The following is a series of stats, notes and quotes from Conquest Racing for this weekend’s PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County at Infineon Raceway.
PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County
Infineon Raceway, 2.245-mile, 12-turn road course
August 22 - 24, 2008, Race #15
Race Distance: 80 laps (180.8 miles)
Broadcast: ESPN2, 5:30 p.m. ET
SONOMA PRE-RACE NOTES
First Race, Second Visit
This weekend will be Conquest Racing’s first race at Infineon Raceway but the team’s second visit to the 2.245-mile road course. The team took part in a productive one-day test at the 12-turn circuit last week with other IndyCar Series competitors and is now looking forward to going back for its first "official" appearance. With the additional track time last week, Conquest is hopeful they will run competitively this week, as they continue to build on the experience gained throughout the season.
Looking Ahead
While at the test Conquest not only worked on getting the car ready for this weekend’s event but the engineering staff also focused on trying out different changes that can’t be tested on race weekends due to time constraints and that will help the team in upcoming races. The results were encouraging and the team is confident and highly-motivated as they take on the final 2008 races.
Road Course Warrior
Enrique Bernoldi is optimistic heading into the final stretch of the season after completing the test at Infineon Raceway. The extra seat time has boosted his confidence and hopes for his first race in Sonoma.
Camara Sonoma Highlights
Camara has five Firestone Indy Lights starts at the Sonoma County race track. His best start was a fourth place in race two in 2007 with a best finish of fifth in race one that same year.
Best of Conquest 2008
Conquest scored its best oval starting position of the season with Enrique Bernoldi with an eighth spot on the grid in Milwaukee and achieved its best combined effort when the team placed both drivers in the top six in Long Beach in April at the Champ Car World Series finale.
The team also completed their first Indianapolis 500 this year when Bernoldi took the checkered flag on the lead lap in 15th place. It was the Brazilian’s first oval finish of the season. Bernoldi led the team’s first laps of the season in St. Petersburg (3) while Jaime Camara led the team’s first oval laps (44) of the season in Richmond .
QUOTEBOARD
#34 Jaime Camara Sangari Dallara/Honda/Firestone
IndyCar Series Starts: 11
Best 2008 Start: 19th (Kansas City)
Best 2008 Finish: 14th (Richmond, Mid-Ohio)
"Rookie of the Year" Standings: 8th
Point Standings: 23rd (140 points)
"I’m happy with the progress we made at the test last week. It was nice to put in some miles before racing there and it allowed us to gather good data for this weekend.
With our performance at the test, I am confident heading to Sonoma that we will have a good weekend that will help us keep our momentum going from now until the end of the season."
#36 Enrique Bernoldi Sangari Dallara/Honda/Firestone
IndyCar Series Starts: 13
Best 2008 Start: 8th (Long Beach, Milwaukee)
Best 2008 Finish: 4th (Long Beach)
"Rookie of the Year" Standings: 6th
Point Standings: 20th (208 points)
"Infineon Raceway is a very nice and very challenging track with all the different types of slow and fast corners and elevation changes it has. I think it will be difficult to pass so qualifying will be very important. After testing there last week, I’m optimistic heading into the race weekend.
The test helped us not only in getting to know the track but allowed us to get to know the car better because we had more time to make changes than during a race weekend. Overall, we had a good test and we can build on that this weekend as we look to run competitively. I’m really encouraged for the end of the season."
CONQUEST RACING AT A GLANCE
2008 SEASON
IndyCar Series Races: 13
Best Start: 8th (Milwaukee, - Enrique Bernoldi)
Best Finish: 5th (St. Petersburg, - Enrique Bernoldi)
Champ Car Races: 1 (Long Beach)
Best Start: 3rd (Franck Perera)
Best Finish: 4th (Enrique Bernoldi)
IndyCar Series Overall
IndyCar Series Races: 30
Best Start: 4th (Dallas, Richmond, Kansas City, 2002 – Laurent Redon)
Best Finish: 2nd (Fontana, 2002 – Laurent Redon)
Champ Car World Series Overall
Champ Car World Series Races: 74
Best Start: 2nd (Cleveland, 2004 – Justin Wilson)
Best Finish: 2nd (Twice – Monterrey, Mexico, 2005 - Andrew Ranger / Assen, Holland, 2007 - Jan Heylen
- Karina Redmond -
