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FAST FACTS
The fastest, most versatile drivers prepare to tackle the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Story Ideas:
Itaipava Sao Paulo
Indy 300 presented
by Nestle
Race Broadcast
Sunday, April 29
11 a.m. (ET)
NBC Sports
Network (Live)
Qualifying
Broadcast
Saturday, April 28
6 p.m. (ET)
NBC Sports
Network
Track
Streets of
Sao Paulo
(11-turn,
2.6-mile temporary
street course)
Distance
75 laps/195 miles
IZOD IndyCar Series prepares for return to Brazil
The Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle will mark the IZOD
IndyCar Series’ third visit to South America. Indy car racing has been
extremely popular in Brazil; CART hosted five races on a 1.864-mile oval in
Rio de Janerio from 1996 to 2000. The Sao Paul Indy 300 will feature four
Brazilian drivers – Ana Beatriz, Rubens Barrichello, Helio Castroneves, Tony
Kanaan. Can any of these drivers make their way to Victory Lane in their
home country?
Power looks for trifecta on Streets of Sao Paulo
The Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 is the fourth and final street/road event of the
IZOD IndyCar Series’ first quarter. With a wins at Barber and Long Beach,
Will Power finds himself atop the point standings. Power is the only driver to
win on the streets of Sao Paulo, winning in 2010 and 2011. Will he see the
checkered flag first again in 2012?
Pagenaud impresses with Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports
Rookie Simon Pagenaud is off to quick start with top-six finishes in the first
three races of 2012, including a career-best finish of second at Long Beach.
But Pagenaud is making his first-ever start at Sao Paulo. Can the Frenchman
make the most of the condensed schedule and stay among the series’ top
performers.
No sophomore slump for Hinchcliffe
James Hinchcliffe hasn’t been affected by a sophomore slump so far in 2012.
The 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Hinchcliffe has finished in the top six in
each of the first three races, including his first podium at Long Beach.
Hinchcliffe finished ninth in Sao Paulo as a rookie. Can he build upon that
finish this year?
Franchitti looks to rebound on Streets of Sao Paulo
Radio
Dario Franchitti has started defense of his IZOD IndyCar Series title slowly,
IMS Radio Network/ but he looks to turn his year around on the Streets of Sao Paulo. Franchitti won
XM 94/Sirius 212
the pole in Brazil in 2010 and has finished fourth and sixth in his two previous
races at Sao Paulo. Can Franchitti begin his march towards a fourth straight
2011 Race Winner: series title in Brazil?
Will Power
2011 Polesitter:
Will Power
First IZOD IndyCar
Series event:
3/14/2010
Simona seeks breakthrough finish in Brazil
Although the results don’t show it, Sao Paulo may be one of Simona de
Silvestro’s favorite tracks. The talented Swiss driver led her first IZOD
IndyCar Series laps at the track in 2010, and set the fastest lap of the race in
2011. Can De Silvestro score a breakthrough finish in Sao Paulo in 2012?
Race Notes:
The Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle will be the third IZOD
IndyCar Series sanctioned event conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Will Power
won the race in 2010 and 2011, while Dario Franchitti claimed the pole
position in 2010 and Power won the pole in 2011.
At least 22 drivers entered in the event have competed in last year’s IZOD
IndyCar Series race at Sao Paulo. Six of those drivers led laps: Will Power
(36), Dario Franchitti (29), Ryan Hunter-Reay (20), Takuma Sato (23),
Ryan Briscoe (4) and Simona de Silvestro (4).
At least five drivers will compete in their first race at Sao Paulo: Rubens
Barrichello, Ed Carpenter, Katherine Legge, Josef Newgarden and Simon
Pagenaud.
Season to Date:
 Will Power won back-to-back races at Barber Motorsports Park and the
streets of Long Beach.
 Helio Castroneves won the season opening Honda Grand Prix of St.
Petersburg.
 Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Ryan Briscoe have won poles this
season. Power won the pole at St. Petersburg, Castroneves won the
pole at Barber and Briscoe won the pole at Long Beach.
 Three drivers (Rubens Barrichello, Katherine Legge and Josef
Newgarden) started their first career IZOD IndyCar Series race at St.
Petersburg.
 Three drivers – Power, James Hinchcliffe and Simon Pagenaud – have
finished in the top-10 in each event.
 Drivers from seven different teams are in the top-10 in points entering
Long Beach.
 There were a season-high seven race leaders and nine lead changes in
the season opening race at St. Petersburg and in the third race of the
season at Long Beach. There were also nine lead changes at Barber
Motorsports Park.
Milestones & Records:
 Should Dario Franchitti win the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series
championship, he will join Sebastien Bourdais as the only drivers to win
four consecutive Indy car titles. Bourdais won four-straight Champ Car
titles from 2004-2007.
 Should Dario Franchitti win the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series
championship, he will join A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win five Indy
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car titles in his career. Franchitti, who won the title in 2007 and again from
2009-2011. Foyt won seven championships in his career.
With a victory in 2012, Scott Dixon will extend his streak of consecutive
seasons with a win to eight.
With his next win, Scott Dixon will take sole possession of 11th place on
the all-time wins list. Dixon is currently tied with Johnny Rutherford with
27 wins.
With his next victory, Dario Franchitti will tie Paul Tracy and Sebastien
Bourdais for seventh (7th) on the all-time wins list with 31 wins if neither
Bourdais nor Tracy wins before he does.
Helio Castroneves needs three earned poles to reach 40 career poles in his
Indy car career. Castroneves won the pole earlier this year at Barber
Motorsports Park.
Dario Franchitti needs four earned poles to reach 30 in his career.
Scott Dixon needs three earned poles to reach 20 in his Indy car career.
With one pole in 2012, Scott Dixon will extend his IZOD IndyCar Series
streak to six consecutive seasons.
Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 185th consecutive Indy car start,
dating to Portland in 2001. Jimmy Vasser holds the all-time record of 211.
Scott Dixon with 126 straight starts and Marco Andretti with 102 straight
starts are the only other active drivers with a streak of more than 100
consecutive starts.
Marco Andretti made his 100th IZOD IndyCar Series start at St.
Petersburg.
At-Track Schedule (all times local):
Saturday, April 28
8:05-8:35 a.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Practice (Rookies and Outside the top-10)
8:35 – 9:20 a.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Practice (all cars)
11:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Practice (all cars)
2:05-3:20 p.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying
Sunday, April 29
8:30-9 a.m. – IZOD IndyCar Series Warmup
Noon – IZOD IndyCar Series Pre-Race
12:30 p.m. – Ipaitava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle (75 laps/195 miles),
NBC Sports Network (Live)
INDYCAR PR Contacts:
Amy Konrath, 317-492-6453, [email protected]
Dave Lewandowski, 317-492-8533, [email protected]
Arni Sribhen, 317-492-8531, [email protected]