September 17, 2011 - Motegi, Tochigi, Japan - After an exciting week of travel to the other side of the world, Simona De Silvestro and her HVM Racing team completed their qualifying run for Sunday's race at Twin Ring Motegi.
On a road course that the IZOD IndyCar Series has never run on, the Nuclear Clean Air Energy team did some experimenting to find speed during the three practice sessions. Unfortunately, the perfect lap just didn't come together for De Silvestro as she ran in the second, and more challenging, qualifying group. She will start Sunday's competition from P26.
"I really like the track here at Twin Ring Motegi," said De Silvestro. "It feels like a European race course and suits my style. We struggled this weekend but I'm confident that we'll be able to make up positions during the race. I'm proud of the Nuclear Clean Air Energy team for working so hard to make changes as we experimented this weekend. I'll be doing my best tomorrow to show them it was worth the effort they put forth."
De Silvestro will join the other drivers of the IZOD IndyCar Series for the Indy Japan: The Final, taking place at Twin Ring Motegi on Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. local time. For fans in the United States, the 63-lap race will be aired live on Versus TV at 11:30 p.m. ET.
About HVM Racing
HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. HVM enters 2011 as its tenth year of competition since forming in 2001 and has earned six victories, two pole positions, and an additional 16 podiums. They earned "Indianapolis Rookie of the Year" honors with driver Simona De Silvestro at the 2010 event and since joining the IZOD INDYCAR Series in 2008, the team has earned nine top-10 finishes. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Follow HVM Racing at www.hvmracing.com, on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMracing, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.
About Entergy
Entergy is the second largest owner and operator of U.S. nuclear energy plants. They operate or provide management services to 12 reactors at 10 sites. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity and delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees. Follow at www.NuclearCleanAirEnergy.com and www.entergy-nuclear.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EntergyNuclear and www.twitter/NuclearCleanAir, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/Nuclear Clean Air Energy.
For more information, contact:
Monica Hilton, Public Relations
HVM Racing, LLC
Phone: (608) 669-3211
Email: mhilton@hvminc.net
Web: www.HVMRacing.com