Oval Racing Stock car style in Québec, Ontario and New England States

2011-03-28

NEWGARDEN PR: Sam Schmidt Motorsports: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Indy Lights Race Report

Sam Schmidt Motorsports 1-2 in Indy Lights Opener

Newgarden, Daly Lead the Way at St. Petersburg; Polesitter Guerrieri Ends Up Sixth

Date: March 27, 2011

Event: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Round 1 of 13)

Series: Firestone Indy Lights Series

Location: Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (1.8-mile, 14-turn road course)

Winner: Josef Newgarden of Sam Schmidt Motorsports

SSM Team: Josef Newgarden (Started 3^rd, Finished 1^st/ Running, completed 45 of 45 laps)

Conor Daly (Started 2^nd, Finished 2^nd / Running, completed 45 of 45 laps)

Esteban Guerrieri (Started 1^st, Finished 6^th / Running, completed 45 of 45 laps)

Victor Carbone (Started 12^th, Finished 9^th / Running, completed 45 of 45 laps)

It can be said that Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) was flexing its muscles Sunday in the Firestone Indy Lights Series race that was part of the IZOD IndyCar Series season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

After capturing the first three positions in Saturday qualifying, the four-car SSM team of all Indy Lights Series rookies backed up that performance Sunday when Josef Newgarden in the No. 11 Robo-Pong/SSM entry, and Conor Daly in the No. 77 Mazda Road to Indy/SSM entry, finished first and second, respectively, in the 45-lap race.

Perhaps more impressive was the fact the SSM trio of Newgarden, polesitter Esteban Guerrieri in the No. 7 Lucas Oil/SSM car, and Daly were running 1-2-3 for more than 20 laps. While Newgarden and Daly went on to finish 1-2, a late-race restart saw Guerrieri get shuffled back to sixth after an unsuccessful bid to pass Newgarden for the lead on lap 43.

The fourth SSM driver, Brazilian Victor Carbone in the No. 3 Nevoni/SSM Indy Lights car, was able to battle back for only a ninth-place finish after qualifying 12^th on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Newgarden drove a flawless race after taking the lead from Peter Dempsey on lap 12. He went on to give team owner Sam Schmidt his 38^th Indy Lights race win – more than any other car owner.

“The Lights team really did a good job over there,” said Schmidt, whose Indy Lights teams have won four series titles, including last season with driver J.K. Vernay. “If not for that crazy last restart, we would have had our 1-2-3 with an eighth, so that cost us a little bit. Certainly, though, 1-2-6 and 9 is not a bad way to start that season.”

There were two lead changes in the 45-lap race. Fifth-place qualifier Peter Dempsey took advantage of a great start to jump into the lead. He stayed there until Newgarden’s pass on lap 12. Newgarden led a total of 34 laps, and there was just one caution period that lasted five laps.

The next Firestone Indy Lights Series race is part of the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday, April 10. The race will be televised live on VERSUS beginning at noon EDT.

Josef Newgarden (Finished 1^st), Driver of the No. 11 Robo-Pong/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:

“I don’t know what to say, I am so happy for everyone else. This is way beyond me. It takes the efforts of the entire team that worked so hard over the winter to make this win happen. I am so happy for Sam Schmidt and proud to be driving for him and give him a victory. Sam is a remarkable man, and what kid wouldn’t want to do this. I feel so blessed and happy to be here with the team and have these remarkable partners. I hope we can continue this all year because this is what we are here to do. I think the best plan is not to have a plan. I thought about it a lot last night and you just have to go with what you are feeling at the right moment because anything can really happen. I was so thrilled that we got a good start, and Esteban gave me plenty of room and fought me really clean. It was a nice, easy pass and Peter (Dempsey) actually got by me, as well. I just thought it was a long race and, if you stay cool and pressure him, he will make a mistake and I could capitalize on it. That is exactly what happened and it is unbelievable. This is a dream come true, and it is so great.”

Conor Daly (Finished 2^nd), Driver of the No. 77 Mazda Road to Indy/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:

“It is great to race here again and a good day for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. We had really fast racecars and were running 1-2-3 until that restart. Unfortunately, on that initial start, I was just in the wrong gear. It was my mistake and, next time, I will be able to learn from it. It was unfortunate for us there, but it is also good to know that we can make passes happen in this car. It was a valuable experience for me if I ever have to get into a dogfight situation again. The last restart was epic, and Esteban went straight down the inside and he saw I was coming and he was trying to make a move on Josef, as well. I could tell that it was basically an ice rink on the inside of the track as there was dust flying everywhere. Me and Josef haven’t raced together since 2008, and we always seem to end up together on the podium as 1-2, one way or another. It was a great day for the entire Mazda Road to Indy Team.”

