Catchfence

Newman / Haas Racing

Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 – Homestead-Miami Speedway

RACE NOTES / QUOTES – Saturday, October 2, 2010

QUICK TRIM DRIVER RAHAL FINISHED 10TH IN THE CAFES DO BRASIL INDY 300 SEASON-FINALE;

FORMULA DREAM / PANASONIC DRIVER MUTOH FINISHED 20TH

Graham Rahal

Graham Rahal, No. 02 Quick Trim Dallara / Honda / Firestone: “The race was pretty good for the Quick Trim team. There was a lot of stuff going on. I really wish it would have been a little better. We raced extremely well as of late and I’m a little disappointed because I know that we could have competed with Danica and Marco so it’s a little frustrating to be tenth when we could have been in the top-three, and potentially even better. To come back and finish in the top-10 again was great though.

With Quick Trim and Newman/Haas, we’ve never finished out of the top-10 and I’m proud of that. I’m really disappointed with Hunter-Reay and I’m not normally someone who is going to say something but I’m definitely going to talk to him. It was a racing incident from my standpoint. I drifted up toward him after Danica cut across me and I’m not sure he understood that was what happened. But then he came down the front straight and pulled his hand off the wheel to give me a gesture and drove into the side of me and took off my front wing.”

· FAST FACTS: Was his second race here. He started 18th tonight. Qualified sixth and finished 11th in 2009. In 2008, he missed the season-opening race here due to a crash in T2 on the final day of a two-day test here on Tuesday night of race week. The team was unable to repair the car in time for race weekend and Rahal watched from the spotter’s stand…Of his PREVIOUS oval races in 2010, his highest oval start was seventh in Indy and his highest oval finish was ninth in Iowa…Ended the season ranked 20th with 235 points despite not competing in five races.

Hideki Mutoh, No. 06 Formula Dream/Panasonic Dallara / Honda / Firestone: “The guys did a great job overnight. The car was definitely a step forward from yesterday but I think we still need more time to adapt my driving style to the setup. During the race the car was getting better and better. On the last stint, in a huge pack I was struggling but in clean air I think I had a quite good car and was able to pass a few people. It’s a shame that this is the last race of the season. If we had a test day tomorrow I think we could learn a lot of things. The finishing position wasn’t that good or what I expected but I think I am happy with that result because we improved the car.”

· FAST FACTS: Was his third IICS event here, and fourth overall after having competed in the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights race where he started and finished third in his oval racing debut. In 2008, he started seventh and finished 24th with mechanical failure after 32/200 laps. In 2009, he finished sixth after starting 19th…His highest overall series start is THIRD at Nashville Speedway (oval) and best overall series finish is SECOND (Iowa 2008)…Ended the season ranked 18th with 250 points.

- IZOD IndyCar Series Championship … Dario Franchitti and Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series title with an eighth place finish at Homestead and a total of 602 points. Franchitti led 128 of 200 laps while previous points leader Will Power brushed the wall and ultimately retired from the event in 25th place with a total of 597 points.

- Newman / Haas Racing Press Release