IndyCar
IRL: Kentucky: AGR/Wheldon preview
Klein Tools/Jim Beam driver Dan Wheldon is ready to find checkers in the Bluegrass INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 12, 2003) -- Winning is always at the forefront of Klein Tools/Jim Beam driver Dan Wheldon's thoughts, no matter where he is racing.
Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:32 AM
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Klein Tools/Jim Beam driver Dan Wheldon is ready to find checkers in the Bluegrass
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 12, 2003) -- Winning is always at the forefront of Klein Tools/Jim Beam driver Dan Wheldon's thoughts, no matter where he is racing. But, the idea of being able to win in an important area for one of his major backers has Wheldon even more excited for this weekend's race at Kentucky Speedway
When Wheldon and his Klein Tools/Jim Beam teammates arrive at the track on Saturday, they will be looking to carry the momentum from his second top-five finish of the year last weekend at Gateway International Raceway. The Klein Tools/Jim Beam team paced the open test at Kentucky Speedway with Wheldon running an unofficial lap at 221.638 miles per hour more than two-tenths of a mile an hour faster than the track record.
Prior to his arrival at Kentucky Speedway, Wheldon will take advantage of a rare opportunity provided by Jim Beam. Frederick Booker Noe III (Fred), seventh-generation Beam family member, has invited Wheldon, along with Andretti Green Racing owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green, Kevin Savoree and Klein Tools Chairman and CEO Rick Klein to the Jim Beam distillery on Friday to tour the facility and learn about the history of Bourbon. Noe will also present Wheldon and Andretti with their own barrels of bourbon and barrel ends.
Qualifying for the Belterra Casino Indy 300 will take place on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT). The race is set for Sunday 2 p.m. (EDT) and will be broadcast live on ABC.
Dan Wheldon, #26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone
"Kentucky is one of my favorite tracks. It is fast. It is bumpy, and you can run side- by-side. It is just exciting. The racing there is normally good. I haven't been in one, but looking from the outside, it is good."
ON THE JIM BEAM DISTILLERY TOUR
"As soon as I was invited to the distillery my interest was peaked. We are able to bring our sponsors to the race track and show them what we do and it is great that we are able to go to their facilities to see what they do."
Tony Cotman, Team Manager, Klein Tools/Jim Beam
"This is the hardest part of the schedule for both the drivers and the crew. Being the middle race of three-in-a-row it is important Dan stays focused. We had a really good finish last week at Gateway and that is the way you want to start a run like this. We learned a lot during a test at Kentucky so hopefully we can keep the momentum going."
- AGR -
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