IPS: St. Pete: Race one notes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 1, 2006 -- The Indy Racing League is also making history this weekend as it hosts its first doubleheader event in the Indy Pro Series. The Indy Pro Series raced one of two races today, and will complete the weekend by racing a second race Sunday morning.

Rookie Raphael Matos won in his first career start in the Indy Pro Series. Four other Indy Pro Series drivers have won in their debut including A.J. Foyt IV, Phil Geibler, Mark Taylor and Marco Andretti. Matos defeated Jeff Simmons, who won last weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway in the season-opener.

"First of all I want to thank Guthrie Racing," Matos said. "They gave me the chance by putting me in the car. We made it. We were fast at Homestead. We came here and were pretty confident. We had a really good car. Every single session, the car was perfect. I was trying to be focused on the race and be consistent and bring home the victory."

INDY PRO SERIES POST-RACE QUOTES:

RAPHAEL MATOS (No. 41 Guthrie Racing/Car Crafters, winner Indy Pro Series Grand Prix race

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