For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: 317-201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
 
 
 
Syosset, N.Y.'s Lee Posts Fifth-Fastest Time
In Indy Pro Series Testing at Homestead
 
HOMESTEAD, Fla., Feb. 28 - Trying his best to impress potential marketing 
partners and team owners, Matt Lee posted the fifth-fastest time out of 21 
drivers participating in the Indy Pro Series open test Thursday at Homestead-Miami 
Speedway.
 
It was only the third time the 18-year-old driver from Syosset, N.Y. had 
driven on an oval track.  The Indy Pro Series rookie also lost valuable practice 
time due to clutch problems in the morning. 
 
He ended up getting about an hour and a half of track time during the 
scheduled six-hour test, but he made the most of it. His fastest lap came on the 79th 
and final lap he completed on the 1.5-mile oval Thursday, which took 28.6248 
seconds for an average speed of 186.761 miles per hour.
 
Lee's fastest lap was just 0.0720 of a second longer than the fastest lap any 
driver ran all day.  It was posted in the afternoon, while the fastest lap of 
the test was posted in the morning, when speeds are generally faster due to 
cooler air temperatures.
 
Only one other driver in the top 10 posted fewer laps than Lee's 79 circuits. 
Two drivers ran more than 200 laps, but they placed 10th and 13th.
 
Lee is trying to compete full-time in the Indy Pro Series, the official 
development series of IndyCar.  The 2008 season opener is Saturday, March 29 at 
Homestead.  All 16 Indy Pro Series races are televised on ESPN2 and run in 
conjunction with IndyCar races.
 
"It was an interesting day," Lee said afterwards.  "We got a late start; I 
think it was 2:20 p.m. before we really got going because of the problem with 
the clutch.  But once I got going I felt really good, especially in the draft.  
I really got comfortable running close with the other guys.
 
"The RLR/Andersen crew did a great job getting the car back together after 
the clutch problem," he added.  "The engineering department also did a great job 
to give me a good car for this track. I hope to be able to compete in the 
race here too; we're working hard on sponsorship."
 
Dan Andersen, co-owner of RLR/Andersen Racing, was impressed. 
 
"Despite losing a lot of laps, Matt Lee proved he definitely can drive fast 
on an oval in addition to a road course," Andersen said.  "We knew he was fast 
on road courses due to his background in Formula BMW and Atlantics, but with 
very little practice he was fast on an oval too."
 
Andersen Racing is the development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, owned by 
Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal and comedian David Letterman.
 
For more information see mattleemotorsports.com.