NEWTON, IA -- KV Racing Technology had mixed results at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway June 23 with Tony Kanaan recording his second-consecutive podium finish, teammate Rubens Barrichello finishing seventh and E. J. Viso falling victim to an on-track incident.

Kanaan, in the No. 11 GEICO | MOUSER ELECTRONICS – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone machine, qualified ninth, but due to a 10 position penalty because of an unauthorized engine change, started 19th. By lap 34 he was in the top-10 and in the top-five by lap 88. Following his final stop on lap 182, Kanaan engaged in fierce seesaw battles with first Ryan Hunter-Reay, then Helio Castroneves and finally Simon Pagenaud for a spot in the top-three.

The 37-year-old Brazilian has collected five top-six showings in the first nine races of the 2012 season with his best performances coming on ovals.

Barrichello in the No. 8 BMC | EMBRASE – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone entry, qualified 13th, but started 11th after penalties were assessed to other drivers. He ran in or near the top-10 the entire race dropping as low as 14th only during pit stops and gained confidence throughout the race.  He moved into eighth place when James Hinchcliffe crashed and then made a pass late in the race to move into seventh.

Barrichello made his third career oval start (he did not start in Texas because of a non-team related component failure) last night.  The 40-year-old Brazilian and Formula One veteran, who had never turned a wheel on an oval prior to this year, has adapted quickly to oval racing in his rookie IndyCar season

Viso, driving the No. 5 CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone car, qualified 16th, but started 24th after receiving a penalty for an unauthorized engine change.  He was on the move with the drop of the green flag setting up and passing other competitors almost at will.  By lap 60, Viso was in eighth place and clearly had a car that could win the race.  Unfortunately, while working lap 68 he got a run on Will Power and moved low to make the pass.  Power, who later admitted that he did not see Viso moved down, forcing Viso below the yellow line and onto the apron of the track.  As Power kept coming, the two made contact ending both of their races.

“Will (Power) was off the pace.  I got a run on him going in to the first corner and he just blocked me,” said Viso. “I couldn’t go any lower, I had my front left tire on the apron , under the yellow line, and he just kept coming down on me and I had nowhere to go.  It is very disappointing.  The CITGO | PDVSA – KV Racing crew gave me a great car.  I believe this race was ours.  It is just a shame.”

Next up for KVRT is the Honda Indy Toronto, July 6-8, on the temporary street circuit in Toronto, Canada. The race will be broadcast live on Sunday, July 8 on ABC starting at 1:00 p.m. ET.

KV Racing Technology was founded in January 2003 and joined the IndyCar Series in 2008.  The Indianapolis based team is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven and 1996 IndyCar Champion Jimmy Vasser.  Veteran Motorsports manager, Mark Johnson, is the team’s General Manager.  Johnson is assisted by Team Manager Tom Wurtz, Technical Director Eric Cowdin and Operations Manager Steve Moore.

SOURCE: KV RACING TECHNOLOGY

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