Conquest Racing Builds Momentum in Kentucky

Conquest Racing’s Jaime Camara put in one of his strongest performances of the season on a superspeedway this evening at the Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. With the team building momentum as they continue to show their progression, Camara took the checkered flag in 16th place. As for Enrique Bernoldi, despite a good showing and strong effort, he was a victim of unfortunate circumstances and was forced to retire under the instructions of race control.

Both drivers put in strong performances battling with other drivers as they progressed throughout the race. Starting 22nd, Camara gradually made his way through the field gaining positions with strong restarts and a good race strategy. The rookie, who battled mostly with Danica Patrick in the 200 lap event, ran as high as 11th before having to pit for fuel one last time. He came back out 16th and maintained his position until the end.

Conquest’s other rookie, Enrique Bernoldi was having a good race but bad luck once again struck the Brazilian driver when he suffered a tire puncture. With his tire slowly deflating, Bernoldi slowed down for a few laps before entering the pits for a set of new Firestone Firehawks. As he headed back out on track, he came out just ahead of the leaders. Bernoldi again had to slow down for a few laps to not cause any problems for the leaders and allow them to get by easily. But a few laps later, Bernoldi was called into the pits by race control, because his lap times under those circumstances were too slow. He was forced to retire and was classified 22nd.

Next up for Conquest Racing will be the Peak Anti Freeze and Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County at Infineon Raceway Sunday, August 24, 2008. The race will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. eastern time.

"It was a tough race. We made some changes throughout the race to make the car better but I think the main thing was that I was a little too unstable in traffic which cost us a little bit. In the end we finished the race which is always our first goal but I really thought I could do better having tested here in an indy car before.

Still, this weekend was a really good experience. The team did a great job and this will definitely give us momentum as we move forward."

"I had some fun at the beginning of the race, passing people and fighting with other cars. Past the halfway point of the race, I got a puncture and had to slow down a little bit before pitting for new tires.

When I came back out of the pits after that I was in front of the leaders so I slowed to let them by and then I was told to come back to the pits. I don’t know why race control parked me. Next time, I won’t slow down for the leaders. I will just do my race. I had just done my pit four laps before that and I let the leaders by with no problem and I got parked, so I don’t understand this."

"It was good to finish the race with Jaime, he did a very good job out there. His finish helps build momentum for us to carry over to the next races. Enrique wasn’t quite as lucky. He had that puncture which caused him to slow down before he could come to the pits for a tire change and following that he slowed to let the leaders by.

Because of his lap times under these circumstances, he was instructed by race control to park the car. It’s really unfortunate but there was nothing we could do about it."

- Karina Redmond-