For media information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
 
 
 
 
Andersen Racing's Krohn Qualifies Fourth
As Lara's Crash Shortens Session
Saturday in Star Mazda Action
 
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 27 - Andersen Racing's Anders Krohn posted the 
best results for Palmetto, Fla.-based Andersen Racing Saturday morning 
during qualifications for the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, 
which is appearing at the St. Petersburg street course for the first time ever. 
Krohn, a Norwegian who now lives in Houston, will start fourth in the 23-car 
field when the series' race gets off to a standing start Sunday at 11:50 
a.m.  
 
The team's strategy for qualifications was adversely affected by 
circumstances beyond its control.  Under the series' rules, if a driver pits for fresh 
Goodyear Eagles during the qualifying session, the times he has posted 
earlier in the session are thrown out and he has to start all over. Since the 
track conditions were improving throughout the session, the team gambled on 
changing tires in an effort to improve its speeds.
 
Although that worked beautifully when the team qualified first through 
third for the season opener last week in Sebring, Fla., today that strategy was 
spoiled when Caio Lara crashed and caused an extended red flag. Luckily Lara 
was not hurt, but Andersen Racing's Tristan Vautier and Mikael Grenier both 
ran out of time.  Vautier, who won the race at Sebring, will start 13th 
tomorrow. Grenier fared even worse because he only had two laps that counted, 
so he'll start 21st in the 23-car field. 
 
Two other Andersen Racing drivers who were in the first group for 
qualifications fared better.  Although their session was slowed by a red flag too, 
Court Vernon qualified ninth and Nick Andries qualified 11th. Vernon, of Key 
Biscayne, Fla., is making his second start with the team, while Andries, of 
Pinellas Park, Fla., is making his debut both in this series and as a member 
of Andersen Racing. 
 
Krohn's car is sponsored by Trallfa Industries, Colosseum Dental, Norse 
Cutting & Abandonment, Bring Logistics US Inc., SR Transport, ZATGraphics.com, 
Rioja Tapas Restaurant, Eagles Canyon Raceway and Repcon Media. 
 
Vautier is from Corenc, France.  His car is sponsored by Moulin T.P., 
Cecibon, Circuit du Laquis and Fontanel Promotion.
 
Grenier is from Stoneham, Quebec. His car is sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, 
HS Telecom and Desharnais.
 
Vernon is sponsored by Mangroove Boats and Capt. Harry's. Andries is 
sponsored by Team Pelfrey, Andersen RacePark and the team's overall sponsor, 
Allied Building Products Corp. 
 
Conor Daly won the pole with an automatic new track record.
 
Post-qualifying quotes follow:
 
Anders Krohn: "We had a different strategy than some of the other teams and 
it would have worked well, but the red flag came out and stayed out and 
that spoiled our chances. Everybody on the team is sad about what happened.  I 
got one half-decent lap in, but it was less than ideal. That being said, the 
team has done an incredible job of preparing a car that is fast on both new 
and old tires. Tomorrow we have to climb back up and take the rest of them."
 
Court Vernon: "We got cut out on time a little bit at the end because of a 
red flag too, but I was still able to qualify ninth.  The track was getting 
better and better every lap.  Overall I think we have a good car for the 
race; everything is hooked up and feels great. This is my new favorite track 
for sure."
 
Nick Andries: "My car was good.  I think 11th is not bad for my first 
qualifying session in this series.  We've been getting faster and faster every 
session. It's just a case of me getting comfortable with the car and the 
track. I'm working with the engineers, and we think we can go faster tomorrow in 
the race.  This is an awesome team."
 
Tristan Vautier: "It was frustrating because we weren't able to fight for a 
better starting position. It was a team decision and we agreed all 
together, but it didn't go well. It was something we couldn't control. It's 
frustrating because the team gave me an incredible car; the set-up is fantastic. I 
was second in both practice sessions.  The team did a great job.  We'll see 
how tomorrow goes.  I hope we can make some points."
 
Mikael Grenier: "Our strategy didn't work out because of the red flag.  We 
went out on new tires and then the crash happened and the session was over, 
so we have to start 21st. I think the half-lap I did on new tires was the 
best lap I did so far here.  But this is a street course and it's going to be 
hard to pass tomorrow in the race.  We'll try to do like we did at 
Trois-Rivieres and take it lap by lap and see what we can do."
 
Andersen Racing has its own 1-mile road course test track at its 
headquarters in Palmetto, Fla., Andersen RacePark.  It also has a professional karting 
team in addition to its Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights teams that are 
competing at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
 
Andersen Racing's Web site is at andersenracingteam.com. The Star Mazda 
series' Web site is located at starmazda.com. 
 
The weekend stats so far follow:
 
First practice (Friday, 9 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.):
1. Anders Krohn, 1:11.798, 90.253 mph
2. Tristan Vautier, 1:11.812, 90.236 mph
7. Mikael Grenier, 1:12.888, 88.904 mph
9. Court Vernon, 1:13.011, 88.754 mph
11. Nick Andries, 1:13.574, 88.075 mph
 
Second practice (Friday, 4 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.):
1. Conor Daly, 1:10.656, 97.712 mph
2. Tristan Vautier, 1:10.776, 91.556 mph
3. Mikael Grenier, 1:10.869, 91.436 mph
6. Anders Krohn, 1:11.377, 90.786 mph
10. Court Vernon, 1:11.730, 90.339 mph
11. Nick Andries, 1:11.852, 90.185 mph
 
Qualifying (Saturday, 8:50 a.m. to 9:35 a.m.):
1. Conor Daly, 1:10.352, 92.108 mph*
4. Anders Krohn, 1:11.307, 90.875 mph
9. Court Vernon, 1:11.610, 90.490 mph
11. Nick Andries, 1:11.763, 90.297 mph
13. Tristan Vautier, 1:11.999, 90.001 mph
21. Mikael Grenier, 1:16.588, 84.609 mph
* Automatic new track record; new venue for series.
 
 
 
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 program utilizing multiple 
entries in three different platforms: karting, Star Mazda and Firestone 
Indy Lights. 
 
A sister company, Andersen Promotions, administers the USF2000 National 
Championship presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda.  It is part of 
both the Indy Racing League's Road to Indy program and the MAZDASPEED 
Motorsports driver development system.
 
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. 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, andersenkarting.com, andersenracepark.com and usf2000.com.