Esteban Guerrieri (Finished 6^th), Driver of the No.7 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:

“It was a really good race until the last two laps. We were lapping great, really consistent. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. I was trying to push on the restart, and we got to the first corner very close with other cars. I missed my braking point a little bit. That was my mistake. I went wide and got picked off. But, in the end, it’s an official race and we go for the next one.”

Victor Carbone (Finished 9^th), Driver of the No. 3 Nevoni/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Entry:

“It was a shame in qualifying that I couldn’t qualify better because I was faster than some of the cars in front of me. The race was going well until the last restart. I was unable to get a good restart. That messed up the rest of my race. I have to thank my guys for the work they did in the winter and I look forward to the next race.”

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TAGLIANI PR - Sam Schmidt Motorsports: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg IndyCar Series Race Report

Tagliani Survives ‘Blistering’ St. Pete Race

Canadian Finishes Sixth for New Owner Schmidt in IndyCar Opener

Date: March 27, 2011

Event: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Round 1 of 17)

Series: IZOD IndyCar Series

Location: Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (1.8-mile, 14-turn road course)

Start/Finish: 10^th/6^th (Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)

Winner: Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi Racing

In a race that took its toll on equipment and nerves, Alex Tagliani survived the 100-lap IZOD IndyCar Series Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg by driving a damaged No. 77 Bowers &Wilkins Dallara/Honda/Firestone Indy car to an impressive top-10 finish on Sunday.

Tagliani climbed from the cockpit after the race to show that his Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) car wasn’t the only thing damaged after the race. He immediately removed his left glove to find two deep gouges, along with swelling on the top of his hand, while his palm and fingers displayed several large, raw blisters. He attributed the damage to the car and his hand to contact he made in turn one on the third of four attempts to restart the race during the opening 12 laps.

Despite his struggle with a damaged racecar, Tagliani was upbeat after the race.

“It was the first race back for Sam (Schmidt) as a team owner (in the IndyCar Series) and I know he’s pleased,” Tagliani said while leaning on the pit wall just minutes after taking the checkered flag. “He’s a pretty excitable guy, and all weekend he showed a little nerves and stress by being back in the league as an owner in the IndyCar Series. To bring him his first sixth-place finish in the IndyCar series and to finish 1-2 in Indy Lights, I think, ‘mission accomplished’ for the whole team.”

Tagliani was referencing the dominating performance of SSM in the Firestone Indy Lights Series race run just prior to the IndyCar Series race on Sunday. SSM cars driven by Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly finished first and second, respectively.

Still, Tagliani could not hide his emotions on what could have been a better finish if the first-turn contact hadn’t happened on lap 13.

“I think we’re just a couple of tenths off before we get the car being more consistent and fast,” he said. “But, what really hurt us today was the hit on the (third) restart when we went from fourth to seventh. Simona (de Silvestro) did a bonsai move and it stuck for her, but she landed on everybody else. In the contact, I hit my hand in the cockpit and the wheel burned my hands as I tried to keep it under me.”

Last year’s IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti won the race by leading 94 of the 100 laps. Rounding out the top-five were Will Power, Tony Kanaan, de Silvestro and Takuma Sato. Tagliani, Raphael Matos, Vitor Meira, Oriol Servia and Justin Wilson comprised the remainder of the top-10. Power, who started on the pole, was the only other leader of the race.

Franchitti’s margin of victory was 7.l612 seconds over Power, who was last year’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg winner. There were five caution periods for a total of 13 laps.

The IZOD IndyCar Series races next at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., at the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday, April 10. The race will be televised live on VERSUS beginning at 3 p.m. EDT.

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PR REVSTAR - DASH FOR CASH

REVSTAR ABF, Dash for Cash

La série Revstar ABF

1 000 $
au gagnant !

Le printemps arrive enfin et on sent beaucoup de fébrilité chez nos pilotes de REVSTAR, la saison des courses va débuter dans quelques semaines.

