BHA Drivers Wilson, Saavedra Ready to Challenge in Long Beach

Topics:  Sebastian Saavedra, Stefan Wilson, Grand Prix of Long Beach

Andrew Herta
Bryan Herta Autosport
April 14, 2010

Pre-Race Notes: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Round Three – Firestone Indy Lights Series
Streets of Long Beach, California
Sunday, April 18 – 10:40 am PT

The Firestone Indy Lights Series heads to the streets of Long Beach, Calif., this weekend for the third stop on its 2010 schedule. The challenging 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary downtown circuit is a driver and fan favorite, and a “hometown” race for BHA co-owner Bryan Herta, a former Long Beach polesitter and podium finisher in CART competition, who resides in Valencia.

BHA drivers Stefan Wilson and Sebastian Saavedra both made impressive debuts at Long Beach last year. Wilson claimed his career-best Indy Lights starting position of third and Saavedra rebounded from a 17th-place grid position to finish eighth in only his second series event.

It will be a busy week for BHA on and off the track as it welcomes California-based King Taco Restaurants, which joins the team for the second consecutive year at Long Beach and will be primary sponsor of Wilson’s #28 entry. William Rast, primary sponsor of the #29 car piloted by Saavedra, is also headquartered in downtown Los Angeles.

Of Note:

Wilson has two top-six finishes to his credit this season, including a podium finish in St. Petersburg, and sits third in the championship standings
Saavedra claimed his first podium of the 2010 season and eighth career Firestone Indy Lights podium at Barber Motorsports Park last weekend; he is currently fifth in the championship rankings

Stefan Wilson, #28 King Taco Dallara/Firestone: “I am really looking forward to Long Beach. I qualified on the second row there last year and was very fast in the race, running fourth until the input shaft broke just four laps from the end. I feel really confident going there and hopefully we can repeat St. Pete and be on the podium again. I love the track. Long Beach has such a great atmosphere and great history. It is one of the jewels on my calendar and I really want to have a great weekend there.”

Sebastian Saavedra, #29 William Rast Dallara/Firestone: “I love the street courses and Long Beach is one of my favorites. We had a very good car last year and were very fast, so I come into the weekend with some good experience. With [engineer] Steve Newey, I am sure we will have a great car. We have a lot of confidence and momentum coming into the weekend and we will, as always, be looking for points for the championship battle.”