Newman/Haas Racing
Iowa Corn Indy 250 – Iowa Speedway
RACE NOTES/QUOTES – Sunday, June 20, 2010

FORMULA DREAM/PANASONIC DRIVER MUTOH RETIRED FROM THE IOWA CORN INDY 250 AT IOWA SPEEDWAY WITH HANDLING ISSUES

HIDEKI MUTOH, No. 06 Formula Dream/Panasonic Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “The car was reasonable at the beginning of the race. I was off the pace a little bit but we were working with the car. Once everyone got up to speed it was difficult to stay with them though. The guys did a fantastic job overnight and every day. I’m disappointed with myself because I think I could have done better. We’re going to work hard to figure this out for the next round of oval races.”

FAST FACTS: Was his third IndyCar event here and fourth oval race with NHR. He retired from the race in 20th place after he completed 131 of the 250 laps…In 2008 he set the fastest time in the first practice session (184.941 mph) and second fastest time in the second practice session (184.187 mph) so he was disappointed that qualify was cancelled due to rain and starting positions were based on point standings. In the race, he started seventh and finished second to Dan Wheldon. In 2009 the field again started based on point standings after track seepage cancelled qualifying. He started 11th and finished third to Dario Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe, respectively. He also competed in the 2007 Firestone Indy Lights race where he started eighth and finished third with Panther Racing…His highest IZOD IndyCar Series start is THIRD at Nashville Speedway (oval) and best overall series finish is SECOND (Iowa 2008).

BRIAN LISLES, General Manager: “We are very disappointed. We tried to improve the car from yesterday and thought it was better early in the race but it wasn’t good enough.”

NHR AT IOWA SPEEDWAY: Was the THIRD race here for the team. Graham Rahal and Robert Doornbos competed for the team here in 2009. Rahal started ninth based on entrant points after qualifying was canceled due to water seepage and ran as high as sixth but contact with Patrick forced an unscheduled stop which put him two laps down and he ultimately finished 11th. Doornbos started 14th based on entrant points. Got sideways on the opening lap and was collected by Ryan Hunter-Reay. The team repaired his left front suspension and he returned to the track to move up three places and finished 15th. Rahal and Justin Wilson competed for the team here in 2008. Rahal started 16th and earned his highest oval finish to date of 10th while Wilson started 20th, ran as high as seventh and finished 12th. Starting positions were based on points due to rain…The Iowa Corn Indy 250 will mark the team’s 452nd event since being formed. Including this race, the team will have entered a total of 800 cars in these 452 events.