90 of their 109 poles came on road and street courses. The team’s previous win on a road/street course came at Detroit when Justin Wilson drove to victory in Round 16 of 17. Their previous pole on a road/street course came on 4-4-09 when Graham Rahal became the youngest pole winner in series history in St. Pete. Nine of the 17 races on the 2010 schedule are on road/street courses.

RAHAL’S RETURN AT MID-OHIO

Graham Rahal’s return to the team in last weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto netted a fifth place finish in the Quick Trim car. His next IZOD IndyCar Series race will be the Honda Indy 200 Presented by Westfield Insurance at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 8. It is the home event for the New Albany, Ohio resident.

- Newman / Haas Racing Press Release