Il est encore temps de vous joindre à nous et vous procurer un tout nouveau Speed STR pour débuter la saison 2011.

Une promotion du concepteur des Speed STR
Rich Tobias vous offre l'opportunité de gagner une bourse de 1000 $ dans le cadre d'une compétition mettant aux prises tous les nouveaux propriétaires d'un bolide de REVSTAR neuf 2010 ainsi que tous les nouveaux acheteurs, qui vont se procurer un Speed STR avant le 14 mai prochain. Ces pilotes seront invités à une confrontation appeler "Dash for Cash".

Format de la course
Le nombre de tours prévu pour la course va dépendre du nombre de propriétaires. Actuellement, il y a eu 5 Speed STR neufs vendus l'an dernier, donc la course sera de 5 tours, mais pour chaque bolide vendu, on ajoute un tour. L'ordre de départ sera déterminé par tirage au sort. La course se tiendra à l'Autodrome Drummond le 14 mai prochain.

Voici les pilotes admissibles pour ce défi !

#10 Gabriel Richer
#28 Yannick Poirier
#35 Andre Manny
#53 Jean-Nicolas Gareau
#54 Daniel Nadeau

Vous pouvez vous joindre à ce groupe en vous procurant un STR neuf. D'ailleurs c'est en plein le temps avec la partié du dollar canadien avec celui des États-Unis. Pour aussi peu que 18 200 $ (US) vous pourriez être l'heureux propriétaire d'une voiture de course et être prêt pour débuter la saison 2011.

Voitures usagées à vendre

Il y a des bonnes opportunités avec des modèles usagers. REVSTAR en met 2 en vente et un propriétaire de deux REVSTAR a décidé de vendre un STR et rouler avec une seule voiture cette année.

Voici les détails :

Modèle		Description
SpeedSTR #66 / 2009		jaune frame rouge moteur rafraichie à neuf seulement 2 courses. en excellente condition! prête à courserprix: 14850$ info Carl 819-470-0828

SpeedSTR #48 2011		rouge frame rouge neuf seulement 5 courses sur glace voiture neuve de janvier 2011 prix: 15995$ info Carl 819-470-0828
SpeedSTR #55 2010	noir frame noir a roulé seulement la saison 2010 en excellente condition! prête à courser prix:14850$ info demander Patrick 819-697-5555

Faites vite, et ajoutez du plaisir à votre passion !

REVSTAR ABF
http://www.revstar.ca

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2011-03-26

PATRICK LAPERLE pilotera à Granby en modifié

Patrick Laperle à l'Autodrome Montmagny en 2011

Un champion sur asphalte fait ses débuts sur terre battue.

Patrick Laperle est né le 24 février 1976 à St-Denis sur le Richelieu. Il a débuté en tant que pilote au volant d’un Late Model Sportsman à Airborne Speedway (Platsburgh) en 1998 sur l'asphalte.

Laperle qui a fait quelques tours en modifié à Granby en 2010.

Ses pistes de course préférées sont New Smyrna (Floride) et Thunder Road Speedbowl (Barre, Vermont). Il a mérité 37 victoires depuis le début de sa carrière sur différentes pistes du Canada et des Etats-Unis. Patrick est le pilote québécois qui a mérité le meilleur résultat au TD BANKNORTH Oxford 250. Il a remporté le prestigieux Milk Bowl à trois reprises. Patrick a remporté deux ACT Showdown, dont l'épreuve inaugurale. Il est le seul pilote de l’histoire à avoir remporté un championnat ACT Tour (Canado-Américain) et un championnat de la série ACT Castrol (Série Québec/Ontario).

Patrick conduira un Téo 2011, comme plusieurs pilotes réguliers, il fera l’essai d’un moteur GM Ct 525. Berthold Robidoux (BERT Transmission) et son équipe vont tenter de partager leurs connaissances avec la nouvelle équipe. Patrick sera à bord du bolide # 91 dans la catégorie Modifié sur le circuit de l’Autodrome Granby seulement. Il poursuit sa carrière sur l’asphalte à bord du bolide numéro 91 dans la série ACT-Castrol. Patrick sera présent à tous les programmes de l’Autodrome Granby qui ne sont pas en conflit avec la série ACT.

