Servia Scores Solid Finish in 92nd Indianapolis 500

By now, you’ve all seen the great effort and dedication put forth by the KV Racing Technology crew throughout the entire month of May, and over the weekend those efforts paid off as Oriol Servia and teammate Will Power both drove to very respectable finishes in the world’s most notable sporting event.

As Carb Day was cancelled after only 11 minutes due to rain, the #5 Angie’s List Special team didn’t have much time to shake down their car. But come race day, Servia’s veteran status shone through yet again as he coolly worked his way through the field, picking up a total of 14 positions during the course of the race and running as high as seventh before wrapping up the show just shy of a Top-10 finish.

Servia comments, “It was my first Indy 500 and I thought I was going to do some magic, but I was just unable to keep the car up in front.” Considering he was the highest finishing “transitional driver,” I’d say he did a little more than pull a rabbit out of his hat!

Next up is the ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Indy 225 at Milwaukee, a home race for the Servia Squad and a track where Oriol has seen numerous podium finishes (2003, 2005). Watch for first-hand reports following the weekend’s festivities!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Sponsor Spotlight: Angie's List

Angie’s List, a compiler of reviews on service providers nationwide, has just signed on as the primary sponsor for the KV Racing Technology #5 Honda/Dallara/Firestone for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

The company will also stay on as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season in an effort to spread the word on their service offerings.

Support our sponsors. Visit the company website!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

I AM MINDY

No, there is no misspelling in the title. Those of you with any familiarity with the Indy Car Series may also be familiar with its “anthem” of sorts as of the past few years. While “I Am Indy” performed by KISS artist Gene Simmons has not made itself apparent in the casual racing season yet this year, it has appeared several times in the programming leading up to the Indy 500, much to my dismay.

As if the slurred chorus wasn’t enough to make you wonder who the heck Mindy is, the rest of the song’s lyrics don’t do much to promote the series either:

I am Indy
I am Indy
Hey
Hey
I am everything I want
I got everything I need
Know exactly what to do cause I am Indy
Hey
And I love the way I feel
To be me is something real cause I am Indy
I am Indy
HeyI
am everything I want
I got everything I need
Know exactly what to do cause I am Indy
Hey
And I love the way I feel
When I get behind the wheel
Cause I am Indy
I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey I am Indy
Hey

While I can only hope that Gene Simmons’ name alone accomplished some of the IRL’s goals by bringing notoriety to the series, I don’t know that this anthem was the most clever marketing ploy I’ve ever witnessed.

Perhaps this year we can focus our efforts more to the likes of Motley Crue in an anthem more suited to the unified series, “Churls, Churls, Churls.”*

* Ironing Out the Wrinkles, April 2, 2008

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Servia Solidly Qualifies for Indy 500

During the second and final weekend of qualifying in preparation for the Indy 500, Oriol Servia and KV Racing Technology teammate Will Power both landed themselves solidly on the starting grid in 25th and 23rd places, respectively. While the team continues to struggle with issues which prevent both drivers from finding the top speeds of some of the more seasoned Indy veterans, the two teammates have also demonstrated their ability to work their way up through the field when it comes time to race.

http://www.indycar.com/news/2008/indy/2008_ics_indy_starting_grid.pdf

The farthest back any driver has ever won the race from is 28th (1911 & 1936), so history has dictated that it certainly can be done!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Indy 500 - Pole Day

If you’re still getting used to this new qualifying format used at Indy, you’re not the only one. I guess it will take me a bit to become accustomed to all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Indianapolis 500, as I’ve never followed it that closely before. Previously, the month of May was simply another month on the Gregorian calendar, slotted between April and June. Now there seems to be a whole new meaning surrounding this time of year as the CHURL rejoins forces to produce one of the greatest spectacles in sports history.

We already saw quite a bit of bumping going on in the race lineup, given this is one of the most expansive lineups Indy has seen in quite some time. Oriol Servia’s KV Racing Technology teammate Will Power was one of the first to take part in the bumping, as he knocked Dale Coyne rookie Mario Moraes off the provisional 11th grid spot. Then, after qualifying a provisional 8th on the grid, Servia himself was bumped when Tomas Scheckter took to the track. In the end, both KV Racing teammates failed to qualify within the first 11 starting positions, and a rainy second day of qualifying will push even more of the action to the final sessions later this week.

In the end, it seems to be sheer track time that made the difference, as none of Champ Car’s “transitional drivers” made the initial grid. However, given the number of rookies in this year’s field (13), I’m sure the show has just begun and we’ll be in for some real action come Bump Day!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer