Justin Wilson, No. 02 McDonald’s Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “The additional practice time was very useful; it allowed us time to at least try to get the McDonald’s car a little bit closer. We’re just working on our setup; getting a feel for it. I think we can go away and study the information tonight and hopefully hit the ground running tomorrow. We used some of the knowledge we had from running the Champ cars here but obviously it doesn’t always translate. The aerodynamic configuration of this car is very different and this is the kind of track where that shows up. So that’s what we’re trying to learn – the right aero balance and ride heights. The mechanical setup is quite similar to the Champ car. I came across a few people in traffic and that information was useful. I don’t think we’re quite there yet with the car yet to slide through the pack. It’s going to be busy out there with 26 other cars on the track and you’ll need a car that’s good in traffic. For pit stops, the break between Graham’s pit and mine is very valuable. This pit lane is so short and tight. My initial reaction when I got to the track was surprising. I came here with Champ Car and it seemed like a big place and you carry a lot of speed here and I thought ‘Wow, this is fast, this oval stuff.’ But coming here after Indy is much different. Your whole perspective has changed. It takes a while to adjust to running on a mile as opposed to a 2.5 mile oval.”
FAST FACTS: Will be his be his fourth race here and first in the IndyCar Series at this track. In his three previous Champ Car races here he finished second, fourth and 11th. He earned his highest finish to date on an oval at this track in 2006 when he started fourth with the RuSport team and finished second to Bourdais, the driver he was hired to replace this season. In 2005 he started third and finished fourth with RuSport and started 12th and finished 11th in his 2004 rookie season with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing…Is ranked 20 in the point standings with 81…Finished runner up in the Champ Car championship to the driver he recently replaced, four-time champion Sebastien Bourdais, in 2006 and 2007. Was a title contender until the conclusion of the penultimate race of each season.
Graham Rahal, No. 06 Hole in the Wall Camps Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “This is a tough oval and a tough place to come to and so it was good to go out there and kind of get used to it. Any time you can get out there and learn and gain as much knowledge and experience as you can is a good thing. I think we definitely learned quite a lot about the car in just a short period of time. We made a big change there at the end, went back out and I was really happy with the car on our own but once we got in a bit of traffic I couldn’t believe it. I can’t believe what its going to be like with 27 cars because with 11 cars it was already busy on track.”
FAST FACTS: Will be his first race here and his third IndyCar Series race on an oval…In his IndyCar Series debut on a road/street course he became the youngest winner in major open-wheel racing in North America after winning in St. Pete on 4-6-08 at 19 years, 93 days old…He is ranked 13th in series points with 98 points.
SEVEN WINS, 13 PODIUMS IN MILWAUKEE: NHR has won SEVEN races at this track (Sebastien Bourdais – 2006; Michael Andretti 1996, 1992, 1991; Paul Tracy 1995; Nigel Mansell 1993; Mario Andretti 1985) and TWO poles (Bourdais – 2007; Ma. Andretti 1985). They have earned a total of 13 podium finishes (2nd – Mi. Andretti 2000, 1997, 1989; 3rd – Oriol Servia 2005, Mi. Andretti 1995, Ma. Andretti 1991).
