IRL: Kentucky: Scott Sharp preview

Expectations Run High for Sharp in Kentucky

The IndyCar Series heads to Sparta, Kentucky, this week, as a string of three back-to-back races in August begins with the Amber Alert Portal Indy 300. Scott Sharp is no stranger to the nuances of Kentucky Speedway. He is a former pole-sitter on the 1.5-mile tri-oval, has led a total of 105 laps and has claimed two top-five results including a runner-up finish in 2001. Sharp will be looking to add to his season-to-date tally of four top-five and seven top-seven results and notch his first win of 2005 this Sunday.

* Will be making his sixth IndyCar Series start at Kentucky

* Was the 2001 pole sitter

* Has claimed two top-five finishes with a best result of second in 2001

* Enters the weekend seventh in the championship standings, only 15 points out of fifth

* Best qualifying effort to date this season was third at Japan and Indianapolis

* Recorded best finish to date this season of second in Japan and has three additional top-five finishes

* Will be making his 110th IndyCar Series start and record 102nd consecutive start

Scott Sharp, #8 Delphi Panoz/Honda/Firestone:

"There is a lot to live up to in trying to repeat what Adrian [Fernandez] did in Kentucky last year, but I'm excited. I have always enjoyed the races at Kentucky. It is another one of our big track, big pack, two and three abreast-type tracks. For me, ever since they had the first race here, there is just something about driving in and seeing the track set down in the valley. It is a different setting, really unique. I know the track has had a lot of issues with bumps, but I am actually one of the drivers who like that. I think it is an opportunity to have an advantage. If you spend a lot of your practice time tuning the car to try to make it better than the next guy over the bumps, then you gain a little bit of an advantage. The Kentucky Speedway does a good job, and I am really excited to go back to a great market for us. I expect to have a great race."

SCOTT SHARP FAST FACTS: Is in his 10th season of IndyCar Series competition, and is the only driver to have contested every season of IndyCar Series competition since the inception of the IRL 10 years ago-- career record includes eight wins, five pole positions and 31 top-five finishes-- was the 1996 IndyCar Series co-champion and the 2001 Indianapolis 500 MBNA Pole winner-- is a former two-time SCCA Trans-Am Champion and three-time SCCA National Champion-- 37 years old from Norwalk, Connecticut-- currently resides in Jupiter, Florida.

-www.delphifernandezracing.net