Young Canadian Qualifies in Eighth Position and Plans on Continuing Hot Streak
FONTANA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2012– When heat is applied to rubber, it responds by melting then becoming sticky. With track temperatures reaching 125 degrees, David Ostella experienced sticky tires during the Auto Club Speedway Foundation 100 qualifying session.
“We expected the track to grease up with the heat, but it felt like the opposite happened,” said Ostella of Team Moore Racing.
Ostella started the day with an impressive run at third fastest with a speed of 188.005 during the first practice. But when track conditions changed with the Southern California temperature, Ostella qualified 8th fastest in row 4 at 187.235 avg. for the Firestone Indy Lights Championship race, one row ahead of teammate Gustavo Yacaman.
“We’re always better with our racecars than in qualifying so that’s what we’re going to look forward to. We expect to finish,” said Ostella.
Recently, the 20-year-old driver of the no. 22 Xtreme Coil/Global Precast/LiUNA car began the Grand Prix of Baltimore in 10th position before advancing to a 4th place finish.
The last to qualify, AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport driver Sebastian Saavedra, grabbed the Sunoco pole award with a speed of 189.640, followed by Carlos Munoz and Esteban Guerrieri.
Though the Firestone Indy Lights Series hasn’t raced on the Fontana oval in nearly a decade, the last field to run the course ran in a thick pack around the 2-mile track. If history repeats itself, a dramatic race may be in store. Temperature will also be a deciding factor in this season finale.
“Tires are going away really quickly in this heat. It’s really going to depend on who has the tires that last. Whoever has tires at the end of this race is going to win,” said Ostella.
Firestone Indy Lights teams and drivers will start their engines for the Auto Club Speedway Foundation 100 Saturday, Sept. 15 at 2:55 p.m. PT with green flag waving at 3:00 p.m.
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Weekend Schedule: (All times local)
Saturday, Sept. 15
3:00 p.m. – Firestone Indy Lights Championship Race (50 laps/100 miles), NBC Sports Network (Taped, 5:00 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 20)