Wilson, Saavedra Optimistic for BHA’s Mid-Ohio Bid |
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Topics: Sebastian Saavedra, Stefan Wilson, Mid-Ohio 100
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Andrew Herta
Bryan Herta Autosport
August 7, 2010
Following a promising test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June, Bryan Herta Autosport drivers Stefan Wilson and Sebastian Saavedra have been eagerly awaiting their return. The 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course will host this Sunday’s Mid-Ohio 100 – the ninth round of Firestone Indy Lights Series competition.
Mid-Ohio was the site of Wilson’s final Indy Lights race in 2009, which consisted of a six-race campaign focused on the road/street circuits. At a track known for limited passing opportunities, he finished his season on a high note with an impressive drive from 17th to 8th to earn Hard Charger Award honors.
Saavedra did not fare as well, however, qualifying 10th and finishing 18th after a pair of off-track excursions. It was a disappointing result after setting fastest lap of the race.
With five races remaining on the schedule, Saavedra and Wilson are currently fifth and sixth in the championship standings. Saavedra, who is 14 points outside the top three, trails points leader J.K. Vernay by 96 points. Wilson is currently 51 points shy of the top three and 133 points behind Vernay.
Team co-owner Bryan Herta clinched the 1993 Indy Lights Championship at Mid-Ohio for Hilliard-based Tasman Motorsports Group.
Of Note:
Wilson has 14 Indy Lights starts to his credit posting seven top-seven finishes with a best result of third at St. Petersburg earlier this year; he posted his best qualifying effort of second at Watkins Glen in July
Saavedra has made 22 Indy Lights starts, claiming three wins [Kansas/Toronto in 2009 andIowa] and three poles [St. Petersburg/Toronto in 2009 and Iowa] and a total of 10 podium finishes
Stefan Wilson, #28 Dallara/Firestone: “I’m really excited. I raced at Mid-Ohio last year and I had never seen the track before – nor had the team – so it was a big learning curve but we were pretty competitive in the race. This year I’m going back with prior experience and we had a great test here a few months ago. The team has a really good car for Mid-Ohio so it is a track where we should be strong. I’ve been looking forward to it all year. We showed the speed that we have on the permanent road courses at Watkins Glen and we want to be sure that we make the best of the opportunity we have this weekend and walk away with some good points.”
Sebastian Saavedra, #29 William Rast Dallara/Firestone: “We had a really good test at Mid-Ohio and we have a very positive attitude with our setup. I have been training hard on the physical side and I am looking forward to starting to bring points back for the championship. Last year was disappointing. I was fighting for the pole in qualifying but I spun and caused a yellow flag so they took (away) my two fastest laps and I had to start in back. In the race, I was P3 and I had an off and needed to come in and change tires and that was it. It was the end of my race.
“The track is one that reminds me of Europe and that’s why I like it so much. It has hairpins, fast corners, slow corners, ups and downs, so it’s a complete driver’s track. That makes it a lot more difficult, a lot more technical, but that is what makes it fun to drive.”