2010 - Vice-champion World Series of Asphalt (New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Floride);
A remporté un 2e ACT Showdown

2009 - Vice-champion Série ACT Castrol (Série provinciale au Québec) – Late model

2009 – Terminé 2e au réputé TD Bank North Oxford 250 (Course avec les bourses les plus importantes du nord-est des États-Unis et du Canada)

2009 - Vice-champion World Series of Asphalt (New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Floride) 2008 - Champion ACT Tour (Série Canado-Américaine) – Late model

2007 - Champion Série ACT Castrol (Série Québec / Ontario) – Late Model

2002 – Vice-champion ACT Tour (Série Canado-Américaine) – Late model

1999 – Première victoire en carrière - classe Late Model à Airborne Speedway (Plattsburgh, NY)

Josée Lyse Poisson

Relationniste Autodrome Granby

www.autodrome-granby.com

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NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Greenville Postponed

For Immediate Release

Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 rescheduled for April 2

GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 26, 2011) — The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season-opener at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway scheduled for Saturday, March 26 has been postponed to Saturday, April 2.

Rain moved into the Greenville area Saturday morning, and the forecast calls for persistent precipitation throughout the weekend.

The race-day schedule for the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 150 will remain the same, with the green flag slated for 8 p.m. For ticket information, please call 864-269-8052 or visit the track’s official website, www.greenvillepickens.com.

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2011-03-25

Maryeve Dufault Emerging From Break Recharged

Maryeve Dufault Emerging From Break Recharged

"Upcoming Driver Ready For First Talladega Tango"

MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (March 25, 2011) - - Maryeve (pronounced Mary-EV) Dufault (pronounced DU-FAU), the 2011 ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by Menards Rookie of the Year candidate is emerging from nearly a six week break ready to test next week at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in preparation for round two of the season.

Dufault, driver of the No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger will tackle the smooth 2.66-mile superspeedway for the first time on Tuesday and Wednesday but the Sorel, Quebec Canada native is looking for the same consistency she showed during pre-season testing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

"I'm looking forward to getting back in the No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger," said Dufault, a resident of Redondo Beach, California. "The break was a nice refresher after Daytona but I'm anxious to get back behind the wheel and continue our season for Tony Marks Racing."

Dufault who entered ARCA after stint in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 and a successful and impressive career in Formula cars is looking to finish what she started at Daytona in the Talladega ARCA 250 on April 15^th.

After qualifying 24^th, Dufault kept her No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger in the lead draft and was on-track for a satisfying finish before becoming an innocent victim the "big one" just 16 laps from the finish.

"I learned a lot at Daytona," she said. "I learned a lot about the car, the draft, my competitors and even the track. We had a good car and we almost escaped the "big one" unharmed but to no avail. The Tony Marks Racing team has been thrashing hard on our superspeedway car since the race and we're looking forward to turning some respectable times during the two-day test."

Never having the opportunity to experience the enormous Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Dufault enters Alabama optimistic while hoping to lean on some of her veteran competitors for some tips.

"Most of the tracks on the schedule are going to be green to me," Dufault explained. "Thankfully, I have a great team behind me who are giving me fast race cars. I'm also reaching out to some of my competitors for advice. I've been very appreciative so far of their willingness to guide me and give some tips. Hopefully, Talladega will bring more of the same."

The first full season of ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competition for Tony Marks Racing (TMR) continues next Tuesday and Wednesday where the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will host an open-test at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in preparation for the ARCA Racing Series 250 on Friday, April 15.

For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.

For more on Maryeve Dufault, please log onto Maryeveracing.com

To learn more about Tony Marks Racing, please click over to Tmr-racing.com

About Tony Marks Racing (TMR):

Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks. Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose
customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies.

Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from
drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars. Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old). Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA, ASA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros.

TMR has been at the forefront of charitable giving through its' "Driving Against Hunger" and "Million Meal Challenge" race programs which have raised over $200,000 for Forgotten Harvest in 2010 at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Michigan International Speedway.

For the NASCAR events TMR along with TMT, Inc. partnered with Forgotten Harvest for the "Million Meal Challenge For Our Kids" which helps to bridge the hunger gap while schools are out of session and feeds 20,000 children per day in the Detroit metro area. Forgotten Harvest was significantly displayed on the entry of Chase Austin during both the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway along with logos of "Million Meal Challenge" sponsors Walgreen's, United Race Group, Holyfield's Choice Alka-Power Water and Vitamin Spice. Evander
Holyfield was also instrumental in the challenge, acting as Grand Marshall for the August race and announcing his "Fight Against Hunger" on behalf of Forgotten Harvest.

