News:

5-27-2006
Late Charge Nets Sixth for Klein at Indianapolis

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 26, 2006) -- After a strong start was blunted by mid-race handling problems, Indy Pro Series rookie Jonathan Klein put on a strong charge in the closing laps to finish sixth in Friday’s Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Starting ninth in the 19-car IPS field, Klein had a strong start in the 40-lap contest, moving up three positions to sixth in the opening lap. The Illinois native continued to battle with several drivers, including oval veteran Tom Wood, Nick Bussell and fellow rookies Bobby Wilson and Sean Guthrie.

Mid-race handling problems dropped Klein out of the lead of this pack and back down to ninth overall. But adjustments to the cockpit controls in his Klein Tools Dallara restored the handling balance, and Klein began to move back up through the field, finally wresting sixth place from Wilson in the run from the final turn to the checkered flag on Lap 40.

With today’s result, Klein moves up two positions in the IPS standings to sixth with 10 races remaining. The Star-Mazda graduate also scored a pair of fifth-place finishes in both St. Petersburg events earlier this season.

Jonathan Klein, #27 Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging & Design Dallara/Firestone
Started 9th, finishes 6th, is 6th in points after four of 14 races

“I had a great start today, and picked up three positions in the first lap. Things settled down a bit after that. I couldn’t quite run with the first group of cars, but I was leading my own pack for a while. Then I picked up a nasty oversteer about mid-race and had to lift going into every corner. That dropped me back while I worked with the weight-jacker and [anti-roll] bars. Eventually, the car came back around and I was just able to pick off [Bobby] Wilson right at the flag.”