IPS: Iowa: Panther Racing qualifying notes

Mutoh Qualifies Eighth For Indy Pro Series' Iowa 100
Japanese Driver Fresh Off Liberty Challenge Victory Takes Aim at New Short Oval

NEWTON, Iowa. (June 22, 2007) -- After collecting his first career Indy Pro Series victory last weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Super Aguri Panther Racing driver Hideki Mutoh qualified eighth for Saturday's Iowa 100 from the newly-constructed Iowa Speedway.

Mutoh posted a top lap of 158.900 mph, 20.2543 seconds around the track's high-banked 7/8-mile oval. This will be the Indy Pro Series first ever event at Iowa Speedway, and it will be Mutoh's fourth start on an oval track.

The Panther IPS team is coming off a dominant victory in the first race of the Liberty Challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The win was the team's first IPS win since Mark Taylor dominated at California Speedway in 2003. Panther has not run in the series since their championship run in 2003, but it took them just five races to get back to victory lane.

For Mutoh, the win is an early highlight in an already impressive rookie season. In his seven starts, he has finished outside of the Top Five just one time and has recorded four podium finishes. He is currently ranked second in the Indy Pro Series championship battle, trailing only leader Alex Lloyd.

Hideki Mutoh:

"I had a great car and the times were great during the practice session. Unfortunately, the temperature rose after the practice sessions so I felt a strong push when I went out to qualify. It would've been nice if I could start from the front row but 8th is not so bad. I will just concentrate on moving up the positions in the race."

-credit: pr