As the first race team to "Drive Against Hunger" through their partnership with Forgotten Harvest, TMR plans to continue their alliance with Forgotten Harvest and once again "Drive Against Hunger" during the 2011 season.

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Communiqué Autodrome Drummond - Nouveau directeur des communications

Pour diffusion immédiate

Martin Bélanger se joint à l'Autodrome Drummond en tant que nouveau directeur des communications !

Drummondville, Québec – jeudi 24 mars, 2011 – Martin Bélanger, directeur des communications.

Avec l'approche à grands pas de la nouvelle saison 2011, l'Autodrome Drummond est fier d'annoncer l'ajout de Martin Bélanger à l'équipe en tant que nouveau directeur des communications de la piste. En plus de Bélanger, Isabelle Nault se joint également au groupe pour la prochaine saison.

For immediate release

Martin Bélanger joins Autodrome Drummond as the new Public Relations Director!

Drummondville, PQ – Thursday, March 24, 2011 – Martin Bélanger, Public Relations Director

With the 2011 season quickly approaching, Autodrome Drummond is proud to announce the addition of Martin Belanger as the new public relations director of the speedway. Along with Bélanger, Isabelle Nault will also join the group for the next season.

Ayant acquis beaucoup d'expérience dans le niveau des relations publiques au cours des dernières années à l'Autodrome Edelweiss, au Cornwall Motor Speedway, avec le site web 360nitro.com, ainsi que relationniste intérimaire auprès de DIRTcar, Martin s'occupera des communiqués de presse, animera et analysera avec l'annonceur maison Anthony Marcotte et s'acquittera de tâches connexes aux relations publiques. Il remplacera ainsi Steve Bertrand qui a effectué de l'excellent travail au cours des dernières années avec l'équipe. Afin de se concentrer sur ses divers projets en cours, Bertrand a décidé de quitter l'Autodrome au cours de l'hiver. On lui souhaite nos meilleurs vœux de succès et on le remercie grandement pour tout le travail effectué pour nous.

S'ajoutant à l'équipe, Isabelle Nault coordonnera les activités d'avant-course, l'intermission et du cercle des vainqueurs. Isabelle, a une vaste expérience en tant qu'officiel à différentes piste tel qu'Edelweiss, Brockville, Cornwall et avec DIRTcar.

Avec moins de 2 mois avant le début de la prochaine saison, l'Autodrome Drummond est fier d'accueillir Martin et Isabelle à l'équipe. L'ajout de ses 2 personnes, solidifiera le groupe d'animation.

Gaining valuable experience in public relations over the years at Edelweiss Speedway, Cornwall Motor Speedway and also the 360nitro.com website along with duties with DIRTcar, Martin will take care of the press releases, animate and comment the races with home announcer Anthony Marcotte and will also take care of other duties related to public relations. He will replace Steve Bertrand, who accomplished great work during the last few years. Bertrand had to step out of his job at Drummond during the winter to be able to concentrate on his numerous projects. We are wishing Steve all the best and we thank him for all his hard work.

Also being added to the team, Isabelle Nault will coordinate all the activities surrounding the pre-race, intermission and winner circle, Isabelle has a lot of experience as a race official, as she worked at Edelweiss, Brockville, Cornwall and DIRTcar.

With less than 2 months before the start of the new season, Autodrome Drummond is proud to add Martin and Isabelle to the team. These 2 additions will solidify the animation group.

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2011-03-22

ACT LEE USA OPENER TO SHOWCASE NEW TEAMS IN 2011

For Immediate Release ACT – 032111-14

Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) will open the 2011 season at the Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 17, 2011 with many new faces in the pits.

Two veteran Oxford Plains Speedway competitors plan to start their 2011 ACT seasons at Lee. Shane Green, South Paris, ME will drive the Geoffrey Low entry, and Dennis Spencer from Oxford, ME both have a lot of experience with ACT racing. Oxford Plains has presented 22 ACT Late Model races, plus four non-point TD Bank Oxford 250s. Both drivers have participated in most of those events and Spencer participated in the second annual ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) last September.

