Conquest Racing Rexall Edmonton Indy Preview

City Centre Airport , 1.96-mile, 14-turn street circuit

July 24 – July 26, 2008, Race #13

Race Distance: 95 laps (186.2 miles)

Broadcast: ESPN, 5:00 pm ET

Races at City Centre Airport : 3 (Champ Car)

Best Finish: 7th (2006, Andrew Ranger)

Best Start: 8th (2006, Andrew Ranger)

For the first time this season in the IndyCar Series, Conquest Racing will be visiting a track that it has competed on more than once. Having raced at Edmonton’s City Centre Airport since the Edmonton Indy’s inception in 2005, going to Edmonton for Conquest Racing, like the other ‘transition teams’, is like going home, finally finding themselves in territory very well-known to them while unknown to the ‘established’ IndyCar Series teams.

Over the last three years, Conquest Racing has scored a best finish of seventh at Edmonton with a top start of eighth. Both were registered in 2006 by Canadian driver Andrew Ranger.

Despite this being drivers Enrique Bernoldi and Jaime Camara’s first visit to the 1.96-mile street circuit, Conquest is hoping that its experience on this airport track will serve them well and help them turn their season around after seeing their drivers struggle over the last few races.

Momentum has started to build thanks to rookie Camara’s first road course finish of the season last weekend in Mid-Ohio but the team now hopes that both drivers can keep building on that momentum and have a strong run throughout the remainder of the season.

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 .

IndyCar Series Starts: 9

Best 2008 Start: 19th (Kansas City)

Best 2008 Finish: 14th (Richmond, Mid-Ohio)

"Rookie of the Year" Standings: 8th

Point Standings: 23rd (114 points)

"We gained momentum last weekend in Mid-Ohio and I hope we can keep that going. Obviously, I’m still gaining experience on road/street courses and I expect it to be a tough race in Edmonton , I’ve never been to that track and everyone says it’s very difficult, very physical. But, I’m looking forward to it. The team has plenty of experience in Edmonton and I think that will give us a small advantage at the start of the weekend."

IndyCar Series Starts: 11

Best 2008 Start: 8th (Long Beach, Milwaukee )

Best 2008 Finish: 4th (Long Beach)

"Rookie of the Year" Standings: 6th

Point Standings: 20th (182 points)

"I have heard that the Edmonton track is very difficult but I can’t wait to get there and check it out for myself. I have always enjoyed going to Canada and I look forward to this race. The team has raced there in the past in Champ Car and I am looking for a good result this weekend. We really need to finish a race, hopefully luck will be on our side and I can make it to the checkered."

Eric Bachelart, owner Conquest Racing:

"This is probably one of the races that we have been looking forward to the most this season because we feel like we may have a slight advantage heading into the weekend. We can skip the part of having to learn the track. I think the team can do well this weekend.

Jaime progressed a lot in Mid-Ohio last weekend as he continues to gain experience on road and street courses. As for Enrique, it was unfortunate for him to be involved in an on-track incident but I expect good things from him this weekend."

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 Races: 28

Best Start: 4th (Dallas, Richmond , Kansas City, 2002 – Laurent Redon)

Best Finish: 2nd (Fontana, 2002 – Laurent Redon)

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 -