KV Racing Technology has frustrating Grand Prix of Baltimore qualifying session

BALTIMORE, MD - KV Racing Technology had a frustrating Grand Prix of Baltimore qualifying session today on the 1.69-mile, 10-turn temporary street circuit in Baltimore, Maryland.

Tony Kanaan, who will surpass KVRT co-owner Jimmy Vasser for the series record for consecutive starts with 212 tomorrow when he takes the green flag, went out in Group Two in Round One of qualifying. The determined 38-year old veteran from Brazil posted a lap of 79.3051 seconds (92.604 mph) in the No. 11 Hydroxycut - KV Racing Technology - SH Racing car, placing him eighth in his group. He therefore did not advance into Round Two and will start on row eight in the 16th position.

"We definitely are faster than we showed in qualifying," Kanaan said. " First we had a red flag and then I got held up by traffic and couldn't get a clean lap when I needed it. No excuses. It is the same for everyone out there. It is just disappointing. We will start in the back half of the grid again, but I think we have a good race car. We just have to make up positions during the race like we did last weekend in Sonoma."

Saturday Simona De Silvestro and the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy - KV Racing Technology machine went out in Group One in Round One and recorded a lap of 78.9829 seconds (92.982 mph) putting the talented Swiss driver 10th on the speed charts in her group. De Silvestro will grid 19th on row 10.

"I'm a bit frustrated with qualifying and where we ended up," De Silvestro said."I guess we're going to have to make it up tomorrow. We haven't been shiny all weekend; we've had some brake issues to deal with. I think we got that fixed for qualifying, so now we can start working on the car. Hopefully we'll have a good car and be able to move forward during the race tomorrow."

Kanaan, who will be making his third start in Baltimore tomorrow has earned one top-10 starting spot in three tries starting second at the inaugural Baltimore event in 2011. He has qualified in the top-10 seven times in 16 events this season with a best starting spot of fourth at Toronto (Race 1) and Brazil.

In two previous races, Kanaan has a best finish of third also in 2011. Kanaan is currently 11th in the championship standings with 331 points. He has earned six top-10 finishes including five top-five showings, three podiums and an extremely popular victory at the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

De Silvestro, 24, has a best starting position of 10thand a best finish of 12th, both in 2011. in three appearances at Baltimore.She has qualified in the top-10five times this season, four times on road/street circuits plus an oval career-high ninth at Pocono.

Her best qualifying effort this season is her IndyCar career-high third at St. Petersburg.De Silvestro has placed in the top-10 five times this year including a season-high sixth at St. Petersburg. In her last five events she has put together a string of solid results finished an oval career-high 11th at Pocono, 10th and 14th in Toronto, 11th in Mid-Ohio and ninth at Sonoma.

The Grand Prix of Baltimore will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 2:00 p.m. ET.

KV Racing Technology