A long-time competitor from Massachusetts will make his first point race starts at the opening event in 2011. Peter Yetman, Peru, MA had a solid first time ACT outing at the recent New Smyrna Speedway in Florida this past February. Yetman was introduced to ACT racing by third-year competitor Jeff Zuidema. After making the trip to Florida this past February, Yetman told the staff at ACT, “I am friends with Jeff and he told me that racing with the group from ACT was respectful and a lot of fun. He and I raced at the Thompson Speedway together, and he was right about the racing in ACT. Florida was a great trip and I am anxious to start the season at Lee USA.”

Tom Carey, Jr. from New Salem, MA is a much-respected veteran competitor from the former NASCAR North and Busch East Series. “I am looking forward to having some fun. Joining up again with old friends Brian Hoar, Jamie Aube, Eddie MacDonald, Brad Leighton and Dennis Demers (all former NASCAR competitors with Carey) is really going to be a lot of fun for our team. I have a new Ford program, a new ACT car, and an enthusiastic owner and team. We can’t wait to get started and love the opportunity to race a couple times at NHMS, and of course, the Oxford 250 and Milk Bowl are both ‘must do’ events on any short track racer’s menu,” said Carey.

Joining Carey and the other former NASCAR North stars will be Mike Bruno from Rutland VT. Mike was a former dirt racer who joined ACT Late Models in the late 90s, moved to some NASCAR North racing, back to dirt, and has now found his way back to ACT Late Models. Bruno has only had two outings over the past year, but both were very successful. His home track outside Rutland is the newly paved Devil’s Bowl Speedway and he and Thunder Road Champion Dave Pembroke, from Montpelier, VT opened the track last May racing for the win in one of the most competitive events of the season. Bruno also made the trip to New Smyrna and led the second 100-lap event for over 25 laps.

“It felt great leading some laps in both of my first two events back, but mostly just being competitive was the goal. I know we have some work to do to get back to form, but I have really enjoyed the first couple events on my return to ACT. I can’t wait to get things started for real this year and am really looking forward to Lee and then getting back to Thunder Road on May 1^st, said Bruno.

Ray Parent from Riverton, RI is a former Pro Stock competitor from one of New England’s most historic and successful short tracks, the Vendetti family’s ‘cement palace’, Seekonk Speedway. Parent hauled his team to New Smyrna and secured a major sponsor with Amtrol, a major North American manufacturing company. “We are really excited to be able to open up some partnership opportunities for Amtrol through the ACT network,” said Parent.

“I met a lot of the ACT teams while in Florida, and the trip certainly helped me get ready for the season opener at Lee in a few weeks. We are really glad to be a part of this season, although I know it will be a bit of a learning curve from the Pro Stocks, I sure liked how competitive and respectful the racing was at New Smyrna. I raced once with ACT at Lee a couple years ago and finished 9^th, so I hope we can have that kind of run to open the season,” concluded Parent.

The twenty-sixth season of ACT racing will take green at the Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 17, 2011. Over 40 of the best Late Model teams in the US and Canada are expected to open their race seasons in the 150-lap New Hampshire Governor’s Cup. The winner will also be awarded the first coveted spot in the third annual New Hampshire Motor Speedway ACT Invitational to be held on NASCAR Cup Chase weekend on September 23-25, 2011.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com.

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PR - ALEX TAGLIANI

ALEX TAGLIANI

‘Change Is the Only Constant’

INDIANAPOLIS (March 22, 2011) – Named after St. Petersburg, Russia, Florida’s “Sunshine City” is also home to the opening race on the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule – Sunday’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The first race of every season is always full of hope after a team or a driver makes any offseason changes. Conversely, teams or drivers coming off a successful season try to do as little as possible to change what worked right for them the previous year. Alex Tagliani fits into both of those categories as he approaches round one of the 17-race IndyCar Series schedule.

By all appearances, little has changed in or around Tagliani’s No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins Dallara/Honda/Firestone Indy car and his team. The key ingredients that carried the first-year IndyCar Series team to a solid inaugural season still remain. The same crew members, the same cars, the same sponsors and the same driver have all returned for the second season. That consistency is what the team was hoping to carry through the offseason and into 2011.

In a famous quote, however, female racing pioneer, writer and author Denise McClugagge seems to say change is to be expected and embraced: “Change is the only constant. Hanging on is the only sin.”

One thing did change for Tagliani and team in the offseason. It was a big change, and it’s a change that has this team infused with confidence and optimism.

