For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Cell: 317-201-0729
RLR/Andersen's Drivers Are Off to a Good Start
Saturday at Kansas Speedway
KANSAS CITY, Kan., April 26 - RLR/Andersen Racing drivers Andrew Prendeville
and J.R. Hildebrand took their first laps on Kansas Speedway's 1.5-mile
trioval Saturday and did very well, as the Palmetto, Fla.-based team participated in
two practice sessions in preparation for Sunday's Kansas Lottery 100
Firestone Indy Lights race here.
Hildebrand, of Indianapolis, was second in the first practice session
Saturday morning, only 0.0074 of a second off Ana Beatriz's fastest time run in that
30-minute indoctrination. Hildebrand's fastest lap in the Allied Building
Products No. 25 was done in 28.9014 seconds for an average speed of 189.333 miles
per hour.
Although he's not been feeling well all week, Prendeville was third in the
first practice session with a lap in 28.9550 seconds at 188.983 mph with his
Best Friends Animal Society No. 5. He led the standings for a good portion of
that session.
"It was crazy for a first session, but I'm happy with second for the first
practice at a new track," said Hildebrand after the first session. "We had a
10-car pack there at the end of the run. The Allied Building Products car was a
little loose for being in a pack like that, but we were able to hold onto it.
I'm pretty happy with it. A car has to be good on its own and in a draft,
and it was in that session. It's a little bit of a handful, but it's
definitely fast."
"I guess I should be sick more often," Prendeville joked. "I got the flu or
allergies or something, but we were fastest in that session for a while and we
ended up third. I'm OK, but it's weird; everything tastes like chocolate. We
were in a tow for my fastest lap, but that's how it is here. This is our
first time at this track, but the Best Friends Animal Society car is good. It's
going to be an exciting race tomorrow. Hopefully I can finish all the laps
for the fans who made donations to Best Friends on racinglapsforbestfriends.com."
In the afternoon session Hildebrand was fifth with a lap in 28.9722 seconds
or 188.871 miles per hour. Prendeville was 11th in the very close field with a
29.1880 or 187.474 mph.
"We never got a really good tow lap that time with the Allied Building
Products car," Hildebrand said after the afternoon session. "I was either behind the
fastest pack or just ahead of it. I didn't want to slow up too much to try
to drop in with them though, because I didn't want to cause an accident.
"We made some changes to the car before this session," he continued. "The car
seems really good on its own, and we're still good in the draft. I think we
have a pretty good race car for tomorrow."
"I think the Best Friends car will be good for qualifying," Prendeville said
after the second session. "The fast time is going to be a crap shoot though.
We're all in a pack. I do like this track; it's a very nice facility."
Both practice sessions Saturday were delayed due to cold temperatures
Saturday morning. Rain is predicted overnight. That or the Goodyear rubber laid down
by the NASCAR Craftsman trucks racing here later today could complicate
things for Firestone Indy Lights qualifying Sunday at 9 a.m. Central time.
Hildebrand is tenth in the qualifying order. Prendeville will go 24th or last to keep
things exciting.
The 67-lap/100-mile race will follow at 12:45 p.m. Central time.
Sunday's race is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. EDT on
Thursday, May 1.
RLR/Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. It is the
development team of Rahal Letterman Racing. Its Web sites are at
andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.
Saturday's stats recap follows:
First practice (Saturday, 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.):
1. Ana Beatriz, 28.8940, 189.382 mph
2. J.R. Hildebrand, 28.9014, 189.333 mph, 33rd lap of 37 run.
3. Andrew Prendeville, 28.9550, 188.983 mph, 11th lap of 37 run.
Second practice (Saturday, 4:10 p.m. to 4:35 p.m.):
1. Raphael Matos, 28.7346, 190.432 mph
5. J.R. Hildebrand, 28.9722, 188.871 mph, 23rd lap of 32 run.
11. Andrew Prendeville, 29.1880, 187.474 mph, 11th lap of 39 run.
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is
one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States. Founded
in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion
building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than 200
branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and warehouse
space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from residential
roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured stone, interior
products and commercial roofing systems. For more information see
alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training
possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing partners
media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most prestigious
events in North America. It provides a unique, three-step program utilizing
multiple entries in three different series: the F2000 Championship (webcast), Star
Mazda (televised on SPEED) and Firestone Indy Lights (televised on ESPN2).
In 2008 it will field multiple entries in 42 races in 19 states and provinces
at some of the best facilities on the continent, including the famed
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andersen Racing's principals, brother Dan and John Andersen, have extensive
experience in series administration as well as team management. They've worked
with many of today's top open-wheel stars, including several Indy 500 winners.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. It is the
official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, which competes in the IndyCar
Series and the American Le Mans Series. In addition, its F2000 team is also
the official factory team of Van Diemen. The team is headquartered at Andersen
RacePark, an 18-acre facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile test
track. For more information see andersenracingteam.com and andersenracepark.com.