IRL: Texas: Scott Sharp preview

Two-Time Texas Winner Sharp Aiming for Number Three

Scott Sharp often speaks of his affinity for Texas Motor Speedway, host of Round Six of the IRL IndyCar® Series, and has parlayed his enthusiasm for the super-fast 1.5-mile oval into results. In 14 IndyCar Series career starts at Texas, Sharp has led 11 races. His record on the Fort Worth circuit includes two wins, a second-place run and three additional top-six finishes.

Sharp heads to the first night race of the 2005 season with strong momentum following a second-place finish in Japan the end of April and a strong showing throughout the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

* Will be making his 15th IndyCar Series career start at Texas

* Is a two-time race winner at Texas (2000 and 2001)

* Career record at Texas includes five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes

* In 14 starts at Texas, has led 11 races for a total of 150 laps

* Has started on the front row at Texas twice, qualifying second in 1999 and 2001

* Started 13th and finished eighth in his last appearance at Texas

* Currently sits sixth in the championship standings

* Recorded best finish to date this season of second in Japan

* Qualified third in the last two IndyCar Series races -- Japan and Indianapolis

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

"I really enjoy the Texas night race. To me, it is the best of IRL entertainment -- two or three abreast and four rows deep. It is non-stop action for the drivers and the fans. I have done really well at Texas in the past. It is a track that suits me quite well and with the momentum the Delphi Fernandez team has, I really expect us to go there and be a serious contender to win the race."

SCOTT SHARP FAST FACTS: Enters his 10th season of IndyCar Series competition-- is the series' most experienced driver with 103 career starts and a record 95 consecutive starts-- ranked second in IndyCar Series career wins-- career record includes eight wins, five pole positions and 28 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