When the No. 77 is unloaded from its transporter in the St. Petersburg paddock, it will be a car that’s now part of Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) after Tagliani and his co-owners sold the team to Schmidt just three weeks ago. It’s a change Tagliani and crew embrace. Owned by former driver Sam Schmidt, SSM is one of the most successful teams in the INDYCAR paddock.

SSM has won more championships (four) and races (37) than any other team in the stepping-stone Firestone Indy Lights division. The team also has experience in the IndyCar Series as it has qualified 10 cars in the Indianapolis 500 and has one IndyCar Series pole position. As a racing team, SSM is celebrating its 10^th anniversary. And, what better way to kick things off than with a brand new team in its stable?

Alex Tagliani, Driver of the No. 77 B&W Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Sam Schmidt Motorsports:

How is the transition going from being an owner-driver back to just being a driver?

“Things have changed, even though it’s business as usual with the same guys and the same everything. Being the second year, we’re looking forward to building on what we started and learned last year. It was a discovery last year pretty much everywhere. Part of our season, we were trying to build a team more than we were trying to make our car go fast. This year, we’re on a different program and we’re excited to start. With Sam, we have a boss. We have somebody who has experience in racing. He has won championships and has been successful in Indy Lights. He brings a lot of intensity to the team because everybody knows where he’s from and what he’s been through. Everybody has this little extra edge inside looking to give him his first win in IndyCar. I don’t think it’s illogical to think we have the capability to try to get a win or two this year. For sure, we need to get our stuff right. There are going to be some tracks that are going to be better for us than others. We have to throw a lot of things at the car to understand and to improve ourselves and build our ‘toolbox,’ like the engineers say. I think the first four races are good races for us and I think we can do really well.”

What is your mindset entering the first IndyCar Series race in more than a year as just the driver?

“I’m actually happy to not be the guy in charge and just focus on my driving and let the team do what they do best. In this world of INDYCAR, especially this year, with so much more time on the broadcasts, you need to provide more content, be able to expose your sponsors and to help the branding of the team. So it already takes so much time outside of the cockpit to represent the team well and represent the sponsor well, commercially, that it’s better if you don’t have too many hats to wear.”

How did you get together with Sam Schmidt, and how is it to work with him?

“(Wife) Bronte and I had the chance to spend a little time with Sam. I had a lot of fun. He’s a really cool guy. He’s actually quite funny, I would say, kind of easy-going. What I liked the most is the fact that, when racing gets closer and closer, you can see he’s a passionate guy for the sport and he really wants the team to succeed. His level of interest in our team was that he saw a little bit of success and speed right away and it was giving him the feeling that, at some point, he could get back into the ownership with a strong entity, a strong group. This team did well in year one and, with him now, I think we are more motivated than ever to bring some success to him and please him in his first year back as a fulltime owner at the IndyCar level.”

What does Sam bring to the team?

“He has a lot of experience, and he’s bringing a lot of passion and intensity to our team. We feel great to have him as a leader. Last year, I was seen as one of the team owners but, obviously, I was not so much there to be the head guy. I was happy to take my driver spot and I was happy with that. Basically, Sam is bringing spirit to the troops. It’s basically the duty of a head coach and general manager and motivator. He came to the shop and, from his first speech, he brought motivation to us. From the first race on, we really want to showcase who we are, what we have, and showcase him as a team owner in the IZOD IndyCar series.”

What expectations have you placed on yourself and the team this year?

“I would love to be able to have a strong championship result and finish in the top-five. That would be absolutely outstanding. What happened to us last year, we had lots of really outrageous performances, like qualifying on the front row at Brazil, qualifying fourth in Sonoma, finishing fourth at Mid-Ohio, sitting on the pole three-quarters of the day at Indy, qualifying fifth at Kansas, sixth at Iowa. We know we have what it takes to be in the top-five. We know we can do it. We need to find a way to understand why we were so fast here and not so fast there. I think the day we get that understanding is the day we will be able to put together a much more consistent result and a much more consistent car for the full season. And that will make it easier to answer the question of when we can aim for a top-five finish.”

As a team, where do you think you’ve improved over last year?

