Catchfence

TWIN RING MOTEGI, JAPAN (September 20, 2010) – - With 2 races left in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season, Simona De Silvestro and the Team Stargate Worlds / HVM Racing team journeyed over the Pacific for this weekend’s Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. Having worked vigorously over the 2-week break since the Kentucky race, the team was able to complete work on a third chassis and expectations were high.

For the race the team decided to go with a cautious set up and hope for a consistent race that would also allow for Simona to gather valuable experience. At the start of the race Simona made immediate progress and gained 4 positions. Going with an alternate strategy Simona pitted on lap #6 for fuel. After the perfectly executed stop, Simona reentered the track with an additional spot and, despite losing positions on the restart, she quickly settled into a rhythm now in the 25th spot.

Simona pitted again on lap #44 and #76. After the 3rd pit stop Simona complained of a vibration in the car. The crew brought her back in on lap # 85 to put on a new set of tires to see if that would eliminate the vibration. Unfortunately it did not. After another pit stop on Lap # 94 the team, still unable to diagnose the problem,and with no possible position or points to gain, made the decision not to resume and instead return to the garage and thoroughly investigate the problem. Simona would officially end the race in the 23rd spot.

Simona De Silvestro, Driver No. 78 – “We knew going into this weekend that the uniqueness and newness of the Twin Ring Motegi track was going to make this weekend a challenge. The team once again rose to the challenge and throughout the weekend we continually made progress on the car’s setup. By the time the race started I was comfortable where we were at and was looking forward to performing well and gaining valuable experience. The finish was a disappointment, but my confidence in the team remains strong. I look forward to a competitive performance in Homestead.”

Keith Wiggins, HVM Racing Team Owner – “What an unsatisfactory weekend. After a low starting position we felt confident of progress after a few laps of the race. Then it all changed and we still have no idea as to the problem and that is puzzling and frustrating.”

About HVM Racing:

HVM is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its nine years of competition, the team has earned six wins, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. The team finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car championship standings in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Since joining the IRL Championship in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes with drivers E.J. Viso and Robert Doornbos. For 2010 HVM Racing has partnered up with Team Stargate Worlds and driver Simona De Silvestro for its IndyCar program. You can follow HVM Racing at their website at www.hvmracing.com and on twitter at twitter.com/HVMracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing

About Team Stargate Worlds:

Team Stargate Worlds enters the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series in collaboration with HVM Racing. Simona De Silvestro will be the driver for the team, referred now as Team Stargate Worlds / HVM Racing. In the 2009 Atlantic Championship season De Silvestro won four races and four poles in the Atlantics, and led the most laps, thereby becoming the first woman in series history to lead those categories in a single season. The 2010 season marks the team’s 6th year of competition in North American open wheel. For more information about Team Stargate Worlds please visit www.teamstargateworlds.com. The Team Stargate Worlds twitter page can be found at www.twitter.com/TeamSGW