Newman/Haas Racing qualifying report

St. Pere

TELEMUNDO NEWMAN /HAAS RACING DRIVER ORIOL SERVIA TO START 15TH FOR THE HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG

Oriol Servia, No. 02 Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “Our worst session of the whole weekend so far was the one that mattered most. We couldn’t get the best out of the red Firestone tires. The amount of grip they had surprised us a little bit and I had more understeer than we expected and just couldn’t put a good lap together. It’s a shame because we were fifth fast this morning and the Telemundo car felt really good. Everybody improved a second from this morning and we had the same lap time out there.

"I think it is a good car for the race but we need to figure out how to maximize the tires. It is a learning process. Starting 15th is obviously not ideal. Its best to start in the first three rows here but starting where we are gives us a little more room to become creative on our pit strategy. We know we have a good car so we should be able to move forward. Every year this race is a crazy, up-and-down event with drivers running in the front and back during the race and no one knows who is going to win. I think we have a fair shot. It’s just disappointing that we couldn’t get the best of the car in the session.”