J.R. Hildebrand has Strong Weekend at Vegas Grand Prix - Runs Fifth Until Last Lap Melee

04.09.2007

19 year old J.R. Hildebrand and the Newman Wachs Racing Team had an outstanding weekend until a last lap crash took away the satisfaction of a top five finish in the Vegas Grand Prix.

J.R. and his engineer Don Halliday used the practice sessions to great effect, constantly making changes through practice and first and second round qualifying, culminating with the fourth fastest lap of combined qualifying, followed by the fastest lap in the Sunday morning warm-up.

As Friday's provisional pole winner started on the front row, J.R. lined up fifth for the standing start on the 2.44 mile Vegas course's long front straightaway.

J.R.'s start suffered a bit on the dirty side of the track, and he slotted into seventh through the first corner. Entering the last lap of the race, he had worked himself back to fifth with a masterful pass of Franck Pererea on the penultimate lap, and was all-over fourth place James Hinchcliffe entering turn 2. As the leaders worked their way past a spun car, opportunity seemed to present itself when Hinchcliffe checked up, and J.R dove for the opening, only to find himself braking on the ice-like dust on the inside of the track. Although he was briefly in fourth place as he got by Hinchcliffe, he lost traction on the dust and contacted the tire barrier, leaving the beautiful NWR car at the mercy of a number of following cars that could not avoid him.

"The team had a great weekend until that final lap. After being fastest in the morning warm-up, I knew we were in good shape for the race. But the cautions really put a damper on the chances to pass - Id get going and then thered be a yellow flag, then heres a corner, and then another yellow flag, and then a corner and a yellow flag! On the last lap, Hinchcliffe checked up, blocked me a bit coming out of the corner, but I got up next to him before the next corner. I was forced on to a dirty part of the track to get by him. I didnt know until then how dirty it was, but my wheels lost traction and I went into the tires."

"We have the speed - we ran one of the fastest laps of the race. Well always have a shot at winning. It would be nice to finish in the top three, but even if we finish in the top five, well be championship contenders. I am sure we'll be good at Long Beach."

J.R. and his Newman Wachs Racing team are looking very forward to next week's Long Beach Grand Prix as they continue their quest for the team's first win.