IRL: Kansas: Scott Sharp preview

Sharp Journeys to Kansas Seeking Third Consecutive Top Five

The IRL IndyCar Series heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend for Sunday's Kansas Lottery Indy 300, the eighth of 14 rounds of competition on the 2006 schedule. With two top-five finishes in the last two events, including a season-best front-row starting spot last weekend in Richmond, Scott Sharp and the Delphi Fernandez Racing team carry a lot of momentum to the fast 1.5-mile tri-oval.

Sharp is a former pole winner at Kansas, sitting on the front row in 2001. In his five career starts at Kansas Speedway, his best results were a pair of sixth-place finishes last year and in 2002. Sharp participated in a one-day Firestone tire test at the circuit just over two weeks ago, on June 12.

Prior to this Sunday's race, Sharp will make a pit stop at Daytona International Speedway to participate in Round Three of the IROC Series (International Race of Champions). Following practice this Wednesday, Sharp will grid for a 20-lap shootout on the 3.56-mile road course Thursday evening -- the series' first road course event in 14 years. The race will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel beginning at 10:00 pm ET.

Scott Sharp - #8 Delphi Dallara /Honda/Firestone:
"I am really excited to return to Kansas Speedway this weekend. We've had two top-five runs in the last two events, and I feel that we are on a roll right now. At this stage of the season and with the [championship] points being so close, a good result this weekend is critical. We've had really good cars on the mile-and-a-half circuits and should be in a position to seriously challenge for a win this Sunday. The Kansas track is a pleasure to drive -- it's smooth, it's fast and just really suits my style. For the fans, the racing at Kansas is always exciting. I'm looking forward to it."

-www.delphifernandezracing.net