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David Ostella Qualifies in Career Best Starting Position for the Firestone Freedom 100

Posted on: May 26th, 2012 | No Comments

Young Canadian Will Start in Row Three for Friday’s 100-Mile Race


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– Firestone Indy Lights driver David Ostella stepped out of the No. 22 Global Precast/LiUNA/Xtreme Coil Drilling car today, not only satisfied with landing his best career starting position, but also with a huge grin of congratulations to his Team Moore teammate Gustavo Yacaman, who had just clinched the pole position at the first oval event of the 2012 season.

The last entry to qualify, the 20-year-old was ready to contend with his teammate for the top spot for the 40-lap, 100-mile feature, however, high temperatures and a strong head wind picked up to create some adverse conditions late in the qualifying session.  Ostella ultimately settled for fifth position on the starting grid, on the inside of row three for tomorrow’s feature race as part of the Miller Lite Carb Day festivities.

With a two-lap average of 186.530 mph around the daunting 2.5-mile oval, Ostella was happy with his top-five starting position.

“I’m happy today went really well. The team worked really hard for this whole week and month. Practice went great this morning. Qualifying fifth is much better than last year. I couldn’t be more happier with how everything went today,” he grinned.

Not content to coast along in row three, Ostella remains confident in his race strategy and his goal to push his way through the field and challenge the leaders.

“We just want to make sure we get a good, clean start without any incidents and then I’ll work my way up,” said Ostella. “I have a great car to pass on the outside so I’ll definitely utilize that to my advantage tomorrow.”

Ostella qualified in row four for the 2011 Freedom 100 in ninth position, and was able to improve his position to finish eighth.

In a bizarre twist of fate, last year’s race winner and pole sitter are now teammates on the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing team.  Josef Newgarden, who took the checkered flag, will be starting with prior pole-sitter Bryan Clauson in ninth and 31st positions respectively for the famed Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.

The Firestone Freedom 100 will take place on Friday, May 24, 2012 starting at 12 p.m. local time as part of the Indianapolis 500 weekend.  The first live televised race of the 2012 season, the race will be aired on NBC Sports Network with Mike King and Arie Luyendyk Jr. in the booth along with special guest IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Dario Franchitti.  Jake Query will be calling the action from the pits.  It will also be broadcast via the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.