IRL: Texas: Kelley Racing preview

Kelley Racing Fast Facts

*This is the sixth season of IRL competition for Kelley Racing.

*Kelley Racing drivers have made 129 starts, scored eight victories and eight poles in IRL career competition.

Al Unser Jr., No. 31 Corteco/Dallara/Toyota/Firestone--Fast Facts and Quote

Fast Facts

* This will be Unser Jr.'s seventh start at Texas Motor Speedway, his 313th career start and his 40th IRL start.

*Unser Jr. is currently sixth in the IndyCar Series points standings with 101 points.

*At Texas I in 2002, he started third and finished second to Jeff Ward by only .0111 seconds, the third closest finish in IRL history. In Spring 2000 he started ninth and finished third by less than a car length.

*Unser Jr. has finished on the podium at Texas on two previous occasions (2nd--2002 Spring and 3rd --2000 Spring) and has four top-ten finishes. Unser Jr. has also led 221 laps at Texas.

*Unser Jr. has won two Indianapolis 500's (1992, 1994) and two open-wheel championships (1990, 1994).

Unser Jr. Year to Date Results

Race Start Finish Status

Miami 11th 13th Running

Phoenix 20th 4th Running

Japan 8th 5th Running

Indy 17th 9th Running

Quote on the Bombardier 500

"As a CART driver, I used to watch the IndyCar Series races at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) and TMS was a track that I always wanted to race on because it looked like the drivers were having so much fun! I am always surprised when racing at Texas at how many drivers are going for the lead. I'm sure the fans absolutely love the action. Texas is a track that is fun and exhilarating but at the same time it can be a little bit scary because you are running so close together at such high rates of speed. I think the Corteco team will be in good shape at Texas. We didn't quite have the finish at Indy that we had hoped for but the crew worked really well together and everyone worked so hard. I am certain we have some podium results coming soon."

Scott Sharp, No. 8 Delphi/Dallara/Toyota/Firestone---Fast Facts and Quote

Fast Facts

*This will be Sharp's 11th start at Texas Motor Speedway, his 71st career start and his sixth season with Kelley Racing. In Spring 2002, he started 16th and finished 14th.

*Sharp is currently in third place in the IndyCar Series with 116 points.

*Sharp won this event in 2000 and 2001 and he has also seven top-ten starts at Texas and five top-five finishes. In Spring 2002 Sharp started 16th and finished 14th.

*Sharp's victory last month at Twin Ring Motegi, Japan was his eighth career victory.

Sharp Year to Date Results

Race Start Finish Status

Miami 6th 5th Running

Phoenix 11th 7th Running

Japan 7th 1st Running

Indianapolis 9th 20th Accident

Quote on the Bombardier 500

"I have always enjoyed going back to Texas after Indy. It has been a great track for us. It is an exciting race. It is a race that with the banking in Texas there is a very large window for handling. It is not so precise. If the team doesn't hit the setup right on at Texas, the banking makes up for it. It promotes so many cars being very close speeds. I'm excited. Based on our past and my liking of the track, it couldn't come at a better time for us."

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