“The thing that was upgraded with the fact that, in the wintertime this year, the team worked on improving, and it improved by knowing what the data was on the track. Last year, in the wintertime, it was basically painting the floor in the race shop, installing air lines, basically building a structure and a team more than developing a racecar – doing parts inventory, things like that. The team looked more like a race team this winter with development in mind. Now, year two for us and year one for Sam Schmidt Motorsports will be building on everything we learned from the data we accumulated last year, looking back at St. Pete, looking back at Long Beach, and approaching these races with a little bit more knowledge than we had last year. Last year, at Long Beach, we had absolutely nothing to look back on. We were blind, and that’s where our lack of consistency showed since we weren’t fast at that place and we didn’t know how to make it fast at that place.”

What are your thoughts on the IZOD IndyCar Series on the eve of the first race of the season?

“Timing is great, since IZOD joined the series, Randy (Bernard, president of INDYCAR) has worked very aggressively with IZOD, and making sure the series is on the rise. We’ve seen a lot of movement. We’ve seen a lot more attention. It’s pleasing the sponsors. We have a great group of drivers in the series. So, I think it’s where it needs to be. There’s always room for improvement, but it seems like the series has made huge steps in a lot of areas this season. That’s why the timing seems perfect for SSM to join the series. I think we can be in the lead group of the series but, again, St. Pete is going to be the reality check.”

Were you surprised on what transpired with Firestone over the last month?

“I’m very excited Firestone is back next year and the year after. When the original announcement came out that they were leaving, I was pretty shocked because I never imagined myself driving on anything else besides Firestone and Bridgestone. Since I started driving Indy cars, that’s all I’ve ever driven on. That’s the only tire I’ve ever been on. I think it’s great they decided to continue with the league. I think it would’ve been a big disappointment for them to leave. I think they’re a great company and they have great supporters in the league. They have helped us, as teams, to create a better commercial platform for sponsors, and I think they’re going to continue in that direction. They know what we need, they know the tracks, so they are the company that has the most amount of experience in the racing tire business for Indy cars. Racing is a business where it’s very important to have stability and, by them coming back, it’s great for our stability and I think it’s great for the series.”

What advice would you give Sebastien Bourdais as it appears he is returning to the series?

“It’s difficult to give him advice because he’s driven so many different kinds of cars. He’s more experienced than a lot of the guys out there. He’s driven Formula 1 and prototypes and Le Mans and Indy cars and Champ cars. He had more experience than me when I got here because he already drove the Indy 500 with Newman-Haas. He was doing that race plus the whole season in Champ Car. It’s great that he found a spot in our series, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track with him and fight. This car is a little bit different. I thought the Champ car to the Indy car, the normally aspirated engine without the turbo, the way the car wanted to be driven, I thought there were a lot of things this car had that I wasn’t used to. But, after a couple of races as a driver, you get used to it and, as a professional, you learn to adapt. That’s what makes a good driver – the ability to adapt. I think he’ll do just fine.”

Rob Edwards, Team Manager of the No. 77 B&W Dallara/Honda/Firestone for Sam Schmidt Motorsports:

Where do you see the team heading into the season opener compared to this time last year?

“Last year, while we had high expectations, internally, we were off everyone else’s radar. Going into our second season, we have a year’s worth of knowledge from working together last season. Alex has the same people around him in 2011 as he did in 2010 and we have worked through an aggressive development program in the offseason. Once we get to St. Pete, what we achieved last year will mean nothing if it was not the foundation for greater success this season. The ingredients are there, we have to execute.”

With the purchase of the team by SSM, have you adjusted any goals for the season? What are some of the goals for the season?

“We haven’t adjusted any goals with the purchase of the team by SSM, but we will be stronger because of it. Sam has a very successful Indy Lights team and our goal is to make sure he has a very successful IndyCar team to go with it. Sam will help our team to be stronger and more stable. Sam will be a benefit to Alex in ways that I cannot. Our goal is to maximize our result at each of the 17 races. If we can make our performance more consistent over the course of the season and pull our worst races from 2010 up to the level of our best races from 2010, then we will achieve our ultimate goals.”

ALEX TAGLIANI’S ST. PETERSBURG INDYCAR SERIES PERFORMANCE PROFILE

Year	Date	Event	Start	Finish	Status/Laps	Laps Led	Earnings
2010	3/29	Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (IndyCar)	8	6	Running, 100/100	0	N/A
2009	4/5	Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (IndyCar)	7	10	Running, 99/100	0	N/A
2003	2/23	Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (CART)	13	19	Accident, 3/105	0	N/A

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