For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Engine Woes Knock
RLR/Andersen's Romancini
Out Early at Chicagoland
JOLIET, Ill., Aug. 29 - After posting the third-fastest time in practice
right out of the transporter, RLR/Andersen Racing's Mario Romancini was forced
to retire early in Saturday's Firestone Indy Lights race at Chicagoland
Speedway due to a problem with the engine in his No. 5, which is sponsored by
Andersen Racing, Revita Recycling, Win Brazil Marketing, Allied Interior
Products and Lafarge North America.
Romancini completed 12 laps in the 67-lap/100-mile race on the 1.5-mile,
D-shaped trioval to place 16th in the final rundown.
The Sao Paulo, Brazil and Miami-based driver started tenth. He passed the
driver who went on to win the race, Daniel Herrington, on lap two to move
into ninth, but Herrington got him back on the next lap. He regained ninth
when the polesitter, Brandon Wagner, was involved in a tussle with Pippa
Mann and Rodrigo Barbosa that brought out the first yellow.
At that point Romancini was black-flagged to check for fluids leaking from
his car, but when he brought the car on pit lane it was dry upon inspection.
He was allowed to rejoin the field in eighth place, but when the green
waved again with 11 laps down his car didn't respond when he got on the
throttle, and he retired with only a dozen laps complete.
His fastest lap was lap five, which he did in 28.8800 seconds for an
average speed of 189.474 miles per hour.
He is now seventh in the point standings with one race remaining, only 24
points out of sixth.
Romancini's teammate, Ali Jackson of Moyvalley, Country Kildare, Ireland,
decided not to compete in this particular event. He plans to resume testing
with the team in September and to compete in the season finale Oct. 9 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. with his No. 9, which is sponsored
by the Moyvalley Golf and Hotel Resort and Allied Interior Products.
Daniel Herrington won Saturday's race over James Davison and Andrew
Prendeville. J.R. Hildebrand clinched the championship by finishing fifth behind
Wade Cunningham.
VERSUS's telecast of Saturday's race is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern time
on Monday, which is a change from the usual 4 p.m. telecast.
More information on the series, including the 13-race 2010 schedule, can be
found at firestoneindylights.com.
For more information on Andersen Racing, which is sponsored by Allied
Interior Products and Lafarge North America and offers programs in karting and
Star Mazda in addition to Firestone Indy Lights, see its Web site at
andersenracingteam.com. For more information on its 1-mile road course test track in
Palmetto, Fla., see andersenracepark.com. Its karting team's new Web site
is located at andersenkarting.com.
Romancini's post-race quote follows:
Mario Romancini: "The car was good at the beginning. I was able to move up
and race with the others. Then they said I was leaking something, so I came
in under the yellow flag and the crew checked it out, but the back of the
car was dry. The team did a good job to get me back on the track without
losing a lap.
"I went back out, but as soon as I got on the throttle there was just no
power. Something let go in the inside of the engine.
"I couldn't have another DNF. It is my third DNF this year for mechanical
problems. I'm very disappointed and very frustrated, both for the
championship and because the car was very good in practice this morning. I thought we
would do much better today."
Saturday's stats:
Practice (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.):
1. Wade Cunningham, 28.4742 seconds, 192.174 mph, lap 34 of 68.
3. Mario Romancini, 28.6332, 191.107 mph, lap 21 of 62.
Time Trials (1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.):
1. Brandon Wagner, 28.8505 (189.667 mph) and 28.7635 (190.241 mph) for
combined time of 57.6140 (189.954 mph).
10. Mario Romancini, 29.1555 (187.683 mph) and 29.1717 (187.579 mph) for
combined time of 58.3272 (187.631 mph).
Race (5:15 p.m., 67 laps):
1. Daniel Herrington
16. Mario Romancini
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 the Lafarge Group:
The Lafarge Group is the world leader in building materials, with
top-ranking positions in all of its businesses: cement, aggregates and concrete, and
gypsum. With 83,000 employees in 78 countries, the Group posted sales of
19.0 billion Euros in 2008.
Lafarge North America Inc. ("Lafarge North America" or "Lafarge"), a
Lafarge Group company, is the largest diversified supplier of construction
materials in the United States and Canada.
In 2009 and for the fifth year in a row, the Lafarge Group was listed in
the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World." With the
world's leading building materials research facility, the Lafarge Group places
innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction
and architectural creativity.
For more information about Lafarge North America, go to lafarge-na.com or
contact Louise Muth, director of external communications, at (703) 480-3707.
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 program utilizing multiple
entries in three different platforms: karting, Star Mazda and Firestone
Indy Lights (televised on VERSUS). In 2008 it fielded multiple entries in 42
races in 18 states and provinces at some of the best facilities on the
continent, including the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Andersen Racing won the team championship for 2008 for both the F2000
Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire and the Star Mazda
Championship presented by Goodyear. Two of its drivers finished first and second in
the F2000 driver point standings, while another was sixth. Three of its Star
Mazda drivers placed third, fifth and sixth in that series' driver
standings. RLR/Andersen Racing finished sixth in the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights team
standings, while one of its drivers placed fifth in that series' driver
point standings.
Andersen Racing's principals, brothers 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. and Lafarge
North America. It is the official development team of Rahal Letterman
Racing. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre facility in
Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile road course test track. For more
information see andersenracingteam.com, andersenracepark.com and andersenkarting.com.