For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
RLR/Andersen Racing's Romancini
Sets New Track Record in Winning Pole
In Firestone Indy Lights Action at Milwaukee
WEST ALLIS, Wis., May 30 - Although neither RLR/Andersen Racing driver had
ever driven a lap at the Milwaukee Mile before the first Firestone Indy
Lights practice session Saturday morning, they qualified first and third
Saturday afternoon for tomorrow's Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 presented by
Charter.
Mario Romancini gave the Palmetto, Fla.-based team its first pole in this
series and he established new one-lap and two-lap track records with the
RLR/Andersen Racing No. 5 sponsored by Andersen Racing, Revita Recycling, Win
Brazil Marketing, Allied Interior Products and Lafarge North America.
The 21-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil ran two laps in 24.8030 seconds
(147.321 miles per hour) and 24.6423 seconds (148.282 mph) for a new two-lap
record of 49.4453 seconds (147.800 mph), cutting 0.7129 of a second off the old
mark.
The previous mark was set by a former Andersen Racing Star Mazda driver,
Pablo Donoso, last year at 50.1582 (145.699 mph).
Romancini's teammate was just a whisper behind him, as Jonathan Summerton
of Kissimmee, Fla. qualified third in the RLR/Andersen Racing No. 9. It
carries the colors of Give Kids the World, Allied Interior Products and Lafarge
North America. His two laps were timed in 25.0030 seconds (146.142 mph) and
24.7998 (147.340 mph) for a two-lap time of 49.8028 seconds (146.739 mph).
Both of the RLR/Andersen Racing drivers are rookies in this series, but
they both recorded their best qualifying performances in it ever. Romancini's
former best starting spot was sixth at Kansas, while Summerton's best start
was fifth at Long Beach, Calif. They are also both making their third
oval-track start ever.
A former RLR/Andersen Racing driver, J.R. Hildebrand, qualified second.
Summerton will be right behind Romancini and beside Sebastian Saavedra when the
green flag flies Sunday at 11:30 a.m. local time (12:30 p.m. Eastern). The
16-car, 100-lap race on the 1.015-mile oval is scheduled to be shown live
on indycar.com and tape-delayed on VERSUS at 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
A third RLR/Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights driver for 2009,
Ireland's Ali Jackson, did not enter this race but is expected to rejoin the team at
the next event on June 20 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
For more information on Andersen Racing, which is sponsored by Allied
Interior Products and Lafarge North America and offers programs in karting,
Formula BMW 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.
Driver quotes follow:
Mario Romancini: "This is my first time at this track, and since I got here
this morning I've been comfortable. The car has been really good, and I
was able to make two good laps. It had good grip, and more importantly, I
feel like we have a pretty good car for tomorrow's race. It will be a long
race and we'll have to manage our tires for the first 50 laps because I think
the last 50 laps will be tough. I'm happy to be starting on the pole, but we
have a long race tomorrow.
"We didn't test here; this morning was the first time I ever drove here.
All of the tracks are new to me this year because this is my first time racing
in America.
"I think it will be difficult to pass in the race. Not only is it smaller,
but the high line has more dirt on it than Indianapolis did.
"I'm happy to be on the pole but the race tomorrow is what is most
important. I hope we can have a good race and get points for the championship."
Jonathan Summerton: "On my out lap I had a little too much understeer, and
I was hesitant because of the understeer on the first lap. I could have
done more with it and been on the pole if I hadn't been hesitant because of the
understeer. My line was normal and the car was good; I just didn't make
the full edge on that first lap. It was probably the easiest qualifying I've
ever done even though I've never driven here before this morning because the
car was good. We have a strong car for tomorrow, and all and all it was
good."
The stats so far:
First Practice (8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.):
1. Mario Romancini, 25.3734 seconds, 144.009 mph, lap 39 of 45
2. Jonathan Summerton, 25.4209 seconds, 143.740 mph, lap 42 of 44
Second Practice (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
1. J.R. Hildebrand, 25.0960 seconds, 145.601 mph, lap 18 of 28
6. Mario Romancini, 25.4569 seconds, 143.537 mph, lap 6 of 32
8. Jonathan Summerton, 25.5463 seconds, 143.034 mph, lap 9 of 22
Qualifications (2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; two-lap total):
1. Mario Romancini, 49.4453 seconds, 147.800 mph
3. Jonathan Summerton, 49.8028, 146.739 mph
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, four-step program
utilizing multiple entries in four different platforms: karting, Formula BMW
Americas, 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 and andersenracepark.com.