Texas: KV Racing preview

KV RACING TECHNOLOGY'S MARIO MORAES LOOKING TO CONTINUE STRONG OVAL PERFOMRANCES THIS WEEKEND IN TEXAS

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - - JUNE 3, 2009 - - KV Racing Technology's Mario Moraes will be looking to continue his string of strong performances on ovals this weekend in the Bombardier Learjet 550K at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.

Moraes, in his second IndyCar season and first with KVRT, will be making his fourth consecutive oval start and the 14th of his career. The talented Brazilian, in the #5 Azul -- Votorantim -- KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine, has shown remarkable growth and consistency on ovals this year.

In his last three races, all on ovals, Moraes has qualified sixth at Kansas and finished 11th, seventh at Indianapolis, where a first lap incident ended his race, and then qualified a career high fifth in Milwaukee where he finished a oval career high, and season high, ninth. Prior to joining KVRT, Moraes had never qualified higher than 10th on any circuit and never higher than 20th on an oval. His best IndyCar finish is seventh on the road course in Watkins Glen last year.

"Texas is different than the other 1.5-mile ovals because it seems like you are always turning," Moraes said. "The important thing is to have a good car and KVRT has shown we have one. Also, I have more experience and confidence on ovals so that helps. We still need to keep working hard and a little luck wouldn't hurt, but I am looking forward to a good race in Texas."

Moraes, the second youngest driver in the series, will be making his 22nd IndyCar start, sixth with KVRT and second at Texas this weekend. Last year in his TMS debut he started 22nd and finished 18th. Moraes, who has been the victim of some bad luck this year, is currently 17th in the championship standings with 75 points.

The Bombardier Learjet 550K is Round #6 of the 2009 IndyCar Series season. The race will be broadcast live on Versus at 9:00 p.m. ET.

-